I am giving in.

[Salty seadog]

The government are reducing the subsidy on buying a new electric car by £1000. So....yeah.

Yep, just like they did with the feed in tariff for domestically produced power.

Joking aside, just like the VW saga there is probably nothing to stop a manufacturer doing that.

Apple and Samsung have been accused of this with their older phones but hey, built in redundancy is nothing new.

 

[Salty seadog]

I think our last two cars have been i credibly good for lifetime costs and environmental impact.

Toyota Yaris, had it for 17 years before going bigger. My large Nissan for another 16 years and still going well. Doesn't look 16.

Same here, 52 plate Corolla 2.0 liter diesel. I can get 48mpg urban and 56 regularly on long run tanks. So 16 years old now and still tight as a drum and starts first time. My concern is that the government are going to make the false environmental impact decision to start MOT failing then off the road so a whole new car has to built.

 

[Drago]

False? Up to 40,000 people a year die of illnesses related to the type of air pollution that diesels do best (or worst, if you're one of those affected), so any action to reduce diesel use on that premise is hardly false.

Conversely, it is most excellent to extract as much life out of a car as possible rather than keep making new ones.

 

[fossyant]

False? Up to 40,000 people a year die of illnesses related to the type of air pollution that diesels do best (or worst, if you're one of those affected), so any action to reduce diesel use on that premise is hardly false.

Conversely, it is most excellent to extract as much life out of a car as possible rather than keep making new ones.

Thing is, the government has only just realised this after promoting diesels. A well maintained older car is way better for the environment.

PS my old car is petrol, and came with all the emissions restrictions as it was the engine at the time that got Nissan's overall vehicle emissions down. It sails through MOT with still negligible levels of shoot coming out.

Id be looking to ban old diesel trucks and busses from citys, including knackered diesel trains.

 

[fossyant]

PS my petrol isnt good on fuel in town. 23 mpg and 40 max on motorway, but the miles I do means its no big deal.

 

[fossyant]

I just don't think rhere is an 'answer' yet (other than getting on yer bike). Power from batteries still comes from burning fossil fuels, and batteries are using rare metals in their production, as well as highly toxic waste.

Petrol cars still can't get near a diesel for fuel efficiency ( and fuel is a finite resource also).

 

[DRHysted]

Changed my car last December, I normally spend 2 to 3 grand, but given the way things are heading I recon this will be the last car I own (I’m 43) so went up to an astronomical figure (for me) of 11 grand.
Got a 3 year old large diesel estate with towing package. Electric would be suitable for only 75% of my driving. There is currently only 1 electric car rated for towing. Without a lottery win, I will never be able to afford an electric car. No one would want to car share, the smell of wet dogs (5) always creeps into the upholstery despite anything you do; I have custom made waterproof covers on the boot, sides, seats, and footwells, yet you can’t miss the fact that dogs use it.

 

[gbb]

I did consider my next car will be a hybrid...but I'm not so sure they're a magic bullet.
Friend of ours leased a brand new Toyota Auris hybrid (on their company books I think). She bemoaned the fact it wasn't any more economical than her older petrol car.
Last night we were watching TV and an advert came on for a Honda CRV I think it was, hybrid. I googled it to see how much they are (Just out of mild curiosity
, no more) I saw the fuel consumption figures and IMO, they're not great. Not that much more than my basic 1.6 Astra when driven carefully, not enough to make me consider buying one.

 

[ColinJ]

The new Lidl store that I have been going on about in the 'recalibrating' thread has a rapid charging point for 2 electric vehicles. How rapid is 'rapid'? I wondered how much charge it could put into an electric vehicle's battery during (say) a 20 minute shopping stop? (I'm just curious - I won't be buying an electric vehicle. I'll stick to walking boots/bike/bus/train.)

 

[Piemaster]

I would love to go to electric, the type of driving I do the current range will cover 90% of my journeys, we'd have to get creative with the extra 10%. Now where can I buy a solid reliable family sized car that runs on electric for £5000, oh that's right Nowhere!

Our Zoe was 5k. Longer journeys weren't a problem when bought as I had a works pickup too - it was one of the factors in buying it. Leafs are a bit bigger. Place we got it from sells a few to that London place to people who don't see it until its delivered - suspect he may be flogging a few more now with the new emission zone charges.
I wasn't overly convinced at first, but my wife and daughter love it and the acceleration at the traffic light GP is quite addictive, especially as it silent doing it.
I'm not convinced hybrids are anything much more than a transition stage. Its not like charging the batteries is free, the power has to come from somewhere - such as by burning petrol in the engine.

 

[Salty seadog]

False? Up to 40,000 people a year die of illnesses related to the type of air pollution that diesels do best (or worst, if you're one of those affected), so any action to reduce diesel use on that premise is hardly false.

Conversely, it is most excellent to extract as much life out of a car as possible rather than keep making new ones.

Of course. All that coffin fodder if we get it in the ground will push up the daisies, this will have a purifying effect on the atmosphere and that 40,000 figure will come down over time. It's all about making tough choices......

Alan B'stard.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Our Zoe was 5k. Longer journeys weren't a problem when bought as I had a works pickup too

What is it's range? How do you charge it? Do you have to pay the £40pm how old was it for £5k?

 

[gavroche]

I am not convinced about hybrids either. When you look at the recommended mpg from manufacturers, it is no better than my 1.5 diesel but with all the complicated technology hybrids require.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

My next car I hope will be an Aston Martin!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

My next car I hope will be an Aston Martin!

I had one as a company car they're not all they are cracked up to be I kept losing the passenger