Electric cars - so worried

[Northernlurker]

I keep worrying about being forced to buy an electric car when I change my car in a few years.
Reason being the long journeys and (mostly) self catering we love. In Scotland.
We need a range around 50% higher than the current max. It's no good saying charge it on the way if there are no fast chargers. Been looking at details today, even the fastest chargers need just over 30 minutes. Thousands of people drive UJ the Highlands and Islands annually. There won't be anything like enough chargers to cover that. We can charge overnight using an ordinary plug but it's not going to hit the max. Feel like we will spend the whole time worrying about finding a free charger in the middle of nowhere.
How is this ever going to work? It takes two Minutes to fill up a tank with petrol, electric is going to take hours!

Lampposts

You can make ev chargers like lampposts

You don't need your own driveway for a lamppost

There are VERY few cars you could get for £11K. And even THEN many people couldn't afford that. And it would probably be a FIAT or SKODA or something, which will be worth half of what you paid within 1.5 years!

Surely you'd be looking more at the likes of Dacia, Ssangyong or Logan, wouldn't you? Fiat's aren't especially cheap among European cars; and modern Skodas are light-years away from what we used to mock and joke about in the 80s - basically now VWs but with a slightly less streetwise badge.

[quote lameasahorse]@MurmuratingStarling I know what you can get for 11k. But plenty of other cars as well in the under 15k range. £30k is not a cheaper car.
I would never buy a new car, but plenty of people do. And plenty of people buy using cash, although 86% of people use finance.

TBH I never really understand how high earners spend so much money but cant afford to buy a car outright. I and DP earn below the national average but could save for a new car if we wanted it.[/quote]
Yep but you will be paying £30K for an ELECTRIC car! Is 'everyone you know' going to be buying a new electric car?

As I - and others have said - you have an unusual circle of friends if EVERYONE you know always buys a brand new car.

I find it most peculiar that you think it's just so simple for ANYONE to buy a brand new car. You sound very privileged, rather narrow-minded, and like you have led a sheltered life.

@mudgetastic we have about 6 lampposts down our street and approx 35-40 cars parked on road

@lameasahorse

No I said everyone I know who buys a new car, pays for it outright. Plenty only buy secondhand. I am not paying £30k for an electric car.

I misread that bit.

The rest of what I said still stands.

Er.......what's the 'self catering' you mention got to do with EVs ?

So, top spec you're looking at a range of 350-400 miles. You need double that, in one go, with no break doesn't add up!

There are 4 lampposts down our street of about 60 houses, 2 on each side, about 10 years ago they took out over half the lampposts and replaced what was left with extra tall brighter ones so there is quite a gap between each lamppost, about half the houses haven't got off road parking.

'self catering'....so you drive to Scotland and never buy a coffee or go in a pub ? They must really love having you there.

What do you think the ratio of cars to petrol pumps is? Far higher I'd imagine.

@User843976

There are 4 lampposts down our street of about 60 houses, 2 on each side, about 10 years ago they took out over half the lampposts and replaced what was left with extra tall brighter ones so there is quite a gap between each lamppost, about half the houses haven't got off road parking.

So they had more

So they can use the space freed up to add more chargers

Yes more needs to be done
But it's clearly possible

Maybe they might put in some decent internet at the same time

Are you at all worried about the imminent heat death of the planet?

@Wnikat

Are you at all worried about the imminent heat death of the planet?

No, because I'm on my last legs now, and have no DC

There is another 10 years to go before people who, for whatever reason, do not currently want an electric car will have to think about making the switch.

Worrying about it now is utterly pointless. The infrastructure will get there, it just takes time. Already there is a noticeable increase in EVs on the road as people realise that in some cases they are a good option, that number is only going to increase.

Ah well indeed

With a bunch of politicians that believe in free market economy and looking after their rich mates we are stuffed

But it's not the technology , it's the politics that's the problem