Current cars will still be on the roads - there’s no doubt about that.
It will take massive incentives will change that. Politics will get in the way of that.
New cars will be all but entirely EV of one kind or another.
Going to be a bit controversial - yes, there are rare circumstances when you need a recharge quickly, but, your cars spend 95%+ of their time standing idle. My car is fully charged every morning. Just needs a very small change in mindset to plug in every night - more in a moment
For pure EVs, you’ll typically get several days use before needing to recharge.
If you may have to drive a distance beyond the range in one journey without prior notice then a pure EV isn’t the right choice for you.
With the right capacity, electric cars are fast. Really fast.
Despite the initial cost, electric miles can cost about 10% of ice miles. That justifies ten seconds to plug it in. It’s saving me £3/day. That’s over £1,000 a year! Not to be sniffed at surely.
Extend that to pure EVs and savings are potentially huge compared to £1.30/L for fuel.
If you need to do long distances then EVs are not there yet. But, push comes to shove, hire a car if you need to for occasional use.
Hybrids are a fantastic compromise though. Not perfect, but, a step in the right direction.
Yes, the Electric only distance on my 330e has dropped a little. But, even with a ludicrous claim by BMW of 26 miles electric distance I often get 30+ electric miles on a days driving of 150 miles. The additional distance you get from energy recovery is very surprising.
Despite having a smaller fuel tank, I’m still getting 550 miles between refills.
My 2L hybrid is just as fast as most of our Zs except the Ms. It’s a BMW. It drives like a BMW. My Z4 does become quicker at 5k rpm in second gear. But, the 330e has 80hp the instant I touch the accelerator - then, as the gearbox drops a cog or two then the engine kicks in too. Despite additional weight, it makes for a quick car.
I am getting 65mpg on 15k miles per year with 25% electric miles.
Pure EV is different. There are no affordable pure EV or hybrid sports cars yet. But there will be. EVs and hybrids are daily use vehicles.
yes there is the cost of production. Both monetary and the issues around Mining for Lithium. That’s a major issue. But, progress will be made.
Electricity generation another - but, centralised generation is still cleaner and more efficient than ICEs.
Yes, there is still a case for some vehicles capable of doing vast distances quickly. But, to generalise that all cars need to be capable of that isn’t true.
We have to make changes. We have to progress. For the sake of our kids and grandchildren.
In a few years, fuel cells will be here. Different issues, yes. But that is where progress will be.
Hands up everyone who is saying they don’t want an EV.
Of those :-
Hands up all those who said they’d never own a mobile phone.
Hands up those that still listen to the Light Program.
Hands up all those that still listen to 45rpm singles on their record player.
Hands up those people who said they’d never ever drive an oil burner.
I rest my case m’lud.
Embrace progress or be left behind. Try it.
EVs and especially hybrids don’t have to be boring. Different - yes. Difficult to live with. No!
