EV cars, would you, wouldn't you?

EV cars, would you, wouldn't you?

Poll: EV cars, would you, wouldn't you?

Total Members Polled: 427

Yes, I would have an electric car: 72%
No, I have no interest, ICE all the way: 11%
No, technology and resources not available: 17%
Author
Discussion

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
JD said:
Well you said you think they might be more complicated, so if an EV compared to an IC engined car is the same apart from the propulsion source:

It's just a motor or three in an EV, whereas an IC engined car is a collection of motors, and all the gubbins required for the IC engine
What collection of motors? confused

pherlopolus

2,087 posts

157 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
Does the lack of noise not frustrate you beyond reason? .
My QQ isn't that much more noisy than the leaf. not a great example of course, but cars are getting quieter!

London424

12,826 posts

174 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
MikeGoodwin said:
Does the lack of noise not frustrate you beyond reason? As a petrol head I cant imagine anything worse. OK - I get the argument that its a single gear and easy, quiet and relaxing to drive. But I would be feeling pretty sore if I was forced to drive an EV without the option of a weekend toy - that's what bothers me... Having both worlds would be fine by me. But forced to drive an EV because some environmentalist c*** thinks that driving electric cars will solve global warming is pretty insulting.

I've been in electric cars, driven some and they are fun, but definitely lacking character. Hybrids are fine, look at the i8 (I cant afford one yet I am 26) but ive been in one with a mate round french back roads and the things a corker.
I had a work trip to Amsterdam the other day and pretty much all the taxis there were Tesla's. Sitting in the back I didn't really notice any difference compared to when I sit in any other car that is usually bought as a taxi. As a passenger the interior felt comfortable (no better/worse than any other taxi I've gotten in to), the touch screen was a bit strange initially but then when it had sat-nav popped on it it looked very useful.

The driver said he gets 400km from a charge and then he can pop over to the Tesla office (right near the airport) and get another 250km top up in 30 mins.

If I was making a choice of a Tesla for an only car I doubt I'd do it. But as the main driver with a fun/toy car for weekends I'd do it without a doubt.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
The other issue with EV's currently is, there are only really two types.


-something boring
-something toy like and usually too expensive.


for instance, I quite like the Tesla, but pricing means it's not even worth looking at their website. It's out of my price range.

The Nissan and French offerings are fine, but I refuse to drive a boring petrol/diesel hatch, so I really have no interest in driving an electric one either.

If a compact 4x4 like a Jimny/Vitara or a coupe/sports car such as an Celica/MX-5 was offered, then I'd be a lot more tempted.

London424

12,826 posts

174 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
The other issue with EV's currently is, there are only really two types.


-something boring
-something toy like and usually too expensive.


for instance, I quite like the Tesla, but pricing means it's not even worth looking at their website. It's out of my price range.

The Nissan and French offerings are fine, but I refuse to drive a boring petrol/diesel hatch, so I really have no interest in driving an electric one either.

If a compact 4x4 like a Jimny/Vitara or a coupe/sports car such as an Celica/MX-5 was offered, then I'd be a lot more tempted.
Just wait a few more years.

Bullett

10,873 posts

183 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
I voted yes.

I don't commute just occasional customer visits. Day to day I do less than 20 miles but sometime both the wife and I need to be further afield the times both of us would be more than 100 miles would be extremely rare so I think 150-200 would be my target range requirement.

I think the biggest issue for the bottom end ones is they look so dull. This might be why take up is relatively low alongside the price. Paying the premium for one of these over a tiny Fiesta or similar isn't a financial decision.

People who will pay over the odd however are early adopters, they like technology, have plenty of disposable, like cool things. Which is the kicked, EV's are not cool. Make a cool one and they will pick up. It needs to be a heart decision not just a head decision.

Save the planet and look cool!

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
otolith said:
These are some miles per gallon curves for ICE cars;

I wonder what road speeds that Toyota worked out the mpg tests were undertaken, and how sustainable those mpg peaks are if the batteries may be haemorrhaging more than they are charging.

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
The other issue with EV's currently is, there are only really two types.


-something boring
-something toy like and usually too expensive.
Same with brand new ICE engined cars, from my point of view. Just got to wait for the prices to drop.

Wouldn't say the Model S is toy-like, though, it's a big, fast, luxurious barge.

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
London424 said:
300bhp/ton said:
The other issue with EV's currently is, there are only really two types.


-something boring
-something toy like and usually too expensive.


for instance, I quite like the Tesla, but pricing means it's not even worth looking at their website. It's out of my price range.

The Nissan and French offerings are fine, but I refuse to drive a boring petrol/diesel hatch, so I really have no interest in driving an electric one either.

If a compact 4x4 like a Jimny/Vitara or a coupe/sports car such as an Celica/MX-5 was offered, then I'd be a lot more tempted.
Just wait a few more years.
I'm looking forward to something like an Audi Q3 arriving on the market, at a sensible price, with all the benefits of EV, however probably still with a generator range extender engine for longer journeys.


300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
otolith said:
Same with brand new ICE engined cars, from my point of view. Just got to wait for the prices to drop.

Wouldn't say the Model S is toy-like, though, it's a big, fast, luxurious barge.
Should have said toy like and/or expensive.

I like the Tesla very much, but I'd only be deluding myself if I thought I could even remotely afford one.

The Nissan Leaf on the other hand, well that is financially viable, I just simply don't want a hatchback.

As for new ICE cars, I think there are some. I've driven the new MX-5 recently and it was fantastic. The GT86/BRZ is similar again. Plus other cars I'd be tempted to consider. And if not brand new, there are certainly a good choice of cars under 5 years old, so new'ish. This cannot be said for EV's.

I really like the look of the Twizzy for short commuting, but with no doors it is simply a rich persons toy, as you simply can't park it anywhere realistically, so makes it f'ing useless as a commuter vehicle.

AW111

9,455 posts

132 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Alfa numeric said:
Not in the outback, but they'd be perfect for a city commute across Sydney or Melbourne.
A large number of Melbourne houses have off-street parking, which makes an EV city runabout very practical.

I could charge at home and at work (work has 3 phase @ high current too).

London424

12,826 posts

174 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
London424 said:
300bhp/ton said:
The other issue with EV's currently is, there are only really two types.


-something boring
-something toy like and usually too expensive.


for instance, I quite like the Tesla, but pricing means it's not even worth looking at their website. It's out of my price range.

The Nissan and French offerings are fine, but I refuse to drive a boring petrol/diesel hatch, so I really have no interest in driving an electric one either.

If a compact 4x4 like a Jimny/Vitara or a coupe/sports car such as an Celica/MX-5 was offered, then I'd be a lot more tempted.
Just wait a few more years.
I'm looking forward to something like an Audi Q3 arriving on the market, at a sensible price, with all the benefits of EV, however probably still with a generator range extender engine for longer journeys.
It's one reason why I find the Tesla bashing that goes on a bit strange. I hear lots of "it's not new technology" or "it's really easy" and yet from all of the established car companies that spend billions on R&D there is nothing out there pure EV with a range anywhere close to a Tesla.

Hopefully there are lots of options in due course.

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
London424 said:
I had a work trip to Amsterdam the other day and pretty much all the taxis there were Tesla's. Sitting in the back I didn't really notice any difference compared to when I sit in any other car that is usually bought as a taxi. As a passenger the interior felt comfortable (no better/worse than any other taxi I've gotten in to), the touch screen was a bit strange initially but then when it had sat-nav popped on it it looked very useful.

The driver said he gets 400km from a charge and then he can pop over to the Tesla office (right near the airport) and get another 250km top up in 30 mins.

If I was making a choice of a Tesla for an only car I doubt I'd do it. But as the main driver with a fun/toy car for weekends I'd do it without a doubt.
We visited Amsterdam in the summer and was amazed how many there were, we actually popped into the Tesla dealer to ask them about it, i guess its a case of , at least in the terms of superchargers , "If you build it they will come"

I'm up for a Tesla , thinking I could replace my 370z weekend toy and the family runabout with one car, I spend about £4k per year on super unleaded and road tax so I dont think a Tesla would be much more than running two cars like we do

Harry H

3,379 posts

155 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
The other issue with EV's currently is, there are only really two types.


-something boring
-something toy like and usually too expensive.


for instance, I quite like the Tesla, but pricing means it's not even worth looking at their website. It's out of my price range.

The Nissan and French offerings are fine, but I refuse to drive a boring petrol/diesel hatch, so I really have no interest in driving an electric one either.

If a compact 4x4 like a Jimny/Vitara or a coupe/sports car such as an Celica/MX-5 was offered, then I'd be a lot more tempted.
The Mrs does home-work-gym-home virtually every day. A total trip of around 20 miles. She'd be perfect for a Nissan Leaf apart from one thing. There's no way she'd have a Nissan short of a GTR.

All the sensibly priced EV's on the market are boring hatchbacks or look like Tonka toys.

Pan Pan Pan

9,777 posts

110 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
It is good to see that most here are saying they would have an EV if it suited their specific driving needs.
I would buy one if one was produced which met my driving needs, because I like the idea of having its fuel source in my own home, and that for most of the time it would be doing what a lot of cars do, namely sitting in the garage / on the drive doing nothing but being recharged ready for use.
Not sure if the driving experience would be one where owners would want drive one for 100 miles just for the fun of it, but for most driving, everyday driving an EV would seem to fit the bill very well.
If we can get enough nuclear power stations built to ensure reliable base load supply not affected by strikes, weather, political wrangling or what happens to be going on in other countries, then they would be seem to be a good way forward (If we are allowed to hang on to our ICE vehicles for high days and holidays, it would be an almost ideal set up)

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Pan Pan Pan said:
Not sure if the driving experience would be one where owners would want drive one for 100 miles just for the fun of it, but for most driving, everyday driving an EV would seem to fit the bill very well.
The Tesla Roadster - essentially an electric Elise - is fascinating, but dynamically hamstrung by weight. It weighs 1335kg, of which 450kg is batteries. The battery in the car has an energy density of 124kWh/kg. The current cutting edge of production feasible but years away experimental battery tech appears to be around 500kWh/kg. Imagine an electric Elise coming in just under a ton with 300bhp. I think I'd drive that for fun.

Pan Pan Pan

9,777 posts

110 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
otolith said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
Not sure if the driving experience would be one where owners would want drive one for 100 miles just for the fun of it, but for most driving, everyday driving an EV would seem to fit the bill very well.
The Tesla Roadster - essentially an electric Elise - is fascinating, but dynamically hamstrung by weight. It weighs 1335kg, of which 450kg is batteries. The battery in the car has an energy density of 124kWh/kg. The current cutting edge of production feasible but years away experimental battery tech appears to be around 500kWh/kg. Imagine an electric Elise coming in just under a ton with 300bhp. I think I'd drive that for fun.
I believe I would too. I guess we just have to hope any improvements, in battery technology and generation come along sooner, rather than later.

JD

2,769 posts

227 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
What collection of motors? confused
Off the top of my head I can think of; Starter motor, Throttle, Low pressure fuel pump, High pressure fuel pump, Water pump,

I am sure there are many more, and this is an old car with not that much technology attached.

durbster

10,223 posts

221 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
We're definitely close to the tipping point with EVs but they still have problems to overcome, particularly with infrastructure.

Obviously there will be many exceptions but the typical British motorists would have no problem running an EV as a daily. They could simply hire a petrol car on the rare occasions they needed to travel further.

There was a really interesting Gareth Jones on Speed podcast (episode #239) in which he attempted to drive a Leaf from London to Liverpool. Well worth a list:
http://www.garethjones.tv/indexgj.html

In fact, if you're into cars but are not yet familiar with the Gareth Jones on Speed podcast, you really should be. It's like General Gassing in audio form.

Also, regarding the Tesla, here is one in a drag race against some pretty rapid dinosaur burners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=30&v=6eGhjhx8O...

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
durbster said:
Also, regarding the Tesla, here is one in a drag race against some pretty rapid dinosaur burners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=30&v=6eGhjhx8O...
What that really shows is how ridiculous its ability to get its power down to the road is. Even 4wd ICE powered cars with launch control don't seem to be able to get close to it from 0-10. Anyone RWD is so far beyond by the time it gets any sort of traction that it has no chance over such a short run.