The majority of Americans could turn around right now and buy a Nissan Leaf or Bolt for their daily commute and then turn to renting on the rare occasions they travel

The vast majority of Americans can't afford a NEW car, even a $30K one. The vast majority of people buy USED cars. So even a Leaf or a Bolt is not an option for most people. If you want numbers, 40 million used cars are sold every year vs 17 million new ones, over a 2 to 1 ratio. The average price of a used car before the pandemic was $20K. Far lower than sticker on any EV.

Another number, the median income in the US is $31K. The out the door price on a base leaf will be more than their annual income, and they don't make enough for the tax credit to help.