What does it say about a country lagging in EV sales if the catalyst needed to break the habit of ICE is the collapse of the industry, rather than obvious benefits of making the change?
It just seems odd how the EU and China seem to be making the transition scale based upon logic at both the buyer's and legislator's levels while the US needs to see drama in order to come around.
Well, I think we are on the cusp of the needed drama and that the problems contributing to the slow uptake in EVs are closer than ever to being overcome. These industry giants behind Big Auto and Big Oil have painted themselves into a corner by trying to milk the unsuspecting for all they're worth.
Visiting a friend, he was talking about the cost for repairs on his cars and other related issues and I asked if he had considered the advantages of an electric vehicle.
His answer was, "But what if I want to take a long trip?"
I replied, "How do you take a long trip now? You stop and fill up as you go." Then, I went into how 95% of his "fill-ups" will be done at home with an EV.
This opened the FUDgates with him countering about how long it takes to charge (which I explained wasn't an issue) and he went down the standard list of reasons not to go EV that folks in the US have been spoon-fed. Like, asking me how much does it cost to replace the battery? Which I explained were good for a million miles now.
Other things I mentioned included how the legacy ICE OEMs are struggling, scaling down production, piling up inventory, and encouraging employees to take buyouts in order to reduce their workforce. I also mentioned energy, the adoption S-curve, and all the usual bullet points. Until I could see his eyes begin to glaze over.
I asked if he would like me to send him some links to more info, as I explained the breadth and depth of Tesla. He said he would like to learn more. The links have been sent to whet his appetite. But, I know him well enough to not be surprised if he never mentions EVs again.
Having been involved in TMC has opened my eyes to many perspectives from people who work and live in other parts of the world. I find it frustrating and a little embarrassing when I see us lagging behind in the US.
Maybe it IS the Fluoride in the water, or the Disneyesque model of the American Dream that has been such a part of our indoctrination. Is this what leads so may in the US to wave flags, wear T-shirts with one-liners, and affix bumper stickers, and hold our heads proud that we have chosen a side, despite not having made any effort to confirm the stories we are told?
Rather, shouldn't people apply logic and reason to establish what are the important facts in any given instance?
Oh well, I'll keep spreading the word and can't wait until the tide begins to rise to the long overdue crest we here can see coming on the horizon.
HODL
