I'm puzzled why EVs are so expensive when they have simpler design and parts. Is it because of the battery? Also, isn't EMF radiation an issue for you?
The EV1 probably cost like $150,000+ in 2023 dollars just to build, so they've made lots of progress, but electric vehicles don't beat comparable conventional vehicles across the board, they have better performance and lower operating costs, and that's most of it.
I've seen a couple of these articles about how EV makers should add EMI shielding so they can have AM radio, and I notice that all of them steer around the issue of how much it would cost. If it adds $1 to the price of the car, sure, but if it adds $100, no way. We need EVs to be as affordable as possible to spur adoption; adding a bunch of cost for the take of a technology which-- let's be perfectly honest here-- hardly anybody uses, is a terrible tradeoff.
I wonder if it's mostly battery supply. This would explain why EV's continue to be so expensive, there is no point in reducing prices if you can sell everything you can make.
I'd also love to hear what's the complexity about. To me the high costs are a side effect of EVs still being seen as luxury vehicles, and not specifically because EV tech is inherently costly.
I see $200 evse’s on amazon nowadays. Only 32 amps tho. As to why they are so expensive one has to keep in mind these are inherently dangerous so they do not buy the cheapest parts, they have to go through a longish federal approval process and the companies probably have higher insurance costs.
This article has lots of false assumptions. To phrase it positively, the article ignores a lot of facts.
EVs are simpler devices than gasoline-powered vehicles. They have a smaller number of parts, making them easier to assemble. At similar scale to gas vehicles, electric vehicles should indeed be lower cost to built.
In addition, EVs have many fewer moving parts (in the engine and drivetrain in particular) than internal combustion vehicles. That further means lower construction cost for the most complex and costly part of a vehicle, and far lower maintenance cost.
While it is true, the engine and drive train has fewer parts, when I reduce it to motor and battery. But in fact every EV has a gear, including the Tesla. Yes, this gear is much simpler, but it is there and even runs with oil that has to be replaced every 100.000 miles like in every other car. The battery is as complex as an engine itself. Because you need to measure lots of sensors values and to control that it will not explode and not wear down to fast. Every battery, including the one in the Tesla, has a dedicated heating and cooling system just for the battery within the battery.
Then also lots of parts in car are the very same like brakes, steering, air condition, windows, and so. Remember that a current car is about 30% software and will be more in future. But there is only 1 engine control unit. The most of the parts are other things to control safety or personal comfort.
Electric vehicles, today, have lower total costs per mile than equivalent gasoline-powered vehicles, due to lower energy costs of electricity and the lower maintenance costs.
That neglects the fact, that most of the maintenance costs are not engine related. Like the brakes have to be regularly checked. It neglects the fact, that a battery will wear out sometimes between 3 to 6 years and has to be replaced, which is a huge cost related issue. The guarantee Tesla has, does not help, because you will pay for that guarantee otherwise.
I'd expect EVs to be cheaper if they are actually simpler, last time I looked that wasn't really the case outside of cars produced in China that most western customers wouldn't buy.
In many areas of the world EVs are more expensive to buy, much more expensive to repair, and not really cheaper to drive, because electricity is about the same price as gas. Add to that they are less convenient and slower on large distances because of the time wasted for looking for a charging station and then charging, and I can see how most people don't want them now.
Granted, EVs are still considerably more expensive than conventional cars, but that's not set in stone. Except for the battery, the rest of the car is much simpler than an ICE-based one, so once they are produced in greater numbers, prices should come down.
They're still too expensive. They are made "affordable" via financing. That was a banking solution. EVs can be financed. Yet they are still too expensive, over the life of the car. "Expense" also including the inconvenient differences in the manner in which they have to be used.
EVs are awaiting an unforseen tech solution to their expense.
Battery packs for EVs are expensive and heavy. And more complicated than people realise. They're not just big batteries. Making an electric car with decent range at an affordable price* is not easy at all. Tesla is closer than anyone else.
* edit: an affordable price that isn't loss-making, I should say
reply