Don’t listen to the manufacturers’ empty promises. They only talk about the advantages, such as how cheap it is to drive a kilometre, but never mention the disadvantages. Any car that claims to cost only a few cents per kilometre is usually quite expensive, and they do this to distract you from the price. Gas-powered cars also have this price, which makes people overlook it. In fact, gas-powered cars that are half the price of electric cars have sufficient functionality, and you can use the money you save to buy fuel for many years.
Electric vehicles have a few drawbacks, but I won’t discuss the convenience of charging here. Instead, I’ll focus on the tricks involved:
1. Charging from 30% to 80% takes only 30 minutes
They won’t tell you that charging from 80% to 100% is the hardest part and takes the longest time. In fact, charging to 80% already has a significant margin of error in terms of range, and it’s essentially “phantom power.” Before reaching 30%, you’ll need to plan ahead to find a charging station, so you can only use the middle 50% of the battery. This 50% must power the range, audio system, screen, air conditioning/heating, and lights, so a portion of that power is already allocated.
2. Are electric vehicles really cost-effective?
When considering the entire vehicle lifecycle, internal combustion engine vehicles have a longer lifecycle than electric vehicles. While electric motors also have a long lifespan, batteries do not. Do not rely on manufacturers’ lifetime warranties, as these are designed to facilitate sales. It is challenging to meet the warranty conditions, and manufacturers set these conditions for a reason—businesses are not charitable organisations and will not engage in unprofitable ventures.
Some people might say they replace their car every 5–6 years, but the car you replace isn't scrapped—it enters the used car market, meaning the car's lifecycle hasn't ended. Internal combustion engine vehicles can continue to circulate until they no longer meet standards and aren't worth repairing—then they're scrapped. But look at used or second-hand electric vehicles—what's their lifecycle? Basically, when the battery life ends, the car is scrapped. No one wants to buy a used car and install a new battery; with that money, they’d just buy a new car.
Where does the residual value and price difference go? It’s paid for by the first owner. Every penny you save on fuel per kilometre is factored into this.
When comparing electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles of the same price, the latter’s insurance is more expensive. These expenses are also factored into the entire lifecycle. Look at the total cost; that’s how you calculate it reasonably.
3. The acceleration of electric vehicles is inconsistent. A 0-100 km/h time of 3–4 seconds is achievable when fully charged, but try it at 80%, 50%, or 20% charge—can it still run? What if it breaks down on the road? Aren’t you afraid of being stranded? While the probability of this happening is low, if it happens once and you have urgent matters to attend to…
This isn’t just buying a car; it’s like buying a parent—you have to take care of it!
4. The range is unstable across all four seasons. It’s not just about the range being too short; it’s mainly because the range is too unreliable. When you go out to run errands, you have to constantly worry about running out of power and not being able to find a place to charge.
Conclusion: Electric vehicles cannot replace petrol vehicles. The current explosive growth is due to both government policies and the novelty of the technology, but only when you actually use them do you realise the pros and cons. While it’s true that electric vehicles are smarter, that’s a secondary consideration. First, you need to confirm safety, stability, and convenience, and only then can you talk about intelligence. Electric vehicles fall short of petrol vehicles in these three key areas.
In areas with purchase restrictions, or for a second car at home, buying an electric vehicle priced around 100,000 yuan for urban commuting is feasible. However, if you elevate it to the level of competing with or replacing internal combustion engine vehicles, that’s a joke. Such claims will become a laughingstock in automotive history. The physical characteristics of batteries determine that their range cannot be reliable.
The government’s strong support for electric vehicles is not because they are inherently superior; there are other considerations at play, which have nothing to do with individual consumers. Most families are ordinary households that will only replace their vehicles a few times in their lifetime.
While some companies, including European automakers, have announced plans to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles, such statements should not be taken at face value. Companies prioritize profit, and such claims are made solely to benefit their market position. Additionally, such statements may mislead the public into believing that electric vehicles will inevitably dominate the future. To be clear: Electric vehicles will never dominate the world like internal combustion engine vehicles do. In the future, they will coexist for a significant period until a new energy source emerges to replace both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles.
Of course, there is also the possibility of a battery revolution.
To elaborate further: Some new players are using intelligence as a selling point, pricing their vehicles at 300,000 or 500,000 yuan and above. I believe the true value of a vehicle lies not in these electronic features, but in the quality control during manufacturing. It’s not that their standards are low or lax, but rather that building a car isn’t just about piling on components. Using high-quality parts doesn’t necessarily result in a good vehicle. If you were to remove the engine and transmission from a Magotan and replace them with a battery and motor, could you sell it for 500,000 yuan? Would anyone buy it? Would anyone buy it even if it were equipped with all these smart software features?
When it comes to car manufacturing, traditional automakers are more reliable and sustainable than new entrants. Equipment, production lines, and various parts can be purchased, but craftsmanship cannot be bought. The value of a car ultimately lies in its inherent positioning. To put it bluntly: these new entrants, who often sell cars for 450,000 yuan, do not offer value commensurate with that price.
If you think a Jianghuai-made petrol car can rival an Audi A6, then its electric car should also be worth that price. Otherwise, just changing the powertrain and selling it at that price—where does the confidence and capability come from? Those cameras, radars, screens, and software aren't the car's highlights; they only serve as auxiliary functions because even in NB, they can't replace the driver!
Moreover, electronic components depreciate the fastest. You might say that when buying a car, you don't consider resale value, but electronic components update much faster than internal combustion engine vehicles.
How long can you use the best smartphone without it lagging?
Who still uses a phone from six, eight, or ten years ago?
