I don’t think “Leaf bad” undermines the actual point that a 3 second 0-60 time is wildly unnecessary and dangerous for the average driver, it was just illustrating that not every EV is performance-spec. I’d personally gate anything faster than 6, maybe 5 seconds under a “sport” license and traffic violation penalties should be more severe in that class of vehicles to more accurately reflect the relative risk to others.
Gating licensing based on acceleration speed doesn’t really make much sense. It should be based on vehicle mass, stopping distance or driver visibility. Being able to quickly accelerate makes it safer for highway driving and it’s the driver’s responsibility not to treat the suburbs as their personal drag strip.
We don’t have to pick just one criteria, I’d also have a “large vehicle” stamp to cover anything longer than a stationwagon or taller than ~6 feet. The relevant highway acceleration is more the 40-75mph range, but there’s definitely a relationship between quickness and safety. Crucially, I think that relationship only exists for competent and practiced drivers. Faster acceleration in the hands of a teenager is not safer on the highway. And “driver’s responsibility” is clearly not working.
Model 3 is the cheapest hatchback on the American market as of now. Buying new and not getting NACS will be painful in the coming years as well. I know Elon is a piece of shit, but it’s sad that exactly zero other manufacturers beat the model 3 price+range of any model on offer at the moment. Otherwise, there’s the base model Ioniq 5. End of List.
It’s such a shame that car manufacturers are so slow to innovate and compete with Tesla, but that’s where we’re at at the moment until Chinese cars are allowed to be sold stateside. I’d buy Chinese tomorrow if it were available here. Western car manufacturers are fucked; check out the Xaiomi Su7, BWD, etc.
I don’t think “Leaf bad” undermines the actual point that a 3 second 0-60 time is wildly unnecessary and dangerous for the average driver, it was just illustrating that not every EV is performance-spec. I’d personally gate anything faster than 6, maybe 5 seconds under a “sport” license and traffic violation penalties should be more severe in that class of vehicles to more accurately reflect the relative risk to others.
Gating licensing based on acceleration speed doesn’t really make much sense. It should be based on vehicle mass, stopping distance or driver visibility. Being able to quickly accelerate makes it safer for highway driving and it’s the driver’s responsibility not to treat the suburbs as their personal drag strip.
We don’t have to pick just one criteria, I’d also have a “large vehicle” stamp to cover anything longer than a stationwagon or taller than ~6 feet. The relevant highway acceleration is more the 40-75mph range, but there’s definitely a relationship between quickness and safety. Crucially, I think that relationship only exists for competent and practiced drivers. Faster acceleration in the hands of a teenager is not safer on the highway. And “driver’s responsibility” is clearly not working.
Oh absolutely. However, the Leaf is bad for every other reason besides its acceleration speed though.
Is there any alternative? I’m looking for a EV hatchback, they stopped making the Bolt and the Golf (and the Golf had no range)
Model 3 is the cheapest hatchback on the American market as of now. Buying new and not getting NACS will be painful in the coming years as well. I know Elon is a piece of shit, but it’s sad that exactly zero other manufacturers beat the model 3 price+range of any model on offer at the moment. Otherwise, there’s the base model Ioniq 5. End of List.
It’s such a shame that car manufacturers are so slow to innovate and compete with Tesla, but that’s where we’re at at the moment until Chinese cars are allowed to be sold stateside. I’d buy Chinese tomorrow if it were available here. Western car manufacturers are fucked; check out the Xaiomi Su7, BWD, etc.