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Comment by mhh__ | Hacker News Reader

2035 is still a long way away - by this time the German manufacturers will have gone to battle stations on EVs. VW group's R&D budget is roughly comparable with Tesla's revenue, they may need a kick up the arse to get going but when they do EVs will definitely go up a gear.

I also think SUVs should possibly be banned fairly soon (Bad for cities, bad for roads, bad for parking, emissions etc.)

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I'll eat my hat if there is a national ban on SUVs and pickups in the US in the next few years. Instead, I expect their market share to increase

Not only do I think a national ban on SUVs and pickups will be politically impossible in the next 10 years, I think it’s a terrible idea. If you think it’s likely to happen you should spend more time out of whatever urban core you live in.

If you have a family of more than 4 an SUV is both practical and economical. The whole family can go places together, with enough cargo space for a beach weekend or a costco run.

If you ban pickup trucks you’ll essentially ban private boat ownership. You’ll also upset the many people that use their truck for both personal and business common for construction/agri/landscaping.

Why would we even ban SUVs or pickups? If you are concerned with global warming it seems to me that pollution should be taxed and if some people are still choosing to do so they can. And then keep raising these goals so we get rid of inefficient SUVs. This is what EU is doing pretty successfully with the German car manufacturers being dragged kicking and screaming into making low polluting cars.

SUVs can certainly be practical, though a crossover or minivan can do many of those things too. With better fuel efficiency and less weight on the road.

Would it actually have a large effect on boat ownership? Something like a Model X (or many regular crossovers as well) can tow 4-5000 lbs, which should cover the common ones right? I don't really know much about boats, but some quick research suggest that covers the common ones. I also didn't realize just how common boat ownership is in the US, but apparently its ~1 in 10 households.

But you are right, we are certainly not close to being able to replace trucks for business use at this time. The F150 is the top selling vehicle, and has been for many years. Mostly because of business uses. I don't think trucks are going anywhere for a long time in the US.

There are a lot of merits to an SUV over a crossover/minivan. The SUV will be able to hold more cargo — you can tow a boat or a small trailer. An SUV will be able to handle off road situations much better —- perfect for taking the family camping, skiing, or to the beach. An SUV is generally more comfortable and roomy than a crossover.

Yeah, many people can an do operate with a crossover or an EV instead. Smaller crossovers, like the RAV4, would be very crammed and feel underpowered with filled with 5 people, enough of their stuff for a week’s vacation, towing a 3000lb boat, and going up hill.

In Europe there are a good number of EVs you can buy today for around the €35k mark. Most countries are offering between €5k and €10k of incentives on top of that, so if you compare a similar sized ICE car the prices are not that much different.

VW ID.3 €35,574 300km

Pegeuot e208 €29,682 340km

Hyundai Kona €33,971 305km

(Prices are for base models in Germany, including taxes, excluding incentives)

The Model 3 is around €50k here, so even with the discounted price it's still going to expensive compared to other cars. Now of course it has a greater range, but I am wondering if Tesla are going to bring out a more budget model for Europe to compete.

SUVs are basically required in many parts of the US. Or at very least, it's much worse to have a sedan in the snowier and hillier parts of the country. Not to mention towing capacity or the more rural areas where off-road capabilities are important.

Having lived in both cold and rural parts of the country, I can confirm that sedans work just as well as SUVs.

I have as well. In no world is dealing with chain control in your 2WD sedan working "just as well" as an AWD SUV.

This also doesn't account for towing capacity. Most sedans are not suitable for towing a boat, for example.

I assume the ban would exempt commercial operations, but something to bring up as well.

Focus on electric vehicles, not bans on trucks and SUVs.

There is no chain control in most cold+rural areas. But if you are in a place that would benefit from AWD, there are plenty of non-SUV AWD options, including sedans.

Only until you actually need to haul anything.

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