382
World’s first ‘superfast’ battery offers 400km range from 10 mins charge
(www.independent.co.uk)
this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
382 points (92.6% liked)
Technology
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That's not really an honest comparison though, and also kind of simply doesn't matter.
Most vehicles will have some expensive component fail well before the engine, and after ~10 years almost any major replacement will cost $5k or more. My suspension gave out at year 8 and it would have cost me $5k to repair my Ford valued at $5k. Who's going to want to spend that - on an engine or otherwise - on a 15+ year old car unless it's a particularly well regarded model by enthusiasts? The average consumer doesn't care.
The average consumer wants a new car after a decade simply for new features (like sensors or safety), change of lifestyle (like going from a sedan to a van for kids or an SUV to a sports car), or even simply styling and aesthetic. If the battery lasts 5+ years than the average consumer wants the car in the first place, it won't matter.
Not to mention that in the coming years, the price of replacing battery packs will likely drop, while the price of replacing engines may likely increase, as OEMs ramp down engine production and ramp up battery production.
The average shade tree mechanic (like myself) or a "friend" can replace that truck suspension in less than a day and do it with good aftermarket stuff for $800, or cheap stuff that will last a few years for $400 and get it done in an afternoon. That is absolutely not possible with the larger EV batteries, and the battery pack itself is $10,000, not including labor.
Your comparison to a truck suspension (which you laughably overpriced, even with taking it to a shop) is worlds different from dealing with an EV battery.
Your engine pricing ramp up also isn't going to happen in the next decade, and generally if it's an old vehicle you won't put a new motor in them anyhow. You need a motor for a car from 2005 you're much more likely to buy a used one, or a used rebuilt one.
This is coming from someone who's done automotive work for the past 20 years and own, repairs, and quite enjoys a prius, so it's not like I'm against evs for no reason. I just know right now it's tossing money down a sinkhole. EV isn't there yet for the US. Smaller countries where evs that only need 150km range and batts are cheaper it would be fine in, but in the US it won't work yet. Not for the power grid or economically.