Ask HN: Why is nobody manufacturing low tech electric cars in 2024?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

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.