Electric Vehicles - Really?

[mikmas]

Let's make a law that encompasses locations, people who live in towns or cities can't own cars, after all this is were the pollution is concentrated.

In our (small) city that would require a massive upgrade to local bus routes and timings first to have any chance ... not ever going to happen - in fact it's in strong decline.

[struth]

There are some great gadgets in the video, but in this country, thats all they are tbh. Weather, traffic, road surfaces and inclinations would mean they wont be used much.
Big changes will be needed, but most important would be proper integrated cheap public transport which, lets face it, isnt economic outwith the big cities.
Getting business to scatter is a nice thought but they arent going to do it. They want to be in a central location for mass selling. Financial services like to be in areas like london where they can take their clients to the opera etc and top staff wont live in places like Lochgelly.

[Stryder5]

In our (small) city that would require a massive upgrade to local bus routes and timings first to have any chance ... not ever going to happen - in fact it's in strong decline.

In reality I know this, even our pathetic service is in decline.

A part answer is home working as I did before I retired, this is limited to certain functions though.

With the same job though I went through a 3 month or so period where I had to be in Fareham on a Monday, Milton Keynes on a Wednesday and Newcastle on Tyne on Fridays......some 1000+ miles a week.

I was, however, a bit Eco, working paperless 95% of the time. Didn't compensate for the fuel usage though, that was out of my control.

[User211]

It would be interesting to see the projected use of electric cars power consumption with the projections of power production from the U.K.'s power sources, together with the infrastructure to support the volumes.

Exactly. No one ever seems to talk about this. It is an issue.

[Macca]

The past is irrelevant..

I don't know, I think we can learn from the past. What's wrong with taking the things that worked well then and bringing them back?


Lots of people cycle now to get about, that's something that has come back from the past. When I was a lad you would not see anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 on a bike, except the odd student. But my grandfather (born 1903) cycled to work and back every day as did thousands of working-class men.

[User211]

There are some great gadgets in the video, but in this country, thats all they are tbh. Weather, traffic, road surfaces and inclinations would mean they wont be used much.
Big changes will be needed, but most important would be proper integrated cheap public transport which, lets face it, isnt economic outwith the big cities.
Getting business to scatter is a nice thought but they arent going to do it. They want to be in a central location for mass selling. Financial services like to be in areas like london where they can take their clients to the opera etc and top staff wont live in places like Lochgelly.

Big changes are already in place with Bristol declaring war on the motorist with 20mph speed limits through the the centre, and cycle lanes everywhere.

A mass of these vehicles, the video only touches on a few, are well able to keep up with a 20mph speed limit. Yet the option to use them legally is not there.

This is absurd. Scooters and some of the other vehicles are as safe as bikes I would say. More so, really. They are easier to jump off of. Come off a bike and you are far more likely to really hurt yourself.

I don't buy the this country argument at all. Push bikes are popular in Bristol but the use of electric ones would be far more popular as people are basically lazy. They are still a bit too pricey at the moment. I think they just need more promotion and a realist restriction of 30 mph (for out of town use).

[Stryder5]

I don't know, I think we can learn from the past. What's wrong with taking the things that worked well then and bringing them back?


Lots of people cycle now to get about, that's something that has come back from the past. When I was a lad you would not see anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 on a bike, except the odd student. But my grandfather (born 1903) cycled to work and back every day as did thousands of working-class men.

Because it just won't work, certainly we can learn from the past, but bring back horses (think of the mess that used to abound) bring back workhouses, children working at 6 years old under the looms in mills? No immigrants of a notable number. Wars where hundreds of thousands get killed.

If you're grandfather was roughly in the same location you are in currently he probably worked in the pottery industry. The bicycle was probably the only form of transport, other than walking, that he could afford.

Certainly it would be better if both parents didn't have to work to get through.

Try asking anyone to give up something they consider their right to own or do.

Gary

[struth]

i would like it to happen.

[User211]

i would like it to happen.

Me too. But we are blocking progress with Draconian laws. We will get over it I hope.

Health and safety has gone mad in this country and this is a perceived safety issue and the old minds of decision makers who can't really wise up to it.

One point this they never had these gadgets, therefore they do not trust them. Some truth in that I think.

[walpurgis]

Health and safety has gone mad in this country

Somebody ought to tell the Indian builders and roofers around here. Clambering about high up with no scaffolds, just ladders. Lobbing rubble and slates into skips in the street, over the heads of whoever's trying to get past. Dangerous buggers!