OT: How the electric car revolution could backfire

Dave Plowman (News) explained :

The difference being that the battery will fail after not a great deal of use and a diesel or petrol could see out the normal useful life of the vehicle.

Historically, it was a cast iron wood/coal burning stove. Boats often have diesel heaters.

Milkman?

yes, but if you have to tow the battery in a trailer behind, it won't sell well.

There has been little improvement in battery performance in the last century, viewed on a cost basis. Cars still use lead acid and although NiCd is now unfashionable, IME for power tools, LI doesn't perform well at high current levels. Improving substantially in the next 20 years is a dream IMO and you still have the problem of most of the energy being spent on transporting batteries. We looked at electric cars half a century ago and apart from fashion, the economics have not changed. Don't sell your oil shares yet!

If a break for recharging mean an overnight hotel - expensive

If I need to keep one car for long distance and another for local use - expensive.

but I'll be 100 before this happens - so waht.

Quite possible in the UK. London to Inverness 600 miles,

indeed, diesel engines normally last longer than the body.

No, just my own personal EV, an Enfield 8000 Bicini (moke):

"A Greek designer, Georgios Michael (later credited with the design of several Greek vehicles) was employed with the new company. A "jeep-type" version designed by Michael, the E 8000 Bicini, was also introduced in 1973. A little more than 100 were built, including a few Bicini's and a version of the latter for use in mining facilities. However, none could be sold in their domestic market because of Greek government regulations. All the vehicles were exported, mostly to the UK"

That said, we (a mate and I) did own an ex Wales & Edwards float that had the body (well, roof) removed and we used it around his property as a general utility vehicle. It was also handy for picking fruit in his orchard as you could stand on the back and move it about as required.

Cheers, T i m

Yes, not impossible but I as asking how often 'most people' would need to do that?

When our daughter was living in Dumfries we were doing similar trips but only maybe once or twice a year. Since she moved back we haven't, at all and the longest round trip being more like 300 miles.

Cheers, T i m

BobbyLlew is a bit happy-eco-clappy about anything battery powered, but I'd tend to think the Telsa figures are reasonable accurate.

For a P100D at 70mph they claim 293 miles with aircon on and 30° outside or 265 miles with heating on and 0°C outside.

If they were 1/3 the price, I'd think about one ...

At least 3 times a year I do a 400+ mile journey with a few days before returning.

I suspect that a lot of reps travel quite long distance,

and how far will they have driven to get there? Most of them will be able to do a weeks commuting on one charge at home.

Its not really a problem.

Some enterprising person will develop an app so you can use someone else's charger for a fee. Just like some people rent out their drives.

Who knows? Not me ... I'm the man who sold the world.

There is a man of the past.

Cars use lead acid but the batteries are nothing like what they were 20 years ago.

NiCd pollutes and suffers from memory effects but is still the best choice for a few uses.

Li Ion performs better at high currents than NiCd and NiMh batteries especially in hand held tools.

You didn't have Li Ion batteries for cars half a century ago so I don't see your point.

The economics have changed a lot in 50 years, fuel is far more costly now than it was 50 years ago. Why do you think small economic cars are sold rather than the gas guzzlers of 50 years ago?

But do they? The first hybrids - the Prius - seems to have survived as well as any other car of its age. And are much used as minicabs, where running cots are going to be paramount.

But no. Seems with a decent charger (and of course supply) many can be charged in an hour or less.