Real environmental impact of electric car?

tbourner

londonTiger wrote: »

Re: top gear, they did not fudge up the charges, I think tesla just had a problem with the fact that it was used in a circuit and driving in a race track burns the batteries for more than driving at a moderate pace.

No, it was fake, as is most of the stuff on TG.

"In the case with Top Gear, their legal defense was that they never actually said it broke down, they just implied that it could and then filmed themselves pushing what viewers did not realize was a perfectly functional car."
ref
Also see the claim for libel damages

Just like the Veyron runs out of fuel in 12 minutes and the tyres will be illegal in 15 when running at top speed, why does the loss of mileage of an electric car when throttling it bother everyone so much?

Bay_Rok

Nissan has just announced a brand new electric taxi, and with fast chargers now coming on stream, these are already providing savings for hard-pressed taxi drivers. I run a Nissan Leaf and have a 4kw solar array - but most times I charge using the white meter night rate, using the built in timer to take advantage of residual electric capacity which would otherwise be wasted - at 2p per mile its probably the cheapest form of transport out until I get my pensioners bus pass! I can get 80 miles in a single trip with care, but most of my trips are much less than that, and do not fool yourself, Leaf moves and handles very well, with terrific and very smooth acceleration - it has restored the fun in motoring. Sure, we still use the diesel for longer trips, but 99% of my journeys are in the Leaf and it has made driving a pleasure - so quiet, too.

tbourner

Bay_Rok wrote: »

99% of my journeys are in the Leaf and it has made driving a pleasure - so quiet, too.

Have you run anyone over yet?

Buzby

I use the Twizy, and have a little switch that makes it warble acting as an alert!

forgotmyname

But when you use the switch it drains the battery

tbourner

Well we test drove the Zoe at the weekend and have to say I was very impressed!! It is SOOO much nicer than the Honda Jazz I had as a courtesy car a couple of weeks before, just feels much more refined and, dare I say it; grown up, despite it's disney-like styling. Power delivery is brilliant, wouldn't want to drive it on motorways too often but around town up to 40mph it's fabulous. I got stuck in rush hour North-End traffic in Portsmouth and it was great!
I'd like to have a go in a Hybrid Yaris although missus has already said she doesn't like the interior, I agree the Zoe has a nicer interior. I'd also like to have a go in a new Fiesta auto as I LOVE the styling and the interior - I don't think missus will be convinced as she's got tunnel vision on the Zoe now, but I have to do a fair comparison for myself before spending ~£15k.

Anyway I liked driving it more than I thought I would. It's similar price to the Fiesta and Yaris albeit after the government grant, so technically it's £5k more which explains why it's such a better quality car. Might look at some other options as well like the Smart (they're bringing out an EV version), trouble is finding an auto option on small cars seems tricky.