Quote:
Originally Posted by AnalogMan
The automotive apocalypse may not quite be upon us just yet, but it can be seen down the road.
I know the future is electric, etc. etc. etc. BUT.... I can still lament the passing of fun to drive, shift-for-yourself, great sounding (except maybe for the stock BRZ) internal combustion powered sports cars. So far, solely in my personal opinion, the battery electric car has yet to be built that is 1) fun to drive, and 2) has any soul.
I don't care about 'maximum torque at zero rpm'. My washing machine does the same thing, but I don't get too excited about it. For me this also includes the original Tesla Roadster. Unless a car has a manual transmission, I just can't get thrilled about it. While it's technically possible to put a manual in a BEV (Ford did it with a prototype Mustang), the power output characteristics of an electric motor make it a moot point. It's still an appliance.
I also find it ironic that Massachusetts is doing this. Yes, I know they're looking to the 'future' and projecting what will be in 2035. But at least right now, Massachusetts consumes 12 times more power than it produces. The electricity it produces in-state is 2/3 natural gas - a fossil fuel.
Presumably Massachusetts is expecting (hoping?) things will be very different in 2035. Because if they're not, it seems to be more than a little hypocritical to mandate the sale of only BEVs when the state buys most of its electricity from others, and most of what it produces on its own is from fossil fuel. It's the ultimate long tailpipe - charging electric cars with electricity produced by fossil fuels. The state is trying to develop offshore wind power, so hopefully 2035 will bring a different state of affairs.
For me personally, this just means one of 1) I'll stock up on whatever cars I like best before 2035 and make sure the inventory lasts for the rest of my life, 2) I'll move, or 3) at my age, by 2035, I may well no longer be among the living. Fun things to think about.
Regardless, we should enjoy our BRZ's while we can. The days of the traditional, shift-for-yourself, scintillating sounding, inexpensive, passionate sports cars are coming to an end.
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There are all types of car enthusiasts, but we are a rare bread, even among car enthusiasts. Automatics often outsell manual transmissions, even in sporty cars, or they are not offered at all. Weight continues to rise in exchange for raw power, so the landscape of sporty cars is evolving to be more and more like large, highway-queen sedans. This evolving trend fits perfectly with the EV platform. If dual clutches are faster than manuals then it follows that a gearless/clutchless/single-speed setup would be ideal. If turbos are better than NA engines because they offer a broad and instant torque curve then EVs one up them. If power is so easy that many sporty cars are traction limited then extra weight just ads to performance, so EVs fit in. If maintenance and reliability becomes more and more of a problem as horsepower increases then EVs are perfectly positioned to offer reliable power. In a world where manufactures are dealing with traction problems with fancy AWD systems, active diffs and control systems, EVs have the benefit of a low COG, dual/tri motor systems instead of complex differentials without the drivetrain losses, while putting the motor directly over the wheels.
Like I initially said, we have all different types of car enthusiasts. It is clear from what I said before that we are a rare bread--those of us that prefer sound, lightweight, handling, engagement, high power band, NA, manual sporty cars--even among performance oriented enthusiasts, but we are just a slice of the pie. There are stance enthusiasts, audiophiles, show car enthusiasts, off-road/rally enthusiasts, off-road/truck enthusiasts, luxury snobs, media/tech junkies, lighting junkies, low-riders/donks, classic car enthusiasts, etc, and there is overlap. Some of these have no regard to the type of drivetrain, so I don't see car culture disappearing anytime soon just because we go to EVs.
I'm confident there will continue to be a 25 year law and other paths for the car enthusiasts, even if new car sales are limited to EVs. The bigger issue might be the availability of gasoline or E85 in the future more than if someone is allowed to register an ICE vehicle.