How much of this is because because emission standards in the US reward heavier vehicles, and vehicles over 3.5t get tax benefits and skew the market in the opposite direction than in most (all?) other countries?
Not much when the big trucks outsell the small luxury cars. The most I could get a bmw m3 configured for was $86000, it wasn't hard to get a f150 over $100k.
If money mattered you can look at the toyota corolla for much less than the cheapest f150.
As I said, they already cost more than smaller and cheaper alternatives. But people buy them anyway.
Heavily vehicles may be cheaper for whatever reason you cite. But they are still much more expensive than smaller sedans. People still buy the heavier vehicles.
It's not 3.5 tons, it's the footprint (track width * wheelbase).
The emissions standards reward larger vehicles that generally start around $35k-$40k. Americans just love going immediately underwater on a $100k Grand Wagoneer.
Tesla's success shows that people want high-quality EVs. And if competition in the local EV market drives quality up and prices down, they will become more and more compelling to consumers. But tariffs isolate domestic manufacturers from foreign competition where the latest advancements are currently being made. American manufacturers are already not competitive in the global market.
But perhaps most importantly, we must transition from fossil fuels to avoid the most dire possible outcomes of climate change. It doesn't matter if you enjoy a pipe after dinner, you can't smoke in a family restaraunt because it would harm the well-being of the other diners.
"Smaller and cheaper" isn't the best comparison point, "same size but cleaner" would be a more interesting one. And AFAICT larger electric cars cost considerably more than most of the gas options in the US.
An internal combustion F-150 costs less than an electric one, I believe the same is true for the Maverick though to a lesser degree. The hybrid Maverick does gangbusters with similar prices; if the electric F-150 cost the same as the gas one and there was a hybrid one at the same price I'd wager that you'd see a lot more uptake than you do of the current Lightning.
ajmurmann|5 months ago
bluGill|5 months ago
If money mattered you can look at the toyota corolla for much less than the cheapest f150.
cs_throwaway|5 months ago
Heavily vehicles may be cheaper for whatever reason you cite. But they are still much more expensive than smaller sedans. People still buy the heavier vehicles.
seabird|5 months ago
The emissions standards reward larger vehicles that generally start around $35k-$40k. Americans just love going immediately underwater on a $100k Grand Wagoneer.
istjohn|5 months ago
But perhaps most importantly, we must transition from fossil fuels to avoid the most dire possible outcomes of climate change. It doesn't matter if you enjoy a pipe after dinner, you can't smoke in a family restaraunt because it would harm the well-being of the other diners.
majormajor|5 months ago
An internal combustion F-150 costs less than an electric one, I believe the same is true for the Maverick though to a lesser degree. The hybrid Maverick does gangbusters with similar prices; if the electric F-150 cost the same as the gas one and there was a hybrid one at the same price I'd wager that you'd see a lot more uptake than you do of the current Lightning.
istjohn|5 months ago
Afforess|5 months ago
bdangubic|5 months ago