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Comment by etaty | Hacker News Reader

Only Americans need a tank on the road. Weight is a big problem when you want to travel far. In a perfect world, the electric car is not the solution, we should aim for electric scooter, moped, bicycle, ... for our daily travels.

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Weather is a bit problematic with those. When you regularly get rain, sleet, snow and freezing temperatures, you want a cabin and heating.

I've lived in the US and understand the long driving distances makes it hard. That being said weather is a non issue, I bicycle everywhere all year around no matter the weather (live in Denmark). As long as the trips are below 10 km at least.

Weather is a problem with those, but much worse for me is personal injury risk. Assuming you'll have a fender-bender every couple hundred thousand km, on a bike/scooter/moped that means regularly broken bones, at a minimum. Not for me.

FWIW Germany, the UK and Australia, at least, have a lot of large vehicles as well.

Confirm Australia is becoming SUV-dominant.

Too many Australians will laugh smugly at the America portrayed by Family Guy because they never look in the mirror.

Disclaimer: I have a seven-seater. I hate it, but I'm not the one that drives the kids and their friends around with startling regularity so I don't get a say, and only reap the rewards of its presence despite talking it down.

Would happily re-draw from the mortgage for a BEV to replace it once they're actually available in Oz at remotely practical prices.

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