Electric cars - to buy or not to buy?

MrsKen33
Assuming that you’re asking your question about charging cars during a power cut, for people whose cars have run out of charge or whose cars are very low in charge, they wait.
If you’re not in an EV, you either crawl to the nearest working garage or ask family or Green Flag to bring you a containerful.

MrsKen33

And what happens in those conditions when there is a power cut and the cars can ‘t be charged?

If there is a power cut petrol pumps don’t work either.

And what happens in those conditions when there is a power cut and the cars can ‘t be charged?

Yes but have you seen the price. I’ll wait ‘till they are more affordable

MrsKen33

They were asking for people with 4x4s the other day, when the weather was bad in the north. Enough said .

There are electric 4 X 4 and all wheel drive vehicles.

BMW, Audi, Tesla, Jeep, Jaguar, Volvo to name just a few.

They were asking for people with 4x4s the other day, when the weather was bad in the north. Enough said .

Being an early adopter of a new product is usually a bad idea. Better wait for the enthusiasts to buy them and suffer all the Friday afternoon faults, etc.

Mamie

France is not relying solely on nuclear for cars though. The development focus is solar and wind, with the large charging stations built to use solar power. Our nuclear output was quite dodgy last year when stations had to close, as climate change and consequent drought lowered the levels of rivers used for cooling.
I think most countries are looking at a range of options and at new battery technologies that will improve range without using more electricity. It isn't as if technological development is something that stands still. My mother in law never thought washing machines could advance beyond the twin tub. 😂

Nuclear plants do not need to use/be situated beside a natural water supply, like the many being built in Africa/Middle East that use a different cooling method (won't bore everyone with the system).

I don`t have a hearing problem at all, electric cars are too silent and that makes them a big problem eg if I need to turn a corner on my bike. I creep out as it is but I had an electric car whizz past, exceeding the 20mph speed limit. We all share the roads and that includes people who are a bit hard of hearing.

Mollygo

Katie59
Think how many grans/people do have hearing problems. You just have to read the threads on electric scooters to realise that. It’s not a reason to give an EV a sound, but it is a concern for people with hearing problems.

I’ve always had hearing on one side only so I know how careful you have to be, just occasional I have to explain why I missed something.

Katie59
Think how many grans/people do have hearing problems. You just have to read the threads on electric scooters to realise that. It’s not a reason to give an EV a sound, but it is a concern for people with hearing problems.

Hot surprisingly S Korea has the most advanced EV charging infrastructure.

I have a Mini EV. It is wonderful. A bit like driving a computer on wheels but you get used to all the gizmos and there are some marvellous Utube videos to help you get your head round it all. I especially like the heated seats for winter and in the summer can turn a lot of stuff off and run "green",
It was an 80th birthday present so I was on a steep learning curve for a couple of weeks but I think it is important for the elderly to embrace new technology to keep an active mind.

Mamie

Mollygo

Mamie, of course you don’t and neither do people make noises, but even French pedestrians step into the road without looking or noticing an almost silent car. They certainly step off carelessly in front of diesel cars.

They are not almost silent though are they? It is a very distinctive whine and always reminds me of milk floats!

If you can’t hear an electric car there is a problem with your hearing, not electric cars.

France is not relying solely on nuclear for cars though. The development focus is solar and wind, with the large charging stations built to use solar power. Our nuclear output was quite dodgy last year when stations had to close, as climate change and consequent drought lowered the levels of rivers used for cooling.
I think most countries are looking at a range of options and at new battery technologies that will improve range without using more electricity. It isn't as if technological development is something that stands still. My mother in law never thought washing machines could advance beyond the twin tub. 😂

Mollygo

OldFrill
Sweden is planning 10 new nuclear power reactors by 2045 that's why they can experiment with electric roads and support EV expansion
Can you imagine the outcry in the UK if that was suggested?

Deafening. Being sold a turkey (very seasonal!)

OldFrill
Sweden is planning 10 new nuclear power reactors by 2045 that's why they can experiment with electric roads and support EV expansion
Can you imagine the outcry in the UK if that was suggested?

Mollygo

Mamie, of course you don’t and neither do people make noises, but even French pedestrians step into the road without looking or noticing an almost silent car. They certainly step off carelessly in front of diesel cars.

They are not almost silent though are they? It is a very distinctive whine and always reminds me of milk floats!

Mamie

I think the answer must come from improvements in battery technology already underway such as the move to solid state, the increase in solar for home charging, the "electric roads" being pioneered in Sweden etc etc. It is no good just looking at existing technology and saying that will never work.

Sweden is planning 10 new nuclear power reactors by 2045 that's why they can experiment with electric roads and support EV expansion.

Mamie, of course you don’t and neither do people make noises, but even French pedestrians step into the road without looking or noticing an almost silent car. They certainly step off carelessly in front of diesel cars.

It might be stating the obvious but as a driver I pay attention to pedestrians and don't run over them if they don't hear me coming.
Do other people rely on making a loud noise to get them out of the way? How strange.

Katie59

Luckygirl3

The quietness of EVs worries me - people will go to cross the road and get knocked over. I was nearly mangled by a tram in Manchester as it crept silently up on me.

Another misinformed individual they do make a noise, it’s a low wirring sound, probably louder than a small petrol car, hybrids are the same.

I am not sure what you mean by this not entirely pleasant comment. All those I know with electric cars say how quiet they are and express concern for pedestrians.

Well said, AreWeThereYet. Ours makes a whiney/whirring noise so is not silent. Use common road sense when there is traffic about. If people were looking at traffic instead of their phones (not that GNetters do this, of course😄) there wouldn't be a problem.

Luckygirl3

The quietness of EVs worries me - people will go to cross the road and get knocked over. I was nearly mangled by a tram in Manchester as it crept silently up on me.

They are quieter than other cars and anyone listening out for an engine may not hear one coming. We know ours is quiet - any number of people have wandered along in front of us in the road, chatting away, before noticing we are behind them. Car parks are particularly bad. I don't like beeping the horn and making people jump but that's what it's going to come to.

Since the age of about 3 people born in this country have been taught road craft - don't wander into the road, check both ways before crossing, use pelican crossings when you can, check for bikes as well as cars, stay on the path... it's not news that there are cars, lorries and buses on the road so why do so many people wander around as if they're not expecting them?

I suspect leasing an EV is the answer for now ( if not too costly!) until a more environmentally sustainable solution is possible? Repairing upgrading, recycling components and materials, car pooling/sharing alternative fuels such as hydrogen will be needed for the near future.