Electric car anyone?
76 watchers
Mar 2023
10:42pm, 21 Mar 2023
2,733 posts
|
HappyTimes
"IF" we are largely speaking going to continue for quite some time yet with personal transport are we not better focusing on some "probably" rather more beneficial moves? Such as: all those short and single/2 person journeys really not requiring a £50k plus tank of an EV (or other power source). I get examples of horse owners needing bigger car to pull trailer or other such examples For many of said owners uses and general public a far smaller vehicle would more than suffice. Owning car for MUCH longer. As I understand it currently an EV car is more environmentally damaging than an ice care in the production phase of its life. So if person x used to buy their brand new ice car, keep it 3 years to MOT time then swap does exactly same now with EV they are potentially worse on the environment than they previously were. EV is possibly/probably not the one "solution" regards personal transport, rather one small part of a likely combination of future personal transport moves. (Hydrogen/synthetic fuel and maybe other options). Smaller and longer though I feel far more impactful. Plus things such as "active" travel for our short journeys which make up very large part of average person's travel. |
Mar 2023
7:55am, 22 Mar 2023
244 posts
|
dobbers
HappyTimes Electric cars in theory should be kept longer by their owners as the running costs versus an ICE car are tiny. The issue however is complicated by the purchasing model. A lot of cars are effectively rented through a lease rather than outright purchase or PCP which gives the option to own. |
Mar 2023
8:15am, 22 Mar 2023
14,529 posts
|
jda
It doesn't matter if the first owner is the sort of person who swaps every 3 years, what matters is the lifetime of the vehicle. 2nd hand market is still pretty thin and of course *current* old 2nd hand EVs have crummy range, not so much due to degradation but due to what was available at the time.
|
Mar 2023
8:49am, 22 Mar 2023
45,989 posts
|
HappyG(rrr)
Agree both and HappyT. My next EV will be my "forever car". But that's because of my personal circumstances (retiring, reducing monthly outgoings, investing in an asset and run down the asset over its lifetime and probably my lifetime too!) But as long as new EVs aren't scrapped but go on to the second hand market and last as long as (or longer) than ICE, and are well recycled at the end of their life, the there is no difference who owns them, I would have thought? I think EVs from last couple of years have been "good enough" on range, and I'd be happy to buy a 2 or 3 year old one now.  G
|
Mar 2023
8:56am, 22 Mar 2023
6,630 posts
|
ThorntonRunner
Also agree, and also in position that even if not my forever car, I do intend having this EV for at least ten years
|
|
Mar 2023
9:12am, 22 Mar 2023
2,734 posts
|
HappyTimes
However that's still passing the buck from first owners to secondary (and beyond) owners to be ones actually making difference. Is it not JDA? The first owner has actually worsened their part in green credentials. |
|
Mar 2023
9:19am, 22 Mar 2023
14,530 posts
|
jda
I don't see it that way HT, I suppose if you attribute the full build cost to the first owner you could argue it, but when they sell it on they are allowing that investment to be used further. IMO fairer and more useful to look at the whole vehicle lifetime and it will be interesting to see if they last for a longer or shorter time on average than ICE - plus the recycling potential. Early days to make definitive assessments. |
Mar 2023
9:29am, 22 Mar 2023
47,412 posts
|
DocM
I certainly share some of HT's concerns. The new EV that we will buy Im not really happy about as it doesnt really do the job properly and will therefore likely be changed when something that fits the bill better comes along. This doesnt give me the warm fluffy feeling that I would like owning an EV to give me. Owning a rail ticket does give me a warm fluffy feeling but so often it is also an impractical solution.
|
|
Mar 2023
9:31am, 22 Mar 2023
2,735 posts
|
HappyTimes
I thought part of (the main part) of tackling climate change was about everyone changing/improving habits/ways. Strikes me wealthy are pushing the burden down line. There is NOTHING "green" about buying a brand new item (car in this instance) and then disposing of it once it's been dirty a handful of times. There is nothing "green" about Mr/Mrs new car person buying a massive car when it will almost never be half full or more and 90% + time doing 10 miles or less journeys. |
Mar 2023
11:14am, 22 Mar 2023
1,713 posts
|
fuzzyduck79
I agree HT and as someone who does the school run on foot every day, passing a road with a private school and an army of oversized, unnecessary 4x4s getting in each others way and using the pavement to drive along when the road gets busy, I have no time at all for those who buy more car than they need for reasons mainly related to status. I see the nasty, entitled side of motorists on a daily basis, some of them drive at you if you don’t jump out of their way on the footpath. |
Useful Links
FE accepts no responsibility for external links. Or anything, really.Related Threads
-
Fetch Camper Vans
Feb 2025
-
Fetch and the Art of Car Maintenance
Apr 2024
-
FINALLY!!!!!!
Jan 2024
-
Cycling/triathlon trailers
Sep 2023
-
British Touring Car Championship
Aug 2023
-
Dash Cam Recommendations?
Feb 2022
-
You can only have 3 cars for the rest of your life
May 2021
-
Consultation on a review of the Highway Code
Sep 2020
-
Once-familiar cars you have seen out and about
Jul 2020
-
Pop up Mercedes ad watch: have you got pop up Mercedes ad
May 2019