Topic: Anyone seriously thinking of or already have a EV or a Hybrid car?

[ChrissyRyan]

Anyone seriously thinking of or already have a EV (electric vehicle) or a Hybrid electric/ICE car?

Batteries have issues in cold climates,  ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles are still generally cheaper all things considered, and the availability of a variety and styles of RVs are not as great as for the ICE vehicles.  Disposal of EV batteries is problematic, and there are a lot of fossil fuels that are used for electricity manufacturing.  Minerals needed for battery production are getting more expensive.  Charging stations are not widespread as they need to before mass deployment of EVs and EV driving range is just starting to become more reasonable than in the past.  EVs are not a panacea. 

On the other hand, fossil fuels are getting more expensive, car manufacturers will phase of ICE vehicle mass production, EV technology will improve, and charging infrastructure will become more widely available - a lot faster than widespread deployment of hydrogen vehicle fueling stations.

Not all pros and cons of EVs are listed above.

With that said, I am leaning on buying an EV as my next vehicle.  What about you?

Chrissy

[Devlyn]

We had an E-Golf for two years on a lease. The government incentive made it cheaper than a petrol Golf. We had a 7kw charger installed on the house. 130 miles worth of charging cost about £4. We turned it back in when the lease expired and are currently just using our Skoda Yeti (petrol). Our next car will be electric.

[Jessica_Rose]

I'm still not personally sold on an EV, especially if it will be your only vehicle. For me the greatest challenge is long-distance driving. Some areas I drive through are quite remote. If you run out of propulsion, it's quite a bit easier to have someone bring a gallon or two of gas than it is to have them bring you a few KW of electricity. If you never take cross-country drives and live in an area with plenty of charging stations, or can have one installed at your residence, then an EV may be a good option for you.

Right now I think hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) make good sense for many of us. They substantially increase fuel mileage and retain the long-range capabilities of ICE vehicles. Right now I'm considering a PHEV. I have one in mind which has enough range to take care of most of our daily needs as an EV, and it can be recharged overnight at home. If we need it for a long trip, it functions as a standard hybrid with increased fuel efficiency over an ICE-only vehicle. Yes, it would be carrying a heavier battery pack than a non-PHEV hybrid, but it's a compromise which allows the best of both worlds.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Northern Star Girl]

Here are some of the snippets of a conversation that I had recently
with a car dealer mechanic regarding Electric Vehicles....

Bitter cold below zero temperatures affect batteries greatly.... and
at temperatures of minus -30(f) or even colder, batteries lose up to 50% or more of their capacity.
In interior and Northern Alaska (and also in Canada) it is not uncommon to have had several days
to a week of minus -30 to -40 deg(f) below zero in the winter season.

..... and if on a road trip and the battery runs out of juice, your car has to be towed....  you just can't
have someone bring you a gas can with a couple gallons of gas to get you going again.

Warmer climates are more friendly toward battery capacity but going the other direction in the extreme
searing heat of the Southwestern USA (think Mojave Desert, Central Valley in California and also Arizona and New Mexico)  High heat can deteriorate and cause early failure of the battery...
....as well as the range and charge capacity, especially with Air Conditioning on full blast.

               Is a Cold Climate a Deterrent to EV Ownership?
           https://blinkcharging.com/is-a-cold-climate-a-deterrent-to-ev-ownership/
Excerpts from Link above:
What happens to electric cars in cold weather?   How Much Range is Lost?
Cold temperatures do affect electric vehicles and steal some of their range. The amount of range lost depends on many factors such as the car itself, its potential range in normal weather, and whether the heat is on. According to AAA’s “Cold Weather Can Cut Electric Car Range by Over 40%”, EVs often lose 12% of their range in cold weather, but the loss leaps to 41% with the heater on full blast.
             41%Potential Cold-Weather Range Loss

Danielle

[Devlyn]

I'm still not personally sold on an EV, especially if it will be your only vehicle. For me the greatest challenge is long-distance driving. Some areas I drive through are quite remote. If you run out of propulsion, it's quite a bit easier to have someone bring a gallon or two of gas than it is to have them bring you a few KW of electricity. If you never take cross-country drives and live in an area with plenty of charging stations, or can have one installed at your residence, then an EV may be a good option for you.

Right now I think hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) make good sense for many of us. They substantially increase fuel mileage and retain the long-range capabilities of ICE vehicles. Right now I'm considering a PHEV. I have one in mind which has enough range to take care of most of our daily needs as an EV, and it can be recharged overnight at home. If we need it for a long trip, it functions as a standard hybrid with increased fuel efficiency over an ICE-only vehicle. Yes, it would be carrying a heavier battery pack than a non-PHEV hybrid, but it's a compromise which allows the best of both worlds.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

We were using the E-Golf for short trips and using the Yeti for longer hauls.

[davina61]

Well if I had the money I would consider an EV but there is no charging provision at the flat and its the long journey aspect , now a Skoda Octavia estate got a good score on the TV show and that would be great (if I had some ££s)
 Devlin I love my Yeti tdi 4x4 .

[Devlyn]

Well if I had the money I would consider an EV but there is no charging provision at the flat and its the long journey aspect , now a Skoda Octavia estate got a good score on the TV show and that would be great (if I had some ££s)
 Devlin I love my Yeti tdi 4x4 .

We had an Octavia, on long trips my bottom got really sore. The Yeti is comfortable as can be. Ours just has the 1.2 in it...not super quick but it gets us down the road.

[Kalandrina]

I am just looking now at an EV myself. Do it via company wage scheme so don't pay tax and NI on it in the UK. I was thinking of a hybrid but not sold on the distance issues. Most we might do on a round trip would be wales and back at around 140 miles. Might keep the other car on the drive for long distances.

However i see the future not in EV market but in hydrogen powered vehicles. As the process to produce Hydrogen is better for us as its basically water in Hydrogen and Oxygen out They have done lots of testing and cars on hydrogen can run same distances as petrol/diesel and fill up in the same time. Just need the infrastructure to get better and we will see in 5 yrs how it goes. We have to remember making batteries is very expensive and very intrusive and harmful to the environment.

So the question will be where do we see the future of car powered vehicles ?

[Chloe]

However i see the future not in EV market but in hydrogen powered vehicles

  Batteries be damned, couldn't AGREE more, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are def the way to go! If also have home solar (a 3.6kw inverter) then one can produce and store own hydrogen fuel during sunny days via electrolysis and, as a bonus at night, use the garaged car's fuel cell to power the house as well. Very little auto fuel or home electric bills at all!

Most daily commuters would prolly find one hydrogen charge sufficient for round trip work.

[ChrissyRyan]

Unfortunately, the costs for green hydrogen technology from production and its use in the vehicle will take time to go down and to become widely available before widespread use of it is adopted. 

Perhaps one day we can simply pour in some water and have a range of 200 miles per gallon in a hydrogen vehicle.  We shall see.


Chrissy

[Kalandrina]

I think it will take time. In some countries Hydrogen is moving forward this will trickle down to the UK. Investment is required over electrical. Do remember that atm to charge a Green EV vehicle 95% of car users are using Fossil Fuels to provide that charge....not to mention the amount of fuel required to mine Lithium Environmentally friendly No really, wolf in sheeps clothing

https://www.thecoolist.com/quant-e-sportlimousine/#:~:text=The%20QUANT%20E%2DSportlimousine%20is,NASA%20since%20the%20mid%2D1970s.

Now if they really did make this and its not a fake, This is the future

[Rakel]

Here in Miami, we see many electric cars on the road. I am considering a plug in hybred, but I am still concerned about the fire issues with Lithium Ion batteries. Maybe Lithium Iron Phosphate or Sodium Ion batteries will be a better choice if they are ever available.

[Northern Star Girl]

Here in Miami, we see many electric cars on the road. I am considering a plug in hybred, but I am still concerned about the fire issues with Lithium Ion batteries. Maybe Lithium Iron Phosphate or Sodium Ion batteries will be a better choice if they are ever available.

@Rakel
Dear Rakel:
I agree with and I share your concerns regarding the fire issues with Lithium Ion Batteries ...
You are most likely aware of the Automobile Car Carrier Ship that caught fire and then sunk in
the Atlantic ocean last month.
There were over 4,000 luxury cars on the ship, and many of them Electric Vehicles.

There is a theory that the Lithium Ion Batteries in the Electric Vehicles may have sparked the fire,
and because Lithium Ion batteries are very toxic... and a fire involving them is very difficult to
extinguish and involves very dangerous and toxic materials ...  and emits very dangerous fumes. 
Certainly extremely damaging to the environment.
           Cargo Ship Full Of Luxury Cars Caught On Fire In Atlantic
               

I agree with the reply comment authored by @Kalandrina that Hydrogen batteries might be
a better alternative but the other problem is that Hydrogen is extremely flammable and explosive....   

....We all remember the Hindenburg airship disaster:
           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster

If I had an Electric Vehicle in my garage I would be initially concerned and purchase more fire insurance.
... and what about multi-car accidents on the roads
....the Electric Vehicle fire issue could be a future problem that is coming our way.

Danielle

[Rakel]

Actually, Hydrogen is no more flamable that gasoline vapors. If you want a fuel that does not give off flamable vapors, then diesel fuel is for you. One caution about diesel fuel, it tends to gel at extremely cold temperatures.

The fires in Lithoium Ion batteries is thought to be caused by a short circuit, giving rise to thermal run away that eventually becomes a fire in the conventional sense. As noted, this fire cannot be put out with water or any of the other conventional fire suppressant chemicals. 

I am going to wait and see if safer batteries become standard for use in hybred vehicles. I am not a fan of a total electric vehicles, unless it is for a small urban commuter and nothing else. I just feel that the infrastructure is not available enough and charging times are a bit too long for long distance travel. Maybe we will have something better in the future. 

[CaelaNotKayla]

Legally it sounds like my next new vehicle will have to be an EV.... The state passed a law this year calling to phase out sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2030.  I'm hoping in the next few years they advance to metal-air batteries instead of lithium-ion.

Hugs!!

Caela

[ErinWDK]

@Rakel
Dear Rakel:
I agree with and I share your concerns regarding the fire issues with Lithium Ion Batteries ...
You are most likely aware of the Automobile Car Carrier Ship that caught fire and then sunk in
the Atlantic ocean last month.
There were over 4,000 luxury cars on the ship, and many of them Electric Vehicles.
...

I agree with the reply comment authored by @Kalandrina that Hydrogen batteries might be
a better alternative but the other problem is that Hydrogen is extremely flammable and explosive....   

....We all remember the Hindenburg airship disaster:
           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster

If I had an Electric Vehicle in my garage I would be initially concerned and purchase more fire insurance.
... and what about multi-car accidents on the roads
....the Electric Vehicle fire issue could be a future problem that is coming our way.

Danielle

There were a few of the 4000 luxury vehicles that were EV's -- not very many.  One of them catching fire took out the whole ship.  Likewise as the technology stands today Hydrogen has its risks.

Volkswagen keeps dropping hints about its upcoming replacement for the MicroBus.  Being a sort of left over flower child this is interesting to me.  They talk about it, but as so many interesting ideas from Volkswagen it remains vapor ware.  This is to be an EV and it is the only EV I might consider.  The range issue basically reduces it to a pretty toy.  Like any other girl I do like pretty things.  I bought a VW New Beetle TDI back in the day because I thought it was cute.  The poor little bug is getting rather long in the tooth, but I still see it as cute.  The difference is it can go a bit further than 300 miles on a fill so it is practical for a road trip.


Erin

[ChrissyRyan]

In the early 1900s, about 40% of cars were electric cars.  About 40% were steam powered.  About 20% were powered by gasoline. 

Chrissy

[davina61]

I think it was the German fire department that had a way off putting out EV battery fires, the whole car gets immersed in a tank of water and left for 2 days . There have been a lot of fires started by portable devise /tool batteries left on charge ,a farmhouse being renovated was burnt to the ground by drill battery left on charge overnight . I never leave any unattended .