Yes, if the PHEV were to have the same distance as the full EV, that would be a game changer and would put it at the top of my list. But since no one else has come remotely close to pulling that off, I doubt very much that that will be the case.
I get that argument; a hundred miles is enough for most people most days. And if they offer the version with that limited range at a good price, it might tempt some people. Perhaps offer a longer-range version for more money?
The first two specs I look at for these things are range and price. Then cargo capacity is 3rd. This one is pretty much a non-starter for me.
I’m wondering if C&D got their information switched with the Hybrid. I went the Mazda site and it didn’t give numbers. It did mention a rotary generator.
Range anxiety was the biggest problem with electric cars when they were only offering 100 miles on a charge. It’s not that you necessarily need more range from dsy to day, but that you start to get pretty uncomfortable when you get anywhere near the limit. And a 100 mile range means even occassional long distance trips would be dicey.
My car can go 86 km once the ‘low fuel’ light comes on, according to the driver’s manual. I could theoretically drive to work and back four times with the low fuel light on. I’ve never done that. Once that light goes on, I’m looking for a gas station now. In fact, I try really hard to avoid driving on anything less than 1/4 tank.
If that small range saved $4000 over a Bolt, you could make a case for it. But the Mazda apoears to start at the top end price for a Bolt, and goes up to $5,000 more. That’s just ridiculous for an EV with a 100 mile range.
At some point, someone will make a city car the MX30, only it will be priced almostbthe aame as the gas equivalent. That might sell well.
If that MX-30 had come in at a base of $25,000-$27,000, Mazda would have a winner. At $35,000-$40,000, it’s ridiculous. You can get a Tesla model 3 for that money with three times the range.
Except if Mazda is new to the EV market, buyers will get $7500 in federal tax credits and perhaps some from the state. So that will reduce the cost somewhat.
But that doesn’t help against the Bolt, or the Hyundai Ioniq of several other electric cars that still qualify.
I suspect Mazda was targeting the Bolt, which in 2020 started at $38,000. So a lower range equivalent that’s $3000 cheaper might have found a market. Then Chevy went and lowered the price of the Bolt by $5000 this year.
Mazda will have to match that cut or extend the range of the MX-30 to be competitive, IMO.
Actually I just checked a little while ago and apparently the Bolt (and other GM vehicles) no longer qualifies for the tax credit. So I suspect they lowered the price to compete against others that still do. I’m not sure why the GM and Tesla no longer qualify, but the Leaf still does. I’m not familiar with the criteria to qualify for the credit.
Subaru announced today that they will be introducing an all electric in the 2023 model year, the Solterra. Precious few details were released.
As I understand it, the credit applies to the first xx number of cars sold by a particular manufacturer. Tesla maxed out, and maybe GM too.
Nissan hasn’t yet, if the Leaf still qualifies (surprising, as I see a lot of Leaves on the road)
Indeed, I thought the Leaf was one of the more popular EVs, mostly due to its lower price. But GM had five models all counting towards their total (Chevy Volt, Bolt, and Spark, and Cadillac CT6 and ELR). The Leaf is Nissan’s only EV.
And Nissan has been selling the Leaf since December 2010, so more than ten years. Googling, they’ve sold about 150,000, and the tax credit runs out when a manufacturer sells more than 200,000. Honestly, for being the first manufacturer with a modern EV, they’ve done a terrible job of marketing the vehicle, or developing additional models.
In other news, my $2,500 state EV rebate check arrived in the mail today. Bada-bing, bada-boom! So far, I’ve made money leasing this car!
Go EVs!
So I just went down a C&D rabbit hole, and found myself looking at a slideshow of the planned cars that their editors are most looking forward to. From there I learned that there’s a rumor that Toyota may reintroduce the MR2 – as an EV. I have said that it would be awesome if someone built something like an electric Miata (I suppose Tesla has done that with the Lotus based Roadster). But an electric MR2 would be awesome! But it all seems to be just rumors and speculation at this point.
I keep thinking they will. If they’re smart; they’ve got to… either before it goes on the market, or when they frantically retool it when it doesn’t sell.
Saw a used Leaf I’d love, but then I could only visit my mom if I recharged some place near her retirement home.
Which I could probably do, if I were honest (…and more patient than I am now).
But I keep thinking that my range anxiety would go way down if I could carry a backup battery with fifty miles’ worth of juice in it. Anyone know if that’s possible?
(Oh, hell, just buy me a Toyota MR2 EV already!)
If there’s no one behind, I leave a manual in gear and let the engine slow the car, until around 1k rpm. If I take it out of gear, it uses fuel to keep the engine at idle. Left in gear, fuel flow is zero.
An interesting approach.
The low-fuel light in my car comes on at about 60 miles remaining, so not much different than your 83km.
In familiar territory I’m happy buying gas with the computer predicting 3 miles remaining to exhaustion. From my POV, you waste time stopping for gas about 30% more often than necessary. And worrying about it 30% more often.
For sure if I lived in an area with gas stations far apart or with unreliable hours or supply, or if I’m driving in an unfamiliar city I play it more conservatively. But that’s the 0.5% case, not the 99.5% case. At least for me.
YMMV 
Actually, in winter I always keep the car at least 1/2 to 3/4 full. Old airplane habits - empty fuel tanks get more condensation in them, which I’d trather not have. Plus, for emergency purposes I don’t want to have to drive out in a winter storm worrying about running out of gas.
Maybe I’m a bit nuts about that, but I get really uncomfortable driving on rural roads in -30 weather with only a small amount of gas in the car.
That’s another thing about a vehicle with only 100 miles of range - drive it in winter, and you coiod see as little as 60% of that range while heating the battery and occupants. In Canada I’'d never buy an EV with less than 250 miles of range, because I’d assume that in winter it might more like 150.
Your approach makes complete sense if you’re living in small-town or rural Canada. Mother Nature can and will make you her bitch. Her dead frozen stiff bitch that is. Don’t tempt Mom.
I knew you were Canadian, but assumed you were living in one of the main cities in your province, and doing a chillier version of the standard suburbia thing most of us do.
Yeah, I live in Edmonton, but I have relatives and friends that live in rural areas.