I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, a no-frills EV econobox like the Golf was in its original form would be a huge hit. Doesn’t even need to have killer range, 200 miles would suit me fine. The only gizmo I’d like to see is the ability to use the battery as a power source
I really doubt your claim here. A lot of the people looking for econoboxes are folks who are living in rental apartments (including me) and don’t have access to L2 charging through the night which could be a dealbreaker to many. Having a lower range on them only makes this problem worse where they would have to rely on superchargers much more.
the new “people’s car” … doesn’t have to have the long range of traditional automobiles but ideally it should be close to 200 miles of range and just a no frills comfortable ride that does not feel cheap.
We just have to agree on what no frills is.
Outside of power windows and locks everything else can be manual with at most some control over wiper speed. heck to keep costs down no controls need to be replicated to the steering wheel and the screen provided can simply access Apple Car Play or Android Auto to provide anything more than current media playing and status of the car. There would likely be a simple cruise control option but given current safety kicks TACC is not out of the question
I put power windows and locks in there because its just cheaper to use them than not as it is such common hardware and saves packaging space as well.
options would cover all those other features people like to add on like power and heated seats, automatic climate control, and more.
You’re basically describing the E-Up/Mii/Citigo - only I think it’s more clever in that it doesn’t even have a screen, only a phone holder. It doesn’t have a heated steering wheel, but otherwise surprisingly well equipped with the most convenient stuff (heated front window, rain sensor, auto AC…). The Mii doesn’t even offer any steering wheel controls either - so simple.
If they made a Polo-sized E-Up, with the Fiat 500e’s battery and charging speed, it would be a slam dunk.
Something less quirky but the same build quality as the Honda E would do so well I think. The quirk factor and abysmal range really ruined that car. I’m glad they did it mind you, but I would be so chuffed to see a ~€25k car with a nice interior, reasonable range and doesn’t scream that it’s electric.
Yeah some people for get that a non insignifican amount of people in Europe use this class of car to commute to work in more remote industrial areas, with bad public transport. Not for driving in the city, whitch we should be discouraging in general.
It wouldn’t be a big hit with dealers because it would have low margins, barely need any servicing and reduce gasser servicing revenue. VWs primary customers are the dealers - their sales channel, not the end user.
With best-in-class efficiency of 4.0 miles/kWh, you’d need a 55kwH battery (50 usable) to have 200 miles of range. Right now, that’s $140/kWh, which is about $7k for the battery alone. If they can get that to $5k in 2 years, then I see $22k EV as a possibility. It probably wouldnt be that profitable, though.
There is exactly this - Golf 8 GTE. I bought one for 23 k€ one year old. Only „minus“ depending on your view: after 50 miles of range you back on fuel. But that’s quite suitable for me, because I can only charge at my work place and like to have the second possibility even if I charge as much as possible.
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, a no-frills EV econobox like the Golf was in its original form would be a huge hit. Doesn’t even need to have killer range, 200 miles would suit me fine. The only gizmo I’d like to see is the ability to use the battery as a power source
JAC ejs4 is a no-frills compact SUV. There is also the MG4 and Mazda Mx-30. VW also used to produce the e-Up!/CitiGo.
I really doubt your claim here. A lot of the people looking for econoboxes are folks who are living in rental apartments (including me) and don’t have access to L2 charging through the night which could be a dealbreaker to many. Having a lower range on them only makes this problem worse where they would have to rely on superchargers much more.
huge hit like the yaris or the hyundai accent?
the new “people’s car” … doesn’t have to have the long range of traditional automobiles but ideally it should be close to 200 miles of range and just a no frills comfortable ride that does not feel cheap.
We just have to agree on what no frills is.
Outside of power windows and locks everything else can be manual with at most some control over wiper speed. heck to keep costs down no controls need to be replicated to the steering wheel and the screen provided can simply access Apple Car Play or Android Auto to provide anything more than current media playing and status of the car. There would likely be a simple cruise control option but given current safety kicks TACC is not out of the question
I put power windows and locks in there because its just cheaper to use them than not as it is such common hardware and saves packaging space as well.
options would cover all those other features people like to add on like power and heated seats, automatic climate control, and more.
It needs to compete with other ICE cars in the price range (eg. Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Subaru Impreza).
Take the most popular features from these car and use that as a starting point.
The reason for doing it this way, is people will be comparison shopping against these similarly priced cars.
You’re basically describing the E-Up/Mii/Citigo - only I think it’s more clever in that it doesn’t even have a screen, only a phone holder. It doesn’t have a heated steering wheel, but otherwise surprisingly well equipped with the most convenient stuff (heated front window, rain sensor, auto AC…). The Mii doesn’t even offer any steering wheel controls either - so simple.
If they made a Polo-sized E-Up, with the Fiat 500e’s battery and charging speed, it would be a slam dunk.
People keep saying this but then they don’t sell.
Consumers want bigger and nicer.
The bolt is on pace to sell nearly 80,000, and if it were able to charge at 120 kW, they wouldn’t be able to make enough of them.
Have they tried to sell one?
Nope
Something less quirky but the same build quality as the Honda E would do so well I think. The quirk factor and abysmal range really ruined that car. I’m glad they did it mind you, but I would be so chuffed to see a ~€25k car with a nice interior, reasonable range and doesn’t scream that it’s electric.
Yeah some people for get that a non insignifican amount of people in Europe use this class of car to commute to work in more remote industrial areas, with bad public transport. Not for driving in the city, whitch we should be discouraging in general.
What’s your point? Those frills don’t cost the OEM much money. Of course a cheap car would sell well. That’s not a novel idea.
They can’t make them cheap enough to sell them cheaply. Hence why the Bolt was cancelled and GMs newer EVs’ lowest trims aren’t available at release.
It wouldn’t be a big hit with dealers because it would have low margins, barely need any servicing and reduce gasser servicing revenue. VWs primary customers are the dealers - their sales channel, not the end user.
Is that not a Leaf?
Except the dealerships don’t want it.
Yeah …stop it with all these hugh screen & self driving
Just a regular car that run on electricity
E-Golf? Leaf? Bolt?
With best-in-class efficiency of 4.0 miles/kWh, you’d need a 55kwH battery (50 usable) to have 200 miles of range. Right now, that’s $140/kWh, which is about $7k for the battery alone. If they can get that to $5k in 2 years, then I see $22k EV as a possibility. It probably wouldnt be that profitable, though.
I don’t think people actually want that though
VW Beetle for the electric age
Basic point A to point B vehicle
The e-up! Was already a thing. And their Seat and Skoda copycats.
Didn’t sell very well. But would be interesting how good they’d sell with a state of the art battery. And fast charging.
There is exactly this - Golf 8 GTE. I bought one for 23 k€ one year old. Only „minus“ depending on your view: after 50 miles of range you back on fuel. But that’s quite suitable for me, because I can only charge at my work place and like to have the second possibility even if I charge as much as possible.
So, the Bolt plus V2L.