In reply to Post #31
I'm a Driving Instructor and my next car will be an electric
I've done a few lessons in their own electric cars and they are great
I work local and part time anyway so range isn't an issue plus I already teach auto.
I'm a Driving Instructor and my next car will be an electric
I've done a few lessons in their own electric cars and they are great
I work local and part time anyway so range isn't an issue plus I already teach auto.
It seems to me that ,the powers that be want people out of their cars ..some might say the green issues are being bandied about to achieve this..we all know how much lies and half truths the greens and government throw out into the media..
At the moment electric cars are new,but I bet ,that in the not too distant future ,these vehicles, and when enough of them have been forced upon people,they will get so expensive to run or use ,that it could possibly be untenable to purchase and use,ie only the very wealthy could afford to own or use them..
They might start off cheaply to run at the moment, I say at the moment..!
Another point I keep hearing is electric cars have more environmental impact than ,combustion engines..with mining of lithium,battery wastage when spent and the biggest issue of all
Where is the main power coming from to power these cars..?
Interesting..?
At the moment electric cars are new,but I bet ,that in the not too distant future ,these vehicles, and when enough of them have been forced upon people,they will get so expensive to run or use ,that it could possibly be untenable to purchase and use,ie only the very wealthy could afford to own or use them..
They might start off cheaply to run at the moment, I say at the moment..!
Another point I keep hearing is electric cars have more environmental impact than ,combustion engines..with mining of lithium,battery wastage when spent and the biggest issue of all
Where is the main power coming from to power these cars..?
Interesting..?
In reply to Post #33
It's certainly a complex issue.
As you say the batteries are the electric vehicles biggest environmental downfall. Production, disposal and recycling all need a lot of work to reduce the environmental damage. If you consider this cost over a cars life then it doesn't look quite so bad but I suspect a lot of environmental corners are being cut at present to keep the financial costs down.
Hydrogen is making progress, as is synthetic fuel but both still have a way to go, the latter more so but ultimately they both could be less destructive to the environment than battery powered vehicles. Costs are much higher though so not so popular as the quick fix battery electric as things stand at present.
Renewable power obviously has to be the way forward whatever system we use and we will definitely need a lot of it. However something like fields of solar panels sat on what used to be good quality productive agricultural land has to be a step too far in my view. Just a cheap quick fix to meet a target at the detriment of food production. Perhaps we need a bit of long term planning and decisions made by someone not concerned about getting re-elected.
It's certainly a complex issue.
As you say the batteries are the electric vehicles biggest environmental downfall. Production, disposal and recycling all need a lot of work to reduce the environmental damage. If you consider this cost over a cars life then it doesn't look quite so bad but I suspect a lot of environmental corners are being cut at present to keep the financial costs down.
Hydrogen is making progress, as is synthetic fuel but both still have a way to go, the latter more so but ultimately they both could be less destructive to the environment than battery powered vehicles. Costs are much higher though so not so popular as the quick fix battery electric as things stand at present.
Renewable power obviously has to be the way forward whatever system we use and we will definitely need a lot of it. However something like fields of solar panels sat on what used to be good quality productive agricultural land has to be a step too far in my view. Just a cheap quick fix to meet a target at the detriment of food production. Perhaps we need a bit of long term planning and decisions made by someone not concerned about getting re-elected.
In reply to Post #34
It's really complex and potentially emotive, I see quite a few people that travel down from up the line,who use these electric cars,some have even had double portals installed,where I work.
First thing they seem to do is get out the long charging leads,and get charging..which seems to take a long time..
Only yesterday I was talking to a NHS ,doctor,who has a 21 plate electric golf,his biggest fear is running out of power on the way,interestingly, he got a huge discount from the government to purchase this electric car,I get the impression, he's not impressed with it ,other than acceleration of it..
I said to him you'll have to hook up with Gaia,but my poor joke was lost on him ,certainly I agree those solar panels in previously viable agri land is just wrong,...
I wonder how it will pan out,because the electric car ,is at the moment not the great panacea ,environmental saviour it's made it to be,..of course ..us plebs will be fed a load of wallopcod as usual..
Either that ,or in the future all the lithium mines ,will make old mine sink holes and shafts look like nothing ever happened down the county in past times...lol...
(I'm expert now at hyper miles)...
It's really complex and potentially emotive, I see quite a few people that travel down from up the line,who use these electric cars,some have even had double portals installed,where I work.
First thing they seem to do is get out the long charging leads,and get charging..which seems to take a long time..
Only yesterday I was talking to a NHS ,doctor,who has a 21 plate electric golf,his biggest fear is running out of power on the way,interestingly, he got a huge discount from the government to purchase this electric car,I get the impression, he's not impressed with it ,other than acceleration of it..
I said to him you'll have to hook up with Gaia,but my poor joke was lost on him ,certainly I agree those solar panels in previously viable agri land is just wrong,...
I wonder how it will pan out,because the electric car ,is at the moment not the great panacea ,environmental saviour it's made it to be,..of course ..us plebs will be fed a load of wallopcod as usual..
Either that ,or in the future all the lithium mines ,will make old mine sink holes and shafts look like nothing ever happened down the county in past times...lol...
(I'm expert now at hyper miles)...
In reply to Post #16
Oh look
From the papers today. How to save fuel.
Drive more slowly
Driving quickly uses more fuel. According to the RAC, although there is no optimum driving speed for fuel economy, typically “cars are most fuel-efficient at between 45 and 50mph” – that's below the speed limit on open roads and motorways. On a motorway, driving at 80mph rather than 70mph is not only illegal, but will cost you: figures from the Department for Transport show that it can use as much as 25% more fuel.
Change gear
You will get the most miles for each gallon if you gear up when you can – the Energy Saving Trust recommends you change up early, “usually by around 2,000rpm”.
Aim for less braking
Smooth driving is more fuel-efficient than speeding up and braking suddenly, so aim to anticipate stops and take your foot off the accelerator. In March, Kevin Booker – a “hypermiler” who holds a world record for energy-efficient driving, told Guardian readers: “Read the road ahead for traffic lights and roundabouts, so you always keep moving. If there's a green light a fair distance off, there's a high probability it will be red by the time you get to it. It's all about pacing, so you get there when it's green. With roundabouts, feed into them rather than stop.”
Reduce your load
Empty your boot of unnecessary clutter and take off your roof box if you're not using it – any extra weight means you need extra fuel to move the car. Some analysis of roof boxes has suggested they can increase how much petrol you use by 50%, but other tests have found negligible difference. Road conditions and the shape of your roof box will play a part in fuel use.
John Ford from High Wycombe with his orange Ford Mexico at Burton-in-Kendal service station.
‘The cost has become absurd': UK motorists lament £100-a-tank petrol
Read more
Plan your journeys
Use a satnav to find the shortest route – or the most economical. Google Maps has been rolling out eco-friendly routing where, in addition to showing the fastest route, it will also display the one that is the most fuel-efficient (if it doesn't happen to also be the fastest). TomTom offers the same option. Where possible, combine trips rather than making several separate journeys.
Monitor your use
Get a sense of when and where you are using the most petrol by using an app to keep tabs on your use. Fuelio is one option – you can input details of when you fill up and log your mileage and get stats on your fuel economy.
Pump up your tyres
Letting the pressure fall on your tyres will mean you need to use more fuel, so keep them pumped up appropriately to reduce consumption. The RAC cites experts as saying that correctly inflated tyres can improve the mileage you get out of fuel by up to 3%. But do not be tempted to overinflate them, as that can lead to a loss of control – stick to the recommended pressure for your vehicle.
Turn off the air-con on short journeys
On short journeys on city roads opening the windows will be more fuel-efficient than putting on the air conditioning. On long journeys on the motorway, tests typically show that the air-con becomes more efficient, but opening the windows when you first set off to let out the hot air that's in the car will save you paying to cool it down. After that, don't drive with the air-con on and windows open at the same time – you are just wasting money.
Oh look
From the papers today. How to save fuel.
Drive more slowly
Driving quickly uses more fuel. According to the RAC, although there is no optimum driving speed for fuel economy, typically “cars are most fuel-efficient at between 45 and 50mph” – that's below the speed limit on open roads and motorways. On a motorway, driving at 80mph rather than 70mph is not only illegal, but will cost you: figures from the Department for Transport show that it can use as much as 25% more fuel.
Change gear
You will get the most miles for each gallon if you gear up when you can – the Energy Saving Trust recommends you change up early, “usually by around 2,000rpm”.
Aim for less braking
Smooth driving is more fuel-efficient than speeding up and braking suddenly, so aim to anticipate stops and take your foot off the accelerator. In March, Kevin Booker – a “hypermiler” who holds a world record for energy-efficient driving, told Guardian readers: “Read the road ahead for traffic lights and roundabouts, so you always keep moving. If there's a green light a fair distance off, there's a high probability it will be red by the time you get to it. It's all about pacing, so you get there when it's green. With roundabouts, feed into them rather than stop.”
Reduce your load
Empty your boot of unnecessary clutter and take off your roof box if you're not using it – any extra weight means you need extra fuel to move the car. Some analysis of roof boxes has suggested they can increase how much petrol you use by 50%, but other tests have found negligible difference. Road conditions and the shape of your roof box will play a part in fuel use.
John Ford from High Wycombe with his orange Ford Mexico at Burton-in-Kendal service station.
‘The cost has become absurd': UK motorists lament £100-a-tank petrol
Read more
Plan your journeys
Use a satnav to find the shortest route – or the most economical. Google Maps has been rolling out eco-friendly routing where, in addition to showing the fastest route, it will also display the one that is the most fuel-efficient (if it doesn't happen to also be the fastest). TomTom offers the same option. Where possible, combine trips rather than making several separate journeys.
Monitor your use
Get a sense of when and where you are using the most petrol by using an app to keep tabs on your use. Fuelio is one option – you can input details of when you fill up and log your mileage and get stats on your fuel economy.
Pump up your tyres
Letting the pressure fall on your tyres will mean you need to use more fuel, so keep them pumped up appropriately to reduce consumption. The RAC cites experts as saying that correctly inflated tyres can improve the mileage you get out of fuel by up to 3%. But do not be tempted to overinflate them, as that can lead to a loss of control – stick to the recommended pressure for your vehicle.
Turn off the air-con on short journeys
On short journeys on city roads opening the windows will be more fuel-efficient than putting on the air conditioning. On long journeys on the motorway, tests typically show that the air-con becomes more efficient, but opening the windows when you first set off to let out the hot air that's in the car will save you paying to cool it down. After that, don't drive with the air-con on and windows open at the same time – you are just wasting money.
In reply to Post #36
Point 3 ...
'Reduce your load' - so that's why my dad always asked if we'd been to the loo before long trips
Point 3 ...
'Reduce your load' - so that's why my dad always asked if we'd been to the loo before long trips
In reply to Post #37
Should've played the counting cars game mate. That's number 4
Should've played the counting cars game mate. That's number 4
In reply to Post #38
Long week noj..
Long week noj..
In reply to Post #35
Dispel a few myths on electric cars,
Lithium, yes, it does have an environmental impact mining it, so does fossil fuels.
My car was carbon neutral by the time it was built due to recycled products and the use of renewable energy to build it.
Long charging times, it really isn't, on a fast charger I can refill from 10% to 80% in half an hour, standard is 3 hrs. I can even charge mine overnight on a 3 pin plug.
VW currently recycle 90% of the battery
Yes, they're more expensive but the costs are coming down. Add in the fact that based on 8000 miles year my fuel bill will be £232, that's less than 2 and half tanks of fuel.
The Golf E is awful and outdated, it takes 11 seconds to get to 60 and only has 125 mile range, no surprise he's worried about running out. New Kia EV6 has nearly 400 miles of range.
Dispel a few myths on electric cars,
Lithium, yes, it does have an environmental impact mining it, so does fossil fuels.
My car was carbon neutral by the time it was built due to recycled products and the use of renewable energy to build it.
Long charging times, it really isn't, on a fast charger I can refill from 10% to 80% in half an hour, standard is 3 hrs. I can even charge mine overnight on a 3 pin plug.
VW currently recycle 90% of the battery
Yes, they're more expensive but the costs are coming down. Add in the fact that based on 8000 miles year my fuel bill will be £232, that's less than 2 and half tanks of fuel.
The Golf E is awful and outdated, it takes 11 seconds to get to 60 and only has 125 mile range, no surprise he's worried about running out. New Kia EV6 has nearly 400 miles of range.
In reply to Post #36
Oh look, more advice how to damage your engine...
Oh look, more advice how to damage your engine...
In reply to Post #40
I'm intrigued, how can building your car be carbon neutral?
I can understand using renewable energy to power their factory helps but even if they were using 100% recycled materials (which of course they cannot ) that does not mean the whole process is carbon neutral.
Perhaps they buy carbon credits to offset their carbon footprint?
Having a smaller battery is not necessarily a bad thing unless you need the convenience of a good range. Apart from the increased carbon footprint from mining the extra materials, processing and transport, a bigger battery pack also means the total weight of the vehicle goes up, this causes increased road and tyre wear, extra wear or larger mechanical components and the energy efficiency goes down.
I'm intrigued, how can building your car be carbon neutral?
I can understand using renewable energy to power their factory helps but even if they were using 100% recycled materials (which of course they cannot ) that does not mean the whole process is carbon neutral.
Perhaps they buy carbon credits to offset their carbon footprint?
Having a smaller battery is not necessarily a bad thing unless you need the convenience of a good range. Apart from the increased carbon footprint from mining the extra materials, processing and transport, a bigger battery pack also means the total weight of the vehicle goes up, this causes increased road and tyre wear, extra wear or larger mechanical components and the energy efficiency goes down.
It is suggested that in the future ,governments don't just want you to go electric in your car or other fuel source,potentially they do not want you to own a car full stop..
This is the potential agenda,however ..the argument from those in power and the green movement is that cars should be carbon neutral, from my perspective this is impossible to achieve..nothing man made or other can ever be deemed 'carbon minus',its just gobbledegook, perpetuated by those who seek to benefit from the sale ,manufacture of electric cars and components, for and made specifically for these modes of transport..
From the sidelines,yet again the great ,non researching ,gullible people of this planet will ,literally believe anything the media and the masters say..
There is NO such thing as green modus of transport, unless you walk or or cycle,even cycling has a industrial footprint..
These new battery cars are coming whether we like it or not ,but it will like everything else come at a cost to the environment..
The alleged climate emergency, which is debatable at best ,is being used to promote the electric car...
Who stands to benefit,who stands to make money..?
This is the potential agenda,however ..the argument from those in power and the green movement is that cars should be carbon neutral, from my perspective this is impossible to achieve..nothing man made or other can ever be deemed 'carbon minus',its just gobbledegook, perpetuated by those who seek to benefit from the sale ,manufacture of electric cars and components, for and made specifically for these modes of transport..
From the sidelines,yet again the great ,non researching ,gullible people of this planet will ,literally believe anything the media and the masters say..
There is NO such thing as green modus of transport, unless you walk or or cycle,even cycling has a industrial footprint..
These new battery cars are coming whether we like it or not ,but it will like everything else come at a cost to the environment..
The alleged climate emergency, which is debatable at best ,is being used to promote the electric car...
Who stands to benefit,who stands to make money..?
In reply to Post #42
When it goes on sale in the summer of this year, Volkswagen's new ID.3 electric hatchback will claim to be the most environmentally-friendly car on Earth. That, you would assume, is down to the fact that its combination of batteries and an electric motor means it produces zero emissions of carbon, or anything else for that matter.
VW's plan is to go further than that, though. In fact, the German car giant says the ID.3 is not just zero-emissions in use (net of how the electricity that charges it up is produced) but is also carbon-neutral as soon as it leaves the factory.
The factory in Zwickau, near Leipzig, where the ID.3 is being built, has already been converted to draw as much of its energy supply as possible from renewable sources. Much of the power for the factory comes from hydropower plants, wind farms and solar parks, and where there are other emissions which can't be avoided, VW says it will offset them by working with the Katingan Mataya Forest Protection Project on the Indonesian island of Borneo. Most of the emissions needed to build an ID.3 come from the heavy industrial processes needed to make its batteries.
I agree completely in regards to having a smaller battery if you don't need it, we only do 10 miles a day on average would be ideal for us but having 4 kids means we need a 7 seater.
When it goes on sale in the summer of this year, Volkswagen's new ID.3 electric hatchback will claim to be the most environmentally-friendly car on Earth. That, you would assume, is down to the fact that its combination of batteries and an electric motor means it produces zero emissions of carbon, or anything else for that matter.
VW's plan is to go further than that, though. In fact, the German car giant says the ID.3 is not just zero-emissions in use (net of how the electricity that charges it up is produced) but is also carbon-neutral as soon as it leaves the factory.
The factory in Zwickau, near Leipzig, where the ID.3 is being built, has already been converted to draw as much of its energy supply as possible from renewable sources. Much of the power for the factory comes from hydropower plants, wind farms and solar parks, and where there are other emissions which can't be avoided, VW says it will offset them by working with the Katingan Mataya Forest Protection Project on the Indonesian island of Borneo. Most of the emissions needed to build an ID.3 come from the heavy industrial processes needed to make its batteries.
I agree completely in regards to having a smaller battery if you don't need it, we only do 10 miles a day on average would be ideal for us but having 4 kids means we need a 7 seater.
In reply to Post #43
I agree on all you say but we will still have a need for cars, in regards to climate change, electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than petrol and diesel.
Throw in the fact of more companies using renewable energy and it makes them more so. Yes the government are incentivising buying an electric car, yes they're pushing people towards buying them.
We already have a cost to the environment with petrol and diesel, oil drilling, the manufacturing of diesel and petrol, the manufacturing of the car and the emissions.
Electric cars will still have the manufacturing and mining costs but without the emissions so surely thats a good thing.
I did try to buy hydrogen as obviously even cleaner but the nearest station with hydrogen was in milton keynes and I live in weston super mare lol.
I agree on all you say but we will still have a need for cars, in regards to climate change, electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than petrol and diesel.
Throw in the fact of more companies using renewable energy and it makes them more so. Yes the government are incentivising buying an electric car, yes they're pushing people towards buying them.
We already have a cost to the environment with petrol and diesel, oil drilling, the manufacturing of diesel and petrol, the manufacturing of the car and the emissions.
Electric cars will still have the manufacturing and mining costs but without the emissions so surely thats a good thing.
I did try to buy hydrogen as obviously even cleaner but the nearest station with hydrogen was in milton keynes and I live in weston super mare lol.
These new electric car manufacturers might claim to be carbon neutral but the fact is all production will generate a carbon footprint do they assemble the vehicles in the dark with no heating on in the factories? following their distribution of the car from the factory everything then in delivering that car to the showroom and selling onto the new owner has a carbon footprint every time they plug it into the charger their is a carbon footprint as all electricity creating systems have a carbon footprint utter nonsense it might be slightly reduced but never diminished carbon neutral what a crock of poo.