Since the day you posted this, I've been thinking about responding... I can imagine what would happen if the world was primarily EV but we invented the ICE now.
First, let me set the stage. Because if we live in a BEV world, you have to essentially postulate that our existing infrastructure was in place to support EVs. Almost everyone would charge at home. Even in shared places like apartment/condo dwellings. It would become "table stakes" for rental properties to have charging. You would have a robust 3rd party charging network in cities and on interstates. Everyone would know where to charge and who had "the best rates", and that would cause charging to drive down profit above cost so public charging was only slightly more expensive than home charging unless you need a DC fast charger. And beyond that, the "important" part, everyone would be used to BEVs and so the idea of an ICEV would be foreign and new.
Can you imagine the complaints?
- What do you mean I can't charge at home overnight? I have to drive somewhere to get it ready? What if I can't find anyplace? (Remember there wouldn't be fueling stations on every corner if we've just invented ICEV). How will I find a fueling station? Is there an app for that?
- Wait, I have to put gas in my car? Gas, a flammable/explosive material? What happens if it ignites? What happens if my car starts on fire? I know there's a very low risk of batteries catching on fire, but it must be MUCH higher for these cars running on a flammable liquid!
- Ugh. If I really have to put fuel in, AND I have to find a fueling station, I want to do it as rarely as possible. I want a 30-gallon gas tank so I never have to worry about whether I'll have enough gas to get someplace, and I don't have drive all over town to fill it up very often!
- Man, these stupid ICEV engines have no low end torque! What a terrible driving experience! When I press the pedal, I want to GO. My BEV has instant torque.
- Why is it so LOUD?!?! I want to hear myself think, not listen to some engine running.
- Ew, what the heck is that smell coming out of the exhaust?! That's disgusting! It can-NOT be good for us.
- What's a "transmission"? Why isn't my acceleration smooth when it does this whole "changing gears" thing? And that sounds like a REALLY complicated mechanical thing--I'll be transmissions are going to break down all the time!
- I mean, I guess the fast "fueling" or whatever is great, but that's only important for people who are going on road trips, like, EVERY weekend. I haven't been to a public charger since that trip I took last summer, and is it REALLY that bad to wait 20-30 minutes and stretch my legs after 4 hours behind the wheel?
I mean, think it over. If we'd spent our entire lives living a BEV paradigm, and then some quirky billionaire tried to up-end it in the favor of the next big thing, "gas-powered vehicles!", do you really think it would be welcomed?