electric car

sterlingstash

Guinness-Cat wrote: »

I didn't much like the idea of having to have effectively 2 power-trains that could go wrong - also adding to the price. I think a better way way forward would be range extenders (either generator or in the future even H-fuel cell)

It will be interesting to see what the new little BMW is like, and how many people opt for the range extender over full electric (I think there is a choice of both).

In the near term, the factor which will greatly increase the practicality of electric cars will be fast chargers installed at motorway services. Two short coffee/comfort breaks would would bring most of England within the then feasible 200+ mile range from where I am. The planned roll-out this year and next will be a big leap forward.

iolanthe07

fast chargers installed at motorway services.

I read an article about this in the motoring press (sorry, can't remember where) and apparently fast charging too often greatly reduces the life span of the battery, and doen't do it any good at all. Perhaps that will be overcome with new battery technology.

sterlingstash

It is good practice only to charge to 80% with fast chargers, as this limits stress on the battery. This chap has shown that worries about fast charging may be overhyped
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/nissan-leaf-owner-drove-78000-electric-miles-charging-twice-day.html

The big battery killer is heat - which luckily makes Blighty a bit more EV friendly than Arizona, where some owners have reported early capacity loss.

Guinness-Cat

This is one thing that annoys me about the lease hire model that Renault and now Nissan are adopting. I don't think high mileage compromises the battery as much as leaving it sitting around to extended periods and doing low miles but yet the lease is a lot more expensive.

sterlingstash

Guinness-Cat wrote: »

This is one thing that annoys me about the lease hire model that Renault and now Nissan are adopting. I don't think high mileage compromises the battery as much as leaving it sitting around to extended periods and doing low miles but yet the lease is a lot more expensive.

Leasing the battery seems to me to undo most of the cost advantage of going electric. At £70 or more a month, battery leasing works out something like 10p a mile which when isn't far below normal fuel costs. I'm happy with my gamble to buy the whole car!

Ultrasonic

Imp wrote: »

It's a good job the early adopters of the petrol engine weren't as backward. Petrol was only available from a small number of candle factories as a byproduct of candle manufacturing. If you run out where no-one is selling it, you're stuck. As for range, it was considered a significant achievement to get from London to Brighton without a major breakdown.

Didn't have any of these problems with a horse and cart.

I'm pretty sure that's the first time anyone's called me backward .

The people who bought the first cars will have been the extremely wealthy of the day buying them essentially as toys. That's like rich people today buying a Tesla. What we're talking about is electric cars for much more typical consumers. At that point the problem becomes that electric cars are competing with conventionally powered vehicles that broadly speaking do all that consumers want. Electric vehicles have clear limitations by comparison.

For electric cars to become the norm they need to become one of the following in my opinion:

1) Essential (e.g. when oil reserves dictate).
2) Significantly better from an environmental perspective.
3) Cheaper.

worried_jim

ethan_white wrote: »

very small & not looking good also

Oh so very wrong.

forgotmyname

Engine in the front driving the front wheels and motors driving the back wheels.

With the option to have both switched in, For muddy fields or snow/ice.

Seen a few DIY coverted vehicles. One i can remember was a little Daihatsu or Suzuki van. It had the flat floor and space for the batteries and still have a functional vehicle.

skivenov

Imp wrote: »

What a bunch of naysayers everyone is. Electric cars are the future, have been around for over a hundred years and suit most people's normal driving patterns. Five years ago, when I bought my current car, I said my next car will be electric. Every year that goes by I become more and more convinced that this will be the case.

And hydrogen is far more problematic as an energy store than batteries. It's very small and tends to leak.

I'd agree on electric being the future, but I really don't think it's there yet. If you work the numbers vs a small petrol car for town use, electric just doesn't add up yet. Road tax and serving savings are totally eclipsed by the TCO of the battery pack, especially if it's leased.

If you want to do your bit for the environment, hats off to you, but I don't personally believe that is done by having a new car of any description made just for you. I'm fairly sure I can drive my 25 year old, 2.3 litre, 4wd Audi for the next ten years, keeping it going with recycled parts, and not do half the damage to the environment that would be done having a leaf made just for me, and the batteries replaced when needed.

And yes, I am a petrol head, but I'm one that also runs an electric vehicle (light motorcycle). Even then though, if you run the numbers vs a conventional 50cc, there's not much of an advantage of the electric over the conventional bike for the first few years.

I do also believe that the car manufacturers, governments and the fuel companies are in it together to keep hydrogen down, but that's a whole other debate.

If you really want so save money and not hurt the planet, buy a 1.3 Skoda Felicia that someone's going to scrap because it makes them look poor. Yeah, it'll "only" do 40-45mpg, but you'll save £19500 on the purchase cost, which means the electric has a lot of catching up to do.

Strider590

Skivenov ^^

Your a little bit like me, you do the maths.
Most people can't be bothered, they're socially influenced sheep, they believe only what they are told, often by the loudest person spouting it.

When I got the Vectra I had a choice, 2004 Vectra for £3000 or 2004 small hatchback for £7000. I've had the Vectra nearly 5 years, 33mpg compared to 38mpg on a small hatchback, has the extra fuel cost me the initial £4000 saving? hell no........