A couple things on EVs:
1) they don’t scale well.
2) they aren’t the magic unicorn, rather 1 part of a multi-part solution.
Until battery tech is addressed, EVs are plagued with the environmental impacts of battery resource acquisition. The energy density of EV batteries is a huge hurdle that technology will no doubt address, but it remains to be seen to what degree.
EVs do produce lower CO2 emissions per mile traveled. From the DOE, 2-3x less, depending on vehicle size, use, temperature, and source of electricity.
For a commuter vehicle, which since COVID that concept is ever changing, with less than 35-50 miles traveled per day, they are ideal. Conversely, they often require a second vehicle for longer trips, heavier work, etc. Not always necessary and every lifestyle is different.
From a classic vehicle standpoint, the loss of engine sound and vibration is a huge turn off, but limited range and stackable motors is neat to bench race.
As to transmissions...many folks don’t understand the drive motors in EVs. Most OEMs use a single reduction, but with larger vehicles, to increase range and performance, gear boxes will be necessary. The GM COPO Camaro used a 3-speed automatic.
Finally, GM had the perfect plug-in Hybrid EV, a platform that could be used in most sedans and many SUVs, a rear drive motor could be added for AWD, and when combined with the Diesel engine from the Cruse, development miles returned Prius destroying mileage. But lousy marketing and advertising, the VW diesel gate, and negative press from their bailout, doomed the Volt to failure. Imagine a vehicle you can plug in, commute to work and use little to no fuel, but jump in and drive anywhere there is pump fuel available. That was the Volt. GM along with anti-Bailout taking heads, destroyed it.
