this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2023
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the majority are unlikely to transition any time soon though, ev's arent cheap & many people never buy new vehicles anyway.
I don't have the source handy, but I read an article that said the average road life of a vehicle is 14 years.
Though, that was pre-Covid, which did a real number on the used auto industry.
yeah - the only people I know who have purchased a vehicle new in the last few decades are my parents - they're older and wanted something with all the latest bells and whistles because it'll be the last car they buy. saw them a few weeks ago, it feels like riding in a smartphone.
for myself, prior to my car being stolen this last December, I had owned it for 18 years and it was used when I got it. the vehicle I'm turning into an RV is 36 years old (though everything "under the hood" is being replaced - engine/drivetrain/suspension/brakes/exhaust/fuel/electrical systems, etc).
it may be that when new vehicles are readily available - whenever that happens - that a lot of folks will purchase ev's/hybrids, but I honestly dont see it happening.
I bought a used Chevy Spark from a dealer for 8.5k (6k with the Oregon refund) 2 years ago and have barely touched gas or oil since. It's not out of reach.
I drive a hybrid, and it was one of the most important factors in deciding which car to purchase after my last one was totaled. I ended up with a 2019 Honda Insight. It's an absolutely fantastic vehicle for what I need a car for. The mileage is excellent, and the range exceeds even the best EV by essentially double while not suffering from the biggest EV downside -- charging.
Hybrids are absolutely the middle ground, transition vehicles to EV. Most manufacturers are going all-in on hybrid drive systems. CA's requirement that all new vehicles by 2035 be zero-emission is driving that transition. Once charging becomes ubiquitous as gas stations, we're going to see an explosion of EV vehicles.
The only reason I don't have an EV now is because I live in an apartment complex and don't have a ready way to charge a car without going somewhere else.