There is zero incentive from the federal government to buy Tesla, so that statement is incorrect

 

What is the government doing to increase Tesla sales?

 

Part of the big Infrastructure Bill recently passed had funding for EV facilities....and there have been tax credits for some time.

In my area, some businesses (WaWa's is one of them) are installing Tesla-grade charge-stations to serve customers while inside shopping. But that doesn't help lot of those who live in condos or other situations that don't have (or can't have with the present design) charge-stations at home.



I still say the best compromise for a lot of people is going to be hybrids and extended-range hybrids with a small gas engine. Pure-BEVs simply aren't going to work for a lot of people....although they DO work for a lot of others.

 

The infrastructure bill does provide some funding for charging infrastructure, but in no way insentivises the average Tesla buyer as most of those buyers charge from home. I always say that if someone doesn't have access to charge at home or public charging network, BEV may not be an option. But if you gave me a choice between hybrid and BEV, it's not even a close contest

 

The issue is, that not only well off or wealthy people have to drive. So let’s think about the inner city, hoods, lower income communities. They ride around on E, put $10 in the tank and risk it. They can’t afford to buy some expensive new car that requires a charger, a higher cost to purchase, etc. what about the infrastructure in poor areas? I don’t see this working out too well.

 

agree with you completely. vast majority of people drive a several year old used car and switching to a BEV isn't possible, or desirable. if regulation and tax penalties try to 'encourage' lower income drivers to switch, i think it's going to be a problem.

 

These drivers usually have to drive farther than wealthy people.

 

Lower income people always take the biggest hit. They will be moved to mass transportation or walking while upper income people will end up paying the same after increased electricity costs. More time sitting at the electric pump will increase sales at stops, people will pay for anything while waiting to kill their boredom. Home charging and less travel will also be the norm because waiting for your electric fuel up is not desirable, to say the least. The car travel industry will take a hit. Also generating this much electricity for cars and homes without nuclear is a pipe dream. Mandatory advanced hybrids is my answer.

 

You ignore the cost of fuel for those drivers though. As an example, I pay $300 a month or so just to fuel my car which is driven about 1,200 miles a month. An EV will be much cheaper to operate, and used EVs will become available with very good range. People with less means will see a cash positive result in upgrading to EV.

My cost to fuel one car is more than the electricity for my entire house. Even if electricity costs double (which they won’t) I would still come out ahead.

 

Your Mercedes has a range of 443 miles. You would would have to fill up 32.5 times per year to drive the distance you drive. 5 minute fill ups is 2.7hrs a year total at the pumps...one charge from 0-100% is longer than 2.7 hrs.

 

Considering the charging happens while the vehicle is parked in my garage at home and it doesn't take me any time specifically to charge it, its a non issue. So, an EV saves me the 2.7 hours at the pump every year. I don't understand how you don't realize that. The car sits parked in my garage way more than its out being driven. Unless a car is a taxi or an ambulance or a police car, all cars do. The charging happens during that time.

And 443 miles of range is not everyday range. I fill up every week...so in ~ 300 miles I am down under 1/4 tank. I would plug the vehicle in every time I park it in the garage, so I would never need to charge it outside my garage unless I was on a long trip. Phone doesn't sit on my desk or dresser without charging while its doing that, car doesn't sit in the garage without charging.

 

How is 443 miles not everyday range?

 

Arent there already substantial tax credits to the Tesla buyers? This is precisely the case of the regulators making poorer tax payers subsidize rich EV buyers.

 

I paid $50 a month to charge my car that does about 15k miles a year in energy expensive California. I've gone solar so that has gone away but I use to pay about $3k a year in premium gas and my car now is much much much higher performance than my previous ICE. Also, I've spent $40 in the last 2.5 years in maintenance outside of tires. I replace my summer performance tires at 20k miles which is actually better than my previous car and i drive much more aggressively with this one. EVs cost of ownership is ridiculously low.

 

I own the car and you don't, so lets listen to me about the range my car gets, shall we? The car does not get 443 miles to a tank in everyday driving. Gas mileage goes down in city and everyday driving vs highway mileage. After 300 miles, my tank is less than ~ 1/4 remaining, and I refuel. I don't wait until the car gets to 0 fuel to refuel. So, once a week I have to stop for gas.

On the highway, sure it will get 600 miles of range. But around town, its getting 16 or 17 MPG and if you look at the size of the tank (23 gallons) thats 380 miles, so yeah, 300 miles depletes it to 1/4. Fuel is ~ $4.20 a gallon, I usually pump about 18 gallons so its about $75, $75 times 4 is $300.