The biggest problem that I see with this idea is a social one, and not an economic one. It can be summed up in one word:
Pride.
Just look at how tenaciously consumers cling to SUVs and large luxury cars, even though they surely know better. People who can't even afford decent food or housing spend ridiculous amounts of money on excessive vehicles.
I'd imagine you'll have to pry the wheels of their gas-guzzlers from their cold dead hands before they get in some cheap, mass-produced, plain-vanilla electric transportation, virtually devoid of status and "bling."
>I'd imagine you'll have to pry the wheels of their gas-guzzlers from their cold dead hands before they get in some cheap, mass-produced, plain-vanilla electric transportation, virtually devoid of status and "bling."
Why can't you have electric transportation AND status and "bling"?
When I see a Hummer these days, my first thought is "chump", and wonder what the price of a fill up is at current rates. I think among some high earning demographics, the car with the most cachet is already the Prius.
Of course, then you have the ginormous Hybrid SUVs being pushed now by Detroit. Do people really not understand that whatever gas you save through the "hybridness" is more than offset by the few tons of metal they're driving around, compared to a smaller non-hybrid?
Pride.
Just look at how tenaciously consumers cling to SUVs and large luxury cars, even though they surely know better. People who can't even afford decent food or housing spend ridiculous amounts of money on excessive vehicles.
I'd imagine you'll have to pry the wheels of their gas-guzzlers from their cold dead hands before they get in some cheap, mass-produced, plain-vanilla electric transportation, virtually devoid of status and "bling."