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Comment by 35bge57dtjku | Hacker News Reader

A car that would leave you with about a $600/month payment is 'for the masses'?

"The federal EV tax credit of $7,500 gets the price down to less than $30,000" [1]

"the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $33,666 in March 2016." [2]

A car that costs less than the median purchase price for new vehicles in the US seems pretty close to "for the masses" to me. It's at least in the running for more than half of all new car buyers in terms of price (not in size or amenities, obviously).

[1]: Parent article

[2]: http://mediaroom.kbb.com/new-car-transaction-prices-up-2-per...

TCO for electrics is also likely to be lower: http://seekingalpha.com/article/543861-report-shows-lower-to... and their total lifespan is likely to be higher, even taking into account a battery swap after 10 - 20 years.

You jumped from mean to median. The /median/ new car price in this country is about $22k.

I stand corrected, I misread the article I was quoting. Apologies for the error.

The average price takes into account all sizes of cars. It is not an average sized car; it's towards the small end which makes prices lower. It's very close to the size of a Kia Soul which goes for $16k and smaller than a Chevy Trax which goes for $21k.

I'd be more inclined to agree with you if everyone always bought new cars.

By that measure, almost all cars aren't for the masses because they don't compete with used car prices.

Leasing is a thing

Still too much, when you could probably lease a civic for way less

Is it less than you pay {Civic monthly lease + (Civic Monthly Gas Cost - Bolt Electricity Cost)}??

Honest question! It seems like a critical mark for GM to hit with such an odd looking vehicle.

> odd looking vehicle

On this note, why is it that EVERY EV (except for the Tesla) has to "look a little weird" or "make a design statement"?

That's even less 'for the masses' AFAIK.

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