The cell phone has been available for 47 years and only 67% of the world owns one. Why is it taking so long? cell phone are a lot less expensive than cars!
Yes, the first call using a cell phone was back in 1973.
As a percentage of the world population, how many people owned any sort of telephone in 1973? My guess, less than 67%.
When can the start date of the modern EV era be pegged at? 2008 (V1 Tesla Roadster)? 2010 (V1 Nissan Leaf)? 2012 (V1 Tesla Model S)?
IMO it is the Nissan Leaf, in 2010.
So it took 10 years for 2% market share.
Now that (Tesla Model Y as of May 2020) battery (pack level) costs are $108/kWh and a path to 54% cheaper pack costs within 36 months has been announced, I'll go on a limb and say Tesla's battery pack costs will be $50/kWh in the summer of 2023.
Current ICE drivetrain costs (engine, pollution controls, fuel tank, exhaust system, cooling system, drive shafts, transmission, et al) can be considered "a nickle a watt"...which translates to $5,000 for a 136 hp (100 kW) drivetrain.
A 2021 Honda Civic (Google search) indicates a top optional engine with 180 hp (132 kW)...which costs Honda ($5000 × 1.32) $6,600.
Assuming $50/kWh in the summer of 2023, the 80 kWh (75 kWh usable) battery pack in a long range Tesla Model 3/Y will cost $4,000...and a single motor example has 283 hp.
Two years ago, that 283 hp motor cost $754...so lets assume the cost efficiencies over the last two years means that motor now only costs $700.
350 mile range, 283 hp drivetrain that costs ($4,000/battery pack; $700/motor; $350/drive unit other than motor; $500/sundry electronics) $5,550.
100 more horsepower...is "refueled" at home at night (don't underestimate all the time wasted gassing up an ICE car)...in Ontario, costs 2.9 cents per km to operate ($29 to drive 1,000 km)...all at a wholesale drivetrain cost that is about $1,000 less than the Civic.