Why do people get such strong feelings over electric cars and solar panels etc.

[gbb]

This kind of article also illustrates why people reject, or at least question why we are expected to make changes when...

https://www.theguardian.com/environ... footprint of,super-rich are highly polluting.

 

[FishFright]

This kind of article also illustrates why people reject, or at least question why we are expected to make changes when...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/20/richest-1-account-for-more-carbon-emissions-than-poorest-66-report-says#:~:text=The extravagant carbon footprint of,super-rich are highly polluting.

Just another poor excuse for people to do nothing and feel good about it.

 

[Mike_P]

Is that 8.4 miles per day, or, 8.4 miles per journey?

Per journey

 

[wafter]

Admittedly the Torygraph, but this article makes some good points about slowing uptake of EVs..

 

[cougie uk]

Is that 8.4 miles per day, or, 8.4 miles per journey?

Even with such short average journeys, it is quite possible a recharge would be necessary in the course of a day, if several short journeys were made.

The bottom line is, even for those who use their car for such short journeys, ICE is still more convenient, eg one visit to petrol station per month, vs (say) daily charging, (perhaps, at home, on your drive, for those who have that facility).

I recently changed my car. I did look very seriously at EV, but, decided on a hybrid, simply because IMHO the infrastructure is not quite there yet, and, in my price range, I feel the "development" phase in EVs has not stabilised yet, so, I felt the risk of it becoming rapidly obsolete was too great. Maybe, in 5 years or so, the scene will look different, and, I will go EV.

As an aside, I haven't noticed anyone state what is, to me, the obvious point, EVs are only "non-polluting" in fuel terms if the electricity to charge them has been produced by "renewables", burning millions of trees in Drax Power station is not environmentally friendly.

I don't see why me having to go out of my way to find a petrol station and queue and pay through the nose could ever be described as more convenient than charging overnight on the drive.

 

[CXRAndy]

There isn't a slowing uptake by the public, it's the legacy makers not being able to compete with China and Tesla

They laughed at Tesla whilst missing the huge EV production boost by the Chinese.

China has already started imposing stricter ICE emissions which, European and USA car makers ignored. They are now sat on hundreds of thousands of unsellable vehicles . Meanwhile Chinese EV market is booming without European/USA makers.

Chinese are now exporting very cheaply, well made EVs to Europe and USA.

Many analysts said if Legacy don't compete quickly there would be many businesses fail

 

[cougie uk]

Admittedly the Torygraph, but this article makes some good points about slowing uptake of EVs..

They picking and choosing too. They're too expensive but the value of second hand is too low?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The average car journey is 8.4 miles so that's an awful lot of cars where a range of 60 miles will be more that adequate.

Which means the actual average is 4.2 miles from home and then back. No wonder roads are clogged with such short trips being made in 2-3 tonne vehicles often by a single person weighing 60-100kg. Using 20-50 times more energy than necessary in the process.

 

[BoldonLad]

I don't see why me having to go out of my way to find a petrol station and queue and pay through the nose could ever be described as more convenient than charging overnight on the drive.

I would agree, but, I was specifically describing a situation where range (or lack of) required a mid, or, between journey recharge.

 

[BoldonLad]

Which means the actual average is 4.2 miles from home and then back. No wonder roads are clogged with such short trips being made in 2-3 tonne vehicles often by a single person weighing 60-100kg. Using 20-50 times more energy than necessary in the process.

only if (say) driving to work, then, later, driving home, is regarded as a single journey, rather than two journeys.

I don't disagree with the need to discourage car use for short journeys, but, of course, then we would have to define "short", and, make provision for various exceptions (eg infirm, elderly, etc etc)

 

[wafter]

They picking and choosing too. They're too expensive but the value of second hand is too low?

That's not really a valid argument though, is it? They're significantly more expensive than IC vehicles while they depreciate rapidly so represent worse value for those who purchase them new.

 

[CXRAndy]

Which means the actual average is 4.2 miles from home and then back. No wonder roads are clogged with such short trips being made in 2-3 tonne vehicles often by a single person weighing 60-100kg. Using 20-50 times more energy than necessary in the process.

This is true,

Journey distance per day
95% 35 miles or less
50% 2 miles or less

 

[Ming the Merciless]

then we would have to define "short",

Anything that can be cycled by the average adult in 30 mins door to door. Thus 5 miles would be a good definition of short. Then super short can be defined as anything your average adult can manage walking within 30 mins, thus about 1.5 miles.

 

[CXRAndy]

Son washed his new car today

 

[BoldonLad]

Anything that can be cycled by the average adult in 30 mins door to door. Thus 5 miles would be a good definition of short. Then super short can be defined as anything your average adult can manage walking within 30 mins, thus about 1.5 miles.

Yes, I could go with that, personally, but, I am not sure that the "average UK adult" could perform those herculean tasks.