I travel regularly to NYC from Albany (about 150 miles). Many other people do as well, based on the NYC->ALB traffic you see on weekend evenings.
It's a trip that is definitely in the range of a Tesla from a point A to point B point of view -- but you end up with lots of overhead. Did I fully charge before the trip? Will I do a side trip? Will I drive around when I get there?
The electric car adds a lot of complication, and doesn't really solve any problem right now.
Its similar to the decision process of common carrier vs. car for any moderate/long range trip.
I want to say straight out, I agree that range-anxiety is real. People need to be comfortable that the car will be able to go wherever they need to go, whenever they need to do there. That is, at least in America, the cultural equivocation that driving === freedom.
That said, this statement:
> The electric car adds a lot of complication, and doesn't really solve any problem right now.
leaves me obligated to point out a few things. I will reason from analogy for point:
1. I just quit smoking, it wasn't obvious that it solved a problem right now, but I hope it will eliminate some later ;).
2. It doesn't matter, at least by Tesla's conception, that electric cars solve anything. Obviously, it is a mission driven company but that mission doesn't/shouldn't matter to the end user. Electric cars should be great for their own sake, and as good or better than a comprably priced ICE.
It's a trip that is definitely in the range of a Tesla from a point A to point B point of view -- but you end up with lots of overhead. Did I fully charge before the trip? Will I do a side trip? Will I drive around when I get there?
The electric car adds a lot of complication, and doesn't really solve any problem right now.
Its similar to the decision process of common carrier vs. car for any moderate/long range trip.