Like the title says, are there any EVs that just have a Bluetooth radio and that’s it? Like a normal car, not a smartphone on wheels? If not, do you all think that this will actually happen at some point? This is the main reason why I can’t (and will never) buy an EV. I like to have actual buttons everywhere on my car. I think those massive tablets on these cars with all the touch buttons are very dangerous. I like an “entertainment system” that only connects to my phone with either a headphone jack of or Bluetooth. It’s a car, not a PC.
The entertainment system in most cars are separate from the actual car computer. You can just turn it off, or only use the radio. I think it’s only Tesla where it’s necessary to use the screen in order to operate the car.
EVs however is one place where it makes some sense to have some software connection to the car, if you want to time the charging to the electricity price or set a tine to preheat and such, that’d be difficult to make with physical buttons. I’d prefer just to have an simple app for it, because I really dislike the proprietary software in the cars.
You only need the screen to operate a Tesla on any model without stalks.
I’ve never tried to open the frunk with voice commands, but it probably works.
I want to talk to my car even less than I want to operate a touch screen.
Just rented a KIA Niro and wouldn’t have been able to tell it was an EV from the interior. HSS Bluetooth but I usually opt for Android auto.
Chevy Bolt EV and EUV have buttons for everything you need to do while driving. It does have android auto/apple carplay but you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to.
I tried an VW ID3 this weekend, the software was low key, it mostly relied on you having Apple Car or it’s android equivalent.
My 2017 Chevy Bolt is fully electric and has less fancy integrations than most cars sold today. It’s got Bluetooth and aux audio in but you have to connect a phone with a cable for Car Play or Android Auto, it’s got normal buttons and switches for all the car stuff too. It had a remote start until I ran out of free On Star months.
Seeing how OP hasn’t replied to any comments, I’m starting to wonder if they’re just anti-EV and trying to stir the pot. I test drove the newer bolt, the leaf, and a few others, it’s clear OP hasn’t really done much research if that’s an actual complaint they have, most are as you said. They range from basic to super fancy.
Buy an old, used EV (and replace the battery)?
Buy an older ICE car, pay for an EV conversion.
Any good choices? Been thinking of getting an old civic and seeing if anyone local can do it.
Nah I’m not knowledgeable on it. I just read that some people were having it done at a cost of $6k-$8k for popular car models that were easy to work on.
If you’re going to go to all the trouble of an EV conversion, I’d suggest getting something stylish or with a nice interior (or whatever you prioritize) but a shitty/unreliable stock drivetrain, since you’re ripping it out anyway. In a sense, making a reliable Honda into an EV is a waste of a reliable Honda.
Also don’t touch our beloved nsx or integra. Unless it’s cooked then go right ahead!👍
Do you really think somebody would pay $300k+ for an NSX and convert it to EV?
I thought the same thing when someone converted a classic 911 into an ev. I mean they probably sold the drivetrain to other people but still.
I always liked the idea of converting an old e30 BMW
I have a 2016 Hyundai Tucson that is almost paid off and works flawlessly. I actually never thought of conversion. I’ll have to look into that. Thank you.
Sure thing. I think I read that some had paid between $6-8k for conversions.
You might want to look into taking an older car and paying to get someone to install a conversion kit. If you have an existing car you could see if there’s a compatible kit that’ll save you some money.
From what I’ve seen, conversions are generally preferred on pre OBD cars, as even the accessories like lights, AC etc run through that.
It puts you back looking at vehicles from the 70s or earlier. VW beetles, combis,Porsches seem to be popular choices.
OBD2 wasn’t mandatory until 1995 in the US, and OBD1 was really primitive. I suspect an EV conversion of an '80s or early-'90s car would be okay too.
Is there an issue with running OBD for the accessories, but not the engine?
I was trying to simplify things a little.
It’s really more about ECUs and that everything is controlled by CANbus
My Hyundai Ioniq 5 has ample physical buttons on the center console, steering wheel, and door, and a physical door handle that Teslas lack. Sure there is a touch screen (smaller than industry average), but I don’t frequently use it, the buttons outside the screen are enough.
Man, that sounds like a good car. I already like Hyundai cars. I have two kids and I don’t want to be fiddling with touch screens while driving. Shit is scary.
Depends on where you are. In Europe some of the cars that have a shared platform—as in you can get an ICE or EV on the same model—are worth looking at. A bunch of the Stellantis-built stuff, like Peugeot or Vauxhall, are pretty “standard car, but EV”. Similarly Renault has some good options.
I live in the US. I wish we had access to some European cars. I’m originally from the middle East and all those cars you mentioned are there, not in the US for some reason. I remember we had Opel that is nowhere to be found in the US. Same with some Toyota trucks like Helix… Etc
Ah yeah, I feel like there’s better selection here, definitely. I think they sold the Volkswagen e-Golf in the US, no? Not great range but it’s just a Golf for the most part. Not still manufactured though, would have to look used.
I’m not sure. The laws are so fucking weird and stupid in this country.
My MY21 Hyundai Kona feels like a normal car without all those extra features. Lots of tactile buttons, there’s a headphone jack/USB. It’s really just a regular car with an EV engine.
That’s freaking awesome. I’ll check it out. I don’t really need a car now, but just wondering if we will turn into 100% smartphones on wheels
Hopefully someday.
Just get a Detroit Electric Model 82.
Man, I love this. It’s so cute.
I have a 2016 Nissan Leaf. It’s a short range commuter car, it makes a great second car for a family but it’s no good if it’s your only car.
I live in a left-hand drive country that gets heaps of used imports from Japan (who is also left-hand drive), so they are cheapish and easy to get YMMV,. The entertainment system is not touch screen, it has physical buttons including controls on the steering wheel. I’m not sure if it can phone home since it’s no longer in a supported country. We use Bluetooth for music and that’s it as the Nissan Connect stuff doesn’t work here.
That’s what I tell people who are just pure “anti” EV. No one should be anti EV, that’s a stupid take IMO. (Even the things about the environmental cost, I mean, fair, except their solution is to continue to keep destroying the planet by burning gas/diesel so you know they don’t actually care about that issue).
EVs are perfect for commuter cars and around town cars, which I’d say is 95+% of driving for most people. They just don’t want to admit it. Their vision of how they drive is wild and free on an open road, but most of them are just going to walmart, to work, for groceries, and around town. Since most of America is 2+ cars per house, it makes absolute sense for one to be an EV and the other to be an ICE/hybrid.
EVs are perfect for commuter cars and around town cars, which I’d say is 95+% of driving for most people.
The real "EVs"1 – that is, e-bikes – are even more perfect for that use case, though.
(1 Because most electric vehicles sold are, in fact bicycles, not cars)
The Nissan Connect stuff doesn’t work anymore for any of the 2016 Leafs, they used a form of cell service that is no longer in operation.
I swapped a nice Kenwood head unit into my Leaf for a couple hundred dollars. It maintains the backup camera, steering wheel controls, and the built in USB port while offering a larger screen and touch screen controls for Android Auto or Apple Car Play if you want them. It’s awesome and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a short range commuter car.
Had a 1998 Citroen Electrique once. Not much fancy electronics there…
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