I agree with a lot of your sentiments and see the value in a simplified machine designed to run on little other than fuel, but being a bit of a geek, I get excited about new technology. However, I'm also one that values longevity and not one who likes the idea of "planned obsolescence". I'm quite known among my friends and family for keeping things for a ridiculously long time and in good condition. So these issues are of importance to me as well. For me, the reassuring aspect is that despite the newer technology with electric motors and batteries, automakers are actually designing them for reliability and use after a warranty period. I believe this notion is especially strong with the Japanese brands given they have designed their ICE vehicles likewise for decades. Toyota hybrids are well known for their long service life and batteries typically last about 200,000 miles before needing a replacement. By then, most people, regardless of what they drive, would have replaced their entire car. From what I've read of Ford's hybrids and GM's Voltec, they also have a good record of long-term reliability and service life as exemplified by everyone ranging from private owners to taxi fleets. So it's not just a Japanese thing.
For example, here's an article on a man who has hit 300,000 miles on his first-gen Chevy Volt.
https://transportevolved.com/2016/03/08 ... wer-alone/
Even newcomer Tesla has a very good record for battery life even with their first model, the Roadster, which had even a simpler battery than their Model S. This article discusses some research and other topics of battery service life in EVs, especially Teslas:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/109 ... -over-time
So while I agree with your notions, the data and research out there is simply showing that longevity, reliability, and service life aren't faults of EVs and PHEVs and on the contrary, they actually do much
better than ICE vehicles and especially their transmissions. It's very rare for a motor or even a battery in a hybrid or an EV to fail under 100,000 miles. In contrast, turbocharged engines, CVTs, DCTs, etc. are rather infamous for catastrophic failures before that mileage. So while I agree with you about the virtues of longevity and simplicity, it's turning out electrified vehicles are doing it significantly better than modern ICE vehicles.
For me, the main criticism of EVs and PHEVs is how they actually benefit the owner. I don't think they are for everyone. If one lived in a rural area with long commutes at highway speeds, then an ICE may be better (though that Volt article showed otherwise). If one was ultimately looking to save money then electrified vehicles don't have a very fast return on investment as they generally cost more. However, if one can afford the technology and their driving conditions are suited for them, I think there are many positive attributes. This is why I'm a fan and will certainly be looking into this technology after my Kizashi.
). The real issue is the lack of theory and understanding which can, and does, cause further problems to be induced during troubleshooting.
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