JetSet Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Indeed. And it currently takes several hours to charge... Whereas it takes less than a couple of minutes to fill and pay for a tank of fuel. The technology is just not evolved enough yet. I can't remember the exact details but one manufacturer is introducing battery exchange stations, worryingly though, I saw a TV advert for a car that at the bottom of the screen said there was a monthly battery rental charge, can't remember which one but that's just an age thing . It's actually the Nissan Leaf £70 a month rental. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbeast35 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 its the pc thing to do unfortunately for us but tesla seem to have made some progress with the model s, 0-60 in under 5 seconds and equivelant to over 400bhp http://www.teslamoto...es#/performance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmr1980 Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Theres also the issue with ...sound... Agreed. Nothing like the roar of an engine The technology is just not evolved enough yet. And imho, nor will it ever be. Whilst ever there is oil in the ground i dont believe for one minute we will see a viable alternative, least of all electric. If there was a viable alternative the oil companies would be all over it and finding the next way to make billions, they seem to have little interest in electric as far as i am aware. I still cant really get my head around lower emissions via electric either, what about all the emissions caused by making the electric to charge the batteries, let alone the emissions generated to make the batteries. Again I agree - the offset for creating the batteries and generating the electricity doesn't totally wipe out "co2" emissions of the petrol combustion engine. It does reduce it potentially, but it's also the recycling and disposing of the batteries that becomes an issue. What I don't understand is the reticence of big 1st world countries like the US or even here in the UK, to use Nuclear power. I'm proudly happy to say that France are now the pioneers (IMO) of nuclear power in Europe if not the world - heck, France sells a fair proportion of its Electricity to Europe - and makes over €3bn as a result. That tool Hollande wants to phase them out though - bloody socialist ****. Also nearly 1/5th of the nuclear fuel is recycled, furthermore reducing the waste nucelar power produces. It's CO2 footprint is tiny - still trucks and other things to consider (like building it etc...) however over the life of a reactor/powerstation it's footprint is small. I can't remember the exact details but one manufacturer is introducing battery exchange stations, worryingly though, I saw a TV advert for a car that at the bottom of the screen said there was a monthly battery rental charge, can't remember which one but that's just an age thing . It's actually the Nissan Leaf £70 a month rental. Pete More ways of making money - when they realise that people will move to electric they think "oh ****" we need to make some money somehow. What I hate is this duplicitous nature of policy - they say they're purporters of saving our environment and changing the face of the world, but whilst that is possibly true to an extent (who doesn't want to look after the place where we live and offer our future the best chance they have?), it's also laced with ironic hypocracy as they find new ways of taxing these new innovative technologies and sting those that are trying to live by the "values" they're screaming about from their soap boxes. At least be honest and say "we want to be greener... but it's going to cost you just as much." Let us imagine that petrol is no longer available for cars, the tax on recharging points will just be marked up to reflect the shortfall in income they'd have got from fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 I dont think the advancement of cars has anything to do with co2 emissions. Personally, I couldnt care too much about co2 emissions since its something silly like "cows produce more co2 than cars". Cant remember the exact fact but something like that. The reason for looking into electric etc is more to do with oil supply running out, and at the same time keeps the hippies and greencore happy. But, are the governments actually putting much thought and money into it? No. I dont think its that much of a threat at the moment. Oil is running out but its not in the next 20years like everyone says it is. Otherwise we wouldnt be driving 20mpg cars when a countries defence and food supply require fuel. Without fuel, britian and america are back to square one. So... petrol cars are still going to be the hot thing for atleast 10more years without any country flicking an eyelid at the decreasing fuel amount. And whilst theres a fuel scare, the government can keep doing what their doing with fuel prices. Since 2003 the fuel price has went down, but the government tax on it has consistently increased. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 A lot of people think we won't know when we have reached peak oil till we are way past it. Also I disagree with the oil companies being over thr next thing. If its electric or hydrogen it's something all of us can make at home. Yes they can charge for it but it's not scarce like oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmr1980 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Want less CO2? Plant more trees! Simples! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Coincidentally I see that Caterham are bringing out a back to basics 7 next year with a Turbo Suzuki Triple, skinny wheels and tyres, 80bhp and less than 500kg. I know that's not electric but it's another derivative of extracting what you can from existing technology. I know there are many who will think I'm mad but personally I can't wait to drive it. Yes, you wouldn't want a 17st passenger on board but I bet it will feel like a living thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I'd love one. It's exactly what we should be doing, and that's reducing weight not adding heavy motors and batteries and things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 (edited) I have never looked or seen any documentation, but what would you think the emissions are over the lifetime of a hybrid, say prius, to a normal runaround, corsa etc etc? 10% or 20% less or more or maybe even level?? I am talking from manufacturing process to the the day it dies?? Edited September 19, 2013 by Jetpilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Let us imagine that petrol is no longer available for cars, the tax on recharging points will just be marked up to reflect the shortfall in income they'd have got from fuel. Ha, if petrol is no longer available how will we make tyres, it takes 7 gallons of oil to make a single tyre, can we synthesize enough materiel to make billions of tyres each year? Pete 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squit Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Seems to soon but spose they have to start somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suits Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Electric cars will be the saviour of the combustion engine. If we replaced half of the current combustion engined cars on the road with electric cars it would go a long way to improving the state of oil based fuels. 20 years down the line if 75% of cars on the road are electric, then that bodes even better for combustion engines and the fuels that fire them. Jay Leno describes a future where we all drive our electric cars to work and around and about, then on weekends we break out our combustion engines and go for a blast ro to a track day to enjoy that side of motoring. I believe him. It's all about image. If car company's appear to embrace the world and face up to global warming it makes Mrs Jones buy a car from Honda as it's green and cuddles the world and makes her look nice. The best way to shout about your electric wonders and improvements as a company, is to stick it in a desirable car. Electric hybrid cars are not terrible. The new Honda NSX with its dual electric motors and F1 - 2014 derived V6 goes very well indeed and sounds great - due out to the public 2015. The next GTR will have a similar set up I'm sure of it - basing that on nothing but my own assumptions and the way the business seems to be shifting. People threw fits when regulations changed and stated that all cars had to have million airbags and bonnets that went at a certain degree of angle. Designers and engineers moved in, accepted the changes and still managed to engineer out fantastic cars. Personally I love to see motor company's pushing the envelope and coming up with ideas and solutions to problems, it's their love for cars that ultimately drives this and because of that reason it's only ever going to evolve into something good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350 Russ Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 i believe that Hydrogen powered cars are the future, the problem is there about 20 years away imo. electric cars just arent practical if you do alot of miles or have to do long trips. if i was to own a nissan leaf and fancy going up north for instance then i would have to stop halfway and charge it for 12 hours, thats just not practical for what people are used to nowadays which is why i dont believe they will catch on. This is the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I believe I will never see a day when petrol/diesel cars are outsold by anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suits Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I believe I will never see a day when petrol/diesel cars are outsold by anything else. Depends how old you are I suppose. 10 years ago I'd have never though something like an iPhone would exist and be so abundant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) I'm 33. I will never see that day in my lifetime, not if I live to 100. Edited September 20, 2013 by Ekona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jell36 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 To me, the whole global warming and lowering emissions stuff is just a way of creating a new industry so governments can make more money. I work in the oil industry and it is not running out. The global warming that people bang on about has not been proven to be true (latest unbiased research is really struggling to put a case forward for mankind induced global warming). Electric cars are again just another industry to make money as there is no benefit and personally I don't think the technology will ever take off in cars, it will however eventually be used in certain applications very successfully. The future for cars is hydrogen and hydrogen alone but we are decades away from full development of the technology. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suits Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I'm 33. I will never see that day in my lifetime, not if I live to 100. Why ?? Technological reasons or government constraints/TAX reasons ?? Or something else ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deankenny Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) This subject gets better, there is to be a Formula E championship, consisting of 10 races all in electric formula 1 style cars, drivers have to change car halfway through the race. http://www.fiaformulae.com/ The 2014/2015 FIA Formula E Championship, the world's first fully-electric racing series, will be contested over 10 rounds taking place on street circuits around the globe. All rounds will be one-day events with practice, qualifying and the race taking place in a single day in order to reduce costs and minimise disruption to the host city. Practice All events will open with a one-hour practice session giving drivers their first experience of the circuit. They will have up to two cars available to them giving them the option to change cars should they wish. Full power (200kw / 270bhp) will be available throughout. Qualifying The qualifying session is a straight fight for the fastest laptime and determines the order for the day's race. Drivers will only be able to use one car and have a maximum of four laps - two timed laps plus and out and an in lap - in order to set their fastest time. Cars will take to the track in stages in order to avoid congestion with the running order being chosen by the driver who sets the quickest time in practice. Full power (200kw / 270bhp) will be available throughout. Race Races will begin by standing start and last for approximately one hour with drivers making two mandatory pit stops in order to change cars. Engines will be restricted to power saving mode (133kw / 180bhp) but can be temporarily increased to maximum power (200kw / 270bhp) by using the 'Push-to-Pass' boost system. Championship The FIA Formula E Championship will consist of both a drivers and a teams' championship. A driver's end of season total is made up of his/her best results less two. A team's total is made up of all its results from the season. Pit stops/Car changes During races, drivers must make two mandatory pit stops in order to change cars. This must take place in their box and be observed by an FIA steward to ensure all safety equipment is correctly applied. Tyre changes, unless a puncture, are not permitted during this pit stop. Push-to-Pass During races only, drivers will be able to use a pre-determined number of power boosts to aid overtaking. This will increase the car's power output from 133kw (180bhp) to 200Kw (270bhp) for a limited period of time. Edited September 20, 2013 by deankenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jell36 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Yeah, they've set up Formula E to try and promote electric cars and to encourage manufacturers to develop the technology. In reality though it's just another money ploy to try and be the next bernie ecclestone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deankenny Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 omg, you got to watch this vid, you get to hear the Formula E cars in this vid, dunno about you guys but one of the bigges factors of motor racing whether it formula 1 or rally driving, is the soundtrack, nothing can beat that adrenaline rushing noise of a F1 car screaming past!! I can imagine 20 formula e cars all buzzing past, haha, i will watch just to listen to the comedy value of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I believe I will never see a day when petrol/diesel cars are outsold by anything else. Yes, I remember my mate who is a photographer telling me just 15 years ago that digitals would never outsell standard cameras and who would have thought in 1980 that by the mid 90's that only a handful of vinyl records were being sold. If you'd have told somebody in 1950 that within 20 years every single steam locomotive in Britain would have been scrapped it would have been laughable really. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpen Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 One of the sales guys at my local dealership assured me he'd heard from someone within nissan at an event last year, that the next Z would be all electric. Yeah right who believes hearsay? Who knows what we'll get, did anyone see the merc sls amg on top gear? The electric version was more powerful than the petrol. http://www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-benz/sls/road-test/electric-drive-driven Maybe we're in for something similar for the Z? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 One of the sales guys at my local dealership assured me he'd heard from someone within nissan at an event last year, that the next Z would be all electric. Yeah right who believes hearsay? Who knows what we'll get, did anyone see the merc sls amg on top gear? The electric version was more powerful than the petrol. http://www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-benz/sls/road-test/electric-drive-driven Maybe we're in for something similar for the Z? More powerful but the weight blunts performance. Plus more weight means the engines are working harder so less mpg or economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.