The electric revolution

[chappardababbar]

I test drove an i3 the other day and I've seen the future. This thing is amazing.

Then I was in Westfield and I saw the new Tesla saloon - what a tech marvel it is...and yet it's so simple. Batteries, a brain and a couple of motors. Super low centre of gravity and an impressive interface that was basically a giant ipad.

I can easily see how most cars on the road will be electric in a very short space of time.

I got thinking as I started up my car in the Westfield underground car park and noisily pulled out that this kind of car will draw serious attention in future. In a world where these places will be silent except for the whine of an e motor and the rustle of shopping bags, the turning over of an engine before it bursts into life will feel backward. Even now, it turns heads due to the noise, vibration and smell of fuel but in just a few short years, it'll be downright embarrassing.

I don't want to feel like I'm driving my car to make a point or a state ton about my personality but I fear that will be the case as these cars become more and more novel.

Imagine if someone drove a pre war car into your local supermarket car park...that would be weird right? Same thing,

It's going to happen very quickly.

I take a lot of pleasure in driving my 1999 Honda Accord. The engine purrs and the gear change is tight and satisfying. This is the kind of car that will completely disappear from the face of the earth. Not interesting enough to maintain for high days, weekends, shows etc and akin to burning a candle for light in terms of novelty.

Maybe I'm wrong but now is the time to get out of the petrol station business in my opinion

[celicawrc]

Rubbish.

Every single electric car that has ever been released has flopped BIG TIME!

Until the battery charge becomes equal in distance and convenience to petrol/diesel it won't happen. As for electric sports cars....the noise an engine makes is a massive part of the experience of driving. Don't know why anyone with petrol in their veins would want and electric car? Ever!

[Codswallop]

chappardababbar said:

Imagine if someone drove a pre war car into your local supermarket car park...that would be weird right?

That would be just plain cool It's great seeing classics being used.

chappardababbar said:

akin to burning a candle for light in terms of novelty.

Maybe I'm wrong but now is the time to get out of the petrol station business in my opinion

People burn candles nowadays for enjoyment rather than light. Same as horses are no longer for worker but for fun. True enthusiasts will always love IC engines, even if they are just for the weekend/ special occasions.

[iva cosworth]

100 mile electric car range is just not good enough.......

[CrutyRammers]

Codswallop said:

chappardababbar said:

Imagine if someone drove a pre war car into your local supermarket car park...that would be weird right?

That would be just plain cool It's great seeing classics being used.

Quite, that sort of thing normally draws an admiring crowd.

[Censorious]

iva cosworth said:

100 mile electric car range is just not good enough.......

The BMW i3 uses a 168bhp electric motor under the boot floor, combined with a lithium-ion battery pack. It is also available with an optional range-extending motorcycle engine that keeps the batteries topped up.

Without the range extender the BMW i3’s range stands at anywhere between about 80 miles and 125 miles depending on how you drive; with the range-extender those numbers could double.

[AnotherClarkey]

iva cosworth said:

100 mile electric car range is just not good enough.......

Get a Tesla then.

[davepoth]

Censorious said:

iva cosworth said:

100 mile electric car range is just not good enough.......

The BMW i3 uses a 168bhp electric motor under the boot floor, combined with a lithium-ion battery pack. It is also available with an optional range-extending motorcycle engine that keeps the batteries topped up.

Without the range extender the BMW i3’s range stands at anywhere between about 80 miles and 125 miles depending on how you drive; with the range-extender those numbers could double.

But then it would be a hybrid and not an electric car. The point stands - 100 mile range and several hour recharge times just aren't practical for a lot of people.

As it happens, it would be plenty practical for me as I have off road parking at both ends of my short commute, but how many people have that?

[eldar]

Censorious said:

The BMW i3 uses a 168bhp electric motor under the boot floor, combined with a lithium-ion battery pack. It is also available with an optional range-extending motorcycle engine that keeps the batteries topped up.

Without the range extender the BMW i3’s range stands at anywhere between about 80 miles and 125 miles depending on how you drive; with the range-extender those numbers could double.

And costs how much? Bottom line is tech is clever, but needs to e cost effective.

[buggalugs]

chappardababbar said:

I test drove an i3 the other day and I've seen the future. This thing is amazing.

Then I was in Westfield and I saw the new Tesla saloon - what a tech marvel it is...and yet it's so simple. Batteries, a brain and a couple of motors. Super low centre of gravity and an impressive interface that was basically a giant ipad.

I can easily see how most cars on the road will be electric in a very short space of time.

I got thinking as I started up my car in the Westfield underground car park and noisily pulled out that this kind of car will draw serious attention in future. In a world where these places will be silent except for the whine of an e motor and the rustle of shopping bags, the turning over of an engine before it bursts into life will feel backward. Even now, it turns heads due to the noise, vibration and smell of fuel but in just a few short years, it'll be downright embarrassing.

I don't want to feel like I'm driving my car to make a point or a state ton about my personality but I fear that will be the case as these cars become more and more novel.

Imagine if someone drove a pre war car into your local supermarket car park...that would be weird right? Same thing,

It's going to happen very quickly.

I take a lot of pleasure in driving my 1999 Honda Accord. The engine purrs and the gear change is tight and satisfying. This is the kind of car that will completely disappear from the face of the earth. Not interesting enough to maintain for high days, weekends, shows etc and akin to burning a candle for light in terms of novelty.

Maybe I'm wrong but now is the time to get out of the petrol station business in my opinion

I completely agree with you. My next car will be internal combustion for price/practicality right now, but the one after that will be electric because ICE will be looking so 2013 by then.

Once you've driven one you just 'get it', as a mode of transportation it's just better.

If you were used to electric and someone tried to sell you a car that had all these jerky gear things you had to mess with literally every 5 seconds, and it made a loud noise all the time, and you had to drive it to a special place twice a week to stand in the cold and refuel with stuff that stank it'd be a pretty hard sell.

Petrol stations are going to be a rare sight in 20 years!

[chappardababbar]

CrutyRammers said:

Codswallop said:

chappardababbar said:

Imagine if someone drove a pre war car into your local supermarket car park...that would be weird right?

That would be just plain cool It's great seeing classics being used.

Quite, that sort of thing normally draws an admiring crowd.

Exactly my point. It will draw a crowd. It will be noticeable. My car already is starting to feel ancient compared to the shapes of modern cars...and this difference will widen rapidly in the next few years to the point that I won't feel comfortable driving it day to day. It will become more and more of a burden...practically and mentally

[chappardababbar]

celicawrc said:

Rubbish.

Don't know why anyone with petrol in their veins would want and electric car? Ever!

I spend about 90% of my time thinking about cars. Which parts to buy next, when I'm going to fit them, which are my current favourite cars, learning about cars I didn't know existed, looking a photos of cars for hours a day.

I don't just have petrol in my veins, it's my lifestyle just like lots of people on here. But you must realise that we are a tiny proportion of the car buying public.

In any case, even I can see the pull of these things. It's really quite clever.

I feel very quickly, the 'white goods' cars we see on the road today (which is probably 90% of all cars) will be electric.

Not now, but very soon. We'll see a BIG change within 5 years.

[chappardababbar]

Me in Westfield. Fast fwd 5 years and this will be surrounded by the next generation of i3s, Leafs, Prius' etc...




The reason I'm pondering all this is because I'm massively into modern classics. Perhaps this is an extreme view but I don't think I should be adding any classics to the garage from now on.

I'm actually really excited about the next wave of petrol / electric hybrids which will fit in perfectly in the new era.

[0a]

chappardababbar said:

I'm actually really excited about the next wave of petrol / electric hybrids which will fit in perfectly in the new era.

The same attitude taxed the wonderful straight 6 petrol out of modern cars in favour of rattly 4 cylinder diesels...

If you hate cars and driving I guess it's fine (surely this thread should be in the electric car forum?)

[Leins]

TBH, I wouldn't object to something electric for the boring driving, and I get where you're coming from with trying to use your E34 in built-up areas (try one with an Eisenmann that likes to set off other car's alarms ), but a world where the petrol car is outlawed / obsolete even for fun driving is one that holds no appeal for me

I'll play by the eco-rules to a degree, but will get very upset if anyone tries to force me out of my weekend fun motors

[McWigglebum4th]

iva cosworth said:

100 mile electric car range is just not good enough.......

Serious question

Why is 100mile range not good enough for ME not you but ME as I have a commute which is a daily total of 43 miles loads of parking and a garage.

[Pints]

0a said:

(surely this thread should be in the electric car forum?)

I didn't know we had one of those.

[Benbay001]

Considering the majority of the cost of a conventional engines car is tax. Where do you expect them to make up the tax shortfall when everyone drives an electric car?

[McWigglebum4th]

Benbay001 said:

Considering the majority of the cost of a conventional engines car is tax. Where do you expect them to make up the tax shortfall when everyone drives an electric car?

Why do you think pay per mile is coming

[xRIEx]

Pints said:

0a said:

(surely this thread should be in the electric car forum?)

I didn't know we had one of those.

It's very quiet, just the occasional whine.