The Core

It just boggles my mind that hybrids, the most complex cars ever created with two completely separate power systems, keep showing up as the most reliable and having the lowest TCO.

I can't quite figure out how that works. But everyone I know with a Prius has loved it.

Of course, I could say that about Tesla owners too.

UK:
Electric cars will no longer be exempt from vehicle excise duty from April 2025, the chancellor has said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63660321

+

2022:  In the third quarter, Tesla made a profit of just over $9,500 for every car sold, compared to roughly $1,300 for Toyota

Exclusive: Tesla readies revamped Model 3 with project 'Highland' -sources | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-readies-revamped-model-3-with-project-highland-sources-2022-11-28/

>profit

Tesla is cutting a lot of corners, like not having a dealer network.  It remains to be seen how long they can go that way.  Right now they are just selling to early adopters and not the great implacable masses of Karens.

The same electronics problems, circuit boards frying, touch screens blanking, bricking, are going to hit Tesla cars around years 6 and older and people are going to want repairs.  Also, just like what happened to car dealers after World War II, eventually there is going to be a used EV market and they haven't touched on how they're gonna handle that.

EVs battery prices have risen this year for the first time in a decade

https://www.businessinsider.com/automakers-ford-gm-electric-vehicle-prices-battery-cost-rise-2022-12

N-van

It's less than 3.4 m long, 1.48 m wide and the wheelbase is just 2,520 mm. 
interior pix: https://www.arenaev.com/hondas_nvan_goes_full_electric_in_2024-news-1125.php

Many of these 'urban evs' have a top speed of 35mph --but I can't find anything with a quick search.

Still, at $8k I'd buy one for my brother.

>at $8k

Yeah at 8k anything's worth a punt, eh?

Except this will never make it stateside. It's only .75 americans wide.