Battery cars have been around for more than 100 years. I predict, that they will never get their big breakthrough. Not with current technologies. For one, finding the lithium for all the batteries required is likely not to succed. Secondly, what todo with exhausted batteries? Thirdly, where to charge all these batteries? Fourthly, where is all the energy coming from.
In Norway, because of tax incentives, one electric car ( I am not sure whether hybrids are part of the stats) sells for every two conventional ones. 98% of Norwegian electric energy is hydro generated, so it's "clean". An NGO has just put out a recommendation for future car owners, not to go electric, because the building of charging stations is not keeping pace. And that is really the crux of the matter.
Who is going to finance and then build all the charging stations that would be required in the long term? How is payment for the energy re-charged effected in the future, because it won't and can't be "for free" long term. Apps, cards, across the nation, different jurisdictions, energy providers, pricing structures - it's going to be very, very complicated.
And then, charging stations are going to be firstly for the homeowners. I mean the ones with "homes", not condos or any other multi units. Putting a charging station into a single dwelling is not a big problem, particularly when a secure parking spot is available, but getting the OK from the co-owners in a multi-unit situation is another matter. Apartment owners, condo investors who rent out, will they care? The rules for new building could be changed, but retrofitting existing structures? So renters in general need not apply for a long time. Same with condo-owners. The other owners will never come to a 100% agreement, because someone, out of principle, conviction, cheapness or because they just want to piss someone off will not comply. Unfortunately, the ones living in these multi-unit facilities are also close to urban centers, downtown, or close to transit, and are seen as the exemplary users of electric vehicles, but likely denied the opportunity in great numbers.
Charging in public parking facilities? Remember what happened eventually with public phones. How they were vandalised for no reason. How vandalism seems to exist everywhere these days. People get a kick of destroying property if the think they are not being watched. How long will a charging cord last in a public place?
So for human behaviour, and let's face it, there are lots of idiots around, we won't see huge numbers of electric vehicles in the future, no matter what Elon is believing. He can produce things, but he won't be able to re-invent human nature.
I see battery powered cars like the "curlicue" energy-saving lightbulbs, an interim solution and now a garbage problem because of their mercury content. First we had the light-bulb, then the "curlicues", and now LEDs, which are getting better and better.
I see something similar happening eventually with car motorization. First oil, then batteries & hybrids, and finally hybrids and fuel-cell powered vehicles.
My rant of the day.
Did I say, that I am not interested in battery-electric vehicles. Period. (Channellin Spicer here)
PS: Why do battery powered cars need to look like baby toys? Don't they often?
