Thanks guys! Thesi, Madoff is perfect for EV story. Some thoughts ; )
As an idealist, it is easy for me focus on the amazing disruptive technology that is electric technology. The idealist buys shares for the same reason my money stagnates in Greatcell solar. The cynic in me knows that the stock market isn't about lithium or solar technology. It's about power. Power in this world is money and money dictates if and when things get done. The Panama Canal and recent super yachts are some eye watering example. There is a distribution of wealth today that has not been as vastly unequal since the turn of the 20th century. I think people truely underestimate/can't really comprehend what a massive shift of wealth has occurred since the end of WWII. The rest of us are relatively better off but not in the phenomenally and vastly unequal way that is represented by the wealth of the top 1%. The ship might inexorably drift in the direction of these disruptive technologies but it is the wealth/power that captains it. And sometimes they are distracted by super yachts...sometimes a Tesla. The masses already have cars, cheap cars and are in the habit of driving to the station and buying petrol - it's all very convenient already. There is already a profitable Panama Canal...I'd rather not build a new one. If the alternative to EV cars was a horse and cart this revolution might have more of the Ford motor car style. However, it is easy for an idealist to see it in similar terms when EV technology is factored into electric source/storage disruption. Maybe quick shift to EV, maybe long drift.
Sometimes when I think about EV cars being called a toy by those that can afford them, it makes me think of the disconnect between what they do (transport) and how they are powered (battery, I imagine AA?!). And about how money might affect the perspectives and lifestyle of people who can afford them and call them toys. The ICE car is the thing that is not a toy! (in a general sense) - it's the revolution away from horses and if you can afford an EV at the moment, the budget for ICE petrol and servicing is probably not your biggest concern. In this sense battery technology is a fun toy, but something you have to still think about charging, like your kids remote control car. For those with money, ICE is still convenient and reliable (as it is for the masses), the costs don't factor in that much and the costs for the rest of us to even contemplate getting on board with an EV still have to come down to where the price difference between recharging with inexpensive electricity and petrol factors into the price someone is willing to pay for a car - seeing as a Kia Rio, AU$15,000, 7 year unlimited km warranty is pretty cheap. Whether this is a slow drift or a quick shift is down to the money. But why shift quick unless you are forced - why China money looks so good! EV can still be considered a toy, whether it's unaffordable or affordable - as it is either not in the household budget (jet-ski territory) or isn't making much of a difference to your already existent lifestyle where costs of the family vehicle or 3 isn't a great concern. Maybe this is partly why Musk's idea to make Tesla's cars so incredible compared to ICE was such a genius move - a fantastic toy to it's initial market, an idealistic vision to the masses that represents so much more than a toy - an idealistic vision of future transportation and a way to get at the money - selling toys to the 1%. Madoff gets jail - we get an electric car when they've finished playing ; )
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