We CALLED the Hoax On the "Green Car Buyer" In 2010. Is It Even Truer TODAY?

It's becoming fairly obvious that the green car movement is losing steam. Almost every indicator is down for the segment as automakers rush to make vehicles for a market that doesn't exist.

If you are shocked by the news then I would like to point you to a post we had back in 2010 (yes, almost 9 years ago) that correctly showed that this was a manufactured movement by the media..

The Green Car Buyer: A Customer Created By The Media With An Agenda That Doesn't Really Exist?

Yes our Agent001 correctly called the hoax back then, but few listened and the mainstream media ran with for the better part of a decade. Don;t think for a minute that the EV is dead, but think of it more like an adjustment to the segment much like a hybrid where it fills a niche.

Just remember you heard it here first, and way before anyone else.

atc98092 - 4/26/2019 10:31:41 AM

+4 Boost

I am eagerly awaiting an EV that meets my desires. The Kona/Nero are close, but they aren't available in my state, yet. From what has been written so far, the VW ID Crozz will likely fulfill my checklist, assuming it arrives as promised. Big assumption, as most EV promises have been either very late, or vaporware.

I've driven an e-Golf, and would buy one in a heartbeat if it had closer to 200 mile EPA range. I need one that can drive 120 miles, over a mountain pass, in the dead of winter, with full heat going, and have some range left over once I arrive to reach a fast charger or have charging available at my destination. The e-Golf can't do that now, but the Crozz should be able to.

I think that once there's more "mainstream" vehicles available, they will sell. Battery tech and cost continue to improve, which is helping reduce the price of the car. I don't care for the interior of the Model 3, but I also admit I've never driven any Tesla. But after driving a diesel for years, I yearn for that low end torque again. EV delivers that in spades.

PUGPROUD - 4/26/2019 11:35:37 AM

+3 Boost

Changing people's habits takes much much longer than manufacturers anticipate...no matter the industry, no matter the innovation.

Truthy - 4/26/2019 12:29:02 PM

0 Boost

The big hidden issue with battery technology in an EV is that the failure rate is high compared to ICEs and the cost of these failures is at least an order of magnitude higher. Tesla is starting to adjust their warranty as costs escalate.

Truthy - 4/26/2019 12:32:37 PM

+2 Boost

When all else fails blame the media. I have seen numerous pieces in the MSM questioning the validity of EV push. Elon has been the hustler pushing this narrative and has found enough fools to buy his products or put money down in the Hope's of buying one.

Lovesponge76 - 4/26/2019 1:05:45 PM

-1 Boost

Manufacturers are killing the combustion engine in the name of being green, but how many trees will be chopped down to make room for charging stations. Are we going to convert the existing gas station to charging stations?

I just purchased my first 4.0 AMG built V8 and I Ducking Love the sound. Keep you Tesla model whatever

Truthy - 4/26/2019 2:45:41 PM

+1 Boost

Good choice. A great engine.

Lovesponge76 - 4/26/2019 1:05:55 PM

0 Boost

Truthy - 4/26/2019 2:49:08 PM

0 Boost

I will push back on manufacturers killing the ICE. Major manufacturers would love nothing more than cheap gas and selling ICEs as the investment required to adequately develop EVs (whereas Tesla fell short) will be a severe drag on earnings for many years. They will however, find a way to produce what the market wants. And China, one of the two largest markets and soon the lone largest is pushing EVs. You will need to have them to be a player in China.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 4/26/2019 4:17:59 PM

+2 Boost

If we a agree the push towards hybrids and BEV's is based on a cleaner world, a fact that most can agree on. But where is the push to autonomous vehicles coming from? Automakers seemingly will go broke investing in it (and BEV fleets), but who is asking for it? A smart highway to control them all like in Minority Report requires billions in new roads. It makes little sense.

TomM - 4/27/2019 5:51:43 PM

0 Boost

Actually - that is NOT true

A recent study showed that the mining of the Lithium, Cobalt, and Manganese needed for EV production of cars - and NOT needed for ICE vehicles - Actually creates significantly higher co2 emissions than an ICE car would for its lifetime.

Well what do you know - EVs are NOT GREEN and it has nothing to do with the Production of the ELECTRICITY - most of which would be petroleum produced for quite a while longer.

TomM - 4/27/2019 12:53:53 PM

+1 Boost

Actually - forcing people into EV's COULD work to help the environment

All they would need to do is OUTLAW ICE engine vehicles AND THEN offer NO DISCOUNTS or Tax incentives for buying EVs - AND only allow EV's to be charged from SOLAR or WIND powered charging stations - ALL at once with NO exceptions. That would include Trains, Busses, boats, and similar public transportation.

The majority of the people would no longer be able to buy a CAR - EV's are too expensive for them - so that would take TENS of MILLIONS of cars off the road - render all "legacy and antique cars" worthless because they could not even start the engines, ANd of course it would DESTROY the economies of all the known world.

Billions would die of starvation, not having the ability to get to work or have goods delivered to be purchased.

However - pollution would be greatly reduced

Truthy - 4/28/2019 12:14:03 PM

+1 Boost

Reminds of Al Gore's comparison of the average Amercan to some tribe in the middle of nowhere central Africa. According to Al, American's are terrible because our average carbon footprint is 100 times higher than theirs. Of course they lived in tents, had no electricity or running water and had to hunt their own food.
He did not mention if they drove Teslas.