this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
2 points (100.0% liked)
Electric Vehicles
963 readers
163 users here now
Overview:
Electric Vehicles are a key part of our tomorrow and how we get there. If we can get all the fossil fuel vehicles off our roads, out of our seas and out of our skies, we'll have a much better environment. This community is where we discuss the various different vehicles and news stories regarding electric transportation.
Related communities:
founded 9 months ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I'm not a fan of manufacturers continually foisting larger vehicles on us. Improvements in range and charging are always welcome, but the Nissan Leaf was the perfect size for its niche (an affordable urban vehicle). Our local CarShare has a Gen2 Leaf, and I never had an issue hauling work equipment with the seats down. You can't fit sheet plywood or lumber in there, but that was never its intended purpose.
With increases in size come increases in cost (and decreases in MPGe). The Chevy Bolt was another great pocket rocket that recently fell victim to the oversizing trend (in this case being canceled entirely to manufacture e-pickups).
100% agree with what you said. I'm sure the new Leaf is great, but I won't buy a bigger car. I'm personally willing to compromise with the subscription lock-in bullshit, and even the current generation bullshit, but I won't at all compromise on size, so when anybody uses terms like 'crossover' or 'hybrid', then they just lost my interest.
imagine these innovations in tech, but on a smaller car. cool, yeah? so, why isn't this happening, then, NOW? maybe because they're hiding something! or maybe because they've already compromised on something or are straight-up being dishonest about something.
From an engineering standpoint it may have something to do with battery size, but from a marketing standpoint it seems like (in America) carmakers decided bigger = better a couple decades ago and have been running with it (and charging more money for it) ever since. I miss the car-sized cars of the 80s.
We really need kei cars with tax rebates. Maximum width, length, height, and empty weight. That'll incentivize people to get cars that actually fit into existing parking spots and should also help with road wear.