I don't believe this to be a true statement.
Tedlas are priced between $71,000 and $101,000.
That's a lot for a battery powered car with all the limitations of the technology.
They might be considered viable to a wealthy greenie as a way to make a statement.
But to someone less well-heeled who is looking for cost effective transportation they have a long, long way to go.
Let's be honest - there probably wouldn't even be an electric car business in the USA if it wasn't for federal government pressure, subsidies, sweetheart deals and handouts.
> Tedlas are priced between $71,000 and $101,000.
>
> That’s a lot for a battery powered car with all the limitations of the technology.
True enough — but then again, [electro-chemical] batteries are a much less refined technology than internal combustion engines.
( The “voltaic pile” appeared in 1800; whereas ICE is [arguably] from the 17th century: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_engine )
> Let’s be honest - there probably wouldn’t even be an electric car business in the USA if it wasn’t for federal government pressure, subsidies, sweetheart deals and handouts.
Hm, probably — the one possible exception I could see is in sunny areas like AZ or NM where solar/battery could be put to good usage; possibly more geared toward “out in the boonies” “get to town” vehicles rather than everyday usage. As battery technology is refined I do expect it to become more feasible.
As it is, I think ICE/hydraulic would be the way to go (with a hydraulic drive-train you could drop the shaft and transmission using the hydraulics as both; the best fuel for the ICE would probably be Diesel, though natural gas could be good if, in the next couple years, more natural-gas infrastructure is established).
That's a lot for a battery powered car with all the limitations of the technology.
They might be considered viable to a wealthy greenie as a way to make a statement.
But to someone less well-heeled who is looking for cost effective transportation they have a long, long way to go.
Let's be honest - there probably wouldn't even be an electric car business in the USA if it wasn't for federal government pressure, subsidies, sweetheart deals and handouts.
Not only that, but they profit off other car companies...
Even with the support of federal and state politicians, Tesla would still be reporting losses were it not for its ability to profit off of other auto manufacturers in California. In the first quarter of 2013, Tesla reported its first-ever quarterly profit by using special credits from California's Air Resources Board, which rewards auto manufacturers for the production of “zero-emission” vehicles. So far this year, Tesla was able to turn what would have been a $57 million loss into an $11 million gain by selling $68 million worth of these credits to other auto manufacturers in California.
Article here -