Last night I was called about participation in an electric vehicle focus group, and was asked a few very interesting pre-screen questions.
I was asked how I felt about a vehicle A, a "100 mile" car that was in the mid-30s* after incentives. "Well, very interested", I said. Then he asked how I would feel about a vehicle B, a "200 mile" car that was just "a few thousand dollars more"*
*I don't remember the exact figure...it was kinda late and I was very tired.
"EXTREMELY interested!", I replied.
Then he started asking me how I would feel about about the cost to add capacity to a 100 mile vehicle, in 25 mile increments up to 200 miles. I responded based on my understanding of current battery pricing per kWh that it would probably be ~$2500 per 25 miles. So $2500; $5000; $7500; and $10,000. "So, how", he said, "would you feel about $650 to add 25 miles; $1300 to add 50 miles; $1950 to add 75 miles; and $2600 to add 100 miles. Would you be interested in that?"
"OH, HELL YES!", I said.
Now these questions may have no basis in reality, and even if they do relate to some planned future vehicle, it may not see the light of day. It sort of depends on where they are in the development process. And even if this is a planned future vehicle, AND I get more details about it in a few weeks time, I won't be able to tell anyone anything about it, or who the manufacturer might be (which is something that's not readily obvious at some of these things). But I thought the questioning was interesting enough to mention it here. I mean, we all know that battery prices are going to get there at some point, and I suppose we should be happy that some manufacturers are planning for it now. Right?
I know which car I'd take - the 200 mile version! :mrgreen:
I was asked how I felt about a vehicle A, a "100 mile" car that was in the mid-30s* after incentives. "Well, very interested", I said. Then he asked how I would feel about a vehicle B, a "200 mile" car that was just "a few thousand dollars more"*
*I don't remember the exact figure...it was kinda late and I was very tired.
"EXTREMELY interested!", I replied.
Then he started asking me how I would feel about about the cost to add capacity to a 100 mile vehicle, in 25 mile increments up to 200 miles. I responded based on my understanding of current battery pricing per kWh that it would probably be ~$2500 per 25 miles. So $2500; $5000; $7500; and $10,000. "So, how", he said, "would you feel about $650 to add 25 miles; $1300 to add 50 miles; $1950 to add 75 miles; and $2600 to add 100 miles. Would you be interested in that?"
"OH, HELL YES!", I said.
Now these questions may have no basis in reality, and even if they do relate to some planned future vehicle, it may not see the light of day. It sort of depends on where they are in the development process. And even if this is a planned future vehicle, AND I get more details about it in a few weeks time, I won't be able to tell anyone anything about it, or who the manufacturer might be (which is something that's not readily obvious at some of these things). But I thought the questioning was interesting enough to mention it here. I mean, we all know that battery prices are going to get there at some point, and I suppose we should be happy that some manufacturers are planning for it now. Right?
I know which car I'd take - the 200 mile version! :mrgreen: