Think I’ll stick with a combustion engine

[Long slender neck]

I’ve been in a Tesla (taxi) from Schipol airport to Rotterdam. I was impressed by its range, power and awesome acceleration. The next family car might be fully electric or a hybrid, need to do further research on the matter.

Anyway the trouble with the electric is the distance then can cover, for example that Tesla would not get our family from our house to my father in laws, we would have to stop and charge for god knows how long and that’s a problem which needs to be resolved in my eyes before they become viable in an every day sense. Our family car can get there and drive around for a while before needing fuel.

Now look at this nightmare.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... harge.html

That’s just not practical.

Haven't you got about 6 cars though? Surely you could have 1 that is electric?

[Thor]

I admire Max for his ability to efficiently navigate the mean streets of scotchlandshire, and providing excellent value for his passengers, all whilst boarding.

As for electric cars, I can see them becoming an ideal car-sharing option for city dwelllers, where private ownership makes less sense and shorter trips are the norm. There will need to be a lot more investment in charging stations, but it's do-able.

Trouble is dunners the grid is not capable of supporting the amount that will be required to power all these cars. So there will still be a need for fossil fuel plants to power the grid which kind of defeats the purpose in the first place does it not?

[Thor]

I’ve been in a Tesla (taxi) from Schipol airport to Rotterdam. I was impressed by its range, power and awesome acceleration. The next family car might be fully electric or a hybrid, need to do further research on the matter.

Anyway the trouble with the electric is the distance then can cover, for example that Tesla would not get our family from our house to my father in laws, we would have to stop and charge for god knows how long and that’s a problem which needs to be resolved in my eyes before they become viable in an every day sense. Our family car can get there and drive around for a while before needing fuel.

Now look at this nightmare.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... harge.html

That’s just not practical.

Haven't you got about 6 cars though? Surely you could have 1 that is electric?

Like I said I’m seriously looking at it now. I’m also going to be selling off my cars and going down to Two cars as I just don’t drive them enough to warrant them anymore.

[Dunners]

I admire Max for his ability to efficiently navigate the mean streets of scotchlandshire, and providing excellent value for his passengers, all whilst boarding.

As for electric cars, I can see them becoming an ideal car-sharing option for city dwelllers, where private ownership makes less sense and shorter trips are the norm. There will need to be a lot more investment in charging stations, but it's do-able.

Trouble is dunners the grid is not capable of supporting the amount that will be required to power all these cars. So there will still be a need for fossil fuel plants to power the grid which kind of defeats the purpose in the first place does it not?

If the purpose is to shift air pollution away from concentrated population centres, then no. However, as I have said, electric vehicles (and batteries) just create problems elsewhere. There is unlikely to be any net reduction in environmental impact unless we see a sizeable shift to car sharing. It's just about managing one particular problem in isolation.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

I admire Max for his ability to efficiently navigate the mean streets of scotchlandshire, and providing excellent value for his passengers, all whilst boarding.

As for electric cars, I can see them becoming an ideal car-sharing option for city dwelllers, where private ownership makes less sense and shorter trips are the norm. There will need to be a lot more investment in charging stations, but it's do-able.

Trouble is dunners the grid is not capable of supporting the amount that will be required to power all these cars. So there will still be a need for fossil fuel plants to power the grid which kind of defeats the purpose in the first place does it not?

It's not just about the using of them, it's also the manufacturing of them. Some selfish bastards have whole fleets of vehicles - even though they can only use one at a time, damage has already been done.

The most environmentally friendly thing you can do is keep your old car longer.

[Max B Gold]

So you're sarky about me buying an electric car living outside a city where public transport is awful (me, me, me evidently), yet happy to pollute the atmosphere inside the city where public transport is at it's best by driving a heavily polluting diesel car. do as I say, not do as I do eh Max.

Bit hypocritical Max.

In your rush to condemn Me as a hippocrit you need first to be in possession of all the facts. I don't work in a City.

Hypocrisy is all around us and yes I'm one of them. You need to get used to that idea. I can't use an electric car as it doesn't have the range required. Hybrids are too expensive to run as taxis and a subsidy or tax break to encourage us to use them would help.

OK Max thought you worked the streets of Glasgow - So apologies if that is not the case.

There are now over 100 hybrid electric black cabs on the streets of London (bit pricey at £55k) payback for an average London cabbie takes about two years evidently, they don't seem to have a range issue do about 400 miles it seems and those guys work in heavy traffic. There are purchase subsidies up to £3500 available from the goverment to buy an electric vehicle I believe, so where there's a will there's a way.

And why would I spend £55k less £3.5k on a hybrid when I can put my diesel Octavia on the road for £16k. That doesnt make economic sense.

Don't forget with the Adblue the emissions on modern diesels are reduced.

[Constanza]

Why can't we just a new battery in at the petrol station?

[Max B Gold]

Its shocking that it's not possible. Health and Safety gone mad.

[spen666]

Why can't we just a new battery in at the petrol station?

Until that can happen, safely, and quickly, electric vehicles will struggle to catch on.

[Real Al]

Why is everyone engaging with the electric car issue?

This is quite obviously a 'look at me, I take a taxi instead of a train' thread.

It's 25 minutes by train and costs about £10.

[Still's Carenae]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

[Thor]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

I posted that up about a month or so ago. If they can make it work, if the funding works, the world could be their oyster. I believe it’s early days in that respect, but it’s no doubt exciting to those involved.

[Constanza]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

Sounds positive

[Max B Gold]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

I posted that up about a month or so ago. If they can make it work, if the funding works, the world could be their oyster. I believe it’s early days in that respect, but it’s no doubt exciting to those involved.

I don't believe you. Please stop trying to make yourself look good by associating with other people's good work.

[Still's Carenae]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

I posted that up about a month or so ago. If they can make it work, if the funding works, the world could be their oyster. I believe it’s early days in that respect, but it’s no doubt exciting to those involved.

I also posted this about that time. I had been told about this many months ago, but only posted after I had seen in the press.

[spen666]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

What is a proficient mineral?

[spen666]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

Sounds positive

I am sure it will have its negatives




(Otherwise it wont work)

[Still's Carenae]

A British inventor has made a battery that lasts for 1500-2500 miles. Now a British company owns a patent. Hopefully, they can make this work and get a major on board. It is also not toxic and uses much more proficient minerals. Plus much lighter.

What is a proficient mineral?

I meant as one that is easily recycled and not scarce.

[Top of the JES]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ng-it.html

[spen666]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ng-it.html

If that figure of 1500 miles can be obtained from a battery the size of the one in picture, then it's going to be a game changer once price comes down on cost of battery.

It looks very positive &negative

[Tent Keague]

Need to get rid of my diesel as I live in the ULEZ zone.

Really want an electric car as it'll be mainly used for buzzing around town in, plus I don't need as big a car now that the kids are older.

Drawbacks for me is the initial cost, infrastructure whilst getting better still isn't great, and all the other problems that being an early adopter brings such as, constantly evolving tech, long term battery life and compatibility issues. I'm not a fan of leasing.

Unfortunately for me I'm being forced to change my car about 5 years too early. I'm sure I read somewhere that around 2023 the cost of ICE will be more expensive to manufacture than Electric engines because of demand, manufacture, less on R&D, etc.

I'm quite excited by it all though. In fact I rarely use my car now and if I'm going round the pub or out out I'll take a Zip Car (e-Golf really nice) or DriveNow (BMW'S or Mini's) as it's charged by the minute, more convenient than public transport, can drive centrally and I can leave them practically anywhere. Even took one to the O's the other week as I was gonna have a few beers afterwards.