Electric cars

[helston90]

My work provides pool cars for people to use to attend meetings/ site visits which are very useful when I ride in and just had my training in being able to drive the Nissan Leaf electric car.

I was a lovely car, very comfortable, almost silent until road noise at speed and plenty fast enough.
I think they have a good chance of establishing themselves as the norm once the range and charge times are sorted out.
Anyone else driven one? I Would like to drive the Peugeot I-on car, as a smaller lighter vehicle (the Nissan is 1.5 tonne so suffered with being heavy).
I'll more than happily use it next time I have a meeting (or just create a few in my calendar so I can go for a spin)

 

[Over The Hill]

I think they have a good chance of establishing themselves as the norm once the range and charge times are sorted out.

I would like to have a drive in one. My Sister has just got a Toyota Aygo which is electric/petrol hybrid. Odd to just get in and pull away in silence.

I think the initial cost is way too high, the range a real issue, and the ongoing cost of the battery (I think it is about £60 per month or something) means you are paying the bills and initial cost of a luxury car and getting a town runabout.

But like all these things the cost must come down in time and it all may then make more sense.

We have had threads before on electric cars and at the risk of banging on too much, the way to get over the problems is to have batteries that can be changed over in about 60 seconds and an network of battery change points. You can just then drive around and the system would direct you to a battery change point when you need it if you are not going home to charge it.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

My mate has one which my wife asked me about the other day, referring to it as a "Renault Twerky".
I think she meant Twizy.

GC

 

[MarkF]

They have minimal appeal, they don't make much sense. They still get stuck in traffic, wasting energy. Electric bikes & scooters make sense and super economical petrol engined small scooters/bikes. A recyclable metal scooter that does 150mpg, that doesn't have expensive batteries or get stuck in traffic wasting energy/fuel is the way to go.

 

[sazzaa]

People will always want to travel in comfort rather than "out in the open", so for them it's probably the way forward. It's nice to have choices.

 

[MarkF]

People will always want to travel in comfort rather than "out in the open", so for them it's probably the way forward. It's nice to have choices.

It is nice to have choices. There have been enclosed two wheelers, that didn't sell, so it's not "out in the open" that is the problem, it's a reluctance of people to leave their comforts, let alone self esteem and image, to try something different, something sensible...........

 

[fossyant]

I've driven my FIL's Prius T-Spirit (top of the range) and it's nice. Not got the oomph of my pertol only car. It's a heavy beast and you can feel it, certainly feels heavier than my car which is bigger.

As for fuel efficiency, it barely does much better than my wife's 1.0 Yaris (1999 year), maybe 10 mpg better on a run. Unless you are doing serious miles, then it's not worth the cost. Most diesels are close to the mark on efficiency and much cheaper.

The down side of these electric cars is the environmental impact of the battery production.

I'm yet to be convinced.

 

[Markymark]

I always thought hydrogen would be the way forward as the batteries charging and disposal was pretty bad for the environment?

 

[cosmicbike]

Whilst I like the idea, having looked at the Leaf for SWMBO, whose daily journey is 1 mile each way (please don't start on why she doesn't walk/ride..), to replace an aging VW Polo which we've had from new. Bottom line, far to expensive, and it's more environmentally friendly to keep the old Polo running. Have a google of where the batteries for these things are made, most would think again. As for the Prius, amazing what you can do with hype, and a few disillusioned celebrities.

 

[Stephen C]

I found this article quite interesting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19830232

Aside from the issues here, it seems to me that the main drawbacks are the range and charge time, but these things will improve, as will the battery technology. It is simply a matter of time, just look how far mobile phones have come, the main reason they were so big and bulky was the battery!

 

[Phil485]

Not certain I will be able to drive works latest electric car but I'm looking forward to a passenger ride.
Electric is going to get bigger and bigger but it's going to be a while till the combustion engine is gone.

Mclaren P1 is the works car by the way

 

[helston90]

The trainer this morning said if I break down in it I have to call our own workshops to come rescue me since if the AA/RAC come along and try to tow me and knacker the battery it would write off the whole car.
The range would be a massive hold back with long re-charge time, but if you could (predictably) do short miles and not pay as much to start with it could be workable.

 

[Night Train]

I quite fancy having a Renault Twizzy.

And a Goupil long wheelbase van.

 

[TheDoctor]

They have minimal appeal, they don't make much sense. They still get stuck in traffic, wasting energy. Electric bikes & scooters make sense and super economical petrol engined small scooters/bikes. A recyclable metal scooter that does 150mpg, that doesn't have expensive batteries or get stuck in traffic wasting energy/fuel is the way to go.

The Honda C70 I had 30 years ago did better than that!
I'd expect a 100cc bike to be capable of 60 mph and at least 200 mpg...

 

[MarkF]

The Honda C70 I had 30 years ago did better than that!
I'd expect a 100cc bike to be capable of 60 mph and at least 200 mpg...

Well, the Honda C models are the perfect example of old-tech but eco-friendly and sensible transport.