Is there increasing resistance against EV’s?

[soulstyledevon]

Hand up. Ex-Petrolhead here…
Love cars, grew up with cars and worked in a car plant straight out of school.
Me, dead against EVs. You can probably find some of my anti EV rants on this forum back in 2016 when my company changed my van to electric.
Hated it to begin with.
But it’s grown on me, so much so. Today I will buy my own first EV.
Could’ve bought pretty much anything within reason, but I have decided this is the right route to go.
I drive lots with work and see in every single City, town and village in this country, cars sitting around in congestion. Might not be that obvious to a retired bloke in the leafy suburbs. But driving isn’t what it used to be…

So it’s time to adapt and evolve.

 

[Hawthorn37]

We’re looking at changing the family car(s), one diesel and one petrol, and up to a few months back we were looking hard at EVs. It’s from the viewpoints of ‘embracing the green future’, using the latest tech to our advantage, and exiting the depreciating ICE market (apart from our Cali of course!!).

From an annual mileage viewpoint, approx 70% of our round trip journeys are 40 miles or less (many are 5 miles or so), and 30% are around 350 miles. So 70% of the time we can charge at home, but the 350+ mile trips are to locations with no possibility of charging at the destination, and we often do the return trip in the same day. This means charging at commercial charging points, given that EV real world range is 300 miles at best, and more realistically 250 miles.

On recent longer journeys we’ve noted the queuing at EV points in service stations, and the covers over many EV points in petrol stations, supermarkets etc - presume they’re either not yet commissioned or they’re bust. (Local Shell station started the install of high capacity chargers 2 years ago, and they’re still not working). We’ve also listened to media reports over the Christmas holidays, and whilst the media gets its oxygen from bad news stories, some of the expert commentary makes sense - an explosion of EV ownership outpacing the creation of charging.

An EV would be fine for 70% of our journeys, but as these are 5 to 40 miles, the annual cost saving of home charging over petrol/diesel does not get anywhere close to the added investment (and depreciation) of an EV compared to a new ICE car.

The 350 mile journeys would be tricky, especially to do this on one day. The time to charge on the move would make for a very long day. And then there’s the pre-planning and stress!

Our current thoughts? Technology will improve, public charging MUST get better (mustn’t it?), and the cost balance between EV and ICE will change. However, we’re probably 3 years or so away from that cross-over, in my opinion. So it’s most likely to be a petrol engined car for us, and maybe a pair of e-bikes

 

[soulstyledevon]

Helped out on a school trip to the BTM this week.
I thought this would make a great re-imagined EV…

 

[Bobby D]

We have an A3 Etron... That's about as far as I would go. Cheap enough to buy. Does the Commute on Electric, does all the fancy Pre Heat Pre Cool stuff of an EV but has a great little Petrol engine too. Free tax ULEZ compliant and not £40K+ to have those benefits.

The California is an old 2.5 Diesel so eventually I'll have to pay to visit any major town/city....luckily I don't visit these

 

[Amarillo]

Try driving in Northern Norway. Knordkapp have free parking and entrance for anyone arriving in an EV. Since introducing this, 5 yrs ago, they've yet to have an EV visit.

Have you a reliable source for this somewhat dubious claim. “I heard it during a drunken stupor in a pub from other EV skeptics” would not count as a reliable.

EVs have been driven to Nordkapp for AT LEAST the last eight years, with one well documented trip from a Tarifa to Nordkapp in 2015.

Electrified World Record Tour: Tarifa - Nordkapp | Tesla Other Europe

www.tesla.com

 

[soulstyledevon]

Have you a reliable source for this somewhat dubious claim. “I heard it during a drunken stupor in a pub from other EV skeptics” would not count as a reliable.

EVs have been driven to Nordkapp for AT LEAST the last eight years, with one well documented trip from a Tarifa to Nordkapp in 2015.

Electrified World Record Tour: Tarifa - Nordkapp | Tesla Other Europe

www.tesla.com

Quick google search, loads of people driven to Nordkapp in a EV.

 

[WelshGas]

Have you a reliable source for this somewhat dubious claim. “I heard it during a drunken stupor in a pub from other EV skeptics” would not count as a reliable.

EVs have been driven to Nordkapp for AT LEAST the last eight years, with one well documented trip from a Tarifa to Nordkapp in 2015.

Electrified World Record Tour: Tarifa - Nordkapp | Tesla Other Europe

www.tesla.com

Yes, the Staff at Knordkapp. They had a special welcome pack ready for the 1st Private visitor.
You could phone Knordkapp Visitor Reception if you want to, but it is only open for limited hours until late May.

The Visitor Pack was still unclaimed as of May 2022.

 

[Loz2286]

All this EV chat belies the true issue behind eco and pollution issues around conurbations, and that is, in the UK, public transport is dismal, poorly serviced, unreliable, expensive at the point of use. Quite frankly the Government has failed to grasp the situation. It has failed to provide the sums of money to improve these services. Northern Powerhouse Rail suspended, urban tram schemes unfunded. If you add in the failure to really look at the UK cycle network, then you can see the mess we are in.

And then there's HS2....questionable in whether it was actually needed, then they announce it won't go the full distance North....now they're saying it will terminate at Old Oak Common, not Euston, some distance from the city centre. Idiotic.

 

[WelshGas]

Is there resistance against EVs, NO, but there is resistance/backlash against the EV fanboys and the Green lobby who push for EVs as they are very economical with the truth and real world facts about EVs.
As on this forum, most EV owners have 2 or 3 vehicles, have drive space and commonly have an EV for shorter trips and IC vehicles for longer. It works in that scenario.
BUT, the majority do not have the luxury of 2 or more vehicles, nor driveways. They have 1 vehicle to cover all needs. Carrying a family of 4 or more shopping, visiting family 200 miles away, holidays etc: etc. Changing that 1 vehicle for an EV just does not make economical sense on so many grounds. Until prices come down or the charging infrastructure in both size and availability is massively improved some 300-500% they are not going to change to EVs.
There are going to have to be some very big changes in EV pricing and charging infrastructure, public transport and the way society interacts with travelling needs before EVs become mainline and on the present timeline of 2030 time is running out.

 

[andrew bazeley]

It's clearly taking a while to convince people. There are only 4 public charging points in the town I live in, which I feel pretty angry about. But then I have never seen them being used! Oh - apart from petrol/diesel vehicles parking there to avoid paying charges in the neighbouring public car park. We've a long long way to go, if it's going to be imposed.

 

[Amarillo]

It's clearly taking a while to convince people. There are only 4 public charging points in the town I live in, which I feel pretty angry about. But then I have never seen them being used! Oh - apart from petrol/diesel vehicles parking there to avoid paying charges in the neighbouring public car park. We've a long long way to go, if it's going to be imposed.

I live in SE London and would estimate that every third or fourth light vehicle (including small vans) I see is an EV.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

All this EV chat belies the true issue behind eco and pollution issues around conurbations, and that is, in the UK, public transport is dismal, poorly serviced, unreliable, expensive at the point of use. Quite frankly the Government has failed to grasp the situation. It has failed to provide the sums of money to improve these services. Northern Powerhouse Rail suspended, urban tram schemes unfunded. If you add in the failure to really look at the UK cycle network, then you can see the mess we are in.

And then there's HS2....questionable in whether it was actually needed, then they announce it won't go the full distance North....now they're saying it will terminate at Old Oak Common, not Euston, some distance from the city centre. Idiotic.

As far as HS2 this is something that every taxpayer is paying for and only a tiny % will get the benefits from. Shaving half an hour off the north to south journey is a ludicrous waste of money.
I vote that all the wasted money from HS2 be put into the NHS then 99% of taxpayers will benefit. £100 billion (Estimate) which with inflation probably means £150 - £200 billion would cut waiting times down to months instead of years.

 

[B J G]

Possibly like others I periodically look at pros and cons of replacing our run about car with an EV.
Recent read that Cazoo are closing centres in anticipation of reduced trade in 2023 plus they also state that drop in value of second user EV's has impacted their stock value.

Basically another factor to add to the cons.

 

[Amarillo]

Yes, the Staff at Knordkapp. They had a special welcome pack ready for the 1st Private visitor.
You could phone Knordkapp Visitor Reception if you want to, but it is only open for limited hours until late May.

The Visitor Pack was still unclaimed as of May 2022.

Hearsay then.

 

[Amarillo]

As far as HS2 this is something that every taxpayer is paying for and only a tiny % will get the benefits from. Shaving half an hour off the north to south journey is a ludicrous waste of money.
I vote that all the wasted money from HS2 be put into the NHS then 99% of taxpayers will benefit. £100 billion (Estimate) which with inflation probably means £150 - £200 billion would cut waiting times down to months instead of years.

HS2 is not so much about shaving time off the journeys but increased capacity.

 

[chockswahay]

Possibly like others I periodically look at pros and cons of replacing our run about car with an EV.
Recent read that Cazoo are closing centres in anticipation of reduced trade in 2023 plus they also state that drop in value of second user EV's has impacted their stock value.

Basically another factor to add to the cons.

So maybe a good time to buy 2nd hand in the near future?

 

[B J G]

So maybe a good time to buy 2nd hand in the near future?

A haggle deal looks possible now but how many are prepared to take the battery life gamble with a used EV reducing values even further?

 

[willwander]

Is there resistance against EVs, NO, but there is resistance/backlash against the EV fanboys and the Green lobby who push for EVs as they are very economical with the truth and real world facts about EVs.
As on this forum, most EV owners have 2 or 3 vehicles, have drive space and commonly have an EV for shorter trips and IC vehicles for longer. It works in that scenario.
BUT, the majority do not have the luxury of 2 or more vehicles, nor driveways. They have 1 vehicle to cover all needs. Carrying a family of 4 or more shopping, visiting family 200 miles away, holidays etc: etc. Changing that 1 vehicle for an EV just does not make economical sense on so many grounds. Until prices come down or the charging infrastructure in both size and availability is massively improved some 300-500% they are not going to change to EVs.
There are going to have to be some very big changes in EV pricing and charging infrastructure, public transport and the way society interacts with travelling needs before EVs become mainline and on the present timeline of 2030 time is running out.

The wealthy are always early adopters of new technology.

Tesla’s whole business model is based around this.

Same thing happened when mobile phones were first introduced and when iPhone arrived and replaced our Nokias. Look where we are now.

 

[WelshGas]

Hearsay then.

Hardly. I was stood at Visitor Reception . They were the people who issued the special Visitor Packs to Walkers and Cyclists , who also had Free Entry. I don't know how much closer to the source I could get.
Next time I'll get a signed affidavit and a time stamped video and pictures for you.

 

[Amarillo]

Hardly. I was stood at Visitor Reception . They were the people who issued the special Visitor Packs to Walkers and Cyclists , who also had Free Entry. I don't know how much closer to the source I could get.
Next time I'll get a signed affidavit and a time stamped video and pictures for you.

Thanks for reconfirming it’s hearsay.

 

[willwander]

Quick google search, loads of people driven to Nordkapp in a EV.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks for reconfirming it’s hearsay.

Will the affidavit or timed stamped video suffice?
Going by your comments and assertions most of them are hearsay anyway. Very few are capable of substantiation.

 

[WelshGas]

View attachment 104475

Private visitor or commercial PR exercise? Normal visitors aren't allowed to park there.

 

[Amarillo]

Will the affidavit or timed stamped video suffice?
Going by your comments and assertions most of them are hearsay anyway. Very few are capable of substantiation.

I’m prepared to believe most of what most people say.

I’m also prepared to believe that you believe that no EV has visited Nordkapp. I’ll go further than that and believe that you believe this information has come from a rock solid source.

But I also believe that people can misunderstand what has been said and/or what has been asked.

People get things wrong.

 

[willwander]

Private visitor or commercial PR exercise? Normal visitors aren't allowed to park there.

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ev-overlanding.com

I think you need to read your previous post.

Fortunately the " Boomers " have considerable " Life Experience ", and unlike the younger generations can see through the " Hype " and don't believe everything they read on Facebook, Instagram, Tic Toc etc. They are also able to read articles and books that last longer than 30 secs and have words with more than 2 syllables, and also don't depend on video clips from supposed " knowledgeable Celebrities " who rarely have IQs greater than their shoe size.