People are not very rational. Almost all trips in cars are very short, yet people are still very concerned about range in electric cars. Being able to cover more exotic driving conditions ("Our cars also work during a severe hurricane") could be a very effective marketing strategy.
> People are not very rational. Almost all trips in cars are very short, yet people are still very concerned about range in electric cars
As they should be... What good is a car if it can't be used for the occasional long trip? I expect my car to be up to the task to go visit friends or family 200km away on a whim, after coming home from work, instead of sitting idly while my battery is charging for a couple hours... I'm sure many users have the same expectations. Are we irrational?
Yes, the absolute worst case for most people is you get a rental car.
Having family 100 miles away that you visit regularly is reason to get a 100+ mile range electric car. Having family that lives 100 miles away that you visit every 10 years is not.
NYC is a great example where many people making 100+k per year don't own a car because transportation != car.
Sure, most trips are short. But short trips are best accomplished via walking, biking, public transit, or taxis. The only reason I want a car is for long trips. It can make short trips more convenient, but also if I were just buying it for short trips there's no point in spending the money, at least not living in a major city. Long trips are usually cost-prohibitive without a car that has decent range, at least relative to the cost of a gas-burning vehicle.
