Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Allan Campbell on 23/2/2025, 11:45 am

With the development of Hybrid cars getting now to a high lever and thst sustainable fuels are the coming thing maybe a full electric car could fade out.

It will never affect me but in 5 years or so these Hybrids hopefully will take over.

The engines to be used in the 2026 F1 races are a bit more radical than the current ones, all this development driven to achieve that goal of sustainability.

The idea of an all electric car was always a bit far fetched as range limited and power top up places few and far between.

We could have high speed charging at home as our electric supply is Three phase in the garages for Pottery Kilns which are not now used. Business changes.

Wait and see in 2027 what developments of the 2026 F1 regs come in.

It appears that Ford are getting involved, well they would, electric cars and trucks useless in the USA because of distances involved.

Allan C.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Michael Arbon on 23/2/2025, 5:56 pm, in reply to "The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

Alan we know that you appear to hate electric cars, but there are many more on the roads now, (mine included) so they must have some good points. South Tyneside council are going to install a lot of new charging points, personally I along with many others have a charging point home, I am with Octopus who have a very low rate for charging through the night ,I only have to rely on external charging on longer journeys, I have had no problem finding a point as they show up on the sat nav., and they are cleaner than the polluting petrol and diesel vehicles.
Rant over

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Sheila on 23/2/2025, 6:22 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

I hope there will be a sudden surge in buying BMW electric mini’s as BMW have paused their 600 million investment for the factory in Oxford. They say due to sluggish EV sales.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Liz Dance on 23/2/2025, 6:55 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

Apparently BMW are or have invented a battery fir electric cars that doesn’t need lithium, now that would be good news.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Sheila on 23/2/2025, 7:09 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

Liz, that really would be good. They employ a lot of workers at their Oxford plant. I wonder what the Labour government’s extra tax on employers has anything to do with their decision.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Allan Campbell on 23/2/2025, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

I do not hate electric cars it’s just that they are useless if you do any miles.

If you lived in parts of the USA you have big problems with range.

To increase the range bigger batteries unless you go Hybrid.

I understand that the value of an electric car goes through the floor in the first year or so and the life of the batteries are limited and replacement cost a bundle.

A few years ago it was quoted that to replace the battery on a Nissan Leaf was £11,000.

Let’s not forget that if you have a small bump in an e car it can be a write off while a normal car probably just a repair job.

I suspect that the likes of Ford are getting in to F1 is that pushes technology very fast and then sustainable fuels add to that.

We in the U.K. in the main do not require long range but in the USA it’s critical. I suspect that is why the all battery car is being binned.

It was only ever going to work if a car could be recharged on the move say using cables buried in the road which is impractical anyway.

My Sorento is now 13 years old and has 105,000 miles on it.

So far no large expenditure it will probably out live me. So as far as emissions is concerned to have the equivalent use how many electric cars would I need or replacement batteries. Then consider the disposal of e cars very expensive if they can yet dispose of the batteries.

Of course once you gets onto bigger stuff like trucks towing 15 to maybe 30 tons, big problems.

All these technologies have to vastly improve so that shipping can get greener. Not forgetting railways in the USA. How about up in Alaska!

All this zero by 2050 is Just not going to happen. I have personally reduced my emissions by about 50% and others have done a lot more.

However has say China done anything, India and a load of others. I would guess.

I suspect that we are wasting our time and cutting our throats for nothing.

Get rid of Milliband!!!

Allan C.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by John Shearer on 23/2/2025, 8:38 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

I think Miliband is another Al Gore out to make money for himself

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Sheila on 23/2/2025, 8:53 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

John, Al Gore and his “Inconvenient Truth”. I wonder if he is still travelling the world with it , or now just enjoying his millions.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Brian on 24/2/2025, 12:48 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

A big problem which materialised during a cold snap in the US was the cold causing the batteries to drain. Some cars Tesla included were getting as little as 60 miles on a 'full' battery and the continuous repeated charging was adding hours to people's journeys. Not a good selling point.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Geordieboy ns on 24/2/2025, 2:36 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

As an in town car good option, UNLESS, you live in a high rise apartment with another few hundred cars looking for overnight charging. Rural areas as in USA and Canada a bit iffy.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Davy on 25/2/2025, 11:08 am, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

I've got me bus pass that does me.

Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past

Posted by Sheila on 25/2/2025, 5:22 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

I now occasionally use the bus into town . It seems they are all now electric double and single deck. A lovely quiet smooth ride.

EV's for Michael Arbon

Posted by Mac C on 25/2/2025, 3:31 pm, in reply to "Re: The Electric Car maybe to become a thing of the past"

You don't have to look very far on the net to find "experts" who know everything about EV's without ever owning one.
The level of uninformed information and speculation is spectacular!
As a EV user for more than 2 years I am a happy bunny. My costs are minimal. My car is excellent!

Re: EV's for Michael Arbon

Posted by Michael Arbon on 25/2/2025, 4:55 pm, in reply to "EV's for Michael Arbon"

Hear hear Mac C.
I have owned my EV for a 18 months running costs very low, shame that they are going to make us pay the full road fund tax from April. I have read recently that Madeira are going to introduce a subsidy of 5000 to 6000 euro if you buy an EV.

Re: EV's for Michael Arbon

Posted by Mac C on 26/2/2025, 10:31 am, in reply to "Re: EV's for Michael Arbon"

Hi Michael. I have been aware that "Car tax" would be levied since before buying my vehicle (It was obviously coming...just not the date) so it isn't an issue for me.
Mine (currently zero) will not be renewable at the full cost until Sept 2025. But I believe that I can retax it at zero in March and thus get an extended free period . Apparently the DVLA online system tells you that you are taxing early but otherwise press on!! I've put it in the diary for March 3rd to give it a go. I'm going on hearsay so it could be a load of tosh!
Apart from the joys of having a SUV sized vehicle which cost twopence-halfpenny to run I also have the advantage of not driving miles to a local garage to fill up with juice.
I am very happy.... except for hearing the "experts" telling me they are rubbish!!

Re: EV's for Mac

Posted by Allan Campbell on 25/2/2025, 8:03 pm, in reply to "EV's for Michael Arbon"

I have not and never will own an electric car until I no longer need it to tow my caravan.

One of the big problems that I have is that I need a car that has big drivers door opening. I’m finding that my Sorento is now becoming a bit tight for enter and exit.

Yesterday I got into the front passenger seat of a YW. Polo, it was difficult, I’m just too stiff. Hopefully after some cycling I will loosen up.

As it is my car will do fine for probably the rest of my driving life.

The electric cars that would suit me just access wise cost a bomb.

There is a fantastic Kia electric car which would fit the bill but for range and its huge price. Don’t have the readies to buy one.

With all things you have to weigh up the benefits against cost. As it is you lose so much money in the first year, that if bought new that buying one is madness. If I was 20 years younger it may be different.

My car will probably be worth £2,000 in part ex and I would need to fork out £30,000+ if I could find a suitable car. At the moment the type of suitable cars that could possibly be of use to me have only been built in the last two years but range no good.

At 82 years it would be stupid to even consider lashing out a lot of money even if I had it.
Allan C.

Re: EV's for Mac

Posted by Allan Campbell on 26/2/2025, 11:30 am, in reply to "Re: EV's for Mac"

I am not an expert on EV cars but I know that for me they at present are of no use to me.

Of course I could buy one as a local runabout but that would be a total waste of money.

A few years ago I looked at buying a Hybrid but towing capacity too low and towing range useless. They may/have improved but decision taken so stopped looking.

If I were to travel up to North Northumberland using an EV I would have great difficulty in charging it unless close to Alnwick or the Holy Island turnoff. There may be a charging point at the Adderstone services.

As I said earlier manufacturers are looking to Hybrid and sustainable fuels because that’s the only way to extend range ( USA traveling distances) unless there is a massive improvement in battery design. Maybe the cost of the materials used to make batteries and where it comes from they wish to reduce the amount of material used.

That’s why Ford and others are getting involved in F1 as that is a research pressure vessel.

You like others have made the choice to have an EV, so be it. You had the funds to spend on one a lot of people will never be able to afford an EV.

Allan C.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.