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Electric cars - why so expensive?
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Billions spent in research & development that needs recuperating. The batteries are also very expensive at the moment.
They will eventually become more affordable when they are the mainstream, which they will inevitably be.
Early adopters always have to pay a premium, a bit like when those fancy new flat screen lasagne TV sets came out, they were thousands to buy, but soon after everyone could afford one. |
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water "
100% agree, electric cars are only short term to appease the wealthy who pretend driving electric cars offset all of their flights.
At best 8yr battery life makes used electric cars a leap in the dark & the weight means HGV lose so much payload its not viable. |
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"At best 8yr battery life makes used electric cars a leap in the dark & the weight means HGV lose so much payload its not viable."
This part isn’t true - it was for the very earliest ones but for anything from the last 10 years the batteries should last way longer than the car.
As for why they’re expensive, making petrol and diesel cars has been pared to the bone over decades of the best engineers working on it. Building an engine is a very slick operation.
Motors and batteries at those sizes and numbers - not so much. Getting there though. |
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"This part isn’t true - it was for the very earliest ones but for anything from the last 10 years the batteries should last way longer than the car".
Not sure anyone can validate that yet? Jury is very much out based on present experience. |
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I recently got a lease car with work - my contribution was based on list price - Diesel version £18k - Electric version of same car £35k!
So as list price was the main driver for my monthly contribution guess what I chose...? |
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"Billions spent in research & development that needs recuperating. The batteries are also very expensive at the moment.
They will eventually become more affordable when they are the mainstream, which they will inevitably be.
Early adopters always have to pay a premium, a bit like when those fancy new flat screen lasagne TV sets came out, they were thousands to buy, but soon after everyone could afford one."
That doesn't add up considering the subsidies. But even if it does. New tvs start expensive and within 6 months are "normal" price. Now electric cars have bene produced for what? 10 years? Its just profiteering. Put eco in front of anything and people cant wait to throw money at it. |
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"Billions spent in research & development that needs recuperating. The batteries are also very expensive at the moment.
They will eventually become more affordable when they are the mainstream, which they will inevitably be.
Early adopters always have to pay a premium, a bit like when those fancy new flat screen lasagne TV sets came out, they were thousands to buy, but soon after everyone could afford one.
That doesn't add up considering the subsidies. But even if it does. New tvs start expensive and within 6 months are "normal" price. Now electric cars have bene produced for what? 10 years? Its just profiteering. Put eco in front of anything and people cant wait to throw money at it. "
Or organic, both excuses to charge more. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I recently got a lease car with work - my contribution was based on list price - Diesel version £18k - Electric version of same car £35k!
So as list price was the main driver for my monthly contribution guess what I chose...?"
what's the difference once you allow for the favourable tax rate? |
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Expensive to mine the materials to make a battery. Expensive to export around the world. There’s a global shortage with semi conductors. I could go on.
You want to keep up with the Jones’ then you pay for it  |
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water "
All very well but still going to need starters, carburation, ignition, exhaust, lubrication, cooling, gearboxes, all of which electric propulsion obviates. Impressive, eh?
Just get a decent battery invented soon. Divert efforts to sort out hydrogen management into battery development. |
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By *JB1954Man
over a year ago
Reading |
Electric vehicles have been around for years. My father was a milkman 60 years ago. Yes vehicle slow , no comfort etc. But powered by a battery and had brakes etc. New electric cars use electronics developed for machinery in factories. Plus electronics which diesel and petrol cars use. Yes redesign of standard car as battery has to be fitted and brakes etc uprated due to increased weight. A lot of wiring for lights , windscreen wipers, heaters etc , would be used from diesel and petrol cars .
The cost of electric cars is mostly from paying for the new automation lines to produce these vehicles. |
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"I recently got a lease car with work - my contribution was based on list price - Diesel version £18k - Electric version of same car £35k!
So as list price was the main driver for my monthly contribution guess what I chose...?what's the difference once you allow for the favourable tax rate? "
Currently I contribute £10 / month for the diesel version- EV version was £250 / month!
What is this favourable tax rate you speak off? If it's road tax I don't pay it - the business does (as it does all costs) - but the diesel version I have is £20 / year if I was paying it so wouldn't break the bank - in fact when the lease is up I'll probably buy the car off the lease company as drivers get first refusal & it's a good truck |
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" Yes redesign of standard car as battery has to be fitted and brakes etc uprated due to increased weight. ..."
Not totally sure about that.
Lookig under the bonnet of my neighbour's Vivaro van overall mass of the battery and motor(s?) is probably about the same as a hefty diesel and its associated gearbox.
It certainly doesn't look significantly heavier than the diesel version in relation to the vehicle's overall structural weight and payload. I haven't checked underneath to see if there are any rear axle motors, which could assist with regenerative braking.
It is new and exciting technology and as a technophile myself I am increasingly impressed. |
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By *lynJMan
over a year ago
Morden |
"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water
All very well but still going to need starters, carburation, ignition, exhaust, lubrication, cooling, gearboxes, all of which electric propulsion obviates. Impressive, eh?
Just get a decent battery invented soon. Divert efforts to sort out hydrogen management into battery development."
You don't need starters, injection, gear boxes etc because hydrogen fueled cars will still be electric using a fuel cell instead of batteries. The process generates electricity and water. |
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" Yes redesign of standard car as battery has to be fitted and brakes etc uprated due to increased weight. ...
Not totally sure about that.
Lookig under the bonnet of my neighbour's Vivaro van overall mass of the battery and motor(s?) is probably about the same as a hefty diesel and its associated gearbox.
It certainly doesn't look significantly heavier than the diesel version in relation to the vehicle's overall structural weight and payload. I haven't checked underneath to see if there are any rear axle motors, which could assist with regenerative braking.
It is new and exciting technology and as a technophile myself I am increasingly impressed."
The conventional fuel Skoda Davis estate has a mass of 1000-1200kg, depending on specific trim etc. The electric Skoda Enyaq has a mass between 1900-2200kg. Are we really to believe that electric vans aren't also much heavier than the conventional fuel counterparts? How on earth is the Skoda car TWICE as heavy, for comparable boot space, cabin space, seat configuration etc?! It's bonkers and can't be good for the formation of particulates from tyre wear and road wear. |
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By *anes HubbyCouple
over a year ago
Babbacombe Torquay |
"New Toyota boss is binning new electric vehicles for hydrogen "
That's not correct though, Toyota have been experimenting with Hydrogen for the last Five years and have built concept and competition Hydrogen cars, but your quote about the ex boss of Lexus Koji Sato binning electric vehicles in favour of hydrogen just isn't true.
Toyota are committed to building over 100 million BEV's over the next Ten years while Hydrogen Fuel Cell research and development is carried out during that period.
There will be no major HFC car manufacturing at Toyota until at least 2030, and the first commercially available models with be seen through the Lexus brand initially.
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By *anes HubbyCouple
over a year ago
Babbacombe Torquay |
Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars. |
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"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars."
.
That is good news. I don't necessarily think electric cars are a good option but it looks like there's gonna be the ones that get the push. It's VHS Vs betamax all over again.
My current plan was just to run my current car that I've had from new into the ground until they become cheaper so this pleases me. The id2 concepts look great, but they always look better than the actual car though and as spacious as a golf. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Because they are the new gadget that everyone wants. So of course companies are cashing in.
The mr "
Each to their own
I have just sole my Toyota Hilux 2.4 invincible-x and replaced it with a brand new 2023 plate Toyota Hilux 2.8 invincible-x.
The Hilux is an amazing truck both on, and off road. it is excellent for towing and will basically take you anywhere. Plus for all those isolated places without fuel stations it covers a genuine 480 miles on 60 litres of fuel and plenty storage for extra fuel cans.
.
If Electric cars are the future I will let you all rush in, dont ask me for a tow or a lift when you break down up in the Scottish Highlands though.
Then again Electric vehicles do not have a neutral gear so towing one would be a right problem haha. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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When I compare my large toy car to an equivalent ICE vehicle. There isn’t much of a premium.
Compare it to an equivalently priced car:
Polestar 2 : 408bhp, 0-60 4.4s, AWD, 5 door saloon all options except performance pack
BMW m340i : 369bhp, 0-60 4.4s, AWD, 5 door saloon, no options added.
Both sit at just over £55k list and honestly, 16 months on, I’m glad I chose the car I did at the time. |
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"
Early adopters always have to pay a premium, a bit like when those fancy new flat screen lasagne TV sets came out, they were thousands to buy, but soon after everyone could afford one."
I heard that Garfield was one of the first to buy one of those |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive? "
In the grand scheme of things it’s still new technology…. We are still in the early adopters stage…but with so many new cars coming in the next 18-24 months prices will tumble
It probably sounds counterintuitive… but the plans for most of the car manufacturers is to build the more luxury cars first .. perfect that technology to test everything…then be able to scale down for mass market and production |
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" Yes redesign of standard car as battery has to be fitted and brakes etc uprated due to increased weight. ...
Not totally sure about that.
Lookig under the bonnet of my neighbour's Vivaro van overall mass of the battery and motor(s?) is probably about the same as a hefty diesel and its associated gearbox.
It certainly doesn't look significantly heavier than the diesel version in relation to the vehicle's overall structural weight and payload. I haven't checked underneath to see if there are any rear axle motors, which could assist with regenerative braking.
It is new and exciting technology and as a technophile myself I am increasingly impressed.
The conventional fuel Skoda Davis estate has a mass of 1000-1200kg, depending on specific trim etc. The electric Skoda Enyaq has a mass between 1900-2200kg. Are we really to believe that electric vans aren't also much heavier than the conventional fuel counterparts? How on earth is the Skoda car TWICE as heavy, for comparable boot space, cabin space, seat configuration etc?! It's bonkers and can't be good for the formation of particulates from tyre wear and road wear. "
They are also getting worried about muilty story carparks not taking the waight. |
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"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive?
In the grand scheme of things it’s still new technology…. We are still in the early adopters stage…but with so many new cars coming in the next 18-24 months prices will tumble
It probably sounds counterintuitive… but the plans for most of the car manufacturers is to build the more luxury cars first .. perfect that technology to test everything…then be able to scale down for mass market and production "
Which bits of the technology are still new? That require significant investment to bring to market? The wheel? The battery? The breaks? Its a fuel cell with stop go pedals come on. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
They are also getting worried about muilty story carparks not taking the waight."
Think of the positive, that means less capacity therefore the same overall floor space with a lower capacity will finally mean proper sized parking spaces for those who are just incapable of parking |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
Which bits of the technology are still new? That require significant investment to bring to market? The wheel? The battery? The breaks? Its a fuel cell with stop go pedals come on. "
Batteries are in continual development. If solid state arrives soon, it changes the game for EVs in general.
Many companies still developing their 800V charging architecture, some have got there already, others are developing as that being charging capability from ~180kW to ~350kW leading to less time spent at chargers which seems to be everyone who doesn’t own an EVs biggest complaint |
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"
Which bits of the technology are still new? That require significant investment to bring to market? The wheel? The battery? The breaks? Its a fuel cell with stop go pedals come on.
Batteries are in continual development. If solid state arrives soon, it changes the game for EVs in general.
Many companies still developing their 800V charging architecture, some have got there already, others are developing as that being charging capability from ~180kW to ~350kW leading to less time spent at chargers which seems to be everyone who doesn’t own an EVs biggest complaint "
I get that. Which is analogous with any incremental technological development in any vehicle type. And they dont suddenly bump the price of the finished product up by almost 100%. The new tech argument is a bit of a stretch. Basically swap battery A for battery B shouldnt be so significant. |
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"
(re hydrogen)
....
You don't need starters, injection, gear boxes etc because hydrogen fueled cars will still be electric using a fuel cell instead of batteries. The process generates electricity and water."
Thank you for that clarification. Despite being a technophile I hadn't kept up to date. Probably because it hasn't happened yet on the street. I assumed that hydrogen
Being old enough to remember hearing about the R101 disaster, I haven't wanted to have much to do with hydrogen.
I assumed that hydrogen cars would burn the gas, albeit not as spectacularly a airships did. However, safety concerns will need to be addressed in order to gain public confidence.
Something doesn't ring true though. Why, if hydrogen is the clear way forward, is it happening so slowly? Could it not also be used as a domestic electricity source or will it put water boards out of business as well as EDF?
|
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"
(re hydrogen)
....
You don't need starters, injection, gear boxes etc because hydrogen fueled cars will still be electric using a fuel cell instead of batteries. The process generates electricity and water.
Thank you for that clarification. Despite being a technophile I hadn't kept up to date. Probably because it hasn't happened yet on the street. I assumed that hydrogen
Being old enough to remember hearing about the R101 disaster, I haven't wanted to have much to do with hydrogen.
I assumed that hydrogen cars would burn the gas, albeit not as spectacularly a airships did. However, safety concerns will need to be addressed in order to gain public confidence.
Something doesn't ring true though. Why, if hydrogen is the clear way forward, is it happening so slowly? Could it not also be used as a domestic electricity source or will it put water boards out of business as well as EDF?
"
The process of hydrolysis is currently very expensive |
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"
(re hydrogen)
....
You don't need starters, injection, gear boxes etc because hydrogen fueled cars will still be electric using a fuel cell instead of batteries. The process generates electricity and water.
Thank you for that clarification. Despite being a technophile I hadn't kept up to date. Probably because it hasn't happened yet on the street. I assumed that hydrogen
Being old enough to remember hearing about the R101 disaster, I haven't wanted to have much to do with hydrogen.
I assumed that hydrogen cars would burn the gas, albeit not as spectacularly a airships did. However, safety concerns will need to be addressed in order to gain public confidence.
Something doesn't ring true though. Why, if hydrogen is the clear way forward, is it happening so slowly? Could it not also be used as a domestic electricity source or will it put water boards out of business as well as EDF?
"
And that... Is a very good and relevant question. Lobbying by energy companies and auto industry might play a part.? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Plus 70% of the cobalt in the batteries is mined by sl@ves in inhumane conditions in the Congo,yes I know my phone contains cobalt"
This! Currently Cobalt and Nickel cost so much to mine and refine that it’s not there yet in terms of being “cheap”. That’s even with the amount of sl*ves used in the mining of it! Look at Cobalt mines in the Congo, where the majority of our electrical components start their lives, and you will be horrified |
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The way forward will likely be EV but coupled with some kind of 'charge while you drive' technology. This is already extensively used in industry using magnet induction coupling. The problem is that the coupling is energy inefficient and needs further refining. But in future it's not hard to see magnetic loops embedded in roads. |
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"The way forward will likely be EV but coupled with some kind of 'charge while you drive' technology. This is already extensively used in industry using magnet induction coupling. The problem is that the coupling is energy inefficient and needs further refining. But in future it's not hard to see magnetic loops embedded in roads. "
Dodgems... Youd have "attendants" jumping from bumper to bumper collecting your fares |
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"I recently got a lease car with work - my contribution was based on list price - Diesel version £18k - Electric version of same car £35k!
So as list price was the main driver for my monthly contribution guess what I chose...?what's the difference once you allow for the favourable tax rate?
Currently I contribute £10 / month for the diesel version- EV version was £250 / month!
What is this favourable tax rate you speak off? If it's road tax I don't pay it - the business does (as it does all costs) - but the diesel version I have is £20 / year if I was paying it so wouldn't break the bank - in fact when the lease is up I'll probably buy the car off the lease company as drivers get first refusal & it's a good truck "
Fully electric cars and vans can be 100% deduction in the first year against corporate tax. |
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"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars."
Needs a bigger boot though!! |
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"
(re hydrogen)
....
You don't need starters, injection, gear boxes etc because hydrogen fueled cars will still be electric using a fuel cell instead of batteries. The process generates electricity and water.
Thank you for that clarification. Despite being a technophile I hadn't kept up to date. Probably because it hasn't happened yet on the street. I assumed that hydrogen
Being old enough to remember hearing about the R101 disaster, I haven't wanted to have much to do with hydrogen.
I assumed that hydrogen cars would burn the gas, albeit not as spectacularly a airships did. However, safety concerns will need to be addressed in order to gain public confidence.
Something doesn't ring true though. Why, if hydrogen is the clear way forward, is it happening so slowly? Could it not also be used as a domestic electricity source or will it put water boards out of business as well as EDF?
The process of hydrolysis is currently very expensive "
And very energy intensive. |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive?
In the grand scheme of things it’s still new technology…. We are still in the early adopters stage…but with so many new cars coming in the next 18-24 months prices will tumble
It probably sounds counterintuitive… but the plans for most of the car manufacturers is to build the more luxury cars first .. perfect that technology to test everything…then be able to scale down for mass market and production
Which bits of the technology are still new? That require significant investment to bring to market? The wheel? The battery? The breaks? Its a fuel cell with stop go pedals come on. "
For example in the last few years you have seen the max charging speeds for both the cars and the infrastructure go through the roof… I remember the original models of the Nissan leaf’s only being able to charge at 50kw… now cars can charge at 250-300 with the model templates potentially being able to accommodate 400-800kw charging… the original public fast chargers could only do 75kw… now there’s super fast chargers that can do up to 350kw charging
The thing with threads like this is that basically people are looking for reasons to piss in their cornflakes! Looking for cants rather than cans! |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
""This part isn’t true - it was for the very earliest ones but for anything from the last 10 years the batteries should last way longer than the car".
Not sure anyone can validate that yet? Jury is very much out based on present experience."
Actually… they technically can
Just like you can put a car on a roller for example to see how much usable BHP there is in an engine compared to what it was originally… the same thing can be done for a battery (p.s your mobile phone can do it!)
What they have found in early Tesla model s for example is that even after 10 years… the batteries were still roughly 85-90% of where it was originally… |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Plus 70% of the cobalt in the batteries is mined by sl@ves in inhumane conditions in the Congo,yes I know my phone contains cobalt"
Your phone contains cobalt because it is a Li-on battery….. most new cheaper cars will actually use LFP batteries which don’t contain cobalt
I wish this trope would finally disappear…. |
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""This part isn’t true - it was for the very earliest ones but for anything from the last 10 years the batteries should last way longer than the car".
Not sure anyone can validate that yet? Jury is very much out based on present experience.
Actually… they technically can
Just like you can put a car on a roller for example to see how much usable BHP there is in an engine compared to what it was originally… the same thing can be done for a battery (p.s your mobile phone can do it!)
What they have found in early Tesla model s for example is that even after 10 years… the batteries were still roughly 85-90% of where it was originally… "
Need to run it in everyday conditions for 10yrs plus to be certain of a comparison.
And again not many can afford a Tesla. |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
""This part isn’t true - it was for the very earliest ones but for anything from the last 10 years the batteries should last way longer than the car".
Not sure anyone can validate that yet? Jury is very much out based on present experience.
Actually… they technically can
Just like you can put a car on a roller for example to see how much usable BHP there is in an engine compared to what it was originally… the same thing can be done for a battery (p.s your mobile phone can do it!)
What they have found in early Tesla model s for example is that even after 10 years… the batteries were still roughly 85-90% of where it was originally…
Need to run it in everyday conditions for 10yrs plus to be certain of a comparison.
And again not many can afford a Tesla."
Oh I absolutely get the Tesla pricing negativity.. I was on the original model 3 waiting list until I was priced out… now I am waiting to see if I can get something in the range of what I can afford (answer for me is not there yet, but heading in the right direction)
The battery is one of the things I worry least about… because if the likes of Kia or Hyundai are happy to give 8 year/100,000 miles warranty’s then you are likely to get more than that! |
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But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. "
could every lampost double up ?
Or every parking spot have a plug?
Given we are a nation of coffee shop lovers, I can something here too. Costa charge points.
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. could every lampost double up ?
Or every parking spot have a plug?
Given we are a nation of coffee shop lovers, I can something here too. Costa charge points.
"
I don't think so, the public need it as convenient as going to a petrol station.
Getting a parking space or lamp-post is too random given tower blocks or villages etc and costs too great for councils etc.
The universal battery needs to be reasonably flat, square or oblong & go straight under a car much like phone batteries before they became sealed.
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"
(re hydrogen)
....
You don't need starters, injection, gear boxes etc because hydrogen fueled cars will still be electric using a fuel cell instead of batteries. The process generates electricity and water.
Thank you for that clarification. Despite being a technophile I hadn't kept up to date. Probably because it hasn't happened yet on the street. I assumed that hydrogen
Being old enough to remember hearing about the R101 disaster, I haven't wanted to have much to do with hydrogen.
I assumed that hydrogen cars would burn the gas, albeit not as spectacularly a airships did. However, safety concerns will need to be addressed in order to gain public confidence.
Something doesn't ring true though. Why, if hydrogen is the clear way forward, is it happening so slowly? Could it not also be used as a domestic electricity source or will it put water boards out of business as well as EDF?
The process of hydrolysis is currently very expensive
And very energy intensive."
I’m assuming this is what creates the expense |
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. "
Exactly. I'm driving a 2012 Renault estate. Aside normal wear and tear (brake pads/discs and a caliper, tyres etc) plus a back windscreen wiper assembly (Knowsley Safari park related), my car has thus far required no significant repairs, and definitely nothing that would be so expensive that it'd be better to scrap it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. could every lampost double up ?
Or every parking spot have a plug?
Given we are a nation of coffee shop lovers, I can something here too. Costa charge points.
I don't think so, the public need it as convenient as going to a petrol station.
Getting a parking space or lamp-post is too random given tower blocks or villages etc and costs too great for councils etc.
The universal battery needs to be reasonably flat, square or oblong & go straight under a car much like phone batteries before they became sealed.
"
maybe my experience is different but I struggle to imagine not once being in a parking space in 250 miles of driving. |
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations.
Exactly. I'm driving a 2012 Renault estate. Aside normal wear and tear (brake pads/discs and a caliper, tyres etc) plus a back windscreen wiper assembly (Knowsley Safari park related), my car has thus far required no significant repairs, and definitely nothing that would be so expensive that it'd be better to scrap it. "
Just wait till something major fails on that. Then you will be scrapping it. And the older the car gets along with mileage becoming higher things fail more often. And eventually it’s costs too much to repair.
It will be the same with electric vehicles at some point it becomes cheaper to scrap. But there will be a whole new industry springing up to repair the battery packs. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
For older battery packs that were of poor life span, the battery packs are being harvested for energy storage in many applications.
For me, the moment my battery pack dies (unlikely in my ownership) it will be installed in the garage, attached to the solar array and it will be used to store energy rather than selling it back to the grid. Win Win for me |
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"For older battery packs that were of poor life span, the battery packs are being harvested for energy storage in many applications.
For me, the moment my battery pack dies (unlikely in my ownership) it will be installed in the garage, attached to the solar array and it will be used to store energy rather than selling it back to the grid. Win Win for me"
And what happens to the car? |
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations.
Exactly. I'm driving a 2012 Renault estate. Aside normal wear and tear (brake pads/discs and a caliper, tyres etc) plus a back windscreen wiper assembly (Knowsley Safari park related), my car has thus far required no significant repairs, and definitely nothing that would be so expensive that it'd be better to scrap it.
Just wait till something major fails on that. Then you will be scrapping it. And the older the car gets along with mileage becoming higher things fail more often. And eventually it’s costs too much to repair.
It will be the same with electric vehicles at some point it becomes cheaper to scrap. But there will be a whole new industry springing up to repair the battery packs. "
I will indeed, but it's currently 11yrs old and doing just fine for now. I'm shitting myself when it finally conks out because wheelchair accessible charging infrastructure and suitable boot sizes in affordable electric cars simply doesn't exist. I'm absolutely fucked without a car |
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"For older battery packs that were of poor life span, the battery packs are being harvested for energy storage in many applications.
For me, the moment my battery pack dies (unlikely in my ownership) it will be installed in the garage, attached to the solar array and it will be used to store energy rather than selling it back to the grid. Win Win for me"
Speaking as someone who has struggled for a lifetime with the concept of throwing away dud batteries, they might seem appealing to keep for back up purposes but they will never compare with good ones.
You can feed the solar array into a battery in the garage but how long will the battery hold it for? If it won't run a car any more it probably wont heat a house either. Maybe run some LED lighting or run a telly or computer or two at no cost!
However, I have little experience with storage batteries other than lead/acid and lithium-ion. Deep cycle SLAs have usually lasted well if not left discharged for too long. Lithium-ion seem to die fairly convincingly once they decide to. Not tried Lithium polymer yet.
I'm sure we haven't come to the end of battery design options yet, especially with the incentive of using them to propel cars. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water "
Hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric cars and at the moment there is only one filling station in Scotland, and that's in Aberdeen. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water
100% agree, electric cars are only short term to appease the wealthy who pretend driving electric cars offset all of their flights.
At best 8yr battery life makes used electric cars a leap in the dark & the weight means HGV lose so much payload its not viable."
Faulty battery cells can be replaced individually. Some batteries come with a 10 year warranty and you still have first gen hybrids running around on 20 year old batteries. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water
All very well but still going to need starters, carburation, ignition, exhaust, lubrication, cooling, gearboxes, all of which electric propulsion obviates. Impressive, eh?
Just get a decent battery invented soon. Divert efforts to sort out hydrogen management into battery development."
Carburetors haven't been fitted since the early 90s. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Electric vehicles have been around for years. My father was a milkman 60 years ago. Yes vehicle slow , no comfort etc. But powered by a battery and had brakes etc. New electric cars use electronics developed for machinery in factories. Plus electronics which diesel and petrol cars use. Yes redesign of standard car as battery has to be fitted and brakes etc uprated due to increased weight. A lot of wiring for lights , windscreen wipers, heaters etc , would be used from diesel and petrol cars .
The cost of electric cars is mostly from paying for the new automation lines to produce these vehicles. "
They've been around a lot longer than that. Ferdinand Porsche developed a hybrid tank, a generator driving electric motors. |
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations.
Exactly. I'm driving a 2012 Renault estate. Aside normal wear and tear (brake pads/discs and a caliper, tyres etc) plus a back windscreen wiper assembly (Knowsley Safari park related), my car has thus far required no significant repairs, and definitely nothing that would be so expensive that it'd be better to scrap it.
Just wait till something major fails on that. Then you will be scrapping it. And the older the car gets along with mileage becoming higher things fail more often. And eventually it’s costs too much to repair.
It will be the same with electric vehicles at some point it becomes cheaper to scrap. But there will be a whole new industry springing up to repair the battery packs. "
Yes, there will emerge an industry to refurbish/extend EV batteries. They are not one single battery anyway, but an array of smaller cells. With electronics, dead cells can be diagnosed and replaced. Manufacturer's like Tesla aren't keen on this refurbishing concept, but I think it's inevitable. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars."
You can buy an mg4 for 24k. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive?
In the grand scheme of things it’s still new technology…. We are still in the early adopters stage…but with so many new cars coming in the next 18-24 months prices will tumble
It probably sounds counterintuitive… but the plans for most of the car manufacturers is to build the more luxury cars first .. perfect that technology to test everything…then be able to scale down for mass market and production
Which bits of the technology are still new? That require significant investment to bring to market? The wheel? The battery? The breaks? Its a fuel cell with stop go pedals come on. "
It's brakes, not breaks. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"When I compare my large toy car to an equivalent ICE vehicle. There isn’t much of a premium.
Compare it to an equivalently priced car:
Polestar 2 : 408bhp, 0-60 4.4s, AWD, 5 door saloon all options except performance pack
BMW m340i : 369bhp, 0-60 4.4s, AWD, 5 door saloon, no options added.
Both sit at just over £55k list and honestly, 16 months on, I’m glad I chose the car I did at the time. "
So you're a BMW driver?  |
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"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars.
You can buy an mg4 for 24k."
That’s still more than double what I would pay for a car. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Because they are the new gadget that everyone wants. So of course companies are cashing in.
The mr
Each to their own
I have just sole my Toyota Hilux 2.4 invincible-x and replaced it with a brand new 2023 plate Toyota Hilux 2.8 invincible-x.
The Hilux is an amazing truck both on, and off road. it is excellent for towing and will basically take you anywhere. Plus for all those isolated places without fuel stations it covers a genuine 480 miles on 60 litres of fuel and plenty storage for extra fuel cans.
.
If Electric cars are the future I will let you all rush in, dont ask me for a tow or a lift when you break down up in the Scottish Highlands though.
Then again Electric vehicles do not have a neutral gear so towing one would be a right problem haha."
In rural situations electric cars are not ideal, however, if you have a charger at home every morning you have a full charge. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. "
This is a dreadful post. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars.
You can buy an mg4 for 24k.
That’s still more than double what I would pay for a car. "
Cool, buy what you want. |
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"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars.
You can buy an mg4 for 24k."
Where? The mg web site has it starting at 26995
https://www.mg.co.uk/new-cars/mg4-ev |
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"
Hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric cars and at the moment there is only one filling station in Scotland, and that's in Aberdeen."
Is this filling station servicing fuel cell users or are there any vehicles using hydrogen in conventional ICE format?
We've heard the Betamax syndrome mentioned already. My gut feeling is that battery powered electric cars are going to be the VHS of the emerging car format wars, not hydrogen fuel cells.
The latter will still need a propulsion battery, inter alia, for taking advantage of regenerative braking, I would have thought. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
Hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric cars and at the moment there is only one filling station in Scotland, and that's in Aberdeen.
Is this filling station servicing fuel cell users or are there any vehicles using hydrogen in conventional ICE format?
We've heard the Betamax syndrome mentioned already. My gut feeling is that battery powered electric cars are going to be the VHS of the emerging car format wars, not hydrogen fuel cells.
The latter will still need a propulsion battery, inter alia, for taking advantage of regenerative braking, I would have thought."
It's more likely you'll see hydrogen trucks before we see plenty of cars. |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars.
You can buy an mg4 for 24k.
Where? The mg web site has it starting at 26995
https://www.mg.co.uk/new-cars/mg4-ev"
Which is still cheaper than for example a brand new ICE Ford focus…. Just to give you a price point comparison |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Volkswagen will break the mould next spring with the new all electric ID2 selling for £22k, it's expected to be followed by next summer by the new Ford electric hatchback which will sell at not much more than £20-£21k.
They are going to be mirrored by the other major manufacturers following the trend for lower priced all electric cars.
You can buy an mg4 for 24k.
Where? The mg web site has it starting at 26995
https://www.mg.co.uk/new-cars/mg4-ev"
Apologies, the price has jumped since the initial launch. They were given £4k off if you worked as a teacher, policeman, fireman etc. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive? because they come supplied with a built in crematoriun..."
Lol what are you talking about? You do realise any ice car has approximately 60litres of diesel or petrol underneath it, highly flammable the last time I checked. |
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"
It's more likely you'll see hydrogen trucks before we see plenty of cars."
Or trucks with electric propulsion charged by a low grade jet fuel powered APU as used to provide the back up services in airliners. |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations. could every lampost double up ?
Or every parking spot have a plug?
Given we are a nation of coffee shop lovers, I can something here too. Costa charge points.
I don't think so, the public need it as convenient as going to a petrol station.
Getting a parking space or lamp-post is too random given tower blocks or villages etc and costs too great for councils etc.
The universal battery needs to be reasonably flat, square or oblong & go straight under a car much like phone batteries before they became sealed.
"
You hit upon something that frustrates the bejesus out of me, why don’t we realise that petrol stations will end up converting some of the petrol spots into electric charging spots instead… in fact space wise you could have more slots in total…
It doesn’t take a whole lot of reimagining… for example that oil company shell have EV charging stations in London… if you look on YouTube you can see what one looks like |
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations.
Exactly. I'm driving a 2012 Renault estate. Aside normal wear and tear (brake pads/discs and a caliper, tyres etc) plus a back windscreen wiper assembly (Knowsley Safari park related), my car has thus far required no significant repairs, and definitely nothing that would be so expensive that it'd be better to scrap it.
Just wait till something major fails on that. Then you will be scrapping it. And the older the car gets along with mileage becoming higher things fail more often. And eventually it’s costs too much to repair.
It will be the same with electric vehicles at some point it becomes cheaper to scrap. But there will be a whole new industry springing up to repair the battery packs.
Yes, there will emerge an industry to refurbish/extend EV batteries. They are not one single battery anyway, but an array of smaller cells. With electronics, dead cells can be diagnosed and replaced. Manufacturer's like Tesla aren't keen on this refurbishing concept, but I think it's inevitable."
Videos on Youtube of Tesla batteries being removed and repaired as can be dropped out easily.The newer types where the pack is part of the structure make that a lot harder. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"When I compare my large toy car to an equivalent ICE vehicle. There isn’t much of a premium.
Compare it to an equivalently priced car:
Polestar 2 : 408bhp, 0-60 4.4s, AWD, 5 door saloon all options except performance pack
BMW m340i : 369bhp, 0-60 4.4s, AWD, 5 door saloon, no options added.
Both sit at just over £55k list and honestly, 16 months on, I’m glad I chose the car I did at the time.
So you're a BMW driver? "
Oh hell no!! Please don’t insult me like that!
I’m happy to be one of the open minded, the polestar is a good looking Volvo with all the benefits that comes with it, the bmw is a monstrosity that you’d place under a cover on your driveway so as not to be seen.
I still see BEV as the future, HEV could have its place in certain applications where BEV is not suitable (goods vehicles etc). BEV will evolve to solid state and hopefully we will see 500kW and above charging rates in the not too distant future. |
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When you consider the battery packs cost the price of a small car, then that along with it all being new tech, its going to cost more.
Plus as its going to be a short term fix, the manufacturers want to ensure that they recoup their investments quickly. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Because of the lithium batteries that they use and their weight. They’re not simple machines unfortunately. The sustainability of the lithium batteries will come into question one day as well |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Because we live in the UK and everything is ridiculously more expensive than anywhere else.  "
Really!!!!!
You should try living in the USA right now, food, drink, beer, fuel, accommodation all highly expensive |
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water "
Let me know when the issue of storage will be sorted. Plus you need to transport it anyway which kinda defeats the objective of green compared to electricity.
Building the infrastructure for electric is a nightmare compare that with a totally new infrastructure for hydrogen.
Hydrogen may be the future but not in our lifetime. |
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"Electric cars are not the way forward...hydrogen is.. takes the same to fill up as now..problem is storage..once that is fixed ..it will be the way only waste is water
Let me know when the issue of storage will be sorted. Plus you need to transport it anyway which kinda defeats the objective of green compared to electricity.
Building the infrastructure for electric is a nightmare compare that with a totally new infrastructure for hydrogen.
Hydrogen may be the future but not in our lifetime."
One of our customers is producing vans using Hydrogen rather than electric.
Midway through development and Shell announced that they would be halting Hydrogen production and mothballed the plant??
It's as if they don't want it to succeed.
Hmm, I wonder why? |
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"Dunno, I’ve had 6 electric cars in my time and never paid more than £200pcm for them. Kia Niro has been the best one I’ve owned."
I've never paid more than £7500 for a car. The one I'm sat in right now. Purchased second hand at 4yrs old. It's now 11yrs old and running brilliantly. An equivalent sized e-car through work would require me to sacrifice £500 a month min. Not a chance! |
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As well as cost to purchase, the constant worry of thinking about if I have enough charge to get from a-b and back makes me keep away. Also wasting charge trying to find a place to recharge! With petrol/diesel it's much less worry and easier to plan a journey. Maybe electric is one for the future but not for me at the moment. |
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"But what about after 8 years? The residuals might fall off a cliff & the next buyer gets a ticking time bomb.
Will we be scrapping 10yr old electric cars.
The whole system can only really work with universal batteries that can quickly be changed at "fuel stations". This would resolve charging issues at home if in a flat etc & on route charging.
Ultimately countrywide battery stations like petrol stations.
This is a dreadful post."
Is that it? Want to clarify why or have you run out of words? |
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"Billions spent in research & development that needs recuperating. The batteries are also very expensive at the moment.
They will eventually become more affordable when they are the mainstream, which they will inevitably be.
Early adopters always have to pay a premium, a bit like when those fancy new flat screen lasagne TV sets came out, they were thousands to buy, but soon after everyone could afford one."
Eaxactly this!!
The first E vehicles were sold at a loss. This and the above, combined with the need for significantly more development on battery/hydrogen cell technology neccesary to allow for a wider roll out and, significant market share increase over fossil fuels. |
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Getting a 3 year old Corsa E next week. At £ 17K or so doesn't seem so bad as petrol ones of same age are about 13K or so.
I had a test drive at the weekend and the acceleration was better than our petrol vauxhall. I actually learned to drive in an automatic before moving on to a stick so just gotta get used to forgetting me left foot again.
I can charge at home to my hearts content as have solar and batteries so will do all my local miles for virtually nowt and no car tax and servicing should be pretty minimal. Why on earth are people so hung up about change. I am 61 so if I can do it why can't anyone else ?
Personally I think people like me have a duty to the younger generation to try these things. If it doesn't work out then nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. At the moment for me going green makes a lot of financial sense and not doing it is just cutting off my own nose to spite my face.
|
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"Because we live in the UK and everything is ridiculously more expensive than anywhere else.
Really!!!!!
You should try living in the USA right now, food, drink, beer, fuel, accommodation all highly expensive "
I agree. My sister lives in California and the bills she quoted me for utilities, insurance, food etc etc are absolutely eye watering. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Road damage and minimal carbon offset.
And probably cause more damage on impact to humans or inanimate objects if there's a crash."
The 2 electric cars had as more sensors and warnings be hard to collide with a fly |
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They’re expensive because they’re a nascent technology. Wright’s law states that there is a fixed reduction in cost for every cumulative doubling of production. ICE cars have been at the top of its ‘S’ curve for years so savings in that technology are mostly in the past.
Tesla, about the only company to be able to show that they can be made profitably will next year announce an Fucus-size competitor at half the cost to manufacture, they will reduce by factors the cost of electric motors and batteries are going through a revolution.
IMO we are at the most expensive electric cars will be and they will get cheaper. The issue for most legacy manufacturers is that they might not exist to make them. We will see cheaper electric cars but it may be that 70% of them are made by Tesla.
Hades |
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By *urgyeMan
over a year ago
southampton and ealing |
"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive? "
And it is not just a question of cost but the expense and complications of ownership. Insurance groups are sky high, if in for repair etc, must be stored 15 mtrs away from anything else, catch on fire and can't be put out. |
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By *urgyeMan
over a year ago
southampton and ealing |
"Because they are the new gadget that everyone wants. So of course companies are cashing in.
The mr
Each to their own
I have just sole my Toyota Hilux 2.4 invincible-x and replaced it with a brand new 2023 plate Toyota Hilux 2.8 invincible-x.
The Hilux is an amazing truck both on, and off road. it is excellent for towing and will basically take you anywhere. Plus for all those isolated places without fuel stations it covers a genuine 480 miles on 60 litres of fuel and plenty storage for extra fuel cans.
.
If Electric cars are the future I will let you all rush in, dont ask me for a tow or a lift when you break down up in the Scottish Highlands though.
Then again Electric vehicles do not have a neutral gear so towing one would be a right problem haha."
Electric vehicles can't be towed, just another drawback? |
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In the 90s a major car manufacturer got cars to run on alcohol after adjustments to the ecu it ran just as well as petrol cars only emitted water from the exhaust but it wasn't allowed as we can brew the fuel at home and can't be taxed |
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"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive?
And it is not just a question of cost but the expense and complications of ownership. Insurance groups are sky high, if in for repair etc, must be stored 15 mtrs away from anything else, catch on fire and can't be put out. "
I understand that insurance is high on a Tesla because the battery is part of the chassis and if the battery is damaged in any way then you have to junk the car - which happens quite a bit. |
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"In the 90s a major car manufacturer got cars to run on alcohol after adjustments to the ecu it ran just as well as petrol cars only emitted water from the exhaust but it wasn't allowed as we can brew the fuel at home and can't be taxed"
They run fine on distilled wheat. Mind you, we’d have nothing to eat if all the wheat crops turned into fuel producing fields. |
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I work for a major car retailer that has several new car franchises.
We currently have a buying ban in place for all used EV models unless it's a part exchange and they get sent straight to auction.
The reason for this is because of the weak second hand values, one Tesla model lost 5 grand in a month according to Caps, our used car Bible.
The trade are jittery about EVs both in residuals and reliability although the latter is largely unjustified.
I think the way forward at the moment for anyone thinking of changing their car is a hybrid vehicle and out of all the makes and models we deal with the Hyundai Ionic and Kia Niro are the fastest sellers and have excellent reliability |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I think it's stupid. The price of cars is ridiculously high and electric cars are well out of my reach.
I've had my current car 12 years. If I end up losing that when/if electric cars are compulsory I'm going to have to use public transport. I've got no way of finding that much money for a car. |
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By *TG3Man
over a year ago
Dorchester |
"Cheaper to make, cheaper to service, less moving parts. So why so stupidly expensive? "
convert your petrol car and see where the money goes, wheeler dealer did a conversion on one of their shows think it cost about £10,000 was it a mustang?  |
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"I think it's stupid. The price of cars is ridiculously high and electric cars are well out of my reach.
I've had my current car 12 years. If I end up losing that when/if electric cars are compulsory I'm going to have to use public transport. I've got no way of finding that much money for a car."
It will be 20 years before you see an outright ban on used petrol cars and that’s a big big if it even happens |
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By *m3232Man
over a year ago
maidenhead |
"I think it's stupid. The price of cars is ridiculously high and electric cars are well out of my reach.
I've had my current car 12 years. If I end up losing that when/if electric cars are compulsory I'm going to have to use public transport. I've got no way of finding that much money for a car."
You are definitely right there. Hopefully it’s many years before petrol cars become too expensive to run. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Because they are the new gadget that everyone wants. So of course companies are cashing in.
The mr
Each to their own
I have just sole my Toyota Hilux 2.4 invincible-x and replaced it with a brand new 2023 plate Toyota Hilux 2.8 invincible-x.
The Hilux is an amazing truck both on, and off road. it is excellent for towing and will basically take you anywhere. Plus for all those isolated places without fuel stations it covers a genuine 480 miles on 60 litres of fuel and plenty storage for extra fuel cans.
.
If Electric cars are the future I will let you all rush in, dont ask me for a tow or a lift when you break down up in the Scottish Highlands though.
Then again Electric vehicles do not have a neutral gear so towing one would be a right problem haha. Electric vehicles can't be towed, just another drawback?"
Why would you want to tow it? Is that a regular thing you do?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I work for a major car retailer that has several new car franchises.
We currently have a buying ban in place for all used EV models unless it's a part exchange and they get sent straight to auction.
The reason for this is because of the weak second hand values, one Tesla model lost 5 grand in a month according to Caps, our used car Bible.
The trade are jittery about EVs both in residuals and reliability although the latter is largely unjustified.
I think the way forward at the moment for anyone thinking of changing their car is a hybrid vehicle and out of all the makes and models we deal with the Hyundai Ionic and Kia Niro are the fastest sellers and have excellent reliability "
All cars lose equity, the more expensive the car the bigger the hit, it's always been like that. |
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"Because they are the new gadget that everyone wants. So of course companies are cashing in.
The mr
Each to their own
I have just sole my Toyota Hilux 2.4 invincible-x and replaced it with a brand new 2023 plate Toyota Hilux 2.8 invincible-x.
The Hilux is an amazing truck both on, and off road. it is excellent for towing and will basically take you anywhere. Plus for all those isolated places without fuel stations it covers a genuine 480 miles on 60 litres of fuel and plenty storage for extra fuel cans.
.
If Electric cars are the future I will let you all rush in, dont ask me for a tow or a lift when you break down up in the Scottish Highlands though.
Then again Electric vehicles do not have a neutral gear so towing one would be a right problem haha. Electric vehicles can't be towed, just another drawback?
Why would you want to tow it? Is that a regular thing you do?
"
The AA & RAC will tow you home using their van if you are less than 13 miles from home or a garage. Over that and you have to wait for a tow truck to take the vehicle on the back. |
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