|
Not so many people keep a vehicle for such a long time, and it's also worth to consider how full-hybrid systems such as the HSD have been taking over the role of a traditional automatic transmission in other markets where automatics were still not as popular as in the U.S. and Japan. Since the EV bits of some hybrids could effectively provide enough power just like their gasser counterparts do, hadn't it been for battery prices and range anxiety it would be possible to keep EV prices down if there wasn't an intention to increase their performance to the point of outperforming a gasser. This was basically the same strategy that initially seemed to attract more customers toward Diesel engines, until the complexity increased substantially to render them uncompetitive for many customers in more cost-sensitive segments.
|