Are we being forced to go electric?

[Alex321]

Does this Automatic lane system/driving thinybob stop or prevent these fancy cars crossing/driving in cycle lanes ? Didn't think so, after a Tesla blocked the cycle lane, I rode round him through the Tesla dealership's car park. Oh, and seeing the rather large gouge in the side of the 72 plate's side, neither do the driver aids work. Still tootled off leaving them stuck in traffic !

It would if it were turned on. Not all even have it, and of those that do, many will have it turned off. And you can always override it anyhow. It just keeps you in lane if you are only holding the steering wheel lightly (or not at all).

 

[FishFright]

I thought two coal-fired power stations were put into warm standby recently because of if poor generating capacity (not ab absolute shortage, but issues with maintenance of other power stations coinciding with low renewables output)?
Suppose gas prices might have been a factor too

Updated: more generating capacity is needed. Also more energy storage, not only at Nat Grid level, but also more locally such as at EV charging stations.
How much more nuclear, i wonder?

Nuclear is the main solution , getting done is another thing.

We also have a lot of legacy generation due to go offline in the next couple of decades which won't help.

 

[Pale Rider]

The lane assist I tried in a Vauxhall worked OK and got me around a dual carriageway bend without holding the steering wheel, even if it was like driving around a thre'penny bit.

Quite reasonably, the system gave me a verbal bollocking if I let go of the wheel for more than a few seconds.

I found the blind spot warning gizmo of more use.

 

[icowden]

I thought two coal-fired power stations were put into warm standby recently because of if poor generating capacity (not ab absolute shortage, but issues with maintenance of other power stations coinciding with low renewables output)?

Not because of poor generating capacity. They were put on standby to deal with spikes during cold weather. EVs actually help with load balancing as they tend to be drawing power in a predictable way at night.

 

[potsy]

I have Lane keeping assist in my ice car, hate it with a passion so is now permanently turned off!

 

[Andy in Germany]

Does this Automatic lane system/driving thinybob stop or prevent these fancy cars crossing/driving in cycle lanes ? Didn't think so, after a Tesla blocked the cycle lane, I rode round him through the Tesla dealership's car park. Oh, and seeing the rather large gouge in the side of the 72 plate's side, neither do the driver aids work. Still tootled off leaving them stuck in traffic !

There's a worryingly large number of YouTube videos that would seem to agree with you on this.

 

[Andy in Germany]

And yet last year they were giving warnings about power cuts, for the winter months.

They aren't alone there; we were getting the same. It shows how quickly capacity can be used up with a small change in circumstances, which in turn makes it a bit dubious to increase demand dramatically. Also, maintaining all these systems, especially nuclear, requires vehicle movements, lots of vehicle movement...

 

[CXRAndy]

It's finally happening, EVs are now most popular vehicle to buy overall.

The Model Y was best selling car in Europe for June, beating the Sandero, Corsa and T-roc.

 

[Jameshow]

Have to watch it again but I thought the EV was more than 25% less efficient if that's the correct terminology, but yes our diesel certainly used more fuel when towing, but I do think that the recharging is a HUGE issue.

Not only would I have not be happy leaving our caravan in a carpark even with the wife whilst I then went to get charged up, but what would the insurance company think if it got stolen or damaged at that point?

Also that is assuming there is somewhere to unhitch & leave the van as you would not always be charging up n the motorway network, as an aside does it cost more on the motorway like it does for fuel?

That's not a bad idea hoping for the caravan and contents to be stolen....! Anyone got a van they can lend me?!

 

[cougie uk]

They aren't alone there; we were getting the same. It shows how quickly capacity can be used up with a small change in circumstances, which in turn makes it a bit dubious to increase demand dramatically. Also, maintaining all these systems, especially nuclear, requires vehicle movements, lots of vehicle movement...

Solar farms on my bike routes. Never noticed any traffic servicing them.

I do see quite a few boats headed out to the wind turbines at sea but I guess you'd need a lot of maintenance out there? I guess the land based ones require less.

 

[Jameshow]

It's finally happening, EVs are now most popular vehicle to buy overall.

The Model Y was best selling car in Europe for June, beating the Sandero, Corsa and T-roc.

Only cause they stopped making the fiesta!🤣🤣🤣

 

[classic33]

They aren't alone there; we were getting the same. It shows how quickly capacity can be used up with a small change in circumstances, which in turn makes it a bit dubious to increase demand dramatically. Also, maintaining all these systems, especially nuclear, requires vehicle movements, lots of vehicle movement...

Here it was down to the ability to get the power from point of generation to the end user. The work of National Grid.

 

[fossyant]

It's finally happening, EVs are now most popular vehicle to buy overall.

The Model Y was best selling car in Europe for June, beating the Sandero, Corsa and T-roc.

All on lease no doubt !

 

[CXRAndy]

All on lease no doubt !

Did you know that something like >90% of all new car purchases are done with some form of lease, PCP. Very few people buy a new car with cash

This was so before EVs became so popular

 

[fossyant]

Did you know that something like >90% of all new car purchases are done with some form of lease, PCP. Very few people buy a new car with cash

This was so before EVs became so popular

I do. Shoot loads of cash to waste on a Model Y per month - they aren't cheap. I suppose they will replace the Range Rover, so not a bad thing.