Not especially educated on the subject and don’t carry much baggage ideologically, culturally, or otherwise so I’m probably a decent stand in for the average (US anyway) consumer. I don’t get it. Hybrid seems like the better answer. Honestly, with 40% efficient ICE already available and 50% not far off, not sure either ev or hybrid make sense at all. It all seems like a bridge to some future tech anyway, so not sold on the need. My understanding is that the grid is not even close to able to support widespread at home charging and the fights over the expansion of that infrastructure make improvements incredibly expensive and slow if not altogether impossible. Which makes sense honestly. I don’t want to live below a new set of transmission lines across the street from a new transformer station. At the same time the world is turning away from nuclear so now I’m forgoing a 40% efficient ICE engine delivering power to my vehicle for a 35% efficient coal or gas powerplant offsite and the immense infrastructure required to deliver that power to me with another ~5% lost in transmission. And we haven’t even touched on the battery inputs, maintenance costs and everything else I’m forgetting. Just doesn’t add up for me.
I am absolutely sold on the dream of self driving cars and look forward to that future, whoever the winners may be. Disheartened by the difficulties and delays in this space, but believe it’s a matter of when, not if. Will not be encouraging my kids to pursue careers in auto body repair.