FabSwingers.com mobile

Already registered?
Login here

Back to forum list
Back to The Lounge

Electric vehicles

Jump to newest
 

By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Is it a good idea or is it smoke and mirrors

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *edmark07Man
over a year ago

liverpool

I've just signed up for a e golf, it will save me close to £100 a month in fuel taking into account the extra electricity I'll use. I'd say that's a good reason for getting one

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ruebameMan
over a year ago

from the womb and tryout to get back

No I like all things dirty including my deisel 4x4

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *uciyassMan
over a year ago

sheffield

Sooner or later it’s going to be more common once they iron out all the range and also charging stations. I’ve a hybrid , which doesn’t really save me a huge amount on fuel but on road tax I pay nowt. The future is nigh

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *offee and Cream 2Couple (MM)
over a year ago

Loughborough

Smoke and mirrors for the gullible!

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *lik and PaulCouple
over a year ago

Flagrante

Definitely a good idea although it's early days and there's more that could be done with the tech. Hydrogen will probably take over at some point though.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The difficulty for many people is charging them. We live in a terraced house with on street parking, usually several streets away from home !

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There is no argument for them from an environmental point of view and they are useless if you do anything like a proper days driving

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ocbigMan
over a year ago

Birmingham


"The difficulty for many people is charging them. We live in a terraced house with on street parking, usually several streets away from home !"

Exactly this, cannot park infant of our own house, if we did a cable would trail across the street & create tripping issues, nearest charging point is about 3 or 4 km away, no charging points at work or at the gym where car sits parked for a period long enough to charge..glad I cycle, but petrol it is until infrastructure catches up.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Will be problems producing enough electricity if every car was electric. Also the environmental damage being caused making the batteries. And when the batteries are no longer any good where will they go.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Will be problems producing enough electricity if every car was electric. Also the environmental damage being caused making the batteries. And when the batteries are no longer any good where will they go. "

also where are the government going to get the high tax returns for the fuel they are getting currently for petrol and diesel cars at the minute.road tolls will be everywhere and at a pound a mile we will all be priced off the road

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

its a flawed concept unfortunatly, what provides the power? dirty power stations, most are worse than burning petrol, and the range thing is a problem, we need to find another fuel imo

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I recently sold my bmw i3, it was fantastic saved me loads of money per month, my other 2 cars are v8 petrols so it was a no brainer to go electric.. i now do 6 mile each way to work so its just not worth having. The other thing is long distance.. full charge just going for a sunday drive out in the country it wasnt viable with the up hills ect and knowhere to charge it. The negatives outdid the possives. I think hybrid is the way to go if you want to go down that route.... as for me? Ill carry on smoking around in my V8's

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Did your ever come across a situation in life where there wasn't any smoke or mirrors....?

Waft the smoke away and hold your hands out in front if you so you don't bang your nose.....

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *imes_berksMan
over a year ago

Bracknell

Hydrogen will be the future. Cars run off water. The future will be wireless charging for electric cars (bit like the newest phones). You park over a wireless charging point. These can be in all car parks etc but massive change to infrastructure required. Sweden are doing well. Over 50% of new cars are now electric there.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ustB2019Man
over a year ago

dereham


"There is no argument for them from an environmental point of view and they are useless if you do anything like a proper days driving"

What’s a proper days driving? You can do around 300miles in the Tesla, the Kia and the Hyundai offerings. The Nissan/Renault and such markedly less.

With rapid chargers at most services on main routes and plenty elsewhere, it takes 45mins to mostly charge and get you back on the road which is a decent piss and coffee break with a stretch of the legs too.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"There is no argument for them from an environmental point of view and they are useless if you do anything like a proper days driving

What’s a proper days driving? You can do around 300miles in the Tesla, the Kia and the Hyundai offerings. The Nissan/Renault and such markedly less.

With rapid chargers at most services on main routes and plenty elsewhere, it takes 45mins to mostly charge and get you back on the road which is a decent piss and coffee break with a stretch of the legs too. "

You cant hit that 300 mile mark. My sister has the tesla model x long range,shes 250ish miles in that maximum and takes almost 2h to charge. Theyre good on main routes, my bmw i3 long range i had to charge on the m25 from derby to london as itd not make the full trip. The issue for me is if you go a drive out over derbyshire ect the range isnt there and because the roads arnt flat you dramaticly reduce range. The charging network isnt there outside big citys just yet..

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ustB2019Man
over a year ago

dereham

Depends how you drive it. I know people with Tesla cars and they’ve never had an issue hitting 300-310miles. The i3 has lower range, so that’s understandable.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *coundrel and VixenCouple
over a year ago

Sexmouth

Ok, having read lots of negative posts from people who clearly know nothing beyond what they've read in tabloids or on posts from Jeremy Clarkson, here's the view from someone who's had two electric cars:

1. They're a new thing so if you can't afford £10k for a car, it's possibly too early for you, although it may still be cheaper depending on your typical use. 30 to 100 miles a day commute? It's a no-brainer to have an electric; it'll save you a fortune.

2. If you haven't got anywhere to put a charger at home (drive, garage) it's too early for you.

3. If you often do 200 mile trips, it's too early for you.

If, however, you can charge at home and either have a 2nd car available or are prepared to take a bit more care on the occasional longer trip, you should definitely have a look. They are just SO much better than 'normal' cars, which - let's face it - are based on tech from 1885.

As someone who's had 5 Jags, a TVR and all kinds of other big-engined car porn, I can tell you that once you've had an electric car - even one of the lower-end ones - everything else is like a tractor.

Does that help?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *imes_berksMan
over a year ago

Bracknell

I think the range issue is a red herring. how many petrol,diesel users check that the distance shown on their fuel gauge is the actual distance that there car actually covers once refuelled. the distance has to be calculated on average fuel consumption and this will change for all cars no matter the fuel type. It's just an issue at the moment because of the poor infrastructure for refuelling. Additionally, I would expect the range to increase even further with better technology. I'm sure the cars over the first 30 years of manufacture never got near 300 miles in range

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've got a hybrid car, does 400 miles no problem. Works out at 70mpg.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Ill switch when i can fill up as fast as i can now. Hydrogen fuel cell is the future not this full on electric shite

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Ok, having read lots of negative posts from people who clearly know nothing beyond what they've read in tabloids or on posts from Jeremy Clarkson, here's the view from someone who's had two electric cars:

1. They're a new thing so if you can't afford £10k for a car, it's possibly too early for you, although it may still be cheaper depending on your typical use. 30 to 100 miles a day commute? It's a no-brainer to have an electric; it'll save you a fortune.

2. If you haven't got anywhere to put a charger at home (drive, garage) it's too early for you.

3. If you often do 200 mile trips, it's too early for you.

If, however, you can charge at home and either have a 2nd car available or are prepared to take a bit more care on the occasional longer trip, you should definitely have a look. They are just SO much better than 'normal' cars, which - let's face it - are based on tech from 1885.

As someone who's had 5 Jags, a TVR and all kinds of other big-engined car porn, I can tell you that once you've had an electric car - even one of the lower-end ones - everything else is like a tractor.

Does that help?"

Sums it up perfectly

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ylonSlutTV/TS
over a year ago

Durham

There are many reasons why electric cars will secede. Legislation is one. Fuel will be very expensive and harder to get hold of as time goes on. The technology isn't really there yet for batteries etc, but it isn't far away. The heavy metals are already being recycled from batteries. Automated driving will also be a big driver for electric cars.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *hilloutMan
over a year ago

All over the place! Northwesr, , Southwest


"Is it a good idea or is it smoke and mirrors "

Eventually, but not at the moment. The range and autonomy isn't good and they rely on subsidies (I.e. tax breaks) to make them competitive. Most of the energy they'll get from recharging is obtained through fossil fuels anyway. The rare earth minerals used to build the batteries require intense mining with their own environmental impacts....so no. Shite idea.

Plus no engine noise and no shifter! Boring!

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *osmicRobMan
over a year ago

Chorlton cum Hardy

I love my electric car. I must admit it's not for everyone as it depends on one's circumstances.

Still plenty of free charging stations dotted around the country which is a major bonus. Zero road tax which helps.

If you plan carefully and take advantage of free charging sessions you'll be living the dream (financially).

There's also a charging station at my gym which motivates me to go more often

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm fascinated by the idea and the technology, but when we are all forced into having electric cars, where is all the electricity to charge them up coming from, assuming overnight demand will be huge?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ylonSlutTV/TS
over a year ago

Durham


"I'm fascinated by the idea and the technology, but when we are all forced into having electric cars, where is all the electricity to charge them up coming from, assuming overnight demand will be huge?"

All that oil you are not using to make fuel

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch

[Removed by poster at 30/09/19 12:33:39]

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch


"Ill switch when i can fill up as fast as i can now. Hydrogen fuel cell is the future not this full on electric shite"

I think the sooner education teaches society

Hydrogen is both a fuel and a battery

Electric is a conduit of energy

Petrol cars can be electric

Hydrogen cars can be electric

Wood fired cars can be electric

Electric motors are utterly phenomenal as power units

Fuelling electric cars without burning fossil fuel or nuclear will be challenging

Hydrogen does NOT EXIST in any rational quantities as a fuel , almost all is made using nuclear or fossil to crack the hydrogen from the water and it takes just a tad more energy to crack than it returns, thus hydrogen is only ever a version of battery and NOT a fuel

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Once the ranges improve, charging bays become more common, prices come down, and electricity is produced by more renewable means then they'll be a good idea.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No they won't replace the combustion engine. Ambulance, fire engines, police cars, and delivery vehicles can't spend an hour on charge every 100 miles.

Fact is if we want to stop burning fuel we have to stop owning cars at all, how we get from here to there, I don't know. Perhaps we just price people off the road?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *evil_u_knowMan
over a year ago

city

I live in a city, so cant charge a car, as others have said a spot outside where I live is a luxury, and unless the council puts charging spots all along every road then I just cant get involved.

Its why hydrogen is more interesting, they can pool huge amounts of energy in areas instead of having to bring it to everyones home.

In places like china they think they have already reached their battery car capacity, India will struggle.

Places like LA already have to do rolling electricity blackouts, and often the electricity just goes off.

The current battery technology is crap, and there is next gen battery tech in the pipeline, but tesla forced the issue which means we are causing loads of pollution just for a fad, just cause someone wanted to make it to market first.

Houses in my city they often rent out the bedroom, like 3/4 people per house, all parked out on the street. I just dont see how this is a solution at all.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ynecplCouple
over a year ago

Newcastle upon Tyne

Nice in theory, needs more development as currently not practical for all. It still needs to be charged and currently only 30% of our electricity comes from renewables so more work needs to be done there. But we all have to start somewhere.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Will be problems producing enough electricity if every car was electric. Also the environmental damage being caused making the batteries. And when the batteries are no longer any good where will they go. "

This is the biggest issue I find with them.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ylonSlutTV/TS
over a year ago

Durham


"Will be problems producing enough electricity if every car was electric. Also the environmental damage being caused making the batteries. And when the batteries are no longer any good where will they go.

This is the biggest issue I find with them."

Loads of work is going on in recycling batteries. Worked on a couple of projects myself to do with this. Any environmental damage done from making batteries is miniscule to what the oil drilling industry and oil burning cars are doing and have done historically.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

EV's are the new generation, it's that simple.

Older generation may disagree, be sceptical but reality is that in 10-20 years combustion vehicle sales will be almost non existent.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ylonSlutTV/TS
over a year ago

Durham


"EV's are the new generation, it's that simple.

Older generation may disagree, be sceptical but reality is that in 10-20 years combustion vehicle sales will be almost non existent.

"

I doubt there will be any self driven vehicles in 20 years time. Self driven combustion vehicles will be for hobbies and museums only

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"EV's are the new generation, it's that simple.

Older generation may disagree, be sceptical but reality is that in 10-20 years combustion vehicle sales will be almost non existent.

I doubt there will be any self driven vehicles in 20 years time. Self driven combustion vehicles will be for hobbies and museums only "

There already are self driven cars. They operate at Las Vegas airport.

There is no point in a self driven combustion car, if they're for hobbies why would you not drive it?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"EV's are the new generation, it's that simple.

Older generation may disagree, be sceptical but reality is that in 10-20 years combustion vehicle sales will be almost non existent.

I doubt there will be any self driven vehicles in 20 years time. Self driven combustion vehicles will be for hobbies and museums only "

Fire engines? Tractors, aircraft, lots of non battery issues to solve before we can get off fossil fuels. But 20 years should see a big step towards it.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"EV's are the new generation, it's that simple.

Older generation may disagree, be sceptical but reality is that in 10-20 years combustion vehicle sales will be almost non existent.

I doubt there will be any self driven vehicles in 20 years time. Self driven combustion vehicles will be for hobbies and museums only

There already are self driven cars. They operate at Las Vegas airport.

There is no point in a self driven combustion car, if they're for hobbies why would you not drive it?"

has nobody seen i robot or terminator doomed doomed

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ait88Man
over a year ago

Plymouth

Very dense smoke, and comprehensive mirrors.

Has anyone ever seen any numbers comparing the amount of electricity produced at an “average” power station that is needed to run an “average” electric car for a mile?

I’m thinking about electric power lost:

Converting the power station’s mechanical energy output into electrical energy (like

using your car engine to charge batteries)

Stepping up the voltage to national grid transmission level, from 2.3KV to 30KV to

above 150KV for long distance distribution

Stepping the voltage back down to 2KV to 35KV for local distribution

Stepping down the voltage again to 220/240 for domestic supply

Stepping down the voltage for the third time to charge the car’s pack

Storage losses – you can’t get out of a battery as much electricity as you put in – it

disappears in the night when there’s no one in sight!

Do you think that more than half of the electricity produced by the power station gets to make the wheels go round? Or is more than half of the power lost along the long, long road to your car’s electric motors?

I would bet that the “average” petrol powered car is ecologically “cleaner” than the average battery powered car when the real ecological cost of the electricity is taken into account .

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

80k plus for the Tesla (not easy to get a 40k one yet) and there won’t be enough chargers or energy produced to charge them all. As with everything our infrastructure is the issue.

300 miles range is not realistic, a bit like the 60mpg you were meant to get out of your petrol/ Diesel engines car

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"80k plus for the Tesla (not easy to get a 40k one yet) and there won’t be enough chargers or energy produced to charge them all. As with everything our infrastructure is the issue.

300 miles range is not realistic, a bit like the 60mpg you were meant to get out of your petrol/ Diesel engines car "

Perfect example of someone stuck in 1990's

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ocbigMan
over a year ago

Birmingham


"Very dense smoke, and comprehensive mirrors.

Has anyone ever seen any numbers comparing the amount of electricity produced at an “average” power station that is needed to run an “average” electric car for a mile?

I’m thinking about electric power lost:

Converting the power station’s mechanical energy output into electrical energy (like

using your car engine to charge batteries)

Stepping up the voltage to national grid transmission level, from 2.3KV to 30KV to

above 150KV for long distance distribution

Stepping the voltage back down to 2KV to 35KV for local distribution

Stepping down the voltage again to 220/240 for domestic supply

Stepping down the voltage for the third time to charge the car’s pack

Storage losses – you can’t get out of a battery as much electricity as you put in – it

disappears in the night when there’s no one in sight!

Do you think that more than half of the electricity produced by the power station gets to make the wheels go round? Or is more than half of the power lost along the long, long road to your car’s electric motors?

I would bet that the “average” petrol powered car is ecologically “cleaner” than the average battery powered car when the real ecological cost of the electricity is taken into account .

"

would very much like to see the 'true' cost worked out, we all try to do our bit but we are still trapped in the capitalistic model that sells you more stuff as a solution to the problems of the old stuff you were sold.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *corpio67Man
over a year ago

hillingdon

I just wonder how the accident rate will go up with people walking across the road. Who don't hear you coming in your silent car?!!!!

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I just wonder how the accident rate will go up with people walking across the road. Who don't hear you coming in your silent car?!!!!"

To be fair not much different to those crossing now with earphones playing music and eyes locked on texting.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I just wonder how the accident rate will go up with people walking across the road. Who don't hear you coming in your silent car?!!!!"

New regulations are coming requiring electric cars to emit artificial noise, not really a problem.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *eplicant JoWoman
over a year ago

Sussex countryside

Ours has saved us a fortune. We only have a leaf but it suits the needs of the daily commute and running around.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *den-Valley-coupleCouple
over a year ago

Cumbria

Think it's an out of date format with hydrogen vehicles already on sale with Honda and Toyota producing them in the US..

Toyota in UK as well..

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Never had sex in one

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Can’t help but think the cost (environmentally) to keep up with electricity generation is going to be as bad as fossil fuels are.

Don’t like that they’re quiet either.

Good idea in principle but needs a lot of work before it’s any use for the vast majority of vehicle owners. Range is a big issue.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I just wonder how the accident rate will go up with people walking across the road. Who don't hear you coming in your silent car?!!!!

New regulations are coming requiring electric cars to emit artificial noise, not really a problem."

Awesome, you can pick your own sound. I want mine to sound like a Spitfire. Supermarine, not Triumph..

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch


"Think it's an out of date format with hydrogen vehicles already on sale with Honda and Toyota producing them in the US..

Toyota in UK as well..

"

What fuel is making the hydrogen?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *radleywigginsMan
over a year ago

northwest

The most ecologically sound car is the one you already have.

Electric cars come with a cost. You maybe happy that electricity is cheaper than conventional fuel, and some may kid you that they’ll save the planet and reverse global warming.

I just feel sorry for the 10yr old kids digging those heavy metals out of the ground to make your batteries

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 
 

By *ensualtouch15Man
over a year ago

ashby de la zouch

Quick fuel math

Low estimate of cars on road

3500 000

Current average electric usage of average driver 2kwh

Average car energy required for 60 miles 40 kWh

Our electric grid system will have extra capacity however, that's a system based upon 2 kWh per driver

If 25 percent swapped then 10kwh per driver on average would be required I'd suggest energy production required in multiples of current resources

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
Post new Message to Thread
back to top