quote: They'd still have to go through the expense of developing technology and parts for the first time and not achieving minimal production cost in their first attempt.
quote: If Nissan delayed the introduction of the Leaf, they wouldn't have hit an MSRP or $29k today. They got there by taking what they learned from the original Japan plant and improving efficiency for the US one.
quote: GM's Volt transmission is unique.
quote: The appropriate chemistry would be a niche without EVs, so cost reduction would be slow and inapplicable to EV volumes.
quote: For instance, if you wanted to build your own cell phone you wouldn't have to reinvent the transceiver, the GPS chip, the processor, the memory, the compass, etc. These things have already been invented by third party companies and you'd incorporate them into your design.
quote: the main cost savings is in the parts becoming more popular and as a result cheaper.
quote: They use off-the-shelf cells made by LG Chem in Korea. LG Chem (and other companies) had already developed these kinds of batteries before the Volt was thought of.