What's the problem with electric cars?

[Thekilt]

Originally Posted by andy_d

they said that about the original milk floats,, "be patient your milk will get there eventually",,,
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When (IF) they can do a milk float that has comparable range to my Petrol engine, with the speed AND safety of refuelling that matches the time @ the petrol pump, will go Way past 200K miles with regular services / service items as needed,
does not need a "new battery pack at £Stupid cost " every few years, isnt as heavy on the tires/streering/breaking system, and can tow without compromising the range/life span like it does now,,

its a Huge IF and a "who knows When and even IF " thats possible, till then EV isnt a viable alternative, forcing us to have them = No,

Most of your points above are null and void electric cars, the only one is speed of charging and range, the latter of which is almost there. Safety wise charging is a LOT safer than pouring a flammable liquid into your car at a pump. "Sorry, cant use your phone near the pump just in case it ignites the fumes.." yea that sounds safe!

Regular services on most aren’t necessary, its only manufacturer recommended as that’s the sales strategy for combustion cars.

Tyres: A bit heavier on the tyres but not much, only if you are constantly hard accelerating. New compounds are being developed to reduce this, with more economical materials to aid wear and better particulates.

Braking: Electric cars actually use less braking than normal cars due to regen from the motors releasing back into the battery. If you go up to a ski resort from the bottom, and regen back down again most of the time you dont actually use any energy as all the electricity used getting up is recovered coming down. There is a dumper truck that works this way too coming in and out of a quarry.
Steering: Not sure what your point is here? steering isnt affected from the propulsion method

Towing: This is debatable as any petrol/diesel car is equally inefficient when towing, the only benefit is you have started with a higher range. Percentage wise you are about on par.
Battery packs only need replacing when they have been abused from constant fast charging (same as an engine if you abuse it and don’t look after it) or due to manufacturing defect (covered by warranty) or mis-use as in going through floods (which is the same as an engine with hydraulic lockup). Yes engines can be repaired, but so can battery packs however there are very few companies carrying this out at present. Quite a few in Norway and the states where EVs have been common place for a decade. Here they are still in their infancy.

the biggest factors which put people off EVs is Price and change to something different. People don’t like change in habits and cant get around charging at home. Its the same as charging your phone. Get home, plug it in, ready in the morning. Appreciate this still isn’t a viable way for people without access to their house with nearby parking, however Norway has lamppost chargers and other next to road points and has had these for the past 8 years.

[foggyjames]

Originally Posted by Thekilt

If you go up to a ski resort from the bottom, and regen back down again most of the time you dont actually use any energy as all the electricity used getting up is recovered coming down.

Hang on just a moment...you appear to have just invented perpetual motion!

You might recover quite a bit (I don't know...maybe 50%?), but absolutely not all. The motor is not 100% efficient, and there's various forms of drag to consider.

cheers

James