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this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2023
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That's great. Build it. Until this hits the showroom floor, I don't care. Electric cars have been consistently 10 years away for the past like 30 or 40 years. For every other automaker, electric cars are now here today. Except Toyota, where they are still 10 years away. And for me, The electric car isn't 10 years away, it's parked in my driveway. So as far as I'm concerned, this is all just press bullshit to try and discredit current EVs and buy Toyota time to continue pushing gas and hybrid.
And as for the whole thing of people not buying EVs, that's twofold. One, people are hurting right now, and people in bad economic condition get really price conscious. The second gas prices go up they'll all be trading their gas guzzlers for EVs. Second, the simple fact is a lot of EVs on the road kind of suck. And other than Tesla, the public charging infrastructure is awful so if you like road trips you're going to have a bad time. Given that in another year other automakers will mostly be switching to Tesla charge ports, unless you're buying a Tesla there's some logic in waiting.
I bought a car last summer, and I had my wallet out ready to buy an EV. I had only 2 criteria:
Guess how many models were available? 1 - the Tesla Model Y, 7-seater option. And I did order one, but they cancelled my order because they stopped selling that variant in Canada.
So that's why I didn't buy an EV. Manufacturers can't be arsed to build a car that meets my very simple criteria; they prefer making another boring 5-seater crossover or yet another humongous "luxury" SUV. I want a minivan, dammit.
Alternatively, you could go the hybrid route as those are arguably better for most people. Plus their batteries are often large enough you can get 20-40 miles of all electric driving. That alone covers over 95% of all people's trips.
There are a few options in that category. I believe Toyota's Highlander is a 3 row hybrid. I think Hyundai's new Santa Fe also has a hybrid power train with 3 rows. The Mazda CX-90 is another viable hybrid. Though Idk if that officially released yet.
But yeah, in terms of pure 3 row EV's, we're lacking.
Plugin hybrids are killer. EV around town and good MPG on road trips.
My previous vehicle was a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (which I sold in 2022 when I left for a long trip), and I actually bought another one after Tesla cancelled my order. It is a good option, but my main gripe with it is that it doesn't have enough electric range and it only charges on AC. I was ready to go full electric, but apparently the market isn't.
The Volvo EX90 is a 7 seat EV.
Volvo makes quite a few EV and hybrids now. The "Overseas Delivery Tourist Experience" is also a nice touch if you ever wanted to go to sweden.
Honest question, what about the buzz-e?
You mean the VW ID.Buzz? It's not out yet, and I needed a car in June.
Are you talking about the US? They are here, in Copenhagen, and they look awesome!
I'm in Canada, we're supposed to get the US model which is longer and not out yet. The European model is only a 5-seater so it's not for me.
Wait list for the EV9 is already over a year and it just became “available” in Canada.
You're not wrong. A model X would also fit your bill, but last summer they were stupid expensive. Prices have come down a bit. I would suggest buying any car consider the total cost of ownership, not just 'stretch a bit to avoid gas'. Gas cars need oil changes, tune-ups, belt replacements, and various other maintenance. EVs require very little. Also, if you need more than 5 seats, don't shun the 'humongous' SUV. You're literally in that market.
But for someone in the market last year, you were pretty fucked even I will admit.
I do wish somebody was making an electric minivan. Closest I'm aware of is Chrysler has a Pacifica plug in hybrid. And now there's the ID.Buzz coming out soon.
The Pacifica is actually what I ended up buying.
EDIT: And yeah, looks like Model X has come down in price, but it's still 110k$ CAD (was 140+). Somebody else mentioned the Kia EV9 which actually has a price now, and it's very interesting. I've talked to my local dealer and they'll call me back when they have one available for test drives.
Humongous, perhaps. Luxury, not really. I'm just not the type of guy who needs a special type of car to feel manly; minivans actually feel more useful to me.
Oh yeah I hear ya. You'd like a big SUV like a Tahoe or Suburban, you don't need fancy leather seats and big touchscreen and a little motor that massages your butt while you drive (and you don't want to pay for that stuff).
Not much in that regard available these days...
Actually, no. I'd like a Dodge Caravan or Odyssey. The Tahoe and Suburban are way too big on the outside, but they're actually very small on the inside.
You're on point about the fanciness, though. I got TVs in my current car (Pacifica Pinnacle, it's the only model they had), and they're awful. For the cost of that option, I would've been much better off buying a bunch of iPads.
I've been looking at the EV9 and people who have driven it seem to love a lot about it, except for one thing. The incessant beeping. It has safety features that beep about everything and often you don't know why it's even doing it. You can turn it off but they only stay disabled till you turn off the vehicle. next time you get in bEep BEep beEp.
My wife would end up lighting it on fire and pushing off a cliff she would be so annoyed. If there is no way to permanently disable it then hard pass.
"Simple criteria." Dude, you live in the north pole and have enough kids to field a MOBA team, you need Santa to make you clown car.
Who is the the clown though, you brought absolutely nothing to this conversation - just trying to be funny and failing.