Electric cars - Driveway essential?

Thrugelmir

AnotherJoe wrote: »

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.

EV cars are subsidised in Norway. Though Tesla is the biggest seller by make. Which means that it's affordable for those with money or company vehicles. Not so for ordinary Joe Public. With batteries currently warranted 8 years/120,000 miles. Be interesting to see how used prices pan out.

With many people living in flats, and having no garages. Cables trailing are now becoming a problem. As accessing the fast chargers often results in queueing.

AnotherJoe

Thrugelmir wrote: »

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.

Gradually increasing to match, just like happened when electricity was first rolled out and when gas was first rolled out. No big deal, no big drama. It is currently lagging behind where it needs to be though.



I can't imagine the Victorians screaming "we cant have an electric light in every house the network will never cope" or "we cant have an electric oven in each home, how will we cope if everyone turns it on when King George V's radio speech ends", etc. But maybe they did and thats just the way with new stuff. Whatever happened to the British "can do" attitude? If the Norwegians can do it, why the *&^% cant we?



BP are actually putting one or two (really it needs to be two minimum ) EV chargers in all their major petrol stations, even they can see the writing on the wall, plus since much of the revenue from a petrol station comes from ancillary sales whose more likely to grab a coffee and a pasty, someone spending 5 minutes putting petrol in or 30 minutes charging?



Of course that may lead to a nation of hyper, obese electric driving users but you cant have everything.

SensibleSarah

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?

Many home chargepoints, like the zappi for example, are already lockable by pin - so if you don't know the pin code, you can't use the charger.

Some on-street (in lamp post) chargers were installed around the corner from my house a couple of years back. Never once seen them being used - but then they were installed across the front of people's houses (not driveways obvs) and in places that their non EV cars are generally already parked most of the time - so doesn't look like the most thought has gone into it!

I'm looking to move this year (forever home is the plan - mainly cos I hate moving rather than having lofty ideas) and no way will I be buying anything without off-street parking - mainly for this reason. In around 3 years, when it comes time to change my car next, I plan to go EV.

Comms69

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Gradually increasing to match, just like happened when electricity was first rolled out and when gas was first rolled out. No big deal, no big drama. It is currently lagging behind where it needs to be though.



I can't imagine the Victorians screaming "we cant have an electric light in every house the network will never cope" or "we cant have an electric oven in each home, how will we cope if everyone turns it on when King George V's radio speech ends", etc. But maybe they did and thats just the way with new stuff. Whatever happened to the British "can do" attitude? If the Norwegians can do it, why the *&^% cant we?



BP are actually putting one or two (really it needs to be two minimum ) EV chargers in all their major petrol stations, even they can see the writing on the wall, plus since much of the revenue from a petrol station comes from ancillary sales whose more likely to grab a coffee and a pasty, someone spending 5 minutes putting petrol in or 30 minutes charging?



Of course that may lead to a nation of hyper, obese electric driving users but you cant have everything.

I remember watching a dragons den (I think) where one of the dragons said he used to make more money on the sandwiches his station sold, than the petrol.


So I agree that makes sense

newsgroup_monkey

So EV Company Cars are going to zero BIK in April. Expect most company car drivers to therefore order mostly EV. That's a lot of cars.

Right now, I get unfettered access to our chargers at work (we have 4). I'm fully expecting by the end of the year to have a proper bunfight, even if we up that number to 20.


I think this will drive the interest in the UK in electric cars.


When I change my car in the middle of next year, I'll be looking to take the grant (and hopefully BMW will still offer the chargers at a heavily reduced price) and get a 7kw one installed at home (in case of emergencies hopefully as I still intend to charge at work whilst the HMRC allow it)

Thrugelmir

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Gradually increasing to match, just like happened when electricity was first rolled out and when gas was first rolled out. No big deal, no big drama. It is currently lagging behind where it needs to be though.

Estimated cost is the region of £700 billion for the UK alone. Will need 4,000 charging point installations a week. The 2050 objective is going to require a fundamental shift of attitude. Then there's the question of ethical mining to be addressed along with the disposal of old battery waste. Going green isn't all enviromentally friendly.

Considering the entire population of Norway is half that of Los Angeles. A drop in the Ocean so to speak when it comes to global change.

Ozzuk

As I posted earlier, I do think we'll see an increasing shift to EV - innovation rate increases significantly when linked to government policy change as major manufacturers simply cannot take the risk of not planning for it. We are already seeing a shift in attitude in car makers, plants closing and new locations being scouted specifically for access to EV tech. Amazon have just announced purchase of 100k EV vans - others will need to follow or it will given Amazon a significant USP advantage. We'll see pressure on taxi fleets, hire cars, buses.

The innovation step changed required will drive significant investment, and that will drive technology changes - better charging, better batteries, replacement tech - or something we just haven't considered yet. And rest assured, all major companies are building this into their planning.

Mgman1965

When i was on holiday last year at a Haven caravan site I saw more than a few with their cars charging leads trailing across the grass and into their vans.

Remember thinking at the time its only a matter of time before they ban this on the grounds the cables are a trip hazard to pedestrians and could be downright lethal if the guy cutting the grass doesn't see one.

Plus the fact their caravans electricity is unmetered, they won't want everybody charging their cars day and night at Havens cost (be like me filling my cars LPG tank off their unmetered gas supply).

Thrugelmir

Ozzuk wrote: »

As I posted earlier, I do think we'll see an increasing shift to EV - innovation rate increases significantly when linked to government policy change as major manufacturers simply cannot take the risk of not planning for it. We are already seeing a shift in attitude in car makers, plants closing and new locations being scouted specifically for access to EV tech. Amazon have just announced purchase of 100k EV vans - others will need to follow or it will given Amazon a significant USP advantage. We'll see pressure on taxi fleets, hire cars, buses.

The innovation step changed required will drive significant investment, and that will drive technology changes - better charging, better batteries, replacement tech - or something we just haven't considered yet. And rest assured, all major companies are building this into their planning.

China is backing hydrogen technology. May turn out to be a Betamax vs VHS battle in the years ahead.

Ozzuk

Thrugelmir wrote: »

China is backing hydrogen technology. May turn out to be a Betamax vs VHS battle in the years ahead.

China is the market leader for EV, over 1 million electric cars sold last year, I think they had less than 2k fuel cell cars. Certainly its a risk that they choose to change tech approach. I suppose the big challenge would be making fuel cells mass market - battery is currently easier.

Who knows what they crack first, mass market hydrogen or better infrastructure for battery. Interesting for a thread about driveways!