Goodbye to private motoring...from just 9 years?

treeroy

AdrianC said:

treeroy said:
I think if a company wants to sell a product, and I want to buy the product, then as long as it is safe to use, the government should have no right to make it illegal.

By George, I think he's got it.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-publishes-air-pollution-evidence-review
"Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure. There is strong evidence that air pollution causes the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and lung cancer, and exacerbates asthma."

But right now I can tell you that electric cars have no appeal whatsoever to me. They are uninteresting to drive, they make no noise, they don't give you even remotely the same experience as petrol cars.

Because, of course, so many petrol cars are interesting and exciting and appealing purely because they're petrol... You've never seen a Qashqai or an i10 or... frankly, about 90% of the market... then?
Is an electric Corsa somehow duller than a petrol one?
Hell, I'd have a Twizy tomorrow for local running-around, if it wasn't for the battery lease. Gloriously barking.
Maybe a Citroen Ami (and why not? After all, I've had a couple of the old Amis).

Remember, this is only the sale of NEW cars. There is no suggestion of a ban on existing ICE cars - including classics. Which tend to be FAR more interesting than any new car.

I don't understand what you are trying to say. You asked me why I would not buy an electric car. Therefore I gave you an answer on my own preferences - not anyone else's. Not 90% of drivers, but mine.
I said that my car buying decisions are based on how 'exciting' the car is. Where did I suggest that a Qashqai or a hyundai i10 or a Corsa would fall under this category?

I would not buy 95% of car models. Because exactly that reason, they are boring and dull. If I was not able to drive something exciting then I would not bother driving, I would just have a motorbike instead. Cars are expensive to run. For me, I wouldn't want to be spending 20%+ of my salary on transport unless I am passionate about it.

treeroy

Oh also have you actually driven a Twizy? They are absolutely terrible, even ignoring their stupid price tag I really doubt you would want one as a run around.

John_

50Twuncle said:

If the government gets its way 
We will not  be able to afford a new electric car -  so no more private motoring for 50% of the UK population.....
It was fun whilst it lasted wasn't it? 

You will not need to buy a new car. You will not need to drive an electric car, you will continue to be able to buy and drive petrol cars, just not brand new ones.

If you out as much effort into your career as you do into inventing things to worry about, I bet you could buy a lovely new car in 2030.

Flight3287462

Perhaps time to look at another side of the electric car industry.  Mica mining in Madagascar, 10,000 children from age 4 work in these mines (see Google).  Everything has a cost. 

John_

roddydogs said:

Great fun for all the yobs who will go round unplugging the charging cars!

Another person inventing no existent problems to then worry about.

You can’t unplug a car when it’s charging without huge effort and serious damage. Given the we don’t see a slate of people levering open petrol caps and setting cars on fire today, I can’t see why people will go to similar effort to unplug electric cars in the future.

John_

treeroy said:

Oh also have you actually driven a Twizy? They are absolutely terrible, even ignoring their stupid price tag I really doubt you would want one as a run around.

I spend a lot of time in Amsterdam, and as well as there being good charging points all over there is also a good electric car hire scheme where you pay by the minute to use electric Smart ForTwos.

They are brilliant. Nippy, fun, silent, easy to park. I wish that the same scheme existed in London.

ToxicWomble

What about all those “white” vans and HGVs
What are the stats for pollution caused proportionaly by these ?
Think I will just go buy a van

AdrianC

treeroy said:

AdrianC said:

But right now I can tell you that electric cars have no appeal whatsoever to me. They are uninteresting to drive, they make no noise, they don't give you even remotely the same experience as petrol cars.

Because, of course, so many petrol cars are interesting and exciting and appealing purely because they're petrol... You've never seen a Qashqai or an i10 or... frankly, about 90% of the market... then?
Is an electric Corsa somehow duller than a petrol one?
Hell, I'd have a Twizy tomorrow for local running-around, if it wasn't for the battery lease. Gloriously barking.
Maybe a Citroen Ami (and why not? After all, I've had a couple of the old Amis).

Remember, this is only the sale of NEW cars. There is no suggestion of a ban on existing ICE cars - including classics. Which tend to be FAR more interesting than any new car.

I don't understand what you are trying to say. You asked me why I would not buy an electric car. Therefore I gave you an answer on my own preferences - not anyone else's. Not 90% of drivers, but mine.
I said that my car buying decisions are based on how 'exciting' the car is. Where did I suggest that a Qashqai or a hyundai i10 or a Corsa would fall under this category?

I would not buy 95% of car models. Because exactly that reason, they are boring and dull. If I was not able to drive something exciting then I would not bother driving, I would just have a motorbike instead. Cars are expensive to run. For me, I wouldn't want to be spending 20%+ of my salary on transport unless I am passionate about it.

So there we go, we're in agreement.

Boring cars are boring. The power source is irrelevant to whether a car is boring or not.

Were_Doomed

I had to Google Twizy. 🤷‍♂️ Never heard of it before.

ToxicWomble

My main issue with the majority of electric vehicles is that they have no “soul” (and a lot of petrol/diesel)
There are exceptions but they are few and far between.
I don’t want a futuristic looking thing with gadgety digital iPad style displays.
Leave the design as it is and just make it electric (and 20% cheaper) and you would have my interest 
None car people just don’t get car people and vice versa