EV adoption is still increasing. The rate of increase has decreased.
I am personally in the camp that believes, because of the geographic area of the United States and people's families (very different if all your friends live in Spain, and you live in Spain, versus California to Chicago); EV adoption in the US will be much more strained than Europe or China (as in China, 60% of the population lives in 12 coastal provinces and most of the family stays together). I could see the US easily being a decade or more behind, not because we're stupid or backwards or lazy, but because our requirements are different.
For the US; I think Plug-in Hybrids are a fantastic option that should be encouraged. They completely kill the arguments or concerns about range anxiety; and, what, 80%-90% of all miles travelled will be electric? Don't let perfect be the enemy of very good; especially when far more people would be willing to sign up. I think it's fine and reasonable to get 80% of the way there with broad adoption, wait a decade or so for EV technology to be even better and go further to where nobody has concerns, and then transition to 100%. Forcing people into premature technology ruins first impressions and sets stereotypes that will never die.
That sounds like a safety nightmare.
And the $8,000 BYD Seagull has passed European safety testing for highway speeds.
> typical US oversized SUV
I actually don't know if people will go back from SUVs even if there are better cars. They just feel psychologically safer to the passengers and the large cargo hold is convenient. If you took them away from people, I think there'd be widespread anger at EV's expense which is not needed right now.
They are for the consumer. The Volt is a fantastic car.
Hybrids are a disaster for manufacturers. GM killed the Volt.
The manufacturing cost difference between the Volt and the Bolt was simply far too large.
The manufacturers are way better off putting the price difference into a larger battery and dumping the combustion side.