I've driven every EV except the Fisker Karma (its a hybrid anyay), including the Tesla P85D.
Ok, but driving a vehicle once does not make you an expert. If you said you had an electric daily driver, I would have taken you more serious (in regards to your original statement).
Saying that someone doesn't know as much as they think, and not even having one of these vehicles is a little unfair IMO.
Aptera had hundreds of millions in investment, as did Zap!, ThinkCity, and numerous other flops. Fisker burned through over $1.3 billion before going bankrupt. It takes more than just capital to build an electric car.
Agreed, that's why I also said that the technology wasn't there yet THEN, but is now. Tesla has shown how to do it right, and some of that talent has migrated to other upstarts now. So that knowledge is 'spreading like a virus', investors are excited about electric vehicles now as well. The fact that Apple and Google are now doing this shows that many believe this is where the future is, and should make it easier to succeed now that everyone is paying attention. Will everyone be successful? Probably not, but I never claimed that.
In two months, Ford sells more F-150s than those three companies have sold EVs since 2010. You need perspective, not just fanboyism.
Fanboyism? Please stop with the accusations already. You are changing context here, I'm talking about electric vehicles, not sure why you are mentioning the F-150 (which ironically, does prove that people are willing to pay significant money for a vehicle, even if they don't need that capability), it's not I that needs perspective.
The $40,000 initial MSRP probably had more to do with lukewarm sales than anything else.
You really need to look at the sales numbers. The LEAF outsells the Focus Electric big time, both starting around the same MSRP. It's all about availability, which is the direct result of it being a compliance vehicle.
You seem to think if Ford had tried just a little harder, it would be a success. Yet Nissan put a TON of time and money behind the LEAF, believing it would sell 1.5 million units by 2016. Since 2010, worldwide, Nissan has only sold 200,000 LEAF EVs. Heads have rolled, apologies have been made, but it doesn't change the fact that Nissan TRIED, and failed to come anywhere close to its goal.
The Nissan LEAF is considered a success, the Focus Electric (as nice of a car as it is) is not. I never said that Nissan met its initial goals, but I would love to see a link to where Ghosn apologized for the Nissan LEAF being a failure. And yes, if Ford tried harder, they would have been more successful.
Ford took out loans right before the Great Recession against all its property and IP in a bid to right a sinking ship. They HAD to build cars people would buy, en masse, rather than taking a major risk on unproven technology with, as we have seen, very limited appeal.
And you think Tesla was not experiencing this same recession? You think Nissan wasn't working hard on the Nissan LEAF during this recession? What about Chevy (the Volt concept was shown in 2007!)?
Electrification is coming, and I'm happy it is. If you don't think a $4.5 billion commitment from Ford is serious though, then you really haven't a clue about the auto industry. That's enough money for three all new vehicle platforms, a new powertrain, and enough left over for a major marketing campaign (most marketing campaigns only run in the 100m area). Also, and then there's this.
All I said was "But the more the merrier, and time will tell how serious Ford is now.". That statement is a fact, and has nothing to do with 'auto industry' knowledge.
Promises are easy to make, and just as easy to break. Once Ford offers non-compliance electric vehicles, I'll give Ford all the credit they want (and deserve).