Sleeping with the devil?

[Rwc13]

I rather think that I am a little more optimistic about the future. Nothing changes over-night and there will be an evolution of the infrastructure for such a monumental change. Reading the motoring press (as one does), it is clear that charging points will appear as the demand grows; it's not a chicken and egg situation; pure evolution. Of course owners of electric cars will have to pay for the privilege and the costs will end up on a par with current ICE - powered cars. It is not about costs and I have been the biggest 'anti-electric' move for years; having driven a couple of early Nissan Leafs; which did nothing to sell the idea to me.
Having now looked at several and driven a couple, the whole scene has changed.

A little like the theft of catalytic converters. Except that charging cables are cheaper and don't damage the rest of the car when taken.
Sorry, truly I am not being a 'volt-head' and I love my 4200 like mad, but this move will be gradual. The national grid will go further in getting power from wind and sun. We will keep our petrol cars as classics and still love them. Electric (and hopefully Hydrogen) cars will just become our daily drives and perhaps even enjoy them.
The world didn't end when we changed from gas lighting to electricity, nor when steam engines were replaced by diesel and then electric locomotives. There were plenty of nay-sayers but life continued as before.

Excellent non-trope based response. And if you want a cheap electric runaround, try a Zoe

 

[zagatoes30]

Schools should put the kids on giant hamster wheels for an hour a day. The grid gets a top up, the kids get fit, and teach gets a rest; I'm sure that Greta's followers would be queuing up to do their bit

This was one of the Monster Raving Loony parties election manifestos 20 years or more ago but hey were suggesting joggers and gym goers with the electricity going to the old folk

 

[Phil H]

This was one of the Monster Raving Loony parties election manifestos 20 years or more ago but hey were suggesting joggers and gym goers with the electricity going to the old folk

Even better - I am one of the old folk

 

[safrane]

Travelling quite a bit over the last week and topped up my XC90 with power when and where I could, not much range in them for long trips, but still manage 48mpg, not bad for a 2.5 t car.

However an issue I have not noted before is how many electric car drivers hog the parking spaces while not even plugged in!

Now I could get this if the spaces were more convenient, but at one site in Evesham they were the furthest from the door. The others at Castle Combe were used due to lack of space in general, but 6 cars and only one charging.

The motorway services on the way back from Goodwood had zero electric cars charging despite at least 7 PHEV being in the car park and yards from the points.

 

[Phil H]

All this electric nonsense will end in tears. I'm thinking modern ICE technology with a nod to the past, and rather like the look of these

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

A bit pricey perhaps, but you can pull up at the pump and fill-'er-up - just like a QP lol.

 

[Tallman]

Travelling quite a bit over the last week and topped up my XC90 with power when and where I could, not much range in them for long trips, but still manage 48mpg, not bad for a 2.5 t car.

However an issue I have not noted before is how many electric car drivers hog the parking spaces while not even plugged in!

Now I could get this if the spaces were more convenient, but at one site in Evesham they were the furthest from the door. The others at Castle Combe were used due to lack of space in general, but 6 cars and only one charging.

The motorway services on the way back from Goodwood had zero electric cars charging despite at least 7 PHEV being in the car park and yards from the points.

I’m sure they will put parking meters on them eventually so they can fine you if you stay too long - or they will just increase the number. Most probably both..

 

[Jamin]

Tesla charge users if they stay idle in the supercharger bay after charging for longer than 5 minutes

 

[DJS]

Amazon have electric vans that I have on good authority have to be towed back to base by a diesel van on regular occasions

 

[davy83]

Excellent non-trope based response. And if you want a cheap electric runaround, try a Zoe

or a second hand i3 a bit more fun to drive!

 

[Rwc13]

Yes, like the i3, but wanted something really cheap that we can park anywhere and don’t really care if it gets parking/trolley dings

 

[markp4200]

The thing about buying new is that the BMWs are not much more expensive than the others. Also with a new car, one benefits from:

1. Gov't grant
2. Dealer discounts are good

I didn't even consider 'used' for those reasons.

 

[stikey]

I did an install last week zap 7 kw tethered charges a merc from the house roof pv thats generating 40-60kwh per day to the car when surplus
it will go car to gid and vice versa and the car will act as the home storage battrey as the car has such a large kw storage so you won't need a home battry storage unit to run your house at night its mad world now

 

[stikey]

 

[Harry]

I did an install last week zap 7 kw tethered charges a merc from the house roof pv thats generating 40-60kwh per day to the car when surplus
it will go car to gid and vice versa and the car will act as the home storage battrey as the car has such a large kw storage so you won't need a home battry storage unit to run your house at night its mad world now

Funnily enough, I was discussing the idea of car batteries being used to store solar power to and from the grid with my 90 year old mother this morning. It sounds like a great idea to me. I’m contemplating installing a car charging point at my holiday let, but it looks like it isn’t worth doing until chargers get standardised.

 

[P R]

Amazon have electric vans that I have on good authority have to be towed back to base by a diesel van on regular occasions

Virtue signalling.
This from a company that throws away (to landfill amongst others) over 120,000 items per month from one of its warehouses.. and a lot of it has never been used.

 

[CatmanV2]

Virtue signalling.
This from a company that throws away (to landfill amongst others) over 120,000 items per month from one of its warehouses.. and a lot of it has never been used.

Although not necessarily its stuff. Could be 3rd parties that no long want to pay the storage.

C

 

[P R]

Although not necessarily its stuff. Could be 3rd parties that no long want to pay the storage.

C

Yes may well be.. but their rules..

 

[UlstermanAbroad]

I've been watching this guy on YouTube off and on, for ideas on how to power my sail boat (when I get it) purely using solar power. Errol Prowse Because one side of the roof on my home faces south, I also intend to install solar heating this autumn. Because there's no means of feeding energy into the grid in N.I., so far as I'm aware. I'll probably also look at powering the home, at least in part. Even in N.I. / Scotland, it ought to be possible to get these systems to pay for themselves in a reasonable time period, though I've yet to do the man maths.
The ability to go completely off-grid for a few weeks with ease at sea is very attractive. Solar power and a water maker make that possible and both systems aren't a difficult, nor expensive build for an amateur.
I believe that we've left it far too late to limit the effects of global warming. Once the Amazon basin and permafrost in northern latitudes start releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere, I believe the cascade effect will be unstoppable.
So, for me, making the most of solar is simply about reducing my utility costs, so that I can spend that money on more enjoyable things over the next twenty odd years that I hope to remain here.

 

[sionie1]

Funnily enough, I was discussing the idea of car batteries being used to store solar power to and from the grid with my 90 year old mother this morning. It sounds like a great idea to me. I’m contemplating installing a car charging point at my holiday let, but it looks like it isn’t worth doing until chargers get standardised.

We have been staying in a B&B for a number of years who installed a charger for their guests and to try and be environmentally aware. Not one guest used it in 8 years, and when someone did want to it wasn't suitable and was out of date! They've taken it out this year. I also know of a major London location that was forced to install charging points in its car parks that again didn't get used and now are obsolete, but has having chargers are a planning stipulation with LDC the business is having to spend a significant sum replacing them. I can't understand how a charger can become obsolete, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly to explain. The standardisation of chargers is a big one, I agree, particularly for a small business or individual who wants to do their bit.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yes may well be.. but their rules..

Not exactly arguing. There's nuance as well. 120k items is a lot. Compared to what they actually sell though? About 1.6m per day globally (and aware it's something of an apples <> oranges comparison. So I guess the question (which Amazon almost certainly will have asked) is what is actually an acceptable level of stuff going to landfill? Zero? Possibly. I've got no real idea
(Oh, and electric vans? Definitely a chunk of virtue signalling IMHO)
C