Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?
Many Hacker News users wonder why almost all electric vehicles are heavy, feature‑laden, and expensive instead of simple, low‑tech commuter cars. Commenters point to a mix of factors: high fixed costs and thin margins that push manufacturers toward profitable high‑end models, safety and emissions regulations that effectively mandate complex electronics and driver‑assist systems, and business incentives to sell software features, data, and “smart” infotainment rather than bare‑bones hardware. While a few minimalist EVs exist in markets like China, Japan, and parts of Europe, participants largely conclude that regulatory barriers, protectionism, and limited demand make such vehicles rare in places like the US.
Economic and Business Constraints
- High fixed costs (factories, testing, compliance, marketing) mean automakers chase volume and margin; skipping “hot” features risks unsold cars.
- Many “extras” (sensors, screens) are cheap, high‑margin and often installed on all cars anyway, then disabled in software. Removing them doesn’t cut factory costs much.
- Luxury and larger vehicles provide better margins, so EVs have mostly entered at the high end first.
- For ICE cars, basic models may be near cost and subsidized by later parts/maintenance; some dispute how much OEMs actually profit from that. EVs need other recurring revenue (subscriptions, data, software features).
Regulation and Safety Requirements
- In the EU and other regions, mandatory safety systems (auto braking, lane‑keeping, drowsiness/attention monitoring, crash detection, backup cameras, etc.) effectively enforce a “complex electronics” baseline.
- Some argue low‑tech EVs are now effectively illegal as they cannot meet modern safety rules; others point to minimalistic quadricycles and older EVs as partial counter‑examples.
- New EU rules and “Vision Zero” goals further push ADAS; some see this as necessary safety, others as protectionism that blocks simple cars.
Tech Features, Screens, and UX
- Many commenters dislike touchscreens for core controls, prefer physical buttons even at extra cost. Others see screens as cheap, commoditized, and essential for navigation/charging and CarPlay/Android Auto.
- Debate over button cost: some say wiring and labor make them expensive; others claim integrated button panels are not much costlier than touchscreens and the real driver is design flexibility and software‑centric development.
- Upcoming safety rating changes may penalize touchscreen‑only controls, potentially moderating the trend.
Market Demand and Alternatives
- Several note that buyers who truly want “no‑frills” vehicles often just buy used cars or ICE models; the niche for brand‑new, low‑tech EVs is considered tiny.
- There are examples of smaller, simpler EVs (Leaf, Citroën Ami, Dacia Spring, various Japanese micro‑EVs, Chinese budget EVs), but many are region‑locked, hit by tariffs, or constrained by local standards.
- EV conversions of older cars are mentioned as the most realistic way to get a genuinely low‑tech electric car today.
Data, Connectivity, and Modularity
- Growing resentment toward “connected” cars, data collection, and subscription features; some vow never to buy an Internet‑connected vehicle.
- A few propose open standards and modular “PC‑like” architectures for batteries, motors, and controls, but others note safety, reliability, and economic barriers.