So I have always hated Tesla and don’t like that they’ve in a lot of way tarnished the name of electric cars. The second you say electric cars every person and their mom says OHH you’re getting a tesla! Quite annoying.
Anyways, I’d like to hear from some of you folks some models of electrics you like. I have always been a gearhead deep in the gas and oil, and I still enjoy my cars, but an electric would be fun and a cost savings for me, especially since I have a ton of roof space for solar panels if I wanted to.
It sounds superficial but a big reason I used to hate electric cars is they are for the most part, hideous. Then again, to me, most new cars are hidous, the designs are just not good. But I think i can look past that.
It would also be a huge bonus if there were any models out there with the least possible features. I prefer cars with manual locks/seats/doors and no screen, which is of course impossible with current cars (sadly). But the less digital garbage the better.
Rivians are everywhere here in LA, but they seem to only be for the rich.
I’m keeping an eye on Aptera, a solar powered vehicle based in San Diego that may start delivering this year.
Aptera has been saying this since 2017.
Personally, I like the Mach E, but I have some fundamental complaints about EVs right now, specifically, they looks like ICE cars. The propulsion method has changed, but the packaging has not updated to fit the new capabilities. Electric cars now are like jets in the 1950’s, we need to move past old frames and ideas and work to make the vehicle fit the motor better. Also, EVs are too damn big, and thats because charging infrastructure is a fragmented PITA right now. We wouldn’t need 250 mile+ capable vehicles if you could count on having a fast charger at most highway exits.
I’ve been following them for a few years and they’ve been very transparent about their progress. They’re building their production-intent validation vehicles now, so unless there are any major flaws they can’t work out, shipping this year or next seems possible. The world needs a vehicle that costs nothing to operate — at least in places with a lot of sun like California.