It allows them not only to "feel" but also to actually avoid low range problems.
> they're very likely going to be filling-up their EREV tank once or twice in 12 months.
That depends on location and availability of charging stations in the area. In many places it will take many years to get to adequate charging infrastructure and hauling around a backup charger helps in the interim. Regardless, getting stuck on the road twice a year is still two too many.
edit: the frist generation was 2013
Back in the 1970s (IIRC) the Mother Earth News sold me plans for just this: a car propelled by an electric motor, connected to a generator connected to a small gasoline engine that ran (when needed) at optimum speed and torque.
Rather than normal automobile batteries, they recommended using deep-cycle marine batteries.
In the winter it would only get about 60KM all-eletric range, but for daily city driving or a short commute, that was generally fine. In summer the range was closer to 120KM.
This new truck is supposed to get 233KM electric range, which will be more than enough for both city driving and the majority of commutes, round trip. With the DC fast charge, you can also add 80KM in 10mins which isn't too bad. I think this makes it a very practical vehicle for most folks. Even trades people using it as a work truck where they drive to a site and perhaps use the truck for power will be able to go without using the ICE probably 90% of the time.
I don't know how much of this is attributable to truck culture, how much is newfangled tech, and how much is the changing landscape of capitalism, but this drives me nuts.
Until two years ago. The most expensive car my family had bought was US$20k, a then four year old CR-V. Last year, we bought a then two year old ID.4 at a little over $30k. That was a bit of a tough pill for me to swallow, but I wanted a vehicle with less maintenance than an ICE car and less fuel cost. Admittedly, than $30k will take a long time to recover (but electricity is certainly much cheaper than gas, especially today).
But a $60k vehicle? There is no way I'm going to rationalize that kind of purchase. I already said 'no' to that when Ford hiked the price of the Lightning and my only option was an upper-tier model around that price point.
