As a 64 year old petrolhead,

[Skyedriver]

I'm suddenly becoming interested in EVs
Once the cost comes down and the longevity of the battery life increases.
A cheap EV equivalent of the Caterham or TVR I have (Wot no noise)..... and I would get interested
Would have thought there was an opening here for the "kit car" market, wrecked Leaf or something into a new frame.

[Codswallop]

A few companies have sprung up already offering electric drivetrain conversions using Leaf or Tesla Roadster battery packs.

There are a few reviews for cars converted by these guys on youtube: https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/

Not sure a "fun" car suits electric power - I like the smells and characteristics of internal combustion. Not to say I don't like electric - it's great for a commuter. At work we have a fleet of Zoes and Fiesta; I much prefer the Zoe for nipping about on work visits.

[S47]

OP - snap
I've travelled extensively, the only place I'd be happy to own a EV would be on a small island, somewhere like St Mary's {Scilly isles], anywhere else the range becomes a negative factor - who would buy a car you can't use for your hol's or even to get you from home to Heathrow or Gatwick airport and back? [In my case that's 300 or 370 Miles]??
I'm amazed anyone even considers an EV in UK, why buy a useless, overpriced milkfloat??

[Yipper]

[TXG399]

S47 said:

OP - snap
I've travelled extensively, the only place I'd be happy to own a EV would be on a small island, somewhere like St Mary's {Scilly isles], anywhere else the range becomes a negative factor - who would buy a car you can't use for your hol's or even to get you from home to Heathrow or Gatwick airport and back? [In my case that's 300 or 370 Miles]??
I'm amazed anyone even considers an EV in UK, why buy a useless, overpriced milkfloat??

I guess the 7 months I've spent doing all my driving (barring circa 500 miles of sunny driving in my Eunos Roadster) in an i3 could potentially rule against your blanket judgement of EV's being useless...

Just because your mileage might not suit an EV does not mean that there isn't a significant number of people who's vehicle needs would be more than adequately covered by one.

[J4CKO]

S47 said:

OP - snap
I've travelled extensively, the only place I'd be happy to own a EV would be on a small island, somewhere like St Mary's {Scilly isles], anywhere else the range becomes a negative factor - who would buy a car you can't use for your hol's or even to get you from home to Heathrow or Gatwick airport and back? [In my case that's 300 or 370 Miles]??
I'm amazed anyone even considers an EV in UK, why buy a useless, overpriced milkfloat??

Holidays on PH start and end with an Airliner, which you know with all the airport runs.

Milkfloat, well, they share usage of an electric motor, like my V8 Merc and Lawnmower share IC engines.

We need to stop thinking its all about us, and our immediate needs, not everyone is the same, i could manage fine with an EV and have spare range, I rarely do journeys that would trouble the range of even a Leaf, and for now, until the range imporves, we will still have an IC car on hand, or failign that, can rent or borrow one.

Useless ? it does the same as any other car ?

[geeks]

Was working this out the other day, I do circa 30,000 miles a year, yet rarely more than 150-200 each way at a time, EV is within my use case but not my budget, which I think sits for quite a few of us.

[S47]

Even a basic petrol car does everything i want, even the most expensive EV can't do these simple requirements - why would I or anyone else buy one in UK ???????????????????????????????
You buy a vehicle to serve your needs, Not limit what you can and can't do in it
As I said in my first post on a Small Island Like St Mary's EV would maybe be OK, but for me nowhere else.
Of course there will always be the few that like to create problems for themselves and inconvenience themselves trying to solve them - Not me - I want a simple easy life

[andy43]

You buy (or rent) a car to suit your needs - no deicing in winter, instant heating on cold starts, no lone woman visits to a late night petrol station, quiet, bulletproof reliability, auto gearbox and light controls, and for what it is it's a little rocket away from standstill at the traffic lights or out of junctions. Simple and easy life indeed. OH's Nissan Leaf

Or if you licked too many 9V batteries as a child..evwest is who you need, or these people in the UK do similar stuff
https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/


Or... http://www.motortrend.com/news/video-find-boris-sa...

Edited by andy43 on Tuesday 15th August 17:50