What's the problem with electric cars?

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by Fastpatsilents

A potential game changer

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/b...-b2272024.html

Maybe, and Solid State batteries are genuinely not far off now. They will make more difference to EVs than small capacity engines and low pressure turbos have done for petrol ICE emissions and MPG.

Watch this space!

[Offgrid]

Aren't those still lithium batteries. Improving battery technology doesn't help with the problems of electricity generation and distribution. I still believe that EVs are a niche market, and will not have a place for mass adoption. There are too many other energy sources that don't require the environment to be damaged and destroyed in harvesting them.

[Existential Crisis]

Originally Posted by Offgrid

Aren't those still lithium batteries. Improving battery technology doesn't help with the problems of electricity generation and distribution. I still believe that EVs are a niche market, and will not have a place for mass adoption. There are too many other energy sources that don't require the environment to be damaged and destroyed in harvesting them.

Cab you name some that have minimal environmental impact. I'd say that hydro, wind, tide and solar electric is pretty light footed? I get that you are talking about the batteries themselves but look at the environmental impact drilling for oil and gas, digging coal and fracking causes the world over? I'd rather we could find something that was genuinely low impact but suspect we may have to concentrate on the 'lowest' impact for the time being. Again, I don't see EVs as being particularly environmentally friendly, I jist love their attributes and one woukd suit my usage needs and preference for serenity and convenience very well.

[Forg]

Originally Posted by Existential Crisis

Cab you name some that have minimal environmental impact. I'd say that hydro, wind, tide and solar electric is pretty light footed? I get that you are talking about the batteries themselves but look at the environmental impact drilling for oil and gas, digging coal and fracking causes the world over? I'd rather we could find something that was genuinely low impact but suspect we may have to concentrate on the 'lowest' impact for the time being. Again, I don't see EVs as being particularly environmentally friendly, I jist love their attributes and one woukd suit my usage needs and preference for serenity and convenience very well.

Mining & processing lithium & it's like definitely screws things up on a localised scale, particularly if it's not managed. There can potentially be some major damage in certain places.
Weigh that against burning fossil-fuels, which we KNOW are 100% causing a disaster (for the human race & most other species on the planet) everywhere all at once.

The problem of electricity generation & distribution is exaggerated, it was a few years ago that some research was done into Straya and we were about 7% short of where we would need to be if all road vehicles were replaced with an EV and used in the same way. I'd put money on the UK having a more resilient electricity infrastructure than here.

[SnineT]

Originally Posted by Forg

The problem of electricity generation & distribution is exaggerated, it was a few years ago that some research was done into Straya and we were about 7% short of where we would need to be if all road vehicles were replaced with an EV and used in the same way. I'd put money on the UK having a more resilient electricity infrastructure than here.

You'd like to think so but bear in mind the UK is 3x the population of Aus and a whole lot smaller, ok a vast amount of Aus is uninhabitable but not to machines and panels. In addition to that in case nobody is noticing it the UK is being broken up and asset stripped by the day she will be a wasteland of poverty in the next 40 years, overpopulated and bare of any structure in fact the only hope she has is that she becomes so unappealing that nobody will want to live on her and those that do will migrate elsewhere leaving those that remain to rebuild some pride and infrastructure that's balanced with her sq mileage of land.

[Fastpatsilents]

Originally Posted by Offgrid

Aren't those still lithium batteries. Improving battery technology doesn't help with the problems of electricity generation and distribution. I still believe that EVs are a niche market, and will not have a place for mass adoption. There are too many other energy sources that don't require the environment to be damaged and destroyed in harvesting them.

A 660,000 niche. Plus a further 450,000 plug in hybrids. Representing 24% of all new car sales.

[Forg]

Originally Posted by SnineT

You'd like to think so but bear in mind the UK is 3x the population of Aus and a whole lot smaller

That's exactly my point ... people clustered together are massive amounts cheaper to deliver a service to!

[Fastpatsilents]

The dirty secret that the petrol and oil companies don't want you to know about diesel and petrol cars.

Just how much dirty electricity is used to refine your hydrocarbons.

https://youtu.be/BQpX-9OyEr4

[Topcat1958]

Originally Posted by Mint Cake

For me its as simple as reliability.

Can I reliably charge my leccy car in my locale - no.**

Can I rely on it not to go "bang" (or have a major component go bang) when its out of warranty, leaving me with a repair that is more than the value of the car - no.

In a few years time, it'll be a different kettle of fish.


** I live rurally. A different matter if you live cheek by jowel with others.

I have just sold my Kia ENiro back to the dealer and tomorrow will hopefully be collecting a V60.

Why, did I sell it?

Like you I live in a rural part of the country.

After 14 months of ownership and having no drive, I had to charge it either by running the cable from inside the front door to the car, which involved parking on double yellow lines and across a pavement - had a protective rubber mat over the top. Which to be honest was ok, as I tended to do the charging overnight, when both the road and foot traffic was very low.
Or use the ones at the local supermarket, which incidentally was cheaper per Kw than my own supply.

Initially, I thought that it would not be an issue, but it just got too tiresome.
So, back to a good old ICE and a Volvo to boot.

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by Forg

Mining & processing lithium & it's like definitely screws things up on a localised scale, particularly if it's not managed. There can potentially be some major damage in certain places.
Weigh that against burning fossil-fuels, which we KNOW are 100% causing a disaster (for the human race & most other species on the planet) everywhere all at once.

The problem of electricity generation & distribution is exaggerated, it was a few years ago that some research was done into Straya and we were about 7% short of where we would need to be if all road vehicles were replaced with an EV and used in the same way. I'd put money on the UK having a more resilient electricity infrastructure than here.

and that is where you are wrong
we do not have the capacity at all never mind the infrastructure
recently a trial was run to get people in certain area to Not use electricity "much" during peak times, due to the "shortages caused by the war in ukraine/russian something or other" supplying gas/oil/who cares
result ,, it Didnt work, we do not have the capacity/infrastructure to cope now.