CycleChat Investigates - The future of tranport

[Drago]

Do you have an electric car? Do you want one? Or are you happier with an electric blanket?

This is an important question, as we all know the government formulate their policy as a result of these threads. Let's show Boris what we want.

 

[Oldhippy]

Sustainable decent public transport and cycles of all descriptions.

 

[classic33]

Battery powered electric vehicles are but a stepping stone, not a solution.

Cars that ran on bottled gas were out there long before this modern craze for electric vehicles.

 

[tyred]

I prefer my helicopter these days as it doesn't get stuck in traffic.

However Tesco's weren't amused when I parked it on their roof when I popper out for carton of milk.

 

[Drago]

To he fair, it is a Chinook.

 

[Cerdic]

My job involves driving a large variety of new cars and vans about, so I've got a bit of first hand experience!

As an old petrolhead, I find modern cars pretty dull to drive. Even the posh ones! So the arguements about electric cars being dull are irrelevant in my opinion.

Electric cars do have their plus points. Acceleration is fast and smooth. Because there is no gearbox there is no slight interruption of power like you get in an auto petrol or diesel. So they are easy to drive. Being simpler mechanically makes servicing simpler as well.

The big two negatives of electric are still range and cost.

For day to day work range is not really a problem for most people. It is when you want to jump in your car and drive several hundred miles. It can be done but you need to put some thought and planning into it.

The cost of electric cars is still too high compared with internal combustion, even factoring in the amount you save in fuel. This is the bit that needs to change for sales to really take off.

If you have a driveway so you can charge overnight and don't do a lot of long distance driving, electric will soon be the way to go.

 

[accountantpete]

I only drive 30 miles a month max as I bike most everywhere- so petrol for me..

The resources needed to build an electric car would vastly outweigh any savings - or so my Greta Dakimakura tells me.

 

[lane]

Next car will most likely by hybrid so couldn't vote.

 

[tyred]

I'm considering commuting to work on my Space Hopper.

 

[Drago]

I'm considering commuting to work on my Space Hopper.

Only one? You are Jeremy Kyle AICMFP!

 

[HMS_Dave]

I don't think driving personal transport is "green" no matter what powers it. Sure, there is a lesser evil to a degree with electric but frankly driving cars are the single most uneconomical way to travel humans have ever invented... They sure are convenient though given the system of living we have created...

 

[classic33]

What about ethanol?
https://www.fcagroup.com/stories/latam/en-us/Pages/serie-etanol-4.aspx

 

[lane]

What about ethanol?
https://www.fcagroup.com/stories/latam/en-us/Pages/serie-etanol-4.aspx

Was reading this week about some serious pollution caused by ethanol plants in the US. Also reading recently the Germans powered V2s from ethanol and it consumed the entire potato crop of several countries.

 

[DCLane]

Petrol for me. I spend about £3-5k on a car. It needs to go all day if needed, have a massive boot space and be cheap-ish to run. And last for up to 5 years with only regular maintenance.

An electric car can tick only one of those boxes.

That's why I'll probably get another Tepee/Berlingo when needed.

 

[Notafettler]

Annoying can't find two articles on electric cars which show they create more greenhouse gases than both diesel and petrol.
Obviously its about the creation of the batteries not the use of electric cars themselves. The most important thing to note is the so called environmentalists emphasis on the cost benefits of using a product while entirely ignoring capital costs (to the environment) of creating it. Stupidly? Or just a smug "look i am doing my bit for the environment " while knowingly doing nothing of the sort. I choose to assume they are not stupid!
An aside
https://www.greentechmedia.com/arti...attery-production-is-surging-but-at-what-cost

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/lithium-batteries-environment-impact

"Although electric vehicles basically are emission free, at least when they are powered by electricity from
renewable sources, they still cause a climate impact which derives from the manufacturing of the car and not
least the battery. Mining and refining of battery materials, and manufacturing of cells, modules and pack"
requires significant amounts of energy which could generate GHG emissions so high that the marginal
climate benefit by using electric vehicles instead of ICE vehicles is reduced. This would mean emissions are
only moved from one pipe to another which most probably would require new regulations"