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Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#2
Norway had a little downward bump in sales around the 10-20% market share mark too if I remember correctly. But after going through that speed bump the sales have shot up to 90%+

I wonder if it’s kind of necessary to sit on that ~10% level for a while to drive infrastructure investments. And then when infrastructure gets up to a decent level further growth is unlocked. I remember it was a very short timespan where it went from feeling like we had some fast chargers here and there, to it feeling like chargers was absolutely everywhere. I think that does a lot to give people confidence in buying EVs

If you look at curves of other technology transitions it doesn’t seem like these kind of bumps or pauses in growth are unusual.

Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#3
For me personally (I spoke to others and they mostly agree) the biggest downside is that for "public" charging I pay a 100% premium. My costs at home (I live in a rented apartment with no possibility of charging an EV) for 1kw/h are 0.30€. The average price for charging publicly here are 0.59€. Plus the hassle of having a quadrillion providers for which I would have to check first what the cheapest one at a given charger would be. I have enough inconveniences in my life, won't add another one (especially one that could be easily resolved).

Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#6
Without tax incentives EVs are far more expensive for people who only drive say 5-10k miles a year.

My fuel costs are about 15p/mile in my old rustbucket (45mpg is about 10 miles per litre, £1.50 a litre)

An EV will do say 4 miles per kWh, so in theory at 30p/kWh that's 7.5p per mile, half the price.

5000 miles a year that's £375 saving with electric. Add in another £160 VED saving (again my old bucket) and that's £500 a year.

A bottom of the line Micra is about £13k new. A bottom of the line Leaf is £27k new. A new micra will get better milage and lower VED than my 20 year old one too.

Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#7
post #6

Without tax incentives EVs are far more expensive for people who only drive say 5-10k miles a year. My fuel costs are about 15p/mile in my old rustbucket (45mpg is about 10 miles per litre, £1.50 a litre) An EV will do say 4 miles per kWh, so in theory at 30p/kWh that's 7.5p per mile, half the price. 5000 miles a year that's £375 saving with electric. Add in another £160 VED saving (again my old bucket) and that's £5…

> Without tax incentives EVs are far more expensive for people who only drive say 5-10k miles a year.

If you're only driving 5-10k miles a year, car ownership seems like a massive unnecessary burden, electric or ICE. But given you're measuring in miles, I guess there's a good chance you're not from somewhere with adequate public transit and bicycle infrastructure.

In my opinion, we really need to focus less on personal electric cars and more on making high quality, convenient, electric public transportation.

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Edit: 5-10 -> 5-10k

Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#8
I won't drive an electric car as long as possible. Not because they are electric or I have any love at all for cumbustion cars, but because I work in the industry.

I see what's inside those things, I see what the plans for the next generation are, and they are a cost-cutters wet dream.

They are getting even more over-engineered, fully stuffed of useless, cheap, consumer-standard-manufactured gadgets, with software so unbelievabley shit that wouldn't be allowed to run on anything else, design and engineering teams lead by testosteroned morons - and everything targeted on rent-seeking and commodifying for the quick buck.

Seeing the current generation of EVs of many large companies, they will never be environmentally sensible - just because they are all around designed in a way to be basically impossible to be used for more than a couple of years.

Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#9
I think it's cost.

Up to now, EVs have been very very expensive. We are only now starting to see EVs approaching the €20k mark. Al lthe rich folks who are interested in getting an EV got one already. The rest of us still can't afford them. I'm in the market now, but I'll be looking at the 2nd hand market because new is just too rich for my blood.

Here in Ireland the grants are also drying up reducing the incentives further.

I think this will change pretty soon. As more cheaper new EVs come online, the bottom of the 2nd hand market will drop out. It's a pity that the majority of ev manufacturers are focusing on ultra loaded luxury land-space-ships. Give me a cheap urban transport capsule with 100km range that charges quickly, and I'll be dead happy and probably buy 2.

Re: Is the move to electric cars running out of power?

#10
post #9

I think it's cost. Up to now, EVs have been very very expensive. We are only now starting to see EVs approaching the €20k mark. Al lthe rich folks who are interested in getting an EV got one already. The rest of us still can't afford them. I'm in the market now, but I'll be looking at the 2nd hand market because new is just too rich for my blood. Here in Ireland the grants are also drying up reducing the incentives f…

The only fear I'd have buying a 2nd hand on what I consider these 1st/2nd generation EVs is battery repairability/replacement. Buying a 10 years old used ICE car is a pretty common and affordable option for many people, a 10 years old EV might need its whole battery pack replaced, and as far as I know that is a pretty massive cost.
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