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Reply to "Intermeccanica going all electric"

I really wouldn't mind the power and feel of an electric drivetrain, although I would miss the auditory pleasures that go with a nice IC engine.  My problems with electric cars are related to the batteries:

  1. The manufacturing process is extremely dirty.
  2. The power production for charging can also be extremely dirty.  You're simply moving the pollution away from you.
  3. Range is limited unless you have room for a large battery pack.  I can't see that being the case in a Speedster.  Having a large battery pack quickly increases weight, to the detriment of handling and performance.
  4. Charging time is extremely long - hours versus minutes for a gas fill-up.  This may be my biggest gripe.
  5. The currently predominant lithium battery technology seems prone to devastating fires.
  6. Batteries require replacement after a few years, at considerable cost.  This reduces resale value considerably.

A lot of progress has been made in recent years, and the momentum toward electric dominance will ensure that it continues, but for now I'll stick with suck/squeeze/bang/blow.

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