Would you buy an electric car?

[Sciatico]

OK, so what are YOUR suggestions for starting to eliminate Co2 Emissions, everyone?
All I seem to ever see on interweb now is Oil Shills pontificating to the less mentally agile about how EVs are useless and how "we" must keep driving oil guzzlers
Another bunch are  people complaining that they could never get to their half-dead relative at the other end of the country once in a very blue moon.
Are YOU actually prepared to do anything at all to get out of your cosy routines?

[JBR]

So are you saying a fuel burner is?
You still seem to treat it as a given that people should dig up billions of tons of Co2 and keep releasing ever more of it into the atmos.

Yes I am.  An ICE car will retain value for a number of years as long as it is regularly serviced.  In fact, that is probably what I shall do if and when the promised ban comes into force.

On the other hand, as I have explained, when the battery in an EV begins to deteriorate and fails to keep its charge, perhaps after several years, the cost of replacing the battery will begin to approach the total value of the car.
If you don't believe me, please do buy an EV and keep it for several years and see for yourself.  At the same time, keep and eye on its much reduced resale value.

The other major drawback that I have also mentioned is twofold:
Firstly, the lack of range before a mandatory stop for several hours recharging severely limits its practical range.
Secondly, we are already facing price rises and possible power cuts because of our difficulty in providing electrical power simply for domestic use.  Add a lot of EVs and I'm sure we'll see that particular problem becoming much worse.

[Diasi]

Yes I am.  An ICE car will retain value for a number of years as long as it is regularly serviced.  In fact, that is probably what I shall do if and when the promised ban comes into force.

On the other hand, as I have explained, when the battery in an EV begins to deteriorate and fails to keep its charge, perhaps after several years, the cost of replacing the battery will begin to approach the total value of the car.
If you don't believe me, please do buy an EV and keep it for several years and see for yourself.  At the same time, keep and eye on its much reduced resale value.

The other major drawback that I have also mentioned is twofold:
Firstly, the lack of range before a mandatory stop for several hours recharging severely limits its practical range.
Secondly, we are already facing price rises and possible power cuts because of our difficulty in providing electrical power simply for domestic use.  Add a lot of EVs and I'm sure we'll see that particular problem becoming much worse.

 Plus the very damaging environmental impact of lithium mining.

Anyway the car that Sciatico mentions is the Dacia Spring which Dacia call their city car, which means it's intended for running about in a city.

Or as I call them, electric shopping trolleys.

I've seen a few EV test drives on YouTube & none of the drivers were overly enthusiastic overall.

Great cars for pottering around a local area, but not impressed when it took six hours to do a three hour journey after an hour already spent pre-planning the charging stops.

[Sciatico]

With skyrocketing fuel costs oil burners are pretty much doomed, as you are in the process of finding out.
Meanwhile hydrogen fuel cell tech is advancing rapidly with green hydrogen generation increasing rapidly too. Hydrogen fuel cells will take the place of diesel in the medium term. 500hp cells are already available for trucks and similar size applications.

[Akbuk]

I agree, but an EV is surely not an investment!

My investment days are well and truly gone. I’m for the here and now.
I just wonder how much people can trust the car industry on whatever they come up with.
Diesel engines in cars were sold as the best things since sliced bread.

[Diasi]

With skyrocketing fuel costs oil burners are pretty much doomed, as you are in the process of finding out.
Meanwhile hydrogen fuel cell tech is advancing rapidly with green hydrogen generation increasing rapidly too. Hydrogen fuel cells will take the place of diesel in the medium term. 500hp cells are already available for trucks and similar size applications.

I've advocated hydrogen as the fuel of the future for a long time as it can also power central heating boilers.

In the UK, from the 1st October, it's been shown that it will be more expensive, excluding the intial cost, to run an EV than to run an ICE car.

[granny moss]

It is a fact...How did people manage to survive prior:  Cars, central heating, showers, barbacues, computers, mobiles, Tic-Toc...You Tube, Media, McDonalds, Indian and other foreign foods full of spices....that are used in foreign countries to mask the rotten food they cook ?
Drug gangs, scums, firearms idiots, en- suites, Top fashion for the ones with too much money?, Flying abroad for holidays while starving and dying of cold because they are poor ?  I better stop now, as I have not got enough time left.....before my lovely breakfast.....


I am so glad I have none of these worries gmx

[Sciatico]

Are EVs greener:
https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/electric-vehicles/are-they-really-greener

Solar panels, a practical experience:
https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/solar-panels/casestudy3

[JBR]

My investment days are well and truly gone. I’m for the here and now.
I just wonder how much people can trust the car industry on whatever they come up with.
Diesel engines in cars were sold as the best things since sliced bread.

I had a diesel car which was relatively cheap to run and never let me down, a Skoda Fabia.
But then diesel was 'outlawed' by the green lobby (yes, them again), assuring me that if I didn't drive 50+ miles a day my car would conk out.
Now they're complaining about petrol!

An interesting article in the Telegraph today pointing out the forthcoming problems with electricity power cuts!  "Oh no!  My pride and joy didn't charge up overnight, and now all the nearest charging points are not working."

With electricity prices soaring, I'm waiting to see what the majority of car manufacturers will do when fewer and fewer people want to buy their products, especially when they no longer sell ICE cars.

2030?  2030 my a***e!

[David G]

Not a chance of me buying an electric car.
If I change my car it'll be to a Fiesta or even a Ka.
Then if my AMD means I have to give up driving it'll be public transport and taxis.

[Diasi]

Are EVs greener:
https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/electric-vehicles/are-they-really-greener

Solar panels, a practical experience:
https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/solar-panels/casestudy3

It's just a shame that these articles are from an outfit that makes it's dosh from promoting green energy.

[JBR]

It's just a shame that these articles are from an outfit that makes it's dosh from promoting green energy.

Yes!          

[Diasi]

Yes!         

And especially with case studies spouting utter rubbish.

Solar panels will not run your oven, kettle, washing machine & tumble drier all at the same time.

[JBR]

And especially with case studies spouting utter rubbish.

Solar panels will not run your oven, kettle, washing machine & tumble drier all at the same time.

I think you're right.  My wife's sister has some of those and although I've never really asked her about their value, I believe that a spot of sunshine shining on them creates a limited amount of electricity which may be used to offset (in a small way) your current electricity use.  However, the amount is so small that the only way it could mount up would be if you could store it in some way.  I assume you'd need to charge up a large bank of accumulators and, even then, convert the DC into AC in order to use the power in your domestic appliances.

[Diasi]

I think you're right.  My wife's sister has some of those and although I've never really asked her about their value, I believe that a spot of sunshine shining on them creates a limited amount of electricity which may be used to offset (in a small way) your current electricity use.  However, the amount is so small that the only way it could mount up would be if you could store it in some way.  I assume you'd need to charge up a large bank of accumulators and, even then, convert the DC into AC in order to use the power in your domestic appliances.

Basically people who have solar panels don't like to admit they were conned by the sales person who told them their electricity bills would be zero & they'd be making £thousands a year income from selling their surplus electricity.

There have been plenty of Watchdog exposes about them.

A 6 kilowatt solar panel system will generate, at maximum efficiency on a long sunny summer day, a maximum of 6 kilowatts per 24 hour period.

So say that it's stored in a bank of batteries, the solar panels will still only put in a very optimistic 6 kilowatts into the batteries per day.

Therefore, unless the homeowner uses less than 6 kilowatts of power per day, they have to use power from the grid.

In actual real life, a  solar panel system rated as capable of 6 kilowatts will only generate around 2.5 kilowatts per day on average & according to Ofgem the typical household will use at least 8 kilowatts per day.