Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social

Does anyone understand why US car companies went hard on gigantic EVs? It seems like a market that is less interested in the product and a problem that is harder to solve. I assume it has something to do with price point?

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@edelmanja.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:19 UTC

Oh Hank It's always hubris

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JungleYeti @jungleyeti.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:42 UTC

It's the US. It was inevitable. Just like any food that gains popularity in the US is inevitably going to be deep fried. It doesn't need to make sense. People are going to buy it because it's excessive. Because it's 'Murica.

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Kilte Fops @graytfox.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:11 UTC

Crossovers and SUVs are basically the most popular ICE car segment. Take out all the emissions and boom. Americans have massive range anxiety (kinda due to the still fairly abysmal charging infrastructure) and you can pack a ton of batteries into a longer/wider car. Margins are bigger on CUVs too

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Jon @jonkatora.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:09 UTC

EV is still a niche market in US. Car enthusiasts will buy niche products if marketed to them and pay more than average car buyer. Big EVs with big power are fun and create buzz. I'm still waiting for a slow EV minivan with great range before I take the plunge.

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Gazpacho Soup @whatsupgazpacho.bsky.social [ View ] Apr 16, 2024 at 13:49 UTC

Fully charged talk about this point I think it's because you can make more money on a SUV than you can on a small car But it's ridiculous

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Philmosk @philmosk.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

US customers only buy gigantic, automakers were just trying to electrify what sold. That form factor harder to achieve than an electrified econobox.

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Note @notate.bsky.social [ View ] Apr 22, 2024 at 17:03 UTC

My first thought is that car companies think “people like big truck, people like EV’s. If we combine them, more people buy our cars!” But knowing how much car companies do research and market analysis or whatever, feel like they’d realize the overlap between those two demographics isn’t very large.

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Daniel @daniel12345.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:28 UTC

There is a lot of stupid regulation that basically incentives selling heavy cars We have a simular rule in the EU that heavy cars are allowed to emit more And bigger cars are a way to demonstrate change/ "progress" A bit like smartphones that get bigger and bigger, maybe?

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I'M QUEER, WHERE'S THE BEER?! @dillonopossum.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:56 UTC

I honestly think they're trying to trendy, yet appeal to truck owners and be able to go longer distances. I oddly believe they are still building them so big because of their habit with cafe standards.

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Topher @greenfret.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 11, 2024 at 18:33 UTC

Same reason that US car companies went hard on gigantic gas powered cars. People are willing to pay a greater increase on the cost to construct for them.

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Shriketastic @shriketastic.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:39 UTC

I don't understand why foreign manufacturers aren't trying either. VW just debuted the ID.7 Tourer, which is an electric wagon, and it is specifically not coming to the US.

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David Garner @garnede.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:31 UTC

More profit to be made in big cars versus selling smaller cars that are more affordable.

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Jaela Rivera @jaelar.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 02, 2024 at 03:45 UTC

I think it has a lot to do with American consumers. People want to be environmentally friendly while holding onto large luxury vehicles. I think the best thing we can do is invest in EV public transportation. We also must make it more desirable than driving in order for this to work. #ENVSCOMM24

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SoCalRedhead @vlf79.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:15 UTC

CA mandated that next year (I think) all new vehicles are EV. CA is a large market.

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Macgyyver @macgyyver.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 23:16 UTC

Because the good ol’ boys will drive right the heck over you with their pickups and confederate flags? 😠 I WANT a Leaf, not sure in Texas of the north it’s… ideal.

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Time Being @ssn-256-43-1893.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:22 UTC

To answer your question, no.

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Ingrid @ingridmfh.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:41 UTC

In countries where EVs have already broken through big (like here in Norway) it was the big flashy cars that managed to break onto the market. Smaller smarter vehicles remained a curiosity for decades. Then the big heavy Teslas came and people who actually buy cars went gaga for them.

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Doug @dfrsh757.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:41 UTC

My guess is that since non-EV vehicles are getting larger & larger thanks in part to gaming the CAFE standards, no one wants a small vehicle period. It’s a vehicle arms race and that includes EVs.

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luis 🐀✨ @itsluisgomez.com [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:23 UTC

From what I've read, it's a combo of a) Americans want bigger cars b) range anxiety is real, and the sweet spot in most focus groups is around 300 miles, and with current tech the best way to make that happen is to slap a big honkin' battery in the floor or whatever

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Scooby MF Doo @ceezworld12.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 20:53 UTC

Pretty sure the floor price to develop EVs currently is high and healthy margins are important for them to scale & reduce costs but the one of the biggest factors might have to do with the tax credit caps.

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Danny Daemonic @dannydaemonic.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 07:00 UTC

1️⃣ Early EV makers targeted/saturated the car market effectively.

2️⃣ Larger vehicles yield higher profits.

3️⃣ Bigger EVs with larger batteries address range issues - might be needed if behind in battery tech.

4️⃣ 80% of sales are larger vehicles: 221,594 vs 861,026.
^ www.marklines.com/en/statistic...

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Michael Bischoff @mpbmke.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:51 UTC

Probably the same reason we've gone back to large vehicles in general. I've got the plug-in hybrid Escape, and I think that's the sweet spot for me. Bigger feels like it would fully defeat the purpose.

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Jupiter from Stuffy Doll @stuffydoll.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:17 UTC

Big car big man lol I think it’s the same as why a lot of meat alternatives are trying to bleed in the last few years. They think it’ll help bridge the gap for skeptics, though that still requires a sorta “gotcha” in order to work but hey, boards of directors and CEOs aren’t known for being in touch

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Om @om64.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:36 UTC

The bigger they are the more energy they consume (can sell more oil) and the quicker they wear out (can sell more cars and tyres).

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Joshua Sharp @joshuasharp.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 05, 2024 at 01:00 UTC

I am dying for an EV light duty pickup, like the old Toyotas. Simple, light and runs forever. But now with less maintenance. What I get are these behemoths with so much gadgetry in them that someone is always going wrong.

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Talia Lerner @talialerner.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:22 UTC

I have a husband, 3 kids, and 2 aging parents that I want to travel around with. I would love an affordable 7-seater EV. I know I'm not everyone, but I think there is a reasonable market of people like me?

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Zahava Stadler @zahavastadler.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:34 UTC

I don't have a good answer for this broadly, but I did just buy a PHEV SUV myself. I needed a larger family car, and I wanted an EV of some kind. Both of those were forms of "trading up" for me, and I did them in tandem.

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Paul Rohr @pevohr.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 21:58 UTC

EVs aren't a separate category where gigantic vs. small ones compete w/each other. Thanks to the "small truck" SUV loophole, companies make most of their money off gigantic vehicles. Within that category, hybrids + EVs easily outcompete ICE offerings. (Same vehicle/profits, better powertrain.)

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zaph @actuallysrc.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 18:56 UTC

Less regulation for suvs than sedans might have something to do with it but I'm not sure if that's a thing for all vehicles or just gas

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Coop3r @ccdkp.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 04:55 UTC

Americans are convinced they need bigger. Tesla Model Y outsells the comparable Model 3 despite being more expensive. Look at non-EVs like truck sales vs sedans. Safety ratings are an interesting self perpetuating byproduct. Larger cars are safer as the average vehicle size increases.

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@timaeuswashere.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:01 UTC

I'm sure it's a bit more complex than this, but larger vehicles have more lax emissions standards, which means a better fleet fuel efficiency rating, and then retooling what you're making is easier than creating a whole new vehicle platform that's smaller.

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Snacktaku @snacktaku.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:13 UTC

Electric or not, SUVs are the biggest enemy of cities. Not enough space to park them, very dangerous for pedestrians.

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Just a Racoon @malevolentmango.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:05 UTC

EVs are still better in the premium segment where bigger cars are better. Cheap EVs failed and may take some time be a mainstream

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Dessel @dessel.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 20:47 UTC

i think they were hoping to recoup R&D costs quickly or they were fighting a narrative they didn’t need to

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inkbotkowalski, MSc. @inkbotkowalski.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:18 UTC

I *think*the Not Just Bikes video on SUVs mentions that, but it's been a while since I watched it. Something something bigger cars are better because everyone else has bigger cars. Now in EV flavour!

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The Lost Scot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦 @lostscot.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:16 UTC

Probably because bigger vehicles mean bigger batteries and longer range? Way cheaper than trying to develop better batteries.

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@madriiax.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:04 UTC

Only people that can afford big families can afford EVs

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Lazear @lazear.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

I had heard that Ford was already well into development of the lightning before rhe IRA was passed so pivoting to smaller vehicles didnt make sense for them specifically, and the assumption was if they could all beat tesla to the e-truck, they could corner the market.

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Lorin Rudin-Rush @iggs44.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 02, 2024 at 22:31 UTC

I wonder if there are incentives (or penalties) for a specific class of vehicle to have high (low) average MPG and the EVs raise that average.

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Dave Davies @daviesdo.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:16 UTC

My guess would be that smaller cars aren't sufficiently lighter to give the range that people want so they have to be that big to carry enough batteries.

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J. Richards🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸🇺🇦 @headologist.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 11, 2024 at 23:13 UTC

I have always heard this describes as the reason(s):

www.vox.com/future-perfe...

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TrueBlueMN @stuartmatthew.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 20:02 UTC

To many I know it not the EV but the package they put it in. GM and Ford both bailed on making cars in favor of larger profit SUV's. EV adds even more to that price, and smaller EVs that are available just aren't a value or they are butt ugly boring.

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fozbaca @fozbaca.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:14 UTC

$$$$$

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tower[dan] @towerdan.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:01 UTC

@marquesbrownlee.bsky.social had some good thoughts about this in a recent video. Price point was a lot of it iirc but also weight of the batteries needed to get the range people want works better in large cars.

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Meg, Knower of Things 🌧️☕ @delecti.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

The way to break into the US market is to convince buyers that EVs aren't just about the environment.

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PoliteIceCream @politeicecream.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

Nissan introduced the Leaf back in the day as a small hatchback and Renault offers the Zoe in the EU. What kind of vehicle do most ppl we know in US buy? SUVs. For all the claims of environmentalism, what ends up selling is “no behavior change but more torque and range.”

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Iain @iainl7.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 13:28 UTC

The limiting factor on EV production (since the rest largely involves the same processes for making an ICE chassis) is making the battery. If you can realistically make X cars’ worth of batteries, you want to sell each of those cars for as much as possible; nobody’s buying a $70k Mini.

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Ravin Boodram @handle.invalid [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

A wild Hank Green appears! Ford is completely out of the sedan business.

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@amenic.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:22 UTC

What's a gigantic EV? I haven't seen one

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Orion Woody @handle.invalid [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:37 UTC

The top three vehicles in the US are 1. Ford F-150 2. Chevy Silverado 3. Dodge Ram

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Brock (Bv310) @bv310.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:39 UTC

I suspect it's two parts: People want big cars because the other cars on the road around them are big, and big cars get long range batteries.

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The Legend of Peeroes: Trails of Chris Steele @bakeshakenbake.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:34 UTC

I just want station wagons back.

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@ninjamonkky.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:43 UTC

There was/is a loophole on emissions/efficiency standards for SUVs, not as strict as for trucks, so they were able to basically sell trucks, but with auto emissions/efficiency standards; which yes was about selling a higher price point

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XaiaX ̆̈ @xaiax.net [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:21 UTC

The inflation reduction act is putting a billion dollars toward replacing “heavy duty” vehicles with zero emission replacements. So perhaps the same as when improved fuel standards exempting heavy vehicles led to an increase in SUV sales/production?

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Karl Fisch @karlfisch.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:12 UTC

Assuming you are talking about *legacy* US car companies (and not Tesla, Rivian, etc.), I think they weren't sure how they were going to continue to make the same margins so they delayed investing in batteries too long. And now it's going to be very difficult to catch up.

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Zander🚈🔰 @kohiwonomu.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

This may be a bit cynical, but i believe it’s because the large car brainrot has completely taken over the US auto market. Ford has gone all in on giant SUVs and trucks, they don’t even make any small or medium cars anymore. There’s an unchecked arms race on the road right now.

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G.H.Moore @ghmoore.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:26 UTC

US companies gave up on sedans/small cars due to $$ & the "light truck" loophole etc., & then pushed even harder into this when doing EVs since "Americans only buy SUVs" so, therefore, they'll buy EVs if they're giant SUVs. They stopped *trying* to build good med/small cars--self fulfilling prophecy

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Ana Jones @anajones.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:53 UTC

From listening to Marketplace APM I’ve learned that large trucks and SUV’s are the most popular cars in the U.S. market which why some makers stopped making cars altogether. I guess they assumed large EV’s would sell better as well. Also, price points

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@nebafyer.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 13, 2024 at 19:59 UTC

As someone who has disability issues fitting in tiny low to the ground vehicles, but can safely drive, I don't mind it.

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Daniel 🦁 @eikonos.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 21:35 UTC

a large vehicle is necessary to protect yourself from dangerous drivers in large vehicles, and so nobody is going to buy a small vehicle plus, larger vehicles are perceived as a status symbol

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Glasses Man Danee @daneeboundeng.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:55 UTC

In the US those giant cars are actually classified as “light trucks”, which means they don’t have to conform to the same standards and practises as "passenger vehicles", especially regarding fuel efficiency. The YouTube channel Not Just Bikes, has an explainer about that, if you like to know more.

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Lena @puncake.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:46 UTC

Basically everyone in the US is scared because the guy next door already owns gigantic and dangerous to pedestrian generic SUV #45 Also with electronics bigger stuff is easier to make

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Oran Harple (I lost my binary in The War™) @oranharple.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:35 UTC

Best guess is they are just used to making large cars. It's cheaper and easier to use structures from non-EVs that are already large (to bypass emission laws) so they use similar frameworks for their EVs.

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@marmotman.bsky.social [ View ] Apr 27, 2024 at 20:42 UTC

I think it may also be partially due to wanting to avoid directly competing with Tesla since they were late to the game.

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Jay @jayarden.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:15 UTC

Offer me an EV Honda Fit and I'll be first in line.

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Sara Ivette @saraivette.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:20 UTC

Because HUGE cars = Freedom?! #Merica

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Baby Ledecky @claireeinstein.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:05 UTC

I have a theory! 1. Easier to ask people to make 1 change (fuel to EV) than 2 (fuel SUV to EV sedan) 2. People buying new vehicles are more likely to buy an SUV 3. Moving to LA, it hit me that between EV incentives, gas prices, and luxury culture, electric Hummers (!) only make sense in this city

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Macnabla @macnabla.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:40 UTC

Here is the truth about EVs: They won't help the environment. You would need to drive one of them for 15 years to compensate for the carbon footprint of battery manufacturing for EVs. People just have cars already, this is a way the automobile industry found to force a new fad.

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Alyssa Royse @alyssaroyse.bsky.social [ View ] Apr 20, 2024 at 15:26 UTC

I can't speak for them, but as a consumer, I'm definitely looking for a gigantic EV. Dogs, (eventual) grandkids and a cabin in the woods mean I need a hauler, and I'd love it to be EV. We've had Leaf for a decade as a city car, but can finally get rid of our old Subaru now!

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Ceiling Cat @ceilingcat.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:43 UTC

Higher priced vehicles are usually more profitable. Plus product planners start at the high end because early adopters are willing to pay anything, vs later adopters.

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CornPop @usmc.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:17 UTC

Progressives Unions at work

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Daniel @dnlbrwn.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:06 UTC

I think that's how they are attracting gas car drivers who already drive SUVs and trucks and want to keep driving SUVs and trucks

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💤arleck from Space @zarleckazpa.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:59 UTC

I wonder if larger vehicles = more space for batteries = more range = more acceptable to potential customers

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Ryan O'Horo @redteamwrangler.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:43 UTC

We need to figure out why the automobile killed the plug-in hybrid to get to EVs. Plug-in hybrids make so much more sense than EVs in a country as sprawled out as ours.

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Stephanie Damassa @shdamassa.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:32 UTC

This article describes how auto companies were incentivized go all in on light trucks (SUVs) and then consumers now prefer them www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

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TWuG, The Original @twug.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:40 UTC

Because SUVs are the better sellers. There's also an issue of range. To get a range that people are comfortable with, you need a larger battery which leads to a larger car. As battery tech improves, cars can get smaller and maintain range.

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MintzBuck @mintzbuck.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

It costs about the same amount of money to develop a large vs a small vehicle. Tooling investment isn't much different either. But the larger vehicles can be sold for a higher price and therefore are more profitable.

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Dr. Jimbosaur, Esq. @jimbosaur.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:31 UTC

I wonder if it's connected to the tax/emissions regs benefit car manufacturers get for "light trucks" (pickups, SUVs, etc.)? That may be going too deep on it though, more likely it's just what car makers think the market wants.

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Richard Winskill @richardwinskill.uk [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:56 UTC

They convinced everyone for years that they want a crossover or an SUV, so when it's time to add an EV to their fleet they start with the big model because that's what they made popular?

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OSMOTE @osmote.net [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:16 UTC

Batteries

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John Boggs @subsublibrarian.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:38 UTC

When we were looking at EVs a couple of years ago, all I wanted was an electric Accord or Camry -- bigger than a Volt or Leaf but not humungo. Except for the Polestar they just didn't exist. (And the Polestar literally went up $4,000 in the week after we test drove it, so that was a no-go.)

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@not-that-ostrich.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:23 UTC

Non-expert assessment: car companies in the US are incentivized to make giant trucks because there is a tax loophole that allows them to classify those vehicles as something other than actual trucks, so they end up making more money.

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@turnipseed.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:12 UTC

Battery packs are heavy. In order to enter the EV market, it was easier to just retrofit a Ram frame carry that load and get it out the door than design a new sedan body.

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The Blobject Fish @blubfeesh.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 18:04 UTC

I miss the iMiEV :(

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Ethan @ethanclsn.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:57 UTC

It's an American culture thing. Many Americans want the biggest car they can get their hands on (it's stupid but true) but there's also policy pushes for more EVs so we wind up with giant SUV-size EVs. Also the profit margins are higher in bigger cars

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Andrea Howard @drandreahoward.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 12:53 UTC

People like big cars. They already build big cars, and replacing the combustion engine with a battery doesn’t seem all that tricky. Would have been difficult to grow the EV market if they kept to slim sedans forever.

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Mangle @manglehaft.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

1) There's more margin potential on larger vehicles, and they need it 2) Anyone that wanted a truly economical car already has a Prius, and anyone that wanted a luxury/sport EV already has a Tesla. The market potential is people who drive big cars

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Woke Mechanic @broke-mechanic.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:29 UTC

I think there's a sort of "tyranny of the rocket equation" type of math when it comes to large batteries. A compact electric car weighs 1 ton without the battery and can fit a battery with a 200 mile range, a 3 row electric suv weighs 1.5 tons without the battery but can have a 400 mile range.

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Hupple’s Cat @hupplescat.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:17 UTC

“And buried in there is a fascinating federal flip-flop: an attempt to close a loophole that may be partially responsible for the exploding size of passenger vehicles on US roads.”

www.wired.com/story/the-us...

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Father John Chungus @sorocchungus.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:12 UTC

big thing good

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⛰️🦋 Grace O'Hare 🌼🌲 @graceohare.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 01:13 UTC

Yeah as others have said, I just assumed it's a reflection of the vehicle market in general. I'll get excited when they start offering ev minivans and cargo vans, tho.

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☽𖤐☾ PaganRites ☽𖤐☾ @pagan.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 00:58 UTC

U.S. market is heavily slanted towards very large vehicles. However, I've not seen many large EV offerings from American car companies so not sure what you are referring to. Ford 150 Lightning makes sense because America loves pickups. Hummer EV is niche. Most American EVs are mid size crossovers.

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Keiran Chikage @keirandallchikage.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:34 UTC

The market craves big cars for some reason, and it's the worst!

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Nick @linuxfiend.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 22:40 UTC

I'm waiting for Ford to get off their butt and give me an electric Ranger.

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Nalukenge @omashad.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:45 UTC

We have taken 2 days without food, we are so hungry.

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@chicagojon2016.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 02, 2024 at 02:57 UTC

Because we're dumb

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Tim C - aka Beam @timc.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 18:54 UTC

I think it is all about the business sales of EVs. Larger vehicles tend to be considered more "useful" for business, and the tax treatment for ICE vehicles always favored the heavier vehicles. It is more profitable to sell hundreds/thousands to companies than the sole individual.

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Also Named Bort @bort-dm.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 02, 2024 at 13:06 UTC

Typically you see two types of vehicles coming to market. Smaller range maximized price competitive (with tax incentives) and large luxury vehicles where prices can get very high, huge batteries can make range numbers less scary, and there's room to play with inefficient vehicle design.

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Jerry @jpon.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 09, 2024 at 21:05 UTC

Nope, it's because of a "loophole" of the federal regulation. In a nutshell, trucks and SUVs are classified differently and they get to have their own emission and safety regulations that passenger cars have to adhere to.

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Pyrholidon Enthusiast ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) @pyrholidon.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:44 UTC

Are you familiar with the chicken tax? Because it's an absolute mess how we got here.

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Andy Allen @powerfulmojo.com [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:24 UTC

Batteries are heavy. So if you make a small EV (like a Leaf), it will be heavy for its size, and its range will be short compared to a big SUV. I suspect it's the same forces making smartphones bigger every year.

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Patrick Hardy @patrickdhardy.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:04 UTC

Whatever the reason, it's a very troubling development from a pedestrian safety standpoint.

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@heartofcole.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:00 UTC

Probably because they were a little late getting on the scene and foreign companies, plus Tesla, were already making a lot of small and midsized EVs

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Plognark @plognark.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:17 UTC

Almost certainly price, but interestingly, converting huge trucks to EVs saves a heck of a lot more gasoline than converting an already efficient lower horsepower people-mover sedan.

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Sean @publichealth.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:18 UTC

good piece touched on this a few days ago i think

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@notthesmartestguy.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 25, 2024 at 05:02 UTC

Hanks razor would suggest that the purpose is to court rich people.

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MacKenzie is an Angry Lil Fella @acekitsunami.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 03, 2024 at 20:12 UTC

I had high hopes for the Hyundai N Vision 74...

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sarah dough @muslimahs-tea-time.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:58 UTC

small EV girly, man need big giant EV because man can't girly

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Frank Vehafric @fvehafric.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:48 UTC

I think they saw Tesla crack the market with upscale high performance cars (such as they are) rather than appealing to climate or economy concerns and they, of course, followed the money. And, back when Tesla was starting it was probably the right move.

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Ryan Bartlett @ryancbartlett.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:58 UTC

reaping/sowing on creating an SUV/truck addiction.

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Proto @protodonuts.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 21:14 UTC

Most likely because of US auto laws around trucks and SUV’s, making them have to build these monstrosities

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Trevor @trevor.maug.live [ View ] Mar 01, 2024 at 03:11 UTC

This article seems to suggest us just “Americans like big shit”: www.businessinsider.com/electric-car...

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FakeAndres @andres.rive.ro [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 23:40 UTC

You say that like we have a real small car (gas) segment. We don’t really. Not compared to the real small cars that exist in countries like Japan or in most of Europe

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Michael @scottgoblue314.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:00 UTC

A lot of people are saying "battery range" but bigger cars get worse range. It's really just that American automakers stopped making sedans, used the "light truck" emissions exemption and convinced people they wanted SUVs for false safety, capacity, etc, and now are electrifying what sells

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Shrub Dryad @shrubdryad.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 16:10 UTC

I want an electric minivan so bad, and as far as I know nobody's even proposed one.

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Madelon @roseblue87.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:16 UTC

Everything in USA is big isn't it ?

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Anxious Herzog @anxiousherzog.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:46 UTC

My best guess is: the car market is like 80% SUV and Truck sales, and the big three decided that they needed to make a statement that EVs will out-SUV the SUVs, and out-Truck the Trucks. And thus, these enormous impractical land whale EVs.

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Allison F @ablington.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 15:15 UTC

imo many drivers still think they want/need gigantic cars, and this has been a stumbling block for attracting new customers to EV

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HtownQueer HIV+ @htownqueer.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:28 UTC

Why do car companies exist in 2020m we should have moved on to more public transportation by now.

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Hopefighter @hopefighter.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 17:49 UTC

not just EVs.And not just the US ones. In general there has been a trend that cars are getting bigger and bigger. And it's awful.

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Oxy @oxxers.bsky.social [ View ] May 13, 2024 at 17:07 UTC

It's a volume market, the more volume the car includes the higher the price...

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FatGuyOnABike🔒 @fgoaborg.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 23:32 UTC

It's a lot to do with it being a solution to CAFE standard issues. It allows them to make bigger and bigger SUVs while still hitting their numbers and not having to sell as many small less expensive and less profitable cars to meet their fleet standards.

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Chris in SF @chrismsf.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 18:57 UTC

Gee why is something in America too freakin big

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