I’m in my early 60s. I’ve got a 2019 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD. (The middle level between the Standard Range 2 wheel drive version and the top end Performance version.)
1.) it is the fastest vehicle I’ve ever owned, and there are other Teslas that are faster. This makes it fun to drive. This idea of EVs with tiny batteries that would have low performance like a 1965 Beetle are of no interest to me or most Americans. Maybe in some other countries that are used small, slow cars, but not here.
2.) I think plug-in hybrids are the worst of both worlds. You lose all of the mechanical simplicity and low maintenance of an EV, and the added weight of having both Internal combustion engines, electric motors, battery, gas, etc.
3,) Having a car with both a Lithium based battery and gasoline seems like driving a bomb. Once again no interest in plug in hybrids.
4.) My wife has a Toyota RAV4, and I thought we would take it out of town trips instead of the Tesla. We did that exactly once in the 3 years we’ve owned the Tesla. The Tesla just rides/drives so much better, and costs so much less to drive. It limits where you stop since there isn’t a supercharger at every exit yet, but there are plenty of Tesla superchargers along every major highway that there is zero range anxiety. I seldom charge for more than 15 minutes which gives me sufficient charge until my aging body and that of my wife’s needs another bio break. The charging infrastructure for Tesla owners is just fine now for any interstate based trip. (My biggest concern with taking the Tesla on an out of town trip is that it does not have a spare tire, and the 6 year old RAV4 does. Seems like many new cars don’t have spares these days either.)
5. This article advocating for smaller, slower, boring EVs reminds me of articles urging people to drive Smartcars or similar internal combustion vehicles I’ve read for the 40 years. I just don’t see it happening.