Electric Cars and Culture: Where do the Dreamers Beat the Planners?

146962233 © Andrei Gabriel Stanescu | Dreamstime.com. Used under editorial license

Have a look at this list of battery-electric vehicles to be available in 2020, top ten in order of range.

Source: Motor Trend

1. Tesla Roadster: 620 mi/992 km
2. Rivian R1T: 400+ mi/643+ km
3. Tesla Model S LR: 373 mi/ 600 km
4. Tesla Model X LR: 328 mi/528 km
5. Tesla Model 3 LR: 322 mi/518 km
6. Ford Mustang Mach E (2021 MY) : 210–300 mi/338–483 km
7. Tesla Model Y: 300 mi/483 km
8. Polestar 2: 285 mi/489 km
9. Chevrolet Bolt EV: 259 mi/417 km
10. Hyundai Kona: 258 mi/415 km

Of the 10 longest-range BEVs, eight come from US manufacturers.

It would be easy to cite geography as a reason. Americans just plain drive more: 13000 km per year vs 6500 in the UK, 6300 in Germany and a slim 3900 in Japan. Spread-out suburbs, long commutes, and road-trips between medium-sized cities are simply a fact of American life.

But I’d argue that national culture plays a bigger role.

I’ve been kicking around the German automotive scene for quite a while, and am aghast at how often some local auto execs dismiss consumer concerns…