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by WallabyEV 1303 days ago
The reason I've found my niche in the EV sector is because there are no more Miata-type vehicles for sale in the US anymore that flip the range anxiety upside down. Most urban and suburban sprawl lives happen in low speed congestion. Smaller vehicles, if subsidized with parking advantages plus never needing to stop at a gas station again, also can maybe catch a break in the ghost-taxation of mandatory insurance. I think the most effective strategy is make people want to go electric because it's just way better, and I'm excited about the future. SEMA 2022 was apparently "electrify all the things!" with a healthy dose of restomod. Sounds great!
2 comments
PaulHoule 1303 days ago
Detroit won the freedom to eliminate small gas cars from their product line in exchange for investing in electric vehicles which might be bad in the short term.

I remember my dad going to American car dealerships in the 1970s who would try very hard not to sell him a small car. Lately I've seen Japanese car dealerships trying the same game. (e.g. you can't buy a new Honda Fit because they said the factory washed out in a flood, but they have 30 CR-Vs that are made in the same factory in stock) Rumor has it that Honda and Toyota would like to get rid of the Civic and Corolla but it's hard to do when they know people will pay a 50% markup or more to get a used one. (e.g. some people's idea of a 'quality' car is that it starts when you turn the key and the head gasket doesn't blow out at 17,000 miles -- that is, not a Cadillac)

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pstuart 1303 days ago
What you propose is a good thing (to me), but there's an aspect of this that seems to be missing in all dialog about EVs: fuel tax.

My understanding is that a large portion of roads and associated infrastructure are funded by fuel taxes (which seems to be fair: the more you use them the more you pay).

I've yet to see an equitable solution to this problem.

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ender341341 1303 days ago
A mileage tax would be decently equitable for a road use tax but it's usually unpopular, though I'd much prefer that to tolls or tracking with cameras.
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