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[w3526602]

Hi,

A quick Google reveals that an electric vehicle battery pack costs about £5000. An acceptable sum ... for starters.

A search for the cost of electric canal boat motors comes up with about £200 ... for a complete outboard motor, propeller and all. Not what I was looking for, so back to the drawing board.

The impression that I am getting is that we are expected to buy a new battery powered car, and scrap it when the batteries die. It will probably need a second set of tyres at the same time ... tyres will be illegal at five years anyway. But would that include the emergency spare? And will there still be a need for an MOT?

If everybody panic buys a battery car, or even an IC or CI car, at the last minute, they won't be back in the showroom for five years ... then all return on the same day. (I can dream, can't I?) I don't think the manufactures will be too happy.

What are battery powered cars like at towing caravans, and other trailers? Will Road Hauliers have to replace their tractor units after five years?

Back to the drawing board.

602

[ChrisJC]

You are overlooking the fact that electric vehicle technology is advancing at a tremendous rate.

What is true today will be obsolete in 2 years, let alone 5.

So any concerns now will vanish in a puff of electrons in the not too distant future.

Chris.

[w3526602]

Hi Chris,

So ... due to lack of interest, tomorrow will be cancelled?

602

[Clifford Pope]

You are overlooking the fact that electric vehicle technology is advancing at a tremendous rate.

What is true today will be obsolete in 2 years, let alone 5.

That's supposed to persuade people to buy electric, but also more persuasively to postpone buying electric because it will be cheaper, last longer, and generally be better in 2-5 years time.

Petrol cars have become almost universal because they are so cheap secondhand yet also so useable even when 10 - 20 years old. So there is something for everyone - they are affordable by almost all.
I've never spent more than £3,000 on a car, and that felt like a lot. When am I going to be able to buy a secondhand electric car in excellent condition with a battery good for another few hundred thousand miles for that sort of price?

[Wittsend]

Dream on ...

Do you really think that electricity will be sold at the price per unit it is today

The revenue/taxes made on dino fuel will be loaded onto electricity.

As someone once commented:- There's only two certainties in life; Death and Taxes.

 

[Exile]

As someone once commented:- There's only two certainties in life; Death and Taxes.

 

That someone was Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin is dead now, and no longer being taxed.


Something to look forward to?
 

[Genem]

An interesting comment elsewhere, EVs may be just a phase, with Hydrogen powered vehicles being the long term solution. They'd certainly require less in the way of "rare" metals for batteries etc. 

[linesrg]

An interesting comment elsewhere, EVs may be just a phase, with Hydrogen powered vehicles being the long term solution. They'd certainly require less in the way of "rare" metals for batteries etc.

The amount of cobalt being used in "lithium" batteries is reducing with each evolution and there is plenty of lithium about. They need platinum for hydrogen fuel cells currently don't they although, again, they are working on replacements.

You have to admire the fossil fuel lobby for continuing the hydrogen misinformation campaign - how many fossil fuel "lobbyists" were there at COP26?  There is a place for hydrogen but I would be very surprised if it will be for cars.

Regards

Richard