The withering dream of a cheap American electric car

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

EV demand and price sensitivity

  • Several commenters dispute that EVs “lack demand”; sales spike whenever prices drop, implying strong but price-sensitive demand.
  • Current offerings over-serve affluent segments (luxury, midsize SUVs) and under-serve cheap, practical cars (small hatchbacks, Fit/Element/Matrix-style “do-everything” vehicles).
  • Used EVs, especially ex-rental Bolts and Teslas, are emerging as the de facto “cheap EV” segment.

Affordability, wages, and car prices

  • New-vehicle ATPs near $50k are seen as incompatible with median US household incomes; many plan to keep old cars as long as possible.
  • Debate over whether “lack of demand” is real vs. simply “unaffordable at current prices,” with stagnant real wages and rising costs (housing, transport, subscriptions) frequently cited.
  • Some argue a new cheap car can’t compete economically with reliable used Toyotas, making low-margin new econoboxes unattractive to manufacturers.

Battery life and the used EV market

  • Fear that a degraded or failed battery “totals” a used EV is common.
  • Others present data and anecdotes suggesting modern EV packs degrade slowly (e.g., ~10–15% over ~200k miles) and outlast typical vehicle lifetimes.
  • Tools like OBD-II and internal state-of-health metrics can give more transparency into EV battery condition than is possible for ICE engines.

Hybrids, PHEVs, and BEVs

  • Strong split:
    • Pro-BEV: simpler drivetrain, lower maintenance (no ICE, transmission, reduced brake wear), good for most daily use plus acceptable road-trip charging.
    • Pro-PHEV/HEV: “best of both worlds” for those without home charging or with frequent long trips; can commute on electricity yet rely on gas when needed.
  • Critics see PHEVs as “worst of both worlds” (two drivetrains, complexity, higher service costs) and susceptible to greenwashing if rarely plugged in.
  • Hybrids increasingly popular in practice; some automakers now hybrid-only on key models.

Chinese competition and tariffs

  • Many note that genuinely cheap EVs exist abroad (BYD, Renault, etc.) but are blocked from the US by tariffs and industrial policy.
  • Views diverge:
    • One camp wants tariffs lifted to allow $15–25k imports and force US makers to compete.
    • Another stresses protecting domestic jobs, “strategic” auto capacity, and concerns about subsidized dumping and labor standards.

Automaker incentives and product mix

  • Commenters emphasize that automakers and dealers chase high-margin trucks/SUVs and luxury trims, having largely abandoned low-margin cheap cars.
  • Regulations (CAFE footprint rules, safety features) and dealer-based distribution are seen as pushing vehicles larger and more complex, but several point out that true low-cost models (Versa, Mirage, Rio, Bolt) still exist and sell modestly.

Software, UX, and privacy

  • Many dislike “everything on a touchscreen,” laggy head units, and removal of CarPlay/Android Auto in favor of subscription ecosystems.
  • CarPlay/Android Auto are seen as a vital “escape hatch” from bad OEM software and future neglect.
  • Growing concern over vehicle telemetry, location tracking, and insurance “spy devices”; some avoid newer cars or physically disable antennas.

Infrastructure and use patterns

  • Home charging is described as transformative; without a dedicated parking spot, EV ownership becomes much less attractive.
  • Road-trip experiences differ: some find 250–300 mile legs with 20–40 minute fast charges acceptable, others view any planning/charging time as unacceptable vs. quick gas refills.

Policy, competition, and climate

  • Tariffs, tax credits (e.g., $7,500 EV credit), and IRA-style subsidies are seen as heavily shaping the US EV landscape.
  • Some argue protectionism lets legacy US automakers delay hard EV decisions and underinvest in truly competitive, affordable models.
  • Others frame EVs as necessary but insufficient for climate goals, emphasizing public transit, walkability, and e-bikes as equally or more important.

Niche and experimental EVs

  • Aptera generates enthusiasm as an ultra-efficient, solar-augmented, three-wheeled EV, but many doubt its market size, safety perception, and long-term viability.
  • There’s general desire for lighter, more efficient vehicles, but skepticism that US buyers or regulations will allow a major downsizing away from large trucks/SUVs.