Are we being forced to go electric?

[classic33]

No it clearly isn't. And neither is any transport model which requires a person to be able to afford and to drive a car, whatever their abilities or wishes, the way forward, either.

However, showing a person how to best use a ticketing system is somewhat cheaper, easier and safer than is providing a severely visually impaired person (such as I was for several years), or a convicted drunk driver, or someone living with active epilepsy, with a car and the ability to drive it ...

A good, comprehensive and affordable public transport system enables everyone to travel more easily and enjoyably, whatever their restraints or requirements may be.

The car is only one part, the license to drive is another. The latter requires a doctors approval/certification that the person applying has been seizure free for a year.

Or they could do what more seem to be doing across the board, and ignore the rules just so they can drive, illegally.

 

[icowden]

A good, comprehensive and affordable public transport system enables everyone to travel more easily and enjoyably, whatever their restraints or requirements may be.

I entirely agree. Unfortunately the Government isn't interested in doing this. Thus for most people who own a car it is cheaper and more effective to use the car. Once we get a proper Government this might change. As it stands, an EV is an absolute no brainer if you can afford one.

 

[icowden]

However, showing a person how to best use a ticketing system is somewhat cheaper, easier and safer than is providing a severely visually impaired person (such as I was for several years), or a convicted drunk driver, or someone living with active epilepsy, with a car and the ability to drive it ...

But we aren't interested in exceptions.

If we are comparing public transport with cars, at the moment for the majority of people the car tends to win. The fault of this lies squarely with Government who have made public transport measurably worse whilst making it cheaper and easier to drive.

 

[classic33]

I entirely agree. Unfortunately the Government isn't interested in doing this. Thus for most people who own a car it is cheaper and more effective to use the car. Once we get a proper Government this might change. As it stands, an EV is an absolute no brainer if you can afford one.

You're at odds with yourself in this answer.
"Thus for most people who own a car it is cheaper and more effective to use the car."
"an EV is an absolute no brainer if you can afford one."

 

[Baldy]

I think you may have parachuted into the wrong thread.

Woops!!

 

[icowden]

You're at odds with yourself in this answer.
"Thus for most people who own a car it is cheaper and more effective to use the car."
"an EV is an absolute no brainer if you can afford one."

How so?

 

[Alex321]

Or I can work for most of that waiting,

To use your own phrase "That is not niversal".

We all have different needs and possibilities. Some of us can work on the train, many can't.

And when we are talking about journeys for other purposes, being able to work is irrelevant, though of course many people will find the train more comfortable, and can indulge in more pleasurable activities like reading.

 

[Alex321]

You're at odds with yourself in this answer.
"Thus for most people who own a car it is cheaper and more effective to use the car."
"an EV is an absolute no brainer if you can afford one."

How is that being at odds with himself.

An EV is one more of those examples of something that is cheaper if you can afford it. Over the lifetime of the vehicle, the total cost of ownership will usually be less than owning a similar ICE vehicle. But you have to be able to afford the up-front cost, which is quite a bit higher.

 

[MrGrumpy]

How is that being at odds with himself.

An EV is one more of those examples of something that is cheaper if you can afford it. Over the lifetime of the vehicle, the total cost of ownership will usually be less than owning a similar ICE vehicle. But you have to be able to afford the up-front cost, which is quite a bit higher.

See my post further up on our loner Merc , not your run of the mill purchase but none the less £20k difference in book price ! EVs need to drop in price something that is not happening right now.

 

[mjr]

Eh? You either have a car or you don't. Then you drive it from A to B usually using google to tell you where to drive. Petrol and Diesel prices are pretty uniform (or electricity if you have an EV). Your car takes 5 or 7 people. Where is the complexity?

Settings and driving style makes a difference to the energy consumption, and recharging prices vary a lot from 5p/kWh (Octopus Go lowest) to £1/kWh (Osprey). If you call that simple to manage, well!

 

[Chislenko]

I’m not blinkered to need to change, I’m just reluctant to change, I drive 20,000 business miles a year so with the current infrastructure it doesn’t quite work and colleagues who have made the change are finding it challenging, especially longer trips.

however with the expanding ULEZ zone in Oxford we are thinking of swapping Mrs Gunks Golf GTD for an eGolf or BMW i3, as it will be perfect for short trips. However I’m still not convinced that EV’s are quite the planet saver they claim to be, but that just my suburban, narrow minded view.

Just out of interest Gunk, my Euro 6 Diesel is ULEZ exempt, if you can find such an animal.

 

[KnittyNorah]

The car is only one part, the license to drive is another. The latter requires a doctors approval/certification that the person applying has been seizure free for a year.

Or they could do what more seem to be doing across the board, and ignore the rules just so they can drive, illegally.

Yes. I know - a friend has just got her licence back after an isolated seizure (brought on by a short period of exceptionally severe stress, everyone was certain) following years of perfect seizure control.
If technology hadn't advanced, I would still be not only forbidden to drive, but unable to cycle either. eyesight - or lack thereof - being a very effective barrier to getting a licence, as well as to even starting the car, never mind steering!.
And of course there are the people who, despite passing their test and legally being permitted to drive, know full well they are not good drivers, however hard they try, and would really prefer not to need to drive - it is made much too difficult for those folk to take what they know is the responsible decision.

 

[CXRAndy]

When EVs become autonomous driving, then those shite and infirm drivers will be more able to get about

 

[Gunk]

Just out of interest Gunk, my Euro 6 Diesel is ULEZ exempt, if you can find such an animal.

Both my cars are Diesel and Euro 6 and both are driven in to London regularly, however for work I prefer the train, gives me time to prepare for meetings.

 

[Jameshow]

When EVs become autonomous driving, then those shite and infirm drivers will be more able to get about

Hopefully the voice will say don't be a Richard and put on the brakes!!