[Martinjlm]

Touching on the mass thing again. Most EVs are heavy (batteries) but they don't have to be. We have a Tesla Model Y and an Equinox EV. Roughly the same size. The Equinox EV replaced a 2012 Cadillac SRX. Here's the Curb mass for each...

• SRX: 4,277
• Model Y: 4,363
• Equinox EV: 4,950

The Model Y is only 86 pounds heavier than the SRX and it's more than 500 pounds lighter than the Equinox EV.

So even though the EVs have decent size batteries (81 kWh for the Model Y, 85 kWh for the Equinox EV), they DON'T have an engine, transmission, exhaust, prop shaft, or gas tank, so there is some offset. The other thing that Tesla does is when you look at the unibody, there is no floor. The battery box cover IS the floor. A number of EV manufacturers are starting to use this approach. Another thing Tesla does is they assemble their vehicles from gigacastings. Basically, using one huge super-sized casting for the rear 1/2 of the vehicle, replacing hundreds of parts and the weld material to put them together. Same for the front. The battery sits between them. Reduces mass and cost to build. Significantly increases repair cost in the event of a collision.

Toyota, famous for the efficiency of their manufacturing processes, is now also starting to develop their own gigacasting process.

The left side of the picture shows the parts and assemblies that Tesla used to use to make Model 3. The right side shows a Model Y with the floor eliminated and the smaller parts replaced by the two single gigacastings. Saves hundreds of pounds.