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Originally Posted by jadnashuanh
FWIW, all internal combustion engines can have problems if they are continually used for short trips...both for efficiency and longevity, they only work best once they are fully warmed up, and a short trip may get the temp gauge up to full, normal value, but it takes awhile longer at that temp to purge it of unused gas, water and other byproducts of that combustion process...thus, electric really is a path to longevity if the car will be used in that manner. A hybrid may or may not end up better, as a plug-in hybrid that is requested to accelerate greater than a certain rate, or exceeds the battery capacity, or drive at a higher speed, the motor may come on, and it may end up with the same short trip problems of a normal car.
Battery tech is improving...waiting for a few years may give you a battery replacement with much greater energy density and thus range, or, a savings in weight, which is equivalent, not counting the wear improvement if the whole package becomes lighter.
Short trips with a diesel, especially in colder temperatures, will wreck havoc with the battery life...it takes a fair amount to turn over a diesel when cold, and short trips may not recharge it fully; eventually, you have a dead battery.
We may never have a vehicle that does everything well. Just like you wouldn't expect a car to carry the same load as a big pickup truck, you shouldn't expect a car optimized for city use to carry you to grandma's house across many states.
If your pattern of use matches, the i3 will fill that need for transport very well...if it doesn't, you either will have a second vehicle, or forgo the benefits of that platform and make compromises. Your choice, your pocketbook. Just like a pair of pliers will remove a nut, the proper sized wrench does it better and the nut will look better and last longer.
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I think you are really over exaggerating the effects of short trips on a gasoline or diesel powered vehicle. Yes, electric cars are better suited for the city environment, and will the engine in an ICE-powered car fair better in an suburban environment, yes, but it will not die working in the city. A trip of a bit more than five miles is usually adequate to keep a petro-fueled engine healthy. In most cities heavy traffic means a good bit of idling (even for just 5 miles), which helps warm the engine up and rid it of fuel and water toxicants you are so concerned about (which short oil change intervals solves anyway).
But with that said, why does one need a car for true city life anyway? Most cities offer excellent public transportation, or city dwelling usually means most life essentials and entertainment is a short walk away; making a car pointless. Oh, one would like a car to get away on a trip for the weekend? Then where does the i3 help in that situation with its 80 mile limited electric range? And where can you securely plug in the i3 for its over-night charge cycle? Yes, the i3 will suit some people, but the ICE-powered vehicle suits MORE of the general population needs, which makes them plentiful, and thus inexpensive to manufacture and support with common infrastructure.