Yeah I can't figure out why this is, exactly. If batteries are such a huge cost center, why can't I save a significant chunk of change by opting for a vehicle that has 100 or 200 miles less range?
You can? Going from the 84kwh ID3 to the 55 kwh saves you around 17%
That's cool, are these available in the US?
I think only the ID 4 and up is, but it seems to be the same ballpark saving between the small and large battery version, ~20% cheaper. Idk if the US pricing is completely different, maybe they combine the battery with trim options that means you dont see this jump?
I'm not quite up to date what LFP batteries cost nowadays, but I remember it's in the $70ish range - so for a respectable 80kWh, it'd only cost $5.6k out of the total. Considering you can get something like a new Corolla for $20k-ish, if the EV minus battery costs the same as a fully fledged ICE car, you could have a $25-27k car with a quite generous battery.