this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2023
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In China, It’s Already Cheaper to Buy EVs Than Gasoline Cars::undefined

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[–] Astroturfed 6 points 10 months ago (2 children)

China is subsidizing EV companies crazy hard. They brought musk in with Tesla to steal all his tech and train their workers to do it too. So bonus points for exploiting Elons hubris and ego. He was going to be first American company to be a leader in the Chinese market without them stealing all his tech. Crazy it didn't work out.

[–] cyd 38 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The timeline doesn't add up. Chinese EV makers, including BYD, were building crazy momentum long before Musk set up shop in Shanghai (which was in 2018). It's only come to the attention of the outside world in the last couple of years when their EVs started to get exported at scale, but before they've been brewing this industry for a long time. BYD shipped its first compact EV domestically in 2009.

[–] Astroturfed -2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Yes, because there's no way 5 years is enough time to steal technology and manufacturing techniques and distribute them throughout an industry with a web of government industrial spies. They never do this type of thing so it would take 20 years. I'm sure BYD is making cars exactly like they were 5 years ago. Technology moves so slowly.

Oh, a quick search shows of BYD cars shows me their cars up until around that time looked like a cheap kia from the early 2000s and now the new models look weirdly like a Tesla. I'm sure that's complete coincidence though. China with it's super strict IP laws and parents should never steal anything.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

China has many more competent engineers then... any other country. They often steal ideas (everybody does), and even whole designs (less of everybody does). But i doubt they stole anything for ev-s. Making the "car" part is harder then the "electric part", especially for china.

[–] Hazdaz -3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

China has many more competent engineers then… any other country.

LOL

Funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

Tell me you know fuck-all about engineering and manufacturing without telling me you know fuck-all about engineering and manufacturing.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

The frog in a well knows nothing of the sea.

[–] nodiratime -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Imagine thinking a "theft" of the idea of a trash can looking like a futuristic car dreamed of by kids in the 90s is something to cry over.

[–] Astroturfed -1 points 10 months ago

They were very far ahead in many technical areas until recently. Revisionist history is silly.

[–] orangeboats 20 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Tell me you know nothing about Chinese EVs without telling me you know nothing about Chinese EVs. BYD's best sellers are actually plug-in hybrids, which is in no way "stolen" from Tesla.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Whatever happened to hybrids? Why did we all the sudden decide we need to push for 100% electric nationwide?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Hybrids were an necessity when large batteries weren't feasable (in the first Leaf, for example, the 24kw battery was about 80% of the cost, it's amazing they could sell it at a profit at all).

Falling prices and increased capacity means that isn't really the case any more, and it's not really worth the complexity of a hybrid.

[–] Aux 2 points 10 months ago

Hybrids have all the issues of both combustion and electric cars and none of the benefits. Well, except for fast refueling.

[–] AA5B 2 points 10 months ago

Hybrids were a great transition technology that never got as widespread as it should have, but now pure EVs are practical, and approach legacy car prices. They’re still a little high but it’s in the ballpark enough that the low operating cost make it worthwhile