Perhaps some enterprising type could create and sell a gas conversion for these cars. The irony would be delicious.
It’s still WAY overpriced, but I think everyone here is missing a fundamental point about this car:
Yes, it goes 40 miles on a charge, but it also includes a gasoline engine. This is fundamentally different from a standard hybrid though, because the engine is just used to generate electricity.
Before you say “thats stupid,” consider that most Diesel train locomotives do exactly this...the trains are moved by electric traction motors powered by Diesel generators.
The advantage to this is that the engine only needs to be tuned for a very narrow RPM range, and presumably can be made to run very efficiently at this range. Standard car engines however, need to give good, smooth power at a wide variety of RPMs, making it easier to waste fuel.
Small block, dual glasspacks, 5 Speed, narrowed Ford 9", tubs.