Comment by zelon88 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by zelon88 | Hacker News Reader

> While bigger batteries allow drivers to travel farther between charges, they also make the cars heavier, more dangerous, more expensive, and worse for the planet.

Bigger vehicles in general are safer than smaller vehicles. If you are in a 2,000lb car with a 5 star safety rating, you will still probably be killed in an accident with a 6,000lb truck that has a 3 star safety rating. Despite all your advanced driver aids and BS. You will die, and the 1995 Ford F-250 owner will walk away. Mass is the most significant safety feature you can buy. Don't let some journalist in a suit tell you any different. He only wants you to drive the Corolla because he's driving a Suburban.

Personally, I buy cars based on my enjoyment of them. To buy a car for any other reason is silly. None of your friends or family will remember that time you got 55mpg on vacation, but nobody will forget the adventures you can have with a 4x4 on 35's.

Safer for the occupants, not safer overall.

They are safer overall because if you don't choose one, you are at a disadvantage. There is no risk to owning a larger vehicle. Conversely there is a risk with owning a smaller vehicle. When designing a vehicle for safety it is the primary objective to increase the safety for the occupants. They are the customers of the safety product. I am not paying for features that diminish my safety for the safety of people that aren't in my car. Other people can be responsible for choosing the safety features that they believe are most effective. Whether they choose correctly or not is not my problem.

Well there is the risk of seeming like an asshole to everyone else. Like, EVERYONE else, not just a single person. But that doesn't seem to be your concern.

You seem to be grossly overestimating the people who think like you.

When you park your new Suburban in your driveway, your neighbor is most likely to say, "Hey, nice Suburban!" rather than scoff at your pedestrian killing death machine.

I'm not sure I follow you. The neighbour might congratulate you but (s)he is inconvenienced as well.

> Well there is the risk of seeming like an asshole to everyone else.

The people who are going to think you're an asshole is extremely limited.

I'd love to see a small 2,000 car with a 5 star rating that's built like a ramp that redirects the collision from larger vehicles over the roof.

Ah, the battlebot strategy

Maybe there's an aftermarket opportunity here. Instead of a roof rack, roof ramps.

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