RE: McLaren considers electric future
Discussion
Evolved said:
And look how well that's panned out, the world would be a different place and wouldn't function without it now. Just because someone doesn't understand something, doesn't mean it's a bad idea.
I look forward to seeing how the tech pans out over time, whether EV's are the future is yet to be seen but given the advancements already made and the way tech in general is now so well integrated into everyday life, it does seem the next natural step.
For us petrol heads, we may need to stockpile the good old IC engines while we can.
I don't mind electric. My big reservation (other than range/recharging/green creds of the electricity source) is that it's immature tech at the moment. I look forward to seeing how the tech pans out over time, whether EV's are the future is yet to be seen but given the advancements already made and the way tech in general is now so well integrated into everyday life, it does seem the next natural step.
For us petrol heads, we may need to stockpile the good old IC engines while we can.
A friend of mine has just purchased a Tesla S. One of the reasons she justified spending so much was that "they hold their value". I suggested that she was talking b
ks. In five years time her Tesla S will be as old hat as a PC workstation running Windows 95.Slightly O/T is anybody else worried about the cost of replacing all this tech (from batteries/motors to those giant touchscreen dashboards) when they fall into Paul's Autos repairs in ten years time? The write off point/product life of these cars is likely to be much shorter than the old analogue cars. Which in itself isn't very green.
suffolk009 said:
Slightly O/T is anybody else worried about the cost of replacing all this tech (from batteries/motors to those giant touchscreen dashboards) when they fall into Paul's Autos repairs in ten years time? The write off point/product life of these cars is likely to be much shorter than the old analogue cars. Which in itself isn't very green.
I'd say the opposite is likely to happen. As the technology becomes more commonplace, repairs and parts and companies specialising in the related services will too. And it's undeniable that these sorts of systems are actually simpler in architecture than analogue versions. A motor is an incredibly simple device that can be refurbished (but will probably just be swapped out), is held in with a few bolts and connected to a power lead and coolant. That's it. The touchscreen is just a screen and it's only expensive to replace one now because only Tesla make them. In a decade when every man and his dog has one, there'll be eBay £10 replacement touch screens from China, and a local guy called Darren will have a mobile business doing the installs and the software wizardry to make it all play together properly again. hammo19 said:
It doesn't really matter because the majority of us can't afford to buy a McLaren off the production line or as a used vehicle.
Exactly the reason I've got as much interest in the top end of the car market nowadays as I have in helicopters, superyatchs or houses in Kensington. Hopefully the tech filters down though....Guybrush said:
If too many people have electric cars which need to be charged off the mains, then unless they can charge off solar panels, there won't sufficient power generation to cope. No windmills aren't the answer.
Things do seem to be tending towards electricity storage solutions, but I fear our technology isn't up to par yet. Personally I think our futures are pretty much destined to be powered by some battery technology charged by solar and nuclear solutions. How far in the future I have no idea.
Guybrush said:
If too many people have electric cars which need to be charged off the mains, then unless they can charge off solar panels, there won't sufficient power generation to cope. No windmills aren't the answer.
The Irish Electricity Board did a study that indicated if all the cars in Europe were electric, but were smart charged overnight when we have a surplus of electricity and low demand, we would need 1% extra generating capacity. Electric cars can actually balance the grid out by feeding electricity back into the grid during the very short peaks of demand and then taking it at periods of low demand.
suffolk009 said:
A friend of mine has just purchased a Tesla S. One of the reasons she justified spending so much was that "they hold their value". I suggested that she was talking bks. In five years time her Tesla S will be as old hat as a PC workstation running Windows 95.
Suffolk - not true, Tesla offer a guaranteed buyback scheme (RVG in Tesla-speak) where after 3 years they will buy the car back off you for 50% of the car cost + 43% of any Accessories cost, guaranteed. So a 75D @ £65,300 with some typical accessories totalling £6,550 (total price £71,850) will still be worth a minimum of ~£35,500 after 3 years and 45,000 miles...doesn't sound too bad to me. Look at what a 3 year old 7-Series BMW or S-Class Merc is worth after a similar age/mileage! Starting price for a 7-Series is £70k now, this 3 year old 740D with 44,000 miles is advertised at a dealer for £27,000: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...ks. In five years time her Tesla S will be as old hat as a PC workstation running Windows 95.RossP said:
modeller said:
mwstewart said:
The end of fun has begun.
Rubbish. I'm having loads of fun in my EV. Go try oneI will own an EV, though, just for city driving.
mwstewart said:
RossP said:
modeller said:
mwstewart said:
The end of fun has begun.
Rubbish. I'm having loads of fun in my EV. Go try oneI will own an EV, though, just for city driving.
Ive always loved all the things you listed but when i was pressented with effortless, quiet vibration and smell free motoring that put the biggest grinm on my face any many many years of motoring I knew the petrol engine was dead, get in and drive a petrol car and it feel like you're driving an old horse & cart, no contest.
Pvapour said:
In the same way you choose your comfy modern sports car over an old brooklands bentley to drive around in th next generation will see your car the same way.
Ive always loved all the things you listed but when i was pressented with effortless, quiet vibration and smell free motoring that put the biggest grinm on my face any many many years of motoring I knew the petrol engine was dead, get in and drive a petrol car and it feel like you're driving an old horse & cart, no contest.
I might want all that when I'm older, but that's not for a few decades yet Ive always loved all the things you listed but when i was pressented with effortless, quiet vibration and smell free motoring that put the biggest grinm on my face any many many years of motoring I knew the petrol engine was dead, get in and drive a petrol car and it feel like you're driving an old horse & cart, no contest.
mwstewart said:
Pvapour said:
In the same way you choose your comfy modern sports car over an old brooklands bentley to drive around in th next generation will see your car the same way.
Ive always loved all the things you listed but when i was pressented with effortless, quiet vibration and smell free motoring that put the biggest grinm on my face any many many years of motoring I knew the petrol engine was dead, get in and drive a petrol car and it feel like you're driving an old horse & cart, no contest.
I might want all that when I'm older, but that's not for a few decades yet Ive always loved all the things you listed but when i was pressented with effortless, quiet vibration and smell free motoring that put the biggest grinm on my face any many many years of motoring I knew the petrol engine was dead, get in and drive a petrol car and it feel like you're driving an old horse & cart, no contest.
You cerainly sound young, 'might' and 'in a few deacdes'
Uh huh
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