Forum suggestion: H2 mobility

[AmitG]

A few years ago, PH created "EV and Alternative Fuels" as a forum. At the time, EVs and hybrids were a niche proposition on PH. The Prius and Insight had been out for some time, and had achieved some success, but they were not popular among the PH demographic. The era of the hybridised supercar (Porsche 918 etc.) had not yet arrived. Hydrogen was nowhere to be seen, although I think that the first-generation Mirai may have come out.

Quite a few threads were being derailed by arguments over EVs and hybrids being inferior to other solutions, not being real cars etc. So the idea was to create a forum where these cars and technologies could be discussed by like minded people.

Since then, two things have happened:

• BEVs and hybrids (both self-charging and PHEV) have become pretty mainstream. Most mainstream manufacturers have BEVs on sale, and virtually all manufacturers are selling hybrid technology. It's no longer a niche topic. Such discussion is now perhaps better served in the marque-specific forums or GG, and indeed some of it has already migrated there.
• Hydrogen is the new emerging technology, and therefore the new controversial topic. I have seen a few threads derailed by quite passionate discussion on hydrogen (usually anti). PH would perhaps benefit from a dedicated forum where fuel cells, hydrogen ICE etc. can be discussed by those who have a genuine interest.

Here is a suggestion:

• Close the EV forum and direct discussion into the marque specific forums or GG.
• Replace it with a forum for H2 discussion.

(The same effect could be achieved by simply dropping "EV" from the current forum, leaving "Alternative Fuels", and adding a sticky asking for BEV discussion to be taken elsewhere, but then the forum history would be confusing. It is perhaps better to start afresh, and perhaps migrate the "Hydrogen is the future" thread over as a starter for 10.)

The flipside is - is there enough interest on PH to sustain interest in such a forum? Does it matter?

[WelshRich]

I prefer the status quo - It’s helpful to have a zone where the merits of one EV can be compared to another or EV specific questions can be discussed without it degenerating into rants about inability to drive 400 miles on a charge or comparing cars to domestic appliances.

Just today there’s a review posted by the PH team about the I-Pace in general gassing - It took just four responses before the Anti-EV comments started…

[Ben Lowden]

Thanks for taking the time to make a suggestion/case for change here. However while EVs are now more mainstream, I personally believe there's a lot to be learned about them and that the current structure is still relevant. Happy for other people to chime in though.