We just replaced the brakes, at about 190K miles, for the first time. It's amazing how regenerative braking improves reliability of brakes. EVs will have similar brake life spans.

@EdEarl Yep. 120k for front brakes and pads on mine, but not a lot of freeway driving and I liked to 'make progress' at times!

@Uncorrugated Too bad hybrid technology had such a short time to be used. Other parts of the Prius, like the engine, also have low failure rates. Within five years it will be obsolete; the only cars being sold will be EVs.

I believe Tesla will become the dominant auto manufacturer during that five years; although, one or more of the Chinese EV manufacturers may better Tesla. All of the big ICE manufacturers seem to be fumbling the EV market, and their survival is in doubt. GM just asked for government assistance to compete in the EV market, but I don't think that will help. Congress already gave big business over a $T during the next 10 years, why can't they do it with those huge tax breaks?

The ICE manufacturers just don't have engineers with the right skills, ones needed to build a battery factory, for example. At this time, batteries are the biggest single cost of an EV. Tesla is already selling Li batteries at a very low price, and that decreases at 5% /yr, according to Musk. The Chinese are building gigafactories to make batteries and EVs, but AFAIK only Tesla has similar plans, one already in progress in Shanghai, with the Chinese asking for more than 5 Tesla gigafactories. Tesla plans to build, one in Europe and will probably build another to make the model Y and their truck line. The ICE manufacturers seem to be stuck in neutral.

Tesla stock has begun to increase, since the recent Q3 earnings report, while the general market declines. IMO its stock will increase rapidly over the next five years.

@EdEarl Agreed. The reticence of the big ICE to get involved with pure EV may be in part due to their dealer networks who will lose a huge part of their profitability owing to the reduce service costs associated with pure EV. Many dealers can afford to offer big discounts on ICE knowing that the majority will return them for servicing.
Tesla amde a shrewd move in aiming at the luxury end of the market where the high bettery costs could be offset aginst the reduced manufacturing cost of electric motors compared against equivalent ICE motors.
I suspect EV will only be a real contender when it comes to the market with a compact that can compete on price and spec with current ICE models (and in the states make inroads into the pick-up market!). and have a quick charger network that is fit for purpose.

@Uncorrugated All will happen so fast it will make our heads spin. Oil companies and ICE manufacturers are trying to delay Tesla, but Elon keeps winning.

@EdEarl Here in the UK, oil companies have realised this and are now installing in fast chargers in their filling stations.

@Uncorrugated Charger networks are essential, and a good move for oil companies.