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Are OEM electric cars reducing interest in DIY EV conversions?
I've been wondering about this lately.
I'd be curious about traffic stats for DIYelectriccar forum and the EVDL list to see if they're seeing a drop-off in interest/activity.
Also, used OEM EV's (besides the originals like Solectria) like the Leaf / iMiEV etc. will be coming on the market in the next few years. Every year that passes makes a stronger economic argument against DIY projects.
I also wonder what's happened to the used prices of the "first wave" of EV's now that the OEM's are in the game again. Are 15 year old Solectria's still selling for over $10k? I'm sure we'll never see another 1st gen RAV4 EV go for spectacular prices on eBay the way they used to.
I have to admit that the ForkenSwift feels slightly less "special"* now that I'm seeing Leafs, Smart ED's, Volts & Fiskers running down Main Street.
(* Though it will always be "special" in the sense its approach/implementation makes it the perpetual runt of the litter.)
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