nerys said:This is what i have been saying. The magic number is 300 miles but 300 miles at 0' F at 65mph at night heat on after 5 years and 60,000 miles on the odo.
250miles would do it with a complete low cost supercharger style network in place.
I estimate this means a car with a new range of 350 to 400 miles.
I would suggest they intentiinally software limit the range to around 250 to 300 miles and then in aoftware slowly expand the usable capacity to compensate for losses both permanent (degredation) and temporary (winter etc..) with the idea being that the car still has a 200 mile usable range after 200,000 miles.
Ths will provide enough range and the very much needed consistant reliable experience that people really need to trust the tech.
This is the reality that makes me think twice before buying any EV. As I'm sure the OP will attest, it's difficult to "trust the tech" when after less than a year of ownership & 19,000 miles, your effective range has dropped by 15% or more.
There are so many owner reviews that report how much money they are "saving" on gas which is technically true but buying an EV for the sole sake of saving money is a slippery slope - especially when you're an early adopter. At least with the Leaf, there is a track record (good or bad) that can be referenced, and we know how much it's going to cost when the battery eventually needs to be replaced.
I still believe that a used, low mileage EV makes the most sense if there's any hope to "save money" overall. I'm still amazed that used Leafs can be had for under $8,000. Even when you factor in a the cost of a replacement battery; that's a heck of a deal.