To not get the hate thrown at EVs?

[EngineStart]

We have an EV. We didn’t get it for environmental reasons, we got it because I have access to an EV lease scheme via work and it was the most cost effective way for us to get a new car. I don’t think I’m morally superior for having one. It serves us well, is nice to drive, and cheaper (for us) than running a petrol car.

What I don’t get is the visceral hatred some people have for them. I understand they aren’t for everyone, there are definite logistical challenges with on-street parking and long journeys particularly. However, I expect range and logistics to improve as time goes on. I also get that some car fans might find them a bit sanitised. But I don’t really get why some people are so viciously against them?

AIBU?

I wouldn't buy an electric in your circumstances, either. We have said the only reason it works for us is because a) we also have an ICE car B) we have a drive and c) we could spend more and get a newer/better battery giving more range and faster charging.
I do think it will improve, but like everything it takes time to filter to those who don't want/or can't spend a fortune on the new technology when it's first released.

The only people i know with EV's (2!) are company cars, not owned or leased.

Our company car fleet was 98% EV until 18 months ago, where it started moving back to hybrid. people were just pulled in by the cheap BIK tax but the reality is when driving to sites the other side of the country they were charging on diesel generators to get home! Around 60% of our fleet is hybrid now, more moving back towards that and taking the BIK tax hit.

We're launched a salary sac scheme for leasing EV's and the monthly costs are madness for anything with a semi decent range. I'd never finance or lease a car so even though i earn well, it's not something i'd ever opt for (that, and i'm a petrol head so having a silent car without a decent manual gearbox will never be my thing!)

Well the current government aren’t known for taking the needs of the worst off into consideration that’s for sure.

I think the longer view is that car ownership will become a thing of the past with driverless cars. That’s a long way off though.

Our EV would cost you 5-7000. It does 130
on a full charge and costs between £4-15 to charge. It’s not cheap cheap but affordable.

Slightly different erent perspective than the enviromental debates..

My model 3 performance frankly embarrasses most sports cars that cost three times as much over 0-60, costs a quarter as much to run, and seats 5 plus luggage comfortably.

That's why the vociferous petrol heads hate them, which was the original question.

I suspect the quiet majority will weigh up the pros and cons and make a decision.

I suspect the quiet majority will weigh up the pros and cons and make a decision.

And in many cases will decide that EVs don't meet their needs, like us. No hate, just practical considerations.

And an increasing numbers of cases will decide EVs suit them. Like we did.

But of petrol and diesel cars are no longer made what then?!

If electric cars are still too expensive / impractical, and public transport does not improve dramatically, some, if not many, people will no longer be able to do many jobs or undertake many activities.

Our society will change radically.

@TheaBrandt as another poster said many jobs won’t be able to be carried out, I can see this affecting the many home carers and community nurses out these, especially like myself who lives rurally with no driveway. The NHS isn’t going to provide an electric vehicle for every member of staff either

It’s worrying. Have normal car but about to take EV leap massive reservations as no drive but buying old style car doesn’t seem
right either

Really good point.

They will get cheaper to buy and the range is more than enough for those jobs. Even in rural areas.

There is a long time before it’s the only option. By the time your hand is forced the infrastructure will be so much better too.

I imagine that petrol stations, if they have any sense, will start getting more charging points fitted and make their shops more appealing for a ten to twenty minute stay, with places to sit and have a cuppa. If I owned a petrol station this would be my plan. Other than that business are starting to realise it’s a win win. They get rent or a % from the charging provider plus bring in customers who have time to browse/spend. I see more and more chargers appearing everywhere.

Most large Tescos have charging points so you can charge whilst shopping. Morrisons often do but less reliable. It’s finding a way to fit it into your routine. It’s a bit of a pain at first - change always is - but it’s only going to get easier.

I imagine that petrol stations, if they have any sense, will start getting more charging points fitted and make their shops more appealing for a ten to twenty minute stay, with places to sit and have a cuppa.

Most of the standalone petrol stations I know won't have room for many cars to park up for 20 minutes. Their sites are restricted and often there isn't land adjoining that they could buy, even if they could afford it.

Even if the pumps are done away with altogether, and each one replaced with a charging point, they'll have to charge a lot for electricity when one car is parked for 20 minutes recharging, where previously four would have filled up and paid in that time

Supermarket stations are a different matter, as they have their car parks.

But by the time they are doing this there will be loads of EVs and the charging will be even quicker. Petrol stations need to adapt or die out. The hard infrastructure is there and well placed. They need to make their shops more desirable. But charging can happen in any carpark really.

There is a charging point at a pub on one of our longer journeys. We have had so many meals there. We would never have gone there if it wasn’t for the charging point, as it’s a couple of minutes off the main road. Similar with a cafe with a charging point.

I think it’s a no brainer for businesses with plenty of parking to earn money from the charging point and bring in new custom. That’s probably what will add mostly to the infrastructure.

Of course if we could turn back time we’d do what Scotland did and have the same cheap charging points everywhere driven by Government rather than this mess of different companies, different apps and different rates we have currently.

My daughter has really bad motion sickness but is fine in our Tesla now. It lasted a couple of weeks but tbh she mostly sits in the front so not sure if that makes a difference.

Though In Scotland it's still the case that only 4.1% of vehicles are hybrid (which of course still need fossil fuel pumps as well) and only 1.5% are fully electric.

My friends do it but I won’t lie - it seems complicated. They park the car overnight in a local car park or if they can, park alongside one of those charging lampposts.
Frankly I might hold off if I didn’t have access to charging at home.
If only the plug-in hybrids had a decent range, it would be a great compromise. The hybrid petrols are dubious in terms of impact.

Any reason why @Chersfrozenface ? Parts of Scotland are very urban so suit electric cars. Is it the initial cost of the car and lack of deals there?

I think it will be a long time before they ban selling petrol cars, they've already put it back from 2030 to 2035, and who knows how many more times it will be put back. Electric cars are pretty much 25 grand minimum and most people cannot afford that.

We now have charging points in our small local supermarket council owned car park, it's so annoying when there are no spaces to park and all the charging spaces are sat there empty. They can't afford to fix the horrendous pot holes as you come in and out but can afford to put in all these electric car charging points that are barely used.

The latest full Scottish Government document I can find Switched On Scotland Phase Two: An Action Plan For Growth (2017) says the main barriers are cost and convenience

Scotland has 4,000 charging points across the country, 2,518 of them part of ChargePlace Scotland, and Scottish Government wants that increased to 6,000 - but wants the increase to come from private charging networks.

If we take Glasgow, it has 335 charging points in 175 units including 16 rapid hubs, for a population of 635,130.

I’m just talking about the infrastructure being better. No idea how many EVs they have. Just know it’s a much easier system to navigate.

You can get a decent enough used one for under 10,000.

I’ve had one for five years, love it, would never go back

however I’ve only ever found the “hate” online. Most people in RL are a bit jealous or at at least intrigued and asked me about it.

Curious about this. Does the battery warranty still apply to second hand cars?

It wouldn’t have occurred to me before but reading pp about Tesla not guaranteeing their batteries after accidents made me wonder.