Electric Cars
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N1805 - don't worry, local power networks will be able to cope with charging, say, 25% cars overnight whilst at home or at pre-determined charging points throughout the country whilst en route.
When putting in points the potential load factors are taken into account including future proofing. Where they might be short, the local cabling network is usually beefed up to cope.
Tigi - don't panic, go to the nearest Nissan dealer (if you have one of their cars) they will express charge you for free (currently.)
Me - I am waiting for Tessla to crack the battery problem and sell me a sports car that will do 600 miles per charge. I guess it may be a few years yet!
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I can only afford to run one car, which has two functions, one as tow car and the other daily use. I am feeling that there is a lot of pressure on diesel car owners to reflect on the damage they are doing because of the pollution. I would consider owning a hybrid electric / petrol which could tow, especially if the club negotiated some incredible prices for its members. As for electric cars, they may be good for commuters over shorter distances but they are, as yet, impractical as a main family car with the multiple demands of such transport..
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Untill battery technology improves to the point that cars can go 300 miles minimum on a full charge and then re-charge within a few minutes, then they will not be viable outside of London and maybe a few other cities.
Meanwhile, 'normal' petrol and diesel cars are just fine. Where's the problem?
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We have gone from being encouraged by the Government to use diesel to it being unacceptable. Will electric power suffer a similar fate? All those magnetic fields around will I am sure get a 'body of experts' on the case. And the environmentalists will start working on the effects of disposing of batteries.
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I wonder what is the life of these batteries are thy likely to expire in say five years or so . And what would be the cost to replace, or are they leased some one told me they were but I have not seen or read any thing on this. our local outlet shopping centre as two or three charging points so as ASDA mind you, you would never get onto one of there, more often than not you will find the parking area for them filled up with other cars. I often comment look there is an electric Mondeo astra and such like,
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We tow with a Mitsubishi Phev tows fine we tow a bailey unicorn Vigo tows a dream great car to drive once you have driven one you wouldn't go back to a noisey Diesel engine if driven locally about 30 miles per day you never go to a garage
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I would be rather concerned (in London) if everyone bought an electric car, that the cables under the roads would not be able to take the strain of required levels of current.
That would need one heck of an infrastructure rebuild.
Hopefully the rate of demand will increase slowly.
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FCEV cars (hydrogen) will be the ultimate way forward outside of cities. Capable of loads, fast refuel, greater mileage. However, at present the refuelling infrastructure is almost none existent, around a dozen recharge stations. (Recharge is similar to LPG). Oil is still king in this country and until that changes, (the sooner the better, then we can tell the oil producing countries to you know what!) there is not a deal of incentive for anyone outside of cities to change.
I cannot get my head around electric cars? If the electricity is being produced by anything other than wind, solar or wave ( i.e fossil fuel of one sort or another) then all it is doing is moving the pollution elsewhere? So what is the point? Makes the new owner feel all eco and green, but not really helping much in the overall scale of things?
Long way to go yet. By all means put a large tax on owning a diesel in London, the rich will pay it, those who can't have the largest transport budget to compensate them towards other ways of getting around. Other areas of the country don't have the option.
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Hydrogen is typically made from steam reforming of natural gas or by electrolysis (needing electricity to make it), so probably worse than battery technology with regards to environmental credentials!
Whilst it has the convenience of petrol / diesel in that it takes only minutes to refill, it is far more dangerous!
Hydrogen has the widest explosive range of any gas and the lowest ignition energy (certainly static from cloths rubbing) and is very searching being such a small molecule. Any leaks would almost always result in an explosive cloud.
There are also other technical difficulties in the storage and transport of hydrogen.
Just something to keep in mind!
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I understand that most come with a 'payment plan' to cover the eventual cost of replacing the expensive batteries. So not quite as cheap to run as first appears.
Does anyone know - when people plug into those charging points in car parks etc. do you pay for it? I assume so, but never really looked that closely.
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I don't think electric is practical for everyone and everyday use, already service stations are begining to charge extortionate amounts for the charging of vehicles, when only last year it was free.
The range is not there for most of us but for some uses it is ideal. To give you an idea of battery longevity my daughter runs the only electric fleet of taxis in Cornwall and is retiring her first one bought in 2013.
Her Generation 2 Nissan LEAF 'Wizzy' has been rapid charged 3786 times & Level 2 charged 8925 times in three and a half years, and covered 170,000 miles at 2p per mile.
Granted they have to go some way yet to improve the range but she swears by their reliability and fuel savings compared to the old diesel fleet. Also servicing costs are minimal with no drive train, axles, engine etc.They have single phase charging points at their home/premises but also rent a small industrial unit with the availability of 3 phase rapid charging pods, unfortunately not everyone has this option.
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From this months ( March 2017 ) Vintage Spirit Magazine :--
The Magazine for Steam and Industrial Heritage Enthusiasts
Back To The Future == Hull Streetlife Museum Article has a
series of pictures and notes about early 1900s vehicles of which
one is rather like a four wheeled, two seater carriage BUT is
actually a 1901 Cleveland Battery - Electric Buggy { Quote -- like
their steam - powered cousins they also gave petrol driven cars
a run for their money !! }
Plus ca change ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,
Brian
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