How do you reconcile your opinions state here with @clouddrover's comment, posted earlier than yours, stating the Toyota and Panasonic are entering a joint venture also?
Sooner or later mass scale technologies become commodities accessible to all. The question is can competitors stay solvent for longer than tech takes to commoditize
Toyota’s been in the battery game for over two decades, for both hybrids and EVs. While they aren’t fully committed to EVs yet, they’re still planning to release multiple model lines in 2020+ (and if Libtec manages a breakthrough we could see a much more significant commitment to all-electrics). In general, while Tesla’s field experience in battery technology is an advantage, I’d be cautious of anyone claiming it’s a market barrier. Tesla’s real advantage is that it doesn’t have any choice but make EVs work; none of its competitors, for better or for worse, have their backs up against that particular wall.
