All good points. Then factor in the inevitable state-level attempts to tax EV use as an offset to lost gasoline tax revenue. And the costs to be borne by everyone, no matter what or whether they drive, if and when the electric grid struggle with snowballing strain of EV charging at scale. (I believe California has already urged EV owners not to charge during peak usage periods, which rather degrades EVs' commuting utility.)
Personal EVs are great choices for affluent suburbanites that can rig up at-home chargers, own a second mild-hybrid or pure ICE vehicle for roadtrips, and are motivated by moral / sustainability preoccupations as much or more than cost savings. For city-dwellers, roadtrippers, or people on budgets, the EV road hasn't risen to meet us yet.
It's far smarter and more productive to roll out EV tech at scale through captive fleets that perform defined missions, like city transit buses and urban delivery vans. Tesla or no Tesla, I think personal transportation will be the last domino to fall here -- by which I mean, penetration crosses 50% of households.
Great article, Liz! The high upfront cost of EVs and the lack of charging infrastructure are significant hurdles for many consumers. While incentives help, they aren’t always enough to make the math work out. Looking forward to seeing how advancements in technology and infrastructure can help bridge this gap. Thanks for the insightful analysis!
All good points. Then factor in the inevitable state-level attempts to tax EV use as an offset to lost gasoline tax revenue. And the costs to be borne by everyone, no matter what or whether they drive, if and when the electric grid struggle with snowballing strain of EV charging at scale. (I believe California has already urged EV owners not to charge during peak usage periods, which rather degrades EVs' commuting utility.)
Personal EVs are great choices for affluent suburbanites that can rig up at-home chargers, own a second mild-hybrid or pure ICE vehicle for roadtrips, and are motivated by moral / sustainability preoccupations as much or more than cost savings. For city-dwellers, roadtrippers, or people on budgets, the EV road hasn't risen to meet us yet.
It's far smarter and more productive to roll out EV tech at scale through captive fleets that perform defined missions, like city transit buses and urban delivery vans. Tesla or no Tesla, I think personal transportation will be the last domino to fall here -- by which I mean, penetration crosses 50% of households.
Great article, Liz! The high upfront cost of EVs and the lack of charging infrastructure are significant hurdles for many consumers. While incentives help, they aren’t always enough to make the math work out. Looking forward to seeing how advancements in technology and infrastructure can help bridge this gap. Thanks for the insightful analysis!