As I mentioned in another thread, it is the time of the hybrid. All the advantages of the electric car with the disadvantages of a petrol car I know, but it is a good middle ground between here and there. Once people accept a hybrid with a tiny engine they will tick most boxes.
I think the hybrid is the sweet spot. The advantages of both the electric and ICE power sources. The only real disadvantage from the ICE is local emissions. The ICE gives greater flexibility and basically instant "recharge" (i.e. refuelling takes a few minutes compared to dozens/hundreds of minutes with electricity) whilst the EV part allows for running in EV mode in emissions sensitive areas such as urban environments. The EV boosts the ICE for those moments when performance is required such as quickly overtaking a lorry or other slow vehicle.Big Tea wrote: ↑19 Nov 2020, 19:24As I mentioned in another thread, it is the time of the hybrid. All the advantages of the electric car with the disadvantages of a petrol car I know, but it is a good middle ground between here and there. Once people accept a hybrid with a tiny engine they will tick most boxes.
The thing about the cost to run an EV compared with an ICE really depends on where you live. In some countries, petrol is almost free and an EV makes no real sense from an economic point of view. In other countries, petrol/diesel is massively taxed and an EV makes sense. Even allowing for paying to use the roads on a "pay per mile" basis, the EV is still likely to be cheaper as the maintenance costs should be lower. I can see a tiered "pay per mile" system where high emissions cars pay more per mile than lower / zero emission cars. At least to start with in order to help drive the old stock off the roads. Once everyone is driving EVs, I would expect the payment to be based on either weight or performance as both are likely to increase road wear as they also increase. Either that or it'll be a flat fee for everyone with a front loaded tax based on purchase price. They'll need to get their equivalent of fuel and vehicle excise duties somehow.Phil wrote: ↑19 Nov 2020, 12:30It’s good to see that the fairy tale period will soon be over with the myth that EVs will be so cheap to run. They may result in less maintenance cost through higher efficiency, but the increase in electricity demands and the swing to more environment friendly sources (solar, wind etc) will lead to higher cost impacting everyone. Meanwhile governments will get just as much from milking commuters by taxing them as they have before. Only difference is that a large bulk will come from everyone on a per driven basis rather than those that use more fuel.
Very true! Here in Norway, electricity is very cheap, fossil fuel very expensive.Just_a_fan wrote: ↑19 Nov 2020, 20:13The thing about the cost to run an EV compared with an ICE really depends on where you live. In some countries, petrol is almost free and an EV makes no real sense from an economic point of view. In other countries, petrol/diesel is massively taxed and an EV makes sense.
Personally, i think it wont matter much and make a big difference. Maybe not in the immediate future, but eventually.Just_a_fan wrote: ↑19 Nov 2020, 20:13Even allowing for paying to use the roads on a "pay per mile" basis, the EV is still likely to be cheaper as the maintenance costs should be lower.
