Debunking some expected 'smart' comments

Debunking some expected 'smart' comments

Author
Discussion

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

205 months

Friday 14th February 2014
quotequote all
Greg_D said:
i know what snowboy is saying about defensive answers. I'll try not to be defensive.

EVs at the moment are still very 'niche' in the true sense of the word. ie they have a set of strengths and weaknesses.

If you regularly do any of the following, at the moment an electric car will not be a practical proposition for you.
1) journeys over 100 miles
2) do not have designated parking adjacent to your property
3) have no financial mitigation strategy, ie. not co. car driver or business owner, (ie if you are a joe public buying the car with your own money)

but that said if the vehicle fits in with your needs, patterns and lifestyle it may very well be an excellent choice. That is the case with me. I have a 7 mile commute, rarely drive further than that and when i do i have the 'standard issue' middle englander derv 4x4 to take the strain. i have a garage and as a business owner the tax perks are numerous and compelling. It all adds up to a complete no brainer FOR ME YMMV
To directly compare an i3 to a diesel corsa or something is as facile as comparing a McLaren P1 with the likes of an MR2 (roughly similar size, but that's about it) so direct value comparisons are impossible,

For me, the executive Summary was that to get a brand new i3 worked out the same as putting £5k to my existing car - whilst still having the disposal value of my existing car to be realised (ie a nett free car)
and when you add in the mpg equivalent of something daft like 200mpg it would actually work out significantly cheaper than a corsa, for me...

HTH
Would you want a diesel corsa if it was free compared to your i3?

Greg_D

Original Poster:

6,542 posts

247 months

Friday 14th February 2014
quotequote all
McWigglebum4th said:
Greg_D said:
i know what snowboy is saying about defensive answers. I'll try not to be defensive.

EVs at the moment are still very 'niche' in the true sense of the word. ie they have a set of strengths and weaknesses.

If you regularly do any of the following, at the moment an electric car will not be a practical proposition for you.
1) journeys over 100 miles
2) do not have designated parking adjacent to your property
3) have no financial mitigation strategy, ie. not co. car driver or business owner, (ie if you are a joe public buying the car with your own money)

but that said if the vehicle fits in with your needs, patterns and lifestyle it may very well be an excellent choice. That is the case with me. I have a 7 mile commute, rarely drive further than that and when i do i have the 'standard issue' middle englander derv 4x4 to take the strain. i have a garage and as a business owner the tax perks are numerous and compelling. It all adds up to a complete no brainer FOR ME YMMV
To directly compare an i3 to a diesel corsa or something is as facile as comparing a McLaren P1 with the likes of an MR2 (roughly similar size, but that's about it) so direct value comparisons are impossible,

For me, the executive Summary was that to get a brand new i3 worked out the same as putting £5k to my existing car - whilst still having the disposal value of my existing car to be realised (ie a nett free car)
and when you add in the mpg equivalent of something daft like 200mpg it would actually work out significantly cheaper than a corsa, for me...

HTH
Would you want a diesel corsa if it was free compared to your i3?
a diesel corsa is only slightly preferable to the bus.

The point i'm making is that i like the car, and the fact that man maths declares it a win is a bonus

RossP

2,525 posts

284 months

Friday 14th February 2014
quotequote all
Greg_D said:
The point i'm making is that i like the car, and the fact that man maths declares it a win is a bonus
I agree with the above beer

Hackney

6,862 posts

209 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
McWigglebum4th said:
Hackney said:
someone said:
Nearly half of all London households live in flats compared to just 14 per cent in England as a whole.
Source: http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/londonfacts/defau...

As cities like London are the key market for electric vehicles this is a very major issue, don't you think?
London is odd due to the congestion charge.

However beyond london lots of people live within range of the city center and have enough room to park.

We are pretty damn rural but we are only 24 miles from Aberdeen city center.


But i don't see why everyone thinks you can only use an EV within city limits they are far more suited to suburbia where cars journeys are often and short as there is bugger all within walking distance
Thanks for responding to something I'd never even suggested.
My comment was in response to your assertion that hardly anyone lives in a flat so charging isn't an issue. Nothing to do with congestion charge, nothing to do with range.

So, how do the half of Londoners who live in a flat charge their EV?
The one they're supposedly more likely to buy because of the congestion charge and - no doubt soon to come - emissions regulations or limits.

Hackney

6,862 posts

209 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
JonnyVTEC said:
Even 10% EV sales would be a miracle, 50% being a problem just shows how large (and wrong) people are as to how soon EV are mainstream. How many of those houses has petrol station forecourts?

0? Well that's a 'major issue'.
Brilliant. I don't have my own personal petrol station in my 3rd floor flat.
Handily some companies have built ones I can drive to when I need some petrol and be ready to drive off again in 10 minutes.

The question remains, how do I "fill up" my newly purchased EV? What if I need to use the car tomorrow.
My EV has 20% charge; if it was a 20% full petrol tank well I just set off 10-15 minutes early tomorrow and fill up at the local Shell.
Do I set off 8 hours early and plug in at a local EDF station?

Hackney

6,862 posts

209 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Snowboy said:
Well, by cropping my comment you've somewhat altered my question, and you've failed to answer it.
He's very good at that, and seems to ignore this....

Snowboy said:
Again, please bear in mind this is a friendly enquiry.
Abrupt and aggressive answers aren't necessary.

JonnyVTEC

3,009 posts

176 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Hackney said:
Brilliant. I don't have my own personal petrol station in my 3rd floor flat.
Handily some companies have built ones I can drive to when I need some petrol and be ready to drive off again in 10 minutes.

The question remains, how do I "fill up" my newly purchased EV? What if I need to use the car tomorrow.
My EV has 20% charge; if it was a 20% full petrol tank well I just set off 10-15 minutes early tomorrow and fill up at the local Shell.
Do I set off 8 hours early and plug in at a local EDF station?
More the question, why did you buy one?

Test driver

348 posts

125 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
The worst thing about ev's is the type of moron who drives them.

Hackney

6,862 posts

209 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
JonnyVTEC said:
Hackney said:
Brilliant. I don't have my own personal petrol station in my 3rd floor flat.
Handily some companies have built ones I can drive to when I need some petrol and be ready to drive off again in 10 minutes.

The question remains, how do I "fill up" my newly purchased EV? What if I need to use the car tomorrow.
My EV has 20% charge; if it was a 20% full petrol tank well I just set off 10-15 minutes early tomorrow and fill up at the local Shell.
Do I set off 8 hours early and plug in at a local EDF station?
More the question, why did you buy one?
Yes, as there clearly isn't the infrastructure, or community support for the prospective purchaser is there.
So, I'll ask again, how is the typical London dweller supposed to recharge their EV.

And please, no smart arse answers about us all having personal petrol stations. It's getting a bit tired now.

RossP

2,525 posts

284 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Test driver said:
The worst thing about ev's is the type of moron who drives them.
Cheers!

JonnyVTEC

3,009 posts

176 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Just use the tube? I dunno, never lived in London. It's the minority of the UK though...

TimJMS

2,584 posts

252 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
JonnyVTEC said:
Even 10% EV sales would be a miracle, 50% being a problem just shows how large (and wrong) people are as to how soon EV are mainstream. How many of those houses has petrol station forecourts?

0? Well that's a 'major issue'.
Carlos Ghosn is under no illusions. EV's in the short to medium term will do no more than slightly mitigate the ever increasing demand for oil worldwide, and help prevent the full extent of the public backlash over ever rising oil prices. Twenty minutes onwards : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anMAn089sC0

Stick Legs

5,051 posts

166 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Why justify it?

I have not bought my 530d because I want economy. It is the car I liked at the price & it just happens to use diesel.
Why not the same argument for the i3?

After driving a Tesla Roadster & being a passenger in my friends Ampera I can see the argument for wanting an electric car for the whole torquey giant RC car buzz.

Mr Gear

9,416 posts

191 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
JonnyVTEC said:
Just use the tube? I dunno, never lived in London. It's the minority of the UK though...
I live in London and two of my neighbours have EVs. One lives in the garage, and on lives on the driveway. I don't see the problem with that.



mids

1,505 posts

259 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Stick Legs said:
Why justify it?

I have not bought my 530d because I want economy. It is the car I liked at the price & it just happens to use diesel.
Why not the same argument for the i3?
I think the main difference is that you don't get a torrent of people telling you that you're a dick for driving a 530d.

Marvib

528 posts

147 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
ORD said:
Who gives a flying fk about CO2? Seriously. Unless you dont ever fly away on holiday, your car is nowhere near your biggest contribution to pollution.
I Haven't left the UK in 20 years so my car is definitely my largest contribution to pollution.

My driving habits/lifestyle would suit an EV, 7 mile commute to work with own driveway and rarely travel further than 100 miles, therefore I bought a V8 smile

That said, I've never criticised another persons car choice as we all have different reasons for our vehicle of choice.

Marvib

528 posts

147 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
mids said:
I think the main difference is that you don't get a torrent of people telling you that you're a dick for driving a 530d.
And it works both ways....

EV...why have you bought that, it's a stupid car!
V8...why have you bought that, it's a stupid car!

Buy what suits you and justify it to yourself, not others.

RossP

2,525 posts

284 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Marvib said:
And it works both ways....

EV...why have you bought that, it's a stupid car!
V8...why have you bought that, it's a stupid car!

Buy what suits you and justify it to yourself, not others.
So I guess that as I will soon be owning a V8 and an EV I'm stuffed!

Hackney

6,862 posts

209 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
JonnyVTEC said:
Just use the tube? I dunno, never lived in London. It's the minority of the UK though...
Helful as ever.

Far from "debunking" any myths this thread seems a repository for smart comments. But from the owners or pro EV lobby rather than the curious.

I've asked a couple of questions which have yet to be answered. Other posters have also asked questions which have not been answered. Or a different question has been answered to the one that was asked with added sarcasm.

Enjoy the cars, I doubt the owners club will prove very popular.

JonnyVTEC

3,009 posts

176 months

Saturday 15th February 2014
quotequote all
Mr Gear said:
I live in London and two of my neighbours have EVs. One lives in the garage, and on lives on the driveway. I don't see the problem with that.
Evidently they found a plug before they bought an EV,