August 8 -- When politicians speak of weaning ourselves off gas, they frame their plans across decades. Indeed, it can seem like a stretch to imagine looking at gas stations in the imminent future the way we do at pay phones today. Presently, electric vehicles appeal primarily to those who can pay a premium for expressing their “green” values. Such vehicles are seldom mentioned as the upcoming default for your everyday commuter or local delivery driver.
But what if a clever business model could lower the retail price of a Tesla compact sedan to less than $20,000, or make an extended range option like BMW’s i3 attainable for under $30,000? Could such pricing make electric vehicle adoption a no-brainer for a larger group of drivers? The business model that helped make the smartphone widely indispensable may offer a clue. >>View Article