EVO story on a new, electric, Bristol...

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

I am afraid too few people recall the early days of the motorcar in the United States. At that point, one could choose a steam powered car, an electric car, and the smoky, backfiring internal combustion engined examples. To some degree, all were somewhat successful, and each had it's followers. Now, sprinting into the 21st century, the top selling, most outrageously powerful, exotic cars are all gasoline powered. They not only go like stink, but get respectable mileage to boot. The likelyhood of the masses choosing an electric car, in any part of the future that anyone would care to name, is pretty remote. I, for one, will ride one of my bicycles or walk. On especially important days, I will bring out one of my 440 cubic-inch, ten miles to the gallon, rubber tired locomotives on what is left of our highway system, and have the time of my life. I predict that gasoline will continue to be refined and burnt for a good long time. Petrol products and coal will fire the furnaces to produce the much-needed electicity for the plug-in cars. Of course, we will need to build museums to house examples for future generations to observe in bemused wonderment.

[TBC]

If a seriously rich petrolhead such as Jay Leno accepts that the future of the automobile is not petrol/gasoline/fossil fuel powered, I think that the guys at FN/BCL are on the right path.

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

OK, granted Jay Leno is a car nut, and quite wealthy, but that does not make him an authority on where the car business is going. Car companies are already devoloping gas-powered cars with huge increases in fuel economy. We are going to see mileage figures approaching 50 miles per gallon, and diesels are already at that level. There will be a handful of people who think they are doing the 'right thing' and will buy an electric or a hybrid. It does make sense for short-distance commutes in little S***boxes, but our President wants us to hop a bus or train instead. As long as the majority of the population insists on remaining urban dwellers, electrics and others will have a place in the mix. The general consensus is that these 'forward thinkers' are just relieving themselves against the wind. I think that if you want an electric car, you must be obligated to buy a windmill to produce your own electricity for your charging device.

[Markus Berzborn]

Of course, on the whole electric cars make no ecological sense, if aspects such as power generation, battery disposal etc. are taken into account.

Regards,
Markus

[Sam410]

Originally Posted by Ronald G. Stephenson

I am afraid too few people recall the early days of the motorcar in the United States. At that point, one could choose a steam powered car, an electric car, and the smoky, backfiring internal combustion engined examples. To some degree, all were somewhat successful, and each had it's followers. Now, sprinting into the 21st century, the top selling, most outrageously powerful, exotic cars are all gasoline powered. They not only go like stink, but get respectable mileage to boot. The likelyhood of the masses choosing an electric car, in any part of the future that anyone would care to name, is pretty remote. I, for one, will ride one of my bicycles or walk. On especially important days, I will bring out one of my 440 cubic-inch, ten miles to the gallon, rubber tired locomotives on what is left of our highway system, and have the time of my life. I predict that gasoline will continue to be refined and burnt for a good long time. Petrol products and coal will fire the furnaces to produce the much-needed electicity for the plug-in cars. Of course, we will need to build museums to house examples for future generations to observe in bemused wonderment.

You're slightly missing the point I was trying not very well to make. Given sufficient technology, electric cars can be better than petrol cars – the weight distribution can be better, the torque available at low or zero RPM is phenomenal, the range is as good as petrol (with a small range extending internal combustion engine), the handling can be better by distributing the power better and so on. I love a big gurgling V8 as much as the next man, but electric will certainly be able to earn a place in many driving enthusiasts' hearts.

Maybe a similar story is found if you look at photography. The early digital cameras were expensive and rubbish niche products, but today the quality available from mainstream modern digital SLRs and medium format systems is far better than was ever available from film, especially in low light. Sure it gives a slightly different 'feel' to film, and I miss my darkroom (as I will miss a big petrol engine one day), but by most measurable yardsticks, digital sensors now far outperform all normal film stock.

[Markus Berzborn]

It's very difficult to compare the results of analog and digital photography nowadays because with the exception of some specialist shops one gets a printout of a digital scan anyway.

Regards,
Markus

[TBC]

Returning to the photography/camera theme; Nokia are apparently now the largest producer of digital cameras in the world, they may not make the best cameras, but they make the most. As the majority of people see the automobile as a means of getting from A to B as cheaply as possible, the advent of cheap electric cars will inevitably have an impact on sales of those powered solely by fossil fuels, especially as the latter will face increasingly higher levels of taxation. Most people just want to take a photo, in the same way that most people simply need to get from here to there.

In 50 years time, it may only be the very wealthy who can afford to drive a car powered by gasoline.......

[Markus Berzborn]

I do not think there will be really cheap electric cars in the next few years with sufficient practicability for everyday life.

Regards,
Markus

[TBC]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

I do not think there will be really cheap electric cars in the next few years with sufficient practicability for everyday life.

Which is why I indicated a timeline; admittedly the FN technology currently only makes sense in top end models, hence the purchase of BCL; however as with many innovations, the greater the use, the cheaper the application becomes (computers, mobile phones, ABS, etc) so I don't believe that it will be that long before the technology (extended range electric powertrain) is in general use.

[jimfoz]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

I do not think there will be really cheap electric cars in the next few years with sufficient practicability for everyday life.

Regards,
Markus

Thy are still ridiculously expensive. The 2 electric cars tested on Top Gear recently were Ford Focus segment cars costing well over £30,000 each! To add insult to injury, like mobile phones, the batteries will hold less charge over time and will need replacing at certain intervals - an expensive prospect costing 30-40% of the original price of the car.