Electric cars, and the national grid!

[struth]

yup mine regens in coast mode and even harder when brakes applied. also you get more in eco mode than sport mode etc. Its not a cure all but every little helps, as the battery in mine is small, being a hybrid. Its just an aid to extended mileage as much as anything, but it is used a lot in town especially in eco, so its quiet and clean at point of use. the smell off a diesel is surprising when your not used to it

[anthonyTD]

I remember when i was a kid [yes all those years ago] Diesel trucks busses, and trains when pulling off' used to emit clouds of blue/black smoke, these days modern diesel's hardly smoke at all, good you say' that's because the engines are more efficient, therefore; exhausts are much cleaner, yes, to a point, but the real problem still exists ie; the particles they produce, these are the most damaging as far as health issues, and where as when i was a kid those particles were obvious, they used to fall to the ground quite quickly because of their size/weight, these days by making Diesel engines more efficient those problematic particles are still there, but are much, much smaller, hence they stay air borne for much longer and therefore; the reason we are seeing chronic lung/chest problems in major cities and towns, or anywhere people live near busy roads etc.
I drive a diesel, so i am very aware of this issue, however my small saving grace is; these days i only drive a few thousand miles a year, hence i am limiting my carbon footprint that way, still no excuse i know, and i am very aware of my failings!
All we seem to do is change/alter the problem, we never solve it!
A...

[Marco]

I drive a diesel, so i am very aware of this issue, however my small saving grace is; these days i only drive a few thousand miles a year, hence i am limiting my carbon footprint that way, still no excuse i know, and i am very aware of my failings!
All we seem to do is change/alter the problem, we never solve it!

+1 (on all counts). These days, I drive on average 30 miles per week, to a maximum of 60. In any case, in terms of your carbon footprint, you have to take into consideration the WHOLE of your lifestyle/habits and analyse things cumulatively, not simply in terms of what kind of a car you drive.

In that respect, you're not doing your carbon footprint, or the planet, any favours by driving an electric car, and at the same time putting lots of plastic and other waste into landfill, not being energy-conscious at home, or flying off on holiday two or three times a year!

You have to look at the *whole picture*, and aside from driving a performance diesel car, both Del and I are very focussed on an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, especially Del, as in Germany (where many of her family originate), the whole green/recycling scene had existed for DECADES before we considered the notion and adopted it seriously here in the UK, so she's a massive 'greeny'.

Therefore, I've got nothing against the potentially improved environmental aspect of electric cars - far from it - but simply detest and refuse to be 'led' by the system, or take part in, what is *really* the driving force, no pun intended, behind them (as already outlined), and which so many appear to be blind to. Quite simply, 'saving the planet' is an easy sell, to cover up the real truth!

Marco.

[dave2010]

Therefore, I've got nothing against the potentially improved environmental aspect of electric cars - far from it - but simply detest and refuse to be 'led' by the system, or take part in, what is *really* the driving force behind them (as already outlined), and which so many appear to be blind to. Quite simply, 'saving the planet' is an easy sell to cover up the real truth!

I can't agree with everything in your post here, but I do agree that using petrol or diesel cars for a relatively few miles each week is not going to do a disproportionate amount of damage compared with other activities, such as having the central heating on, or using desktop computers instead of laptops, or flying long distances, or using tumble dryers instead of hanging washing out on a line.

As with many things, there are merits in some systems/devices/techniques, but these have to be weighed up in terms of an overall picture. We are going to have an electric car, and we do have a hybrid, but our pattern of usage is probably different from some people's.

I have been rethinkng my approach to this, as the issues of pollution in cities (electric cars = good, possibly also plug-in hybrids = good, regular hybrids - probably not so good, diesels, petrol = not good at all) are different from the issues re CO2, where at the present time overall efficiency is possibly the most important factor, given that electric cars may "simply" move the location at which CO2 is released to the atmostphere - until such time as the overall generation capacity is sufficient to power all the electric cars on the planet.

I am not at all sure that you can make statements about 'what is *really* the driving force behind them" - chances are we haven't any idea. I'd be interested to know more about what you think, nevertheless.

[Beobloke]

or using tumble dryers instead of hanging washing out on a line.

Much as I will always strongly resist moving to an electric car, I absolutely REFUSE to stop tumble drying my towels - it makes them, soft and fluffy!!

[dave2010]

Much as I will always strongly resist moving to an electric car, I absolutely REFUSE to stop tumble drying my towels - it makes them, soft and fluffy!!

Ah but do you use one of the new fangled ones with the inbuilt dehumidifiers, and do you use those ball things to keep the towels even softer?

Also, you can get the benefit of the fluffing up with a short period of drying - not running the dryer for hours on end.

People who live in cities don't really have many options, other than using tumble dryers, or possibly drying cabinets - which aren't so popular in the UK.

[Beobloke]

Ah but do you use one of the new fangled ones with the inbuilt dehumidifiers, and do you use those ball things to keep the towels even softer?

It’s a modern condensing dryer and we use Asda’s Moonflower and Lavender tumble dryer sheets for maximum softness and a lovely smell!

[struth]

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...k-save-40.html

Good article on money you can save getting an electric car through tax break

[dave2010]

It’s a modern condensing dryer and we use Asda’s Moonflower and Lavender tumble dryer sheets for maximum softness and a lovely smell!

You should get some of those miracle balls too!

PS: Condensing = OK. The latest ones use heat pumps and don't use much energy.

[dave2010]

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...k-save-40.html

Good article on money you can save getting an electric car through tax break

Maybe, though it depends on one's circumstances.

Just heard (though not had it confirmed it yet) that the £3500 dosh from HMG for buying an electric car is not going to be available after March. If true, they kept that very quiet. Dealers may, or may not, pass the effective increase on.

So much for offering incentives for people to take up new ideas!