It is coming 2019: Mission E

[thstone]

I am hesitant to believe all of the hype.

Mass adoption of electric cars has been two years away every year for the last 10 years and there doesn't appear to be any significant change any time soon.

Ford can't give away Bolt's (only sold 12K thus far in 2017) despite its 230 mile range, under $30K price, and the fact that they drive great (yes, I drove one and seriously considered it for my wife).

For 2017, the total market for EV's is forecast 200K out of a total of 17 million vehicles or 1.3% of the market (and this includes plug in hybrids). Remove hybrids (1.0%) and the pure EV market is 60K vehicles or 0.3% of total sales.
Tesla has only sold around 25K cars (Model S + Model X) so far this year. Based on the press they receive, you'd think that they sold 1M+ cars. And based on their market cap, you'd think that they sold 10M+ cars.

For comparison, Toyota is on track to sell about 320,000 Camry's this year.

Looking long term, the Union of Concerned Scientists best case forecast is EV sales reaching 10% of the total sales by 2025 and that highly optimistic number probably can't be achieved unless something substantial happens to vastly increase EV sales.

So sure, Porsche can compete with Tesla to sell as many $90,000+ sedans as the market will bear but that won't drive mass market adoption or make hardly any difference in EV total market share.

Unless the Tesla Model 3 changes everything.

[kk2002s]

I have to cynically suspect the push to electric cars, instead of other options, is all about $$$$ for all with our beloved politicians in the back pockets helping drive this with tax incentives.
As said, the Grid is not ready to support this. Our power plants are not ready (Maybe we bring back on line all those retired coal plants)
I can see electric cars as a good 2nd car option, expensive but makes sense as they have time to recharge. I am seeing more and more Teslas so there seems to be a high end market, not so much lesser priced e-cars.

When I think e-cars I think back to a youth soccer tournament and the owner of a Tesla from New York (90 miles away) walking all around the vast fields with a charging extension cord over his shoulder looking desperately for an electric plug.

It reminds me of the airport boarding gates and every electric plug surrounded by cell phones and laptops charging away.

[Anker]

Originally Posted by thstone

Ford can't give away Bolt's (only sold 12K thus far in 2017) despite its 230 mile range, under $30K price, and the fact that they drive great (yes, I drove one and seriously considered it for my wife).

Not surprising, since the Bolt is a Chevrolet! And, by the way, Bolt sales are increasing rapidly!