Electric cars - Driveway essential?

diggingdude

lees80 wrote: »

Remember LPG? Not many others do, either.

Worrying about nothing. The current electric cars will be old hat by 2030, with a newer technology superseding it. That means charging points will likely be upgraded, or replaced. And that's before we get on to Joe Public being able to afford a decent electric vehicle. The current technology doesn't lend itself to the transport infrastructure we have at the moment - and it won't for a long, long time.

Lots of LPG filling places near me. I had a converted Audi A4 whilst I was a student. Cheap motoring but never liked the smell left on my hands when disconnecting the hose.

lees80

Yep exactly that. In lots of ways the idea of LPG just didn't catch on, and as with everything what started as a cheaper alternative to standard fuels ended up becoming more expensive once more people started using it.

Maybe it is different for other areas - the poster saying all their taxis run it, wonder where that is. The only place I've seen where electric is widely pushed by the government is Vancouver, where the taxis are electric (mainly Honda Civics).

AnotherJoe

MrsPorridge wrote: »

If you have a charger in your driveway which comes off your electric, What happens when you are away on holiday - what's to stop a neighbour plugging in and charging their car?
Switch it off from inside the house.

Also we own a motorhome, will their be electric motorhomes in the future?

Not for some considerable time. VW keep showing a prototype of their iconic camper van (search for VW Buzz) but even that is several years off.

AnotherJoe

teddysmum wrote: »

Are the garages in a block with a shared roof ?

My sister's bungalow had a shared walkway with roadside garage blocks of six where owners had to cover the cost of any roof repairs. In her case two of the six refused (didn't have cars), but the roof was leaking badly and in danger of falling in.

Luckily a detached version, with its own garage and drive became available, just a few doors away, so she moved.

Thats is the sort of trouble I had. In the end [STRIKE]bodged[/STRIKE] patched up my bit and sold it.

AnotherJoe

Ozzuk wrote: »

I work in a industry linked to EV and there are significant moves underway to maximise on it. This is already built into many company's roadmaps but it is certainly being accelerated by government policy pressures. It will be a slow takeup but pace will increase and EV will become the norm (IMO). Charging capabilities will need to change though - we're seeing an option of interchangeable batteries on the horizon rather than making batteries last longer. So petrol stations could become battery changing stations. This year 1 in 3 cars sold in Norway is EV (though their energy systems are far better than UK).


Its now above 50%


To OP, obviously your own drive is already a premium and to some a must have, I think it will only become even more important - partly due to EV, and partly because the volume of vehicles on our roads. You'll see more schemes of people renting out their driveways - perhaps even renting out charging stations. Perhaps I should buy EVBNB.com a bit sharpish.

Swappable batteries are a dead duck for multiple reasons..

Glover1862

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Thats is the sort of trouble I had. In the end [STRIKE]bodged[/STRIKE] patched up my bit and sold it.

No, it’s a small courtyard for 6 houses, 3 have detached garages and a separate marked parking space, I just can’t see a way to get power without some form of mole to run the cable.

Who knows, battery tech might get smaller and lighter and maybe you’ll be able to carry them Inside, that will eliminate the problem, however big ask to move a car with 5 adults with a removable battery!

AnotherJoe

Glover1862 wrote: »

No, don't live in Reading.

I wouldn't consider it normally but everything else about the house is perfect, it's also £25k cheaper than one with an adjacent drive, I agree that longer term might not be the best option. I can only hope that they allow some form of mole to be used to get power from the house to the parking space, or a new idea that gets around it.

And in 5 years time it could be £50k cheaper because the other ones gone up £25k more. And you'll have had your fill of persuading recalcitrant neighbours and absent landlords to pay towards fixing the shared garage roof, and chasing up neighbours and visitors who think its acceptable to park in front of your garage or even block teh entrance to the car park.


And thats outside the general every day aggravation of not being able to park outside your house and load/unload groceries, children, buggies, heavy packages, suitcases etc. Especially when its raining.



Seriously, unless you just dont have the £25k, dont do it.

AnotherJoe

Comms69 wrote: »

You're actually very close to the truth.

For EV to be effective and reliable we do need wireless charging fields on the roads.

However... the infrastructure cannot be upgraded easily. A 10 mile bypass took 12 months to build (and tens of millions), imagine thousands of miles of motorways?

Strawman because we dont need that, and its never going to happen. Proof, EV's are effective and reliable in Norway where more than 50% new sales are EVs. They havent messed about with wireless charging fields on roads, theyve just got on and built charging stations.

Thrugelmir

eddddy wrote: »

I suspect that electric vehicles and their charging requirements will be totally different within the next 10 to 15 years.

Firstly, I would think that all charging would be wireless by then - with charging transmitters under roads and motorway lanes, that charge your car whilst you're driving.

Who is going to fund the infrastructure? Similar to broadband coverage. Practicality kicks in.

Who is going to charge and collect payment for power consumed?

Major challenges lie ahead. Be interesting to see how Norway copes as the number of vehicles increases.

AnotherJoe

scottiescott wrote: »

My local garage owner tells me that electric will die a death (for a number of reasons) and hydrogen will be the way to go.

Well he woudl say that because it would let him keep his cosy little business so he thinks (he probably hasnt seen the rules and regulations for fitting out a garage to work on H2 cars.

Anyway its not going to happen, for multiple reasons, mostly economic which pretty much trumps everything else.

Theres no point detailing them all they can be easily found and ist like arguing against flat earth.

He'll probably still be saying they are the future in 15 years time.