A changeover in autocar technology is one of the biggest in the world of personal goods, propbably bigger then horse to car. Any such switch comes with uncertainties and doesn't work well when there is a lot of money involved and even the future of complete industries. And in this modern age it becomes even harder when information spreads so quickly and one is bombarded by news on solid state batteries, hydrogen tech (which I doubt quite much) and now ammonia (which actually has potential but also deep downfalls if not done properly), spreading doubt on the right way forward.
From reading here I learn that the UK has ambitious goals for BEV but hasn't come very far yet. So I understand the scepticism. Goalposts will be moved if nothing dramatic happens soon.
Here it is bit the same, all car sales are down incl BEV. Inflation and price cuts makes that people are more waiting to see what happens. But at the same time already half my street is BEV, charging at home is dead cheap here and tax and insurance are low. Majority of completely average people not into cars that I talk to, will consider only hybrids or EV car for their next new car purchase despite there being no tax cuts in place anymore - adoption rates differ though and still 47% of Swedes live in apartments so there adoption is slower. This whole process will take long time and it will be 20-30 years before 99% is no longer ICE and BEV and/or whatever better again takes over.
It's hard to do buy right in general. EVs are expensive yet (but not as expensive as some think, equivalent size and comfort car (not even performance) isn't that much cheaper (without tax cuts)) but still there is a genuine worry that once a cheaper solid state battery car comes the old tech will be as much worth as a 4 year old mobile phone. At the same time, at some point in time not too dissimilar, when EV will genuinely will be cheaper everywhere than a fossil car and the general public realises this, the latter will also lose near enough all value unless they are proper special. Most taxis are BEV here so that is telling that story already in that segment here.
So my advice is, if anyone askes me here, get a car you really like so you can be happy with it for a long time if you have to. At least from my perspective, ICE or EV will roughly, very roughly, cost about the same, the former in higher running cost and the latter due to depreciation from a higher level.
And for me that means BEV because for at least a family/travel car, the EV is a much more pleasant proposition and charging cheap at home is extremely convenient. We did ski trips and a euro trip last summer and it was perfectly fine too. But I appreciate it can be different in the UK or other countries (work to do) and in personal preference. And I am betting both horses as I very much enjoy both my GRY (with a hope it falls in the special category in 10-20 years) and our family BEV which I find very pleasant to drive as a roomy comfy car. I enjoy them for myself and for my family, not for some unknown next owner...
Brain fart over.
