Tesla Roadster: The World's Only Cool Electric Car

[LMagic007]

I suspect mass production and a different spec vehicle might help. I think in the longer term, electric and hybrid cars will become cheaper than IC based models, to manufacture and operate.

[ashy]

Considering the petrol car industry has had about 100 years to develop, I am dubious of a generally useable electric car being cheaper than a similar petrol car. It will either have some tricks up its sleeve, or it'll just be rubbish for that money.

[LMagic007]

No tricks, though for a significant part, EVs already are cheaper to run. They just have to be cheaper to make and that comes with automated mass production. The EVs are much more efficient in their use of energy, use less oil and their engines require less mechanical attention in servicing. Incremental knowledge acquired over that time, along with simpler EV engine designs means that making EVs cheaper to manufacture should become a reality after it hits mass production. With that said product pricing is often also influenced by demand and volumes of scale and competition in the market. Technological change is accelerating. Within 10 years I expect the game will have changed significantly. Last rights are about to be read for the conventional motor vehicle manufacturing industry. Many major car makers are scrambling to offer EVs and hybrids over the next few years.

[World]

Originally Posted by ashy

Considering the petrol car industry has had about 100 years to develop, I am dubious of a generally useable electric car being cheaper than a similar petrol car. It will either have some tricks up its sleeve, or it'll just be rubbish for that money.

But don't forget the increase of gas price

[ashy]

Originally Posted by LMagic007

No tricks, though for a significant part, EVs already are cheaper to run. They just have to be cheaper to make and that comes with automated mass production. The EVs are much more efficient in their use of energy, use less oil and their engines require less mechanical attention in servicing. Incremental knowledge acquired over that time, along with simpler EV engine designs means that making EVs cheaper to manufacture should become a reality after it hits mass production. With that said product pricing is often also influenced by demand and volumes of scale and competition in the market. Technological change is accelerating. Within 10 years I expect the game will have changed significantly. Last rights are about to be read for the conventional motor vehicle manufacturing industry. Many major car makers are scrambling to offer EVs and hybrids over the next few years.

I agree that in the future EVs will be the vehicle of choice, but I think they're underestimating the amount of time required to get there. I'm talking about the actual cost of manufacture, so running and servicing costs would not be a factor. EVs are more complicated due to the nature of their combining electronics and mechanical processes, whereas a basic car really just has mechanical components.

Still, I do hope it happens as quickly as possible. If they think they can do it, then good luck to them.

[ashy]

Originally Posted by World

But don't forget the increase of gas price

Which would significantly affect the cost of manufacture how? Maybe in terms of transporting materials, but that would have a far greater impact on the running costs.

[World]

Originally Posted by ashy

Which would significantly affect the cost of manufacture how? Maybe in terms of transporting materials, but that would have a far greater impact on the running costs.

Sorry for not being clear. I meant that in the future, when the petroleum gets rare and more expensive, the petroleum cars would cost more to fill up with gas than the electric cars. Obviously, the electricity would have to be generated from something else than fossil fuels (wind power, solar, hydroelectricity, nuclear, etc.).

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by World

Sorry for not being clear. I meant that in the future, when the petroleum gets rare and more expensive, the petroleum cars would cost more to fill up with gas than the electric cars. Obviously, the electricity would have to be generated from something else than fossil fuels (wind power, solar, hydroelectricity, nuclear, etc.).

I think there is already a case to be made for hybrids.
My colleague has a Lexus GS450h.
It goes half as far again as the equivalent pertol (gasoline) model on a tank of fuel, has marginally better dynamic preformance, identical electronically limited top speed, and costs no more.

[LMagic007]

Tesla Model S

The Tesla S - 4-Door Luxury Electric Car - Electric Cars - Zimbio

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by ashy

Considering the petrol car industry has had about 100 years to develop, I am dubious of a generally useable electric car being cheaper than a similar petrol car. It will either have some tricks up its sleeve, or it'll just be rubbish for that money.

The first electric vehicle was produced in the 1830s.
As far as I recall, Lenoir patented the first IC engine around 1860 - and around the same time that Gaston Plante invented lead-acid rechargeable cells.

It is evident from history that IC engines, though developed a little later, made it into the mainstream vehicle manufacture to the almost total exclusion of electric vehicles. Even with recent offerings range, weight, and dynamic performance and cost can't generally come close to matching that of IC powered vehicles on all counts.

Maybe they won't emulate it. And maybe our expectations and needs will change such that we won't expect or require them to.