Neither capitalism or communism gives you reliable cars. What helps is good regulation for minimum warranty periods, mandatory maintenance and spare parts availability for 15+ years, interdictions of dark patterns (e.g: end user should be able to replace the headlamps, oil filter and such easily with basic tools). And also, industry standards, ODB2 for diagnostics for instance. And now, Cybersecurity and data privacy is super relevant, you don’t want OEMs or bad actors to be able to disable your car remotely.
Yeah. Electric vehicles with no computers (beyond microcontrollers for batter chargers and stuff).
There was a period about 15 years ago where you going get a not stupidly expensive electric refit kit for a bunch of cars - someone I know did it with a 90s Rav4 for like $10k. Unfortunately they seem to be stupid expensive now.
Conversions for most cars are pretty lame. Battery placement is rough and mechanical losses from attaching an electric motor to a transmission for an ICE are significant. Conversions are cool but mostly a novelty.
I’d rather see some real bare-bones electrics, like the first Leafs, with the best battery tech we can toss in them.
First person to make the hatchback 90s Honda Civic of EVs is going to print money. I’d fucking do it, but I don’t have the capital required to start it.
Seriously. 200 miles of range for the entry model. Compact, make it a little rowdy, make it cheap, make documentation free and widely available. Let people modify it and break it, make a surplus of replacement parts so they can be put back together. Wait 6 months and then release a performance version.
It’s already been made. We just can’t have it here in the US because it would kill our domestic auto makers. Can’t have competition if you’re not competitive, right?
In Europe we have Renault offering something in this segment with their new Twingo. Barebone simple EV for city driving and daily commute. It’s priced around 13k€ new.
Yeah, the digital dash and stuff is still a pretty huge turn-off. Dunno if it has things like electric door handles and non-mechanical brakes, but those are also disturbing.
Heh, yeah, that was a bit of a brain fart coming from electrically controlled brakes in ICE cars. I do think there needs to be a mechanical backup though.
Yea, if only they would build the mid 90’s Camry wagon again, but electric and with 300km real world range in freezing conditions. But we all know they won’t, as that would undermine their own business.
Neither capitalism or communism gives you reliable cars. What helps is good regulation for minimum warranty periods, mandatory maintenance and spare parts availability for 15+ years, interdictions of dark patterns (e.g: end user should be able to replace the headlamps, oil filter and such easily with basic tools). And also, industry standards, ODB2 for diagnostics for instance. And now, Cybersecurity and data privacy is super relevant, you don’t want OEMs or bad actors to be able to disable your car remotely.
Mh yeah the problem is that capitalism want you to buy new stuff so they will not make a very repairable car or a car that lasts 30 years
I need respectable 90s Japanese cars that are competing to destroy the American automotive industry. But with electronic vehicles.
Yeah. Electric vehicles with no computers (beyond microcontrollers for batter chargers and stuff).
There was a period about 15 years ago where you going get a not stupidly expensive electric refit kit for a bunch of cars - someone I know did it with a 90s Rav4 for like $10k. Unfortunately they seem to be stupid expensive now.
Conversions for most cars are pretty lame. Battery placement is rough and mechanical losses from attaching an electric motor to a transmission for an ICE are significant. Conversions are cool but mostly a novelty.
I’d rather see some real bare-bones electrics, like the first Leafs, with the best battery tech we can toss in them.
First person to make the hatchback 90s Honda Civic of EVs is going to print money. I’d fucking do it, but I don’t have the capital required to start it.
Seriously. 200 miles of range for the entry model. Compact, make it a little rowdy, make it cheap, make documentation free and widely available. Let people modify it and break it, make a surplus of replacement parts so they can be put back together. Wait 6 months and then release a performance version.
You would print so much fucking money.
It’s already been made. We just can’t have it here in the US because it would kill our domestic auto makers. Can’t have competition if you’re not competitive, right?
Seems like what Slate is trying to do (probably others yoo). But no idea if it’s vaporware or not.
I lucked the fuck out and got a 12 year old Leaf for 700 bucks (a tree fell on it a little). Only 60 mile range, but it’s JUST enough for the commute.
I wonder if there’s a 10k for 100 mile range, 15k for 200 mile range possibility.
Yeah, for sure. Just gotta find a very large funder…
What’s John DeLorean up to these days?
In Europe we have Renault offering something in this segment with their new Twingo. Barebone simple EV for city driving and daily commute. It’s priced around 13k€ new.
Yeah, the digital dash and stuff is still a pretty huge turn-off. Dunno if it has things like electric door handles and non-mechanical brakes, but those are also disturbing.
So you mean recuperation by non mechanical brakes?
Heh, yeah, that was a bit of a brain fart coming from electrically controlled brakes in ICE cars. I do think there needs to be a mechanical backup though.
Non mechanical brakes? Like fly-by-wire or do you mean something else?
Yea, if only they would build the mid 90’s Camry wagon again, but electric and with 300km real world range in freezing conditions. But we all know they won’t, as that would undermine their own business.
Comp…etition? Now how might we get world market competition?
Let’s order it on Amazon?
Yes /s
Yeah but none of that happens if the corporations that make the cars are the ones writing the laws that regulate them.