AP: Electric car sales are slowing in the US and Europe as both fans and skeptics share concerns

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://apnews.com/article/ev-emissions-china-eu-trump-electric-b6a432557ac314d02654008bfbaa09fb

Electric car sales are slowing in the US and Europe as both fans and skeptics share concerns
By DAVID McHUGH, ALEXA ST. JOHN and KEN MORITSUGU
Updated 1:53 AM EST, November 27, 2024

DETROIT (AP) — While sales of electric vehicles surge in China, adoption of more environmentally friendly vehicles is stumbling in the United States and Europe as carmakers and governments struggle to meet years-old promises about affordability and charging stations.

Adding to those headwinds: an incoming new U.S. president who has disparaged government support for electric vehicles.

China is the exception. Driven by government subsidies and mandates, vehicles with electric motors, including plug-in hybrids that combine electric and fossil fuel motors, topped 50% of sales in the month of July.

Concerns about range, charging infrastructure and higher prices are sore points among both electric car enthusiasts and skeptics in Europe and the U.S.

…

[msongs]

1. one suspects range is a bigger issue in the usa due to our long distances. In So Cal we drive 100 miles

roundtrip just to do lunch while in Europe people likely rarely drive that far for any reason.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. May I suggest you find somewhere else to eat lunch?

I tell people, an ICE vehicle sitting in a garage produces fewer emissions than an EV that is being driven. — EV’s produce fewer emissions when driven the same distance as an ICE vehicle, but driving 100 miles for lunch is wasteful (regardless of the type of vehicle you’re driving.)

[OrlandoDem2]

2. I love mine! I'll never go back to an internal combustion engine.

[Frasier Balzov]

3. I don't understand plug-in hybrids.

The advantage of a hybrid is supposed to be that the fossil fuel engine keeps the EV battery charged so you never NEED to plug it in or pull over for charging.

You pull over to fill the gas tank, but you only need to do that a fraction of the time than you do for internal cumbustion only.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. An internal combustion engine is inefficient

A plug-in hybrid (like the GM Volt™) allows you to use it as an EV most of the time, only relying on the ICE for longer distances.

https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric-basics-phev

[Frasier Balzov]

10. Very informative! Thanks!

[OKIsItJustMe]

11. My pleasure

[CoopersDad]

15. I loved my 2012 Volt

I was an EV most days of the month and needed only two oil changes and one set of tires in 100K miles.

One day a manic lifted F150 took it out of service, I ended up with an EV which was easy because I already had a level 2 charger at home.

[OKIsItJustMe]

16. I know more than one happy Volt owner

The Volt™ was (if you will) an attempt to commercialize an EV1 with range extender.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1#Conversions

[Finishline42]

14. 1200 miles on a tank of gas

I drive Uber/Lyft. Had a rider from the local Volvo dealer tell me that - 1200 miles on a tank of gas. He has the 90 class SUV plugin hybrid - their biggest. They have approx a 30 mile range so most of their daily driving - to work, the store, picking up kids - is within that range. But for longer trips it is a normal hybrid that you just fill up when necessary.

I think this makes sense for a lot of people.

[ramapo]

5. Gee I wonder why?

First, lets get this out the way. The king of government subsidies is Elon Musk. He owers the existence of Tesla to Obama. And the US government funded SpaceX. Yes, SpaceX produced but not without help.

Government has always supported new technology. The truth is China is kicking our ass in EVs, renewables, and the simple ability to actually execute a plan that takes longer than months (or four years) to bear fruit.

China has something like in excess of 120 EV brands, ten companies competing for most of the business. The less expensive models are in the $10,000 to $20,000 price range. Higher end models have every feature you'd want.

There are 10,000,000 charging stations.

I just boughtt a new car after deciding my 2008 Prius was simply missing today's technology. I WANTED to buy an EV. Cheaper to run, simple, no pollution. I did not want to spend $60,000 plus for a model that didn't really give me what I wanted. I bought a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid instead for under $35,000 and I get 50MPG.

GM had the Bolt for under $30,000 and they killed it. It was a bit smaller than what I wanted but the price was right.

China is selling EVs in other countries. The US can't even get our own market going. We are total losers.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. About the Bolt...

Yes, it was cheap, and GM lost money on every one they sold. They did not “kill it” they discontinued it temporarily, it will be back soon. It will be a better car for consumers, and profitable for GM. (win-win)

https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/8/24265404/gm-chevy-bolt-next-gen-charging-family-reuss

[ramapo]

12. Back next year

A friend has a Bolt. Got caught by the battery recall. The 'new' Bolt is slated for 2025. We'll see. It's being made in Mexico.

GM also had the Volt, electric and gas, sort of a super hybrid.

None of this changes the fact that China has run circles around the US. By the time Republicans get done, China will have every advantage on the world market.

[OKIsItJustMe]

13. GM also lost money on every Volt they sold

The Equinox EV seems to be a good car.
https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2025-chevy-equinox-ev-range-tested.html
https://www.caranddriver.com/chevrolet/equinox-ev

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Just ordered my RAV4 plug in hybrid here in BC

It’s all made in Japan, so no tariff worries.

Approx. 70km range on a full charge means I’ll only have to buy/burn gas if I drive out of town. 90% of my annual mileage is driven in town, close to home, so you do the math.

959km range on full charge/full tank means I can still get down to Portland to see my son and his family on a single tank of gas from BC.

I hope to take delivery by next spring, although the sales person said they’ve been getting deliveries on plug ins quicker than plain hybrids the last several months.