General Discussion

Kablooie

(19,078 posts)

101. Current technology limitations is a major obstacle for consumers right now.

Mon Dec 5, 2016, 05:01 PM

Dec 2016

-Limited range per charge.
-Limited availability of public recharge stations.
-Long wait times to recharge.
-Price of car compared to an equivalent gas model.

I recently had to buy a new car and looked at electric but settled on a Prius because of these things.
But these issues are being addressed albeit slowly because of the newness of the technology.

Every year the range is increased for many models.
Charging stations are being installed all over the country.
Tesla has supercharger stations that take less time and are considering robotic battery swaps where your battery is quickly replaced with a fully charged one.
And prices of course will come down as the cars become more popular.

When you have a new category of product, of course there isn't a lot of consumer demand but once the limitations are decreased demand will go up.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

109 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The CEO of Ford just perfectly summarized the biggest problem for electric cars [View all] FarCenter Dec 2016 OP

Why would Donald help them? He's about to force coal mines to reopen for coal nobody wants bravenak Dec 2016 #1

You need coal to generate electricity for electric cars. FarCenter Dec 2016 #20

Of course you do, in coal fueled power plants bravenak Dec 2016 #22

This year Santa needs the coal for all of Trump's voters. So much coal for Christmas in their TeamPooka Dec 2016 #67

Time for government intervention Lee-Lee Dec 2016 #2

Why? Kilgore Dec 2016 #12

Hello? Climate change? There is a time and place for government intervention and this is it. randome Dec 2016 #14

Ok, GW is the issue, then banning cars is a stupid way of handling it. Kilgore Dec 2016 #16

It's only in America that 50 percent don't believe it, those 50 percent are fucking morons Grey Lemercier Dec 2016 #107

"USA will be brought to heel" Really? Kilgore Dec 2016 #108

You should not be forced to buy one, but electric should be the only option by 2030. Grey Lemercier Dec 2016 #106

I'm thinking you live in a city. TransitJohn Dec 2016 #19

What do I do if my car has a 200 mile range and I want to drive 250 miles? Travis_0004 Dec 2016 #78

Capitalism is bring us down. deaniac21 Dec 2016 #3

Are They Affordable Yet Or Are They Still Premium Priced.... global1 Dec 2016 #4

The Lincoln MKZ has been offered in gas or hybrid at the same price for several doc03 Dec 2016 #5

Lincoln's Are Marketed To The High End Consumer That Can Afford Any Hike In Gas Pricing..... global1 Dec 2016 #8

I would be willing to bet if Ford marketed the Fusion doc03 Dec 2016 #10

not a good example of affordable uponit7771 Dec 2016 #33

I looked into a Chevy Volt. hamsterjill Dec 2016 #74

Absolutly. The MSRP for a Focus Electric is 25% more than for the base model. baldguy Dec 2016 #18

Just FYI, Nissan is offering a $10,000 discount on the new LEAF (+ $7,500 tax credit) hatrack Dec 2016 #96

Gas prices are low again people aren't going buy a hybrid, it's arithmetic. doc03 Dec 2016 #6

I would argue that the biggest problem is the infrastructure is missing for electric cars mythology Dec 2016 #7

Exactly. branford Dec 2016 #13

Not true anymore. drray23 Dec 2016 #63

My home is a high-rise apartment building in NYC. branford Dec 2016 #64

Well yes thats part of the problem. drray23 Dec 2016 #65

The problem with Tesla chargers is that they only work on Tesla cars. Angleae Dec 2016 #86

That's why governments need to step-in. dawg Dec 2016 #9

Right, also consumers aren't demanding electric cars Zing Zing Zingbah Dec 2016 #36

Exactly Abouttime Dec 2016 #99

Besides being politically impossible, your suggestions are regressive. branford Dec 2016 #102

How about NO!. I want to choose what I drive without state coercion. FXSTD Dec 2016 #103

Soon total cost electric cars will be half gas cars Cicada Dec 2016 #11

Well, then the market will adjust and demand will substantially increase branford Dec 2016 #15

Really?!?!? Lurker Deluxe Dec 2016 #32

E cars will be much cheaper Cicada Dec 2016 #89

You can repeat the same thing again .... Lurker Deluxe Dec 2016 #91

Heating passengers is tiny share of heat produced by gas car Cicada Dec 2016 #100

I am a contractor, oneshooter Dec 2016 #104

Consumers may not want electric cars Zorro Dec 2016 #17

Tesla sold about 9,000 cars in Q3 out of over 4 million cars sold in the US FarCenter Dec 2016 #21

Looks like your Tesla figure is off Zorro Dec 2016 #24

It was for the Tesla model S. The model X sold another less than 6 thousand in Q3. FarCenter Dec 2016 #25

The people willing to do something about fossil fuels can't afford them. Bucky Dec 2016 #23

I would love an electric car but they are still price prohibitive to me. kimbutgar Dec 2016 #26

solar panels covering a car would produce roughly 1 horsepower FarCenter Dec 2016 #31

That is one of the reasons demand is not as good, and the other factor is the still_one Dec 2016 #35

I got a used Volt last June caraher Dec 2016 #80

14K is a fair price for the 2013. Out the door for a brand new 2013 I received still_one Dec 2016 #83

Improve their range and price them comparable to gas and I'll get one. NightWatcher Dec 2016 #27

The math on electric cars doesn't add up Calculating Dec 2016 #28

Most electrics come with federal energy rebates and electrics get the equivalent of 100 mpg and up. CentralMass Dec 2016 #47

Wrong. There would be demand if the price wasn't WhiteTara Dec 2016 #29

There are two reasons why the demand isn't there. The first one is because the still_one Dec 2016 #30

if we actually enacted a carbon tax, then electric cars would have more demand Fast Walker 52 Dec 2016 #93

None of that will happen now still_one Dec 2016 #94

yes, it was untenable before, and even more untable now Fast Walker 52 Dec 2016 #98

HE"S FULL OF SHIT .... ITS LONG DISTANCE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRICES not need ... uponit7771 Dec 2016 #34

Right. Build an electric car that goes 500 miles on a charge, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2016 #56

That's already possible and it wouldn't take 5 mins at a station...more like 2 minutes to swap packs uponit7771 Dec 2016 #69

General Motors is already going to lose $9000 on each Bolt MichMan Dec 2016 #37

Yeah Calculating Dec 2016 #39

They'll only lose money if the car doesn't sell. tinrobot Dec 2016 #72

Tax break for hybrids. HassleCat Dec 2016 #38

Cars are stupid. We should be doing everything we can to discourage car ownership. hunter Dec 2016 #40

Cars represent freedom in a way Calculating Dec 2016 #44

So not really a representation of freedom SubjectiveLife78 Dec 2016 #54

Sure try that in a rural area MichMan Dec 2016 #57

No, I'm saying cars are not a representation of freedom SubjectiveLife78 Dec 2016 #66

I want to see you tow a bass boat to the lake...Er...I mean pull a bass boat. ileus Dec 2016 #82

If you didn't have a car, you would just build a smaller boat SubjectiveLife78 Dec 2016 #105

I disagree. hunter Dec 2016 #61

So you don't own one, correct? MichMan Dec 2016 #58

See above. hunter Dec 2016 #68

You went vegan when? flvegan Dec 2016 #84

I'm a hypocrite, mostly because I don't expect our dogs to be vegan. hunter Dec 2016 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author Initech Dec 2016 #41

But they AREN'T doing wonders for Tesla and GM Calculating Dec 2016 #42

Not sure how losing $9K on every one must be "doing wonders" MichMan Dec 2016 #43

CEO of Ford keeps 25 available electric cars hidden from public! rgbecker Dec 2016 #45

It's all in the batteries Calculating Dec 2016 #46

They are not especially the type they're using... I know about the cells... uponit7771 Dec 2016 #48

Yes, Batteries are the sticking point but rgbecker Dec 2016 #49

It's NOT that simple. Adrahil Dec 2016 #50

True, but hybrids have been doing just fine bhikkhu Dec 2016 #51

To make electric cars sell, they have to do what Tesla did - make them fucking awesome. backscatter712 Dec 2016 #52

Yes, or he could take a lesson from Steve Jobs bhikkhu Dec 2016 #59

They jusst have to make them good enough and affordable tinrobot Dec 2016 #76

He wants a Carrier style bribe from Donnie. Dawson Leery Dec 2016 #53

Tesla. I fucking WANT one! lonestarnot Dec 2016 #55

Me too. They cant keep up with the demand. Squinch Dec 2016 #71

Order 1 now for 1 K and can't get till early 18. Come on gigga factory, hurry up! lonestarnot Dec 2016 #87

I don't want one Generic Brad Dec 2016 #60

Ford just perfectly summarized why they are a failing brand Egnever Dec 2016 #62

+1 uponit7771 Dec 2016 #70

A guy wearing a sport coat like this is gonna tell us what people like? Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #73

Lack of good taste in styling is another black mark against American manufacturers FarCenter Dec 2016 #79

I get endless amounts of shit, here, every time I mention that I can't stand American cars Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #81

The big car companies haven't gained much market share because their EVs are substandard. tinrobot Dec 2016 #75

Until June, I drove a 1500 quad cab Ram truck ReverendHeretic Dec 2016 #77

Same truck to a Prius JCMach1 Dec 2016 #90

I want a Tesla or Chevy Volt. Ford EV vehicles suck balls! EV Escape was a Piece Of Shit! TheBlackAdder Dec 2016 #88

Not much demand for personal computers during their first commercial round of branding LanternWaste Dec 2016 #92

PC adoption was rather rapid, compared with electric cars, which began commercial production in 1884 FarCenter Dec 2016 #95

I think that the real answer would be carbon neutral liquid fuels. drm604 Dec 2016 #97

Current technology limitations is a major obstacle for consumers right now. Kablooie Dec 2016 #101

Bullshit. American car companies said the same thing about hybrids Downtown Hound Dec 2016 #109