UK Head of Tesla.... Impressive
Discussion
J4CKO said:
So, are we saying looks like all the wealthy people will have an EV if they have off road parking and IC cars will just be for the less well off in flats and stuff ?
I'm not convinced that link between wealth and type of accommodation exists. Sure, within a particular region the link will be there, but as a general rule the UK population get poorer the further from major cities you get. I wouldn't be that surprised if the median flat price in the UK was higher than the median house price. Anyone know?
kambites said:
I was under the impression that planning regs positively encouraged off-street parking but builders know full well that rooms and gardens are worth more than garages and drives respectively so they do the absolute minimum possible to comply with the regs? I can't think why else every new build would have a garage too small to fit a car in. 
Good (and often only) storage?Garages on newbuild estates I've seen are too small for modern cars. The streets are also too narrow for on street parking but there's nowhere else to go. It's an absolute farce.
I think Kambites and EwenM make very good points. Personally I wonder if one day we'll have charging points on the street, as they do in Oslo for example, but we're a long way from having one per car and you can imagine the stress of driving home wondering if you'll be able to park your car next to one in your street! I'd go with Kambites percentage ownership prediction, I think that's likely. It's a bit chicken and egg though with the charging points, we'd need someone to lead on that one and perhaps it'll be the owners with garages and driveways? Or maybe a particular council that's anti-car would take the challenge on, like Oxford or somewhere within the London congestion zone?
Ares said:
But in a few years time, the infrastructure will be light years ahead. There are already hundred of kerb side charging points. Plus loads in supermarkets, NCP car parks, Private car parks. Most apartment blocks....and the EV is still embryonic in public uptake.
I have zero doubt that the infrastructure will keep ahead of the EV purchasing market.
I hope you're right.I have zero doubt that the infrastructure will keep ahead of the EV purchasing market.
kambites said:
I'm not convinced that link between wealth and type of accommodation exists. Sure, within a particular region the link will be there, but as a general rule the UK population get poorer the further from major cities you get.
I wouldn't be that surprised if the median flat price in the UK was higher than the median house price. Anyone know?
If the ability to have an EV becomes desirable, that will feed back into house prices.I wouldn't be that surprised if the median flat price in the UK was higher than the median house price. Anyone know?
DonkeyApple said:
loose cannon said:
DonkeyApple said:
The point is very simple. If you live the lifestyle where you are renting a room in a house then why would you be concerning yourself as to where to park your £80k EV?
You would very obviously be prioritising somewhat more important developmental aspects of your life before even contemplating wasting money you don't have on cars you don't need!!!
EVs are very clearly for people who mostly have driveways and spare cash as minimum sensible requirements.
So nobody should have a car unless you can afford your own house ?You would very obviously be prioritising somewhat more important developmental aspects of your life before even contemplating wasting money you don't have on cars you don't need!!!
EVs are very clearly for people who mostly have driveways and spare cash as minimum sensible requirements.
And one should always move next to your employment so you don't have to commute miles and miles
Sounds very reasonable doesn't it
Until battery tech advances to the point that the power packs are dirt cheap then the EV simply isn't a logical option for many.
Frothing that people who very clearly have no use for an EV can't use an EV is plain daft.
I've owned three houses in the UK.
The first was a terraced house - with a dedicated car parking place behind it (for two cars). (1995)
The second was an ex council semi detached house in Lancaster - with a driveway (for two cars). (2007)
The current abode is a 4 bed detached - with a driveway (for two cars). (2013)
Housing type and parking are not mutually exclusive. Often with terraced houses there is parking behind the house.
One solution being proposed for EV charging is inductive loops in the road surface. This is even being discussed for major roads so cars can charge as they go over the road surface.
The first was a terraced house - with a dedicated car parking place behind it (for two cars). (1995)
The second was an ex council semi detached house in Lancaster - with a driveway (for two cars). (2007)
The current abode is a 4 bed detached - with a driveway (for two cars). (2013)
Housing type and parking are not mutually exclusive. Often with terraced houses there is parking behind the house.
One solution being proposed for EV charging is inductive loops in the road surface. This is even being discussed for major roads so cars can charge as they go over the road surface.
RobM77 said:
But we're a long way from having one per car and you can imagine the stress of driving home wondering if you'll be able to park your car next to one in your street!
No stress at all because you will have a 200 mile range and only drive 20 miles a day so you only need to guarantee access to a charge point one in every 10 days, which will also be true of your neighbours.The ones on Berkeley Square work well because they are colour coded.
Once the car is fully charged they go red so other EV owners know they can just unplug whoever is using them and plug their own in.
walm said:
Once the car is fully charged they go red so other EV owners know they can just unplug whoever is using them and plug their own in.
That's a good idea. Do they physically stop people (other than the owner) from unplugging the car before it's charged? I'd have thought they could actually have multiple cables per charger so you could plug your car into a charger that someone else is using then when their car finishes yours will start automatically?
lostkiwi said:
One solution being proposed for EV charging is inductive loops in the road surface. This is even being discussed for major roads so cars can charge as they go over the road surface.
Given it takes my electric toothbrush about two days to charge and then it lasts about 6 brushes I think we are a long way off on this one.Surely a solar roof will be a better solution - not that my solar powered toothbrush is any better mind.
kambites said:
That's a good idea. Do they physically stop people (other than the owner) from unplugging the car before it's charged?
I'd have thought they could actually have multiple cables per charger so you could plug your car into a charger that someone else is using then when their car finishes yours will start automatically?
I suddenly have a vision of people walking down streets the same way people walk around tents and music festivals. I'd have thought they could actually have multiple cables per charger so you could plug your car into a charger that someone else is using then when their car finishes yours will start automatically?
Ares said:
kambites said:
AyBee said:
Ares said:
No, their supercharger network (23 sites in the UK, 300+ worldwide) is free to use. Free. As in no cost, for the lifetime of the car. And a full charge in 20mins.
Excellent - the UK is 243,610km² in area and there are 23 sites, we'll all be driving EVs in no time 
Compare that to c.8,500 petrol stations...kambites said:
walm said:
Once the car is fully charged they go red so other EV owners know they can just unplug whoever is using them and plug their own in.
That's a good idea. Do they physically stop people (other than the owner) from unplugging the car before it's charged? I'd have thought they could actually have multiple cables per charger so you could plug your car into a charger that someone else is using then when their car finishes yours will start automatically?
You just get shamed if you leave it on red for ages.
Evil glances, redbull, sausages-lawn, empty VBRJ threats etc...
You never know, people might even go and ask their neighbour to unplug if it's on red.
Nah - madness...
But to clarify - it isn't the amount of power available (they can easily charge 2-4 on one post) it's the available parking spaces vs. length of charging cable you have with you in the car.
AyBee said:
Except aren't we trying to compare like-for-like in all other respects, or is that just when it suits? I can just about conceive that a 20 minute fill-up is comparable - via a plug socket you're looking at 5 hours with twin chargers and 10 without!
Well what is like-for-like depends on what you do, doesn't it? It's been years since I last drove more than the range of a Tesla in one day so the difference between a 5 minute petrol fill and an over-night one is completely irrelevant to me. In fact the over-night EV fill is better because I don't have to go to a petrol station to do it. Obviously if you're regularly covering over 250 miles a day an EV is a daft thing to buy but very, very few people do that sort of mileage. One day the supercharging network might get there, but it's not there yet and doesn't need to be for EVs to achieve significant market penetration. Frankly if I was regularly doing over 250 miles a day, I'd be flying.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 13th October 14:11
AyBee said:
Ares said:
kambites said:
AyBee said:
Ares said:
No, their supercharger network (23 sites in the UK, 300+ worldwide) is free to use. Free. As in no cost, for the lifetime of the car. And a full charge in 20mins.
Excellent - the UK is 243,610km² in area and there are 23 sites, we'll all be driving EVs in no time Compare that to c.8,500 petrol stations...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff