I like the new crop of technically advanced cars. I like the technology, the capability and the promise. However,,,
I work in Aviation, on some of the most complex equipment mankind has ever produced. With stunningly complex and very well made, comformally coated "mil -spec" electronics. There is nothing "chinese" or "low grade" about these components.
Now that our company Gulfstream G550 is 8 years old, the electronics are becoming quite troublesome. They simply fail. And, they are eeeexxxpensive. What's becoming apparent is that time based replacement is becoming "normal". Capacitors dry out, resistor values change, memory cards develop glitches, sealed connectors vibrate and connections worsen, Singular functions of complex computers fail. It's a never ending list of failures.
What is clear to me, now that nearly every component has been replaced, is that we cannot expect 20 years of reliable performance from any complex system.
These new hybrid cars are no different. While new, they are quite reliable. But as they age, replacement components could tend to be expensive, difficult to source and could completely offset the fuel savings. Same goes for the battery packs. 20 years down the road, they won't be any good. That's the nature of electrochemical energy.
