Are we on the brink of an electric car revolution?

[PS_RalphW]

Some of the cheaper models have a lot less electronics, I think the base model Corsa e and the Chinese MGs. Maybe the fiat 500e. However, cars in general are better described as computers on wheels these days. They all have the high tech sensors and computer controlled drive trains and built in emergency braking etc., the cheaper ones simply miss out the optional extras like sat navs, which you don't really need and the car still works if they break. The Teslas are the worst because they remove all the traditional buttons so if the touch screen stops working, the car is undrivable.

[Potemkin Villager]

The Teslas are the worst because they remove all the traditional buttons so if the touch screen stops working, the car is undrivable.

"It's one of it's unique features sir" says the sales man.

I just hate touch screens....

[Stumuz2]

Interesting.

These are my thought processes' at the moment regarding electric cars.

1/ The number of ICE vehicles are never going to be replaced by electric because of resource constraints. If/when they do become the dominant conveyance they will be rationed by price. Gone are the days when you can motor on the cheap by buying an old banger. The company car will be a thing of the past, replaced by car pools supplied by leasing companies. My company has not had a company car for over a decade. When i need to go somewhere not accessible by train ,taxis, plane, I pick up a car from Hertz. Massively cheaper.

2/ For at least the next decade existing vehicles will be nursed beyond their trade in dates. The more complicated ones will fail and be scrapped sooner because of minor faults which are not economically repairable.

3/ The more basic vehicles will see an uplift in value, because of their ability to be repaired. Cuba on a more occidental level.

4/ These opinions have not changed in a decade. In 2014 my old much loved Land Rover Defender 300tdi failed its MOT with a war and peace failure list.A decision was made to send it off to the Midlands for a complete future proof rebuild. The brief was simple, everything that could rust in the future was to be replaced with stainless steel or galvanised. Three weeks later and £22k it was back and will last for another fifty to a hundred years.

5/ ICE vehicles have another 15-20 years on the road. Their range will be curtailed by not allowing them into cities/large towns and then finally banned. I will then have to put a battery into the Landy, if electric vehicles are on the road and people for environmental/resource/war reasons are using public transport instead.

[Catweazle]

Indeed, this extra, unnecessary technology is what puts me off the current crop of EVs. I'd like something super simple, utilitarian, less to go wrong, less expensive etc. EVs have the very real potential to be significantly longer lasting than ICE cars - but all the extra IT limits this by adding more complexity, points of failure and more to go obsolete.

My thoughts entirely. I'd happily drive an electric 2CV, although I'd prefer something more like an early Toyota Hilux.

Proper mechanical switches and a wiring diagram an electrician can follow would be ideal. Wind-down windows are fine, I don't need central locking or air-con or a 20 CD multi-changer with built-in DVD player.

[adam2]

HMG, have today announced a considerable expansion of electric car production by Nissan in Sunderland.
Batteries are to be manufactured as well as vehicles.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57666008

[BritDownUnder]

If the Nissan announcement turns out to come to fruition it will be very welcome news for the UK. Maybe they should try to get Tesla to come as well?

I expect the government had to offer some serious wonga to get it to happen as no doubt these cars will be difficult to get into Europe.

[PS_RalphW]

The big problem Nissan had with exporting it's current UK EV production to the EU was that the batteries are made in Korea, and this tipped the overall fraction of the car that was non-UK above the threshold to count as a UK vehicle for importing to the EU. By building the batteries here it makes export to the EU easier.

[Potemkin Villager]

It all makes sense!

[adam2]

And more good news here,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57700749
Though not yet confirmed, it looks probable that Vauxhall will be building electric vans at Ellesmere port, Cheshire.

Glad to hear of EV manufacturing in the UK, rather than importing.

[Potemkin Villager]

I'd love to see a supply chain breakdown for critical parts of EVs i.e. batteries, control systems, variable speed drives, motors, magnets etc.

[adam2]

I'd love to see a supply chain breakdown for critical parts of EVs i.e. batteries, control systems, variable speed drives, motors, magnets etc.

I expect that many components are imported, but manufacture of some parts in the UK and assembly in the UK is still preferable to importing the entire vehicle.

[PS_RalphW]

https://cleantechnica.com/2021/07/03/no ... g-rapidly/

85% of cars sold in Norway in June had a plug. 19% of all cars on the road have a plug. On current trends 90% of all car miles travelled in Norway in 2030 will involve a plug.

The revolution is in full swing in Norway. Funded by their fossil fuel exports.

[kenneal - lagger]

It all makes sense!

To a Eurocrat maybe!! Thank goodness that we're out of that now and only the poor sods who insist on trading with them have to deal with them! And thank god that those who have to deal with them are a very small minority of the population and economy as a whole.

[kenneal - lagger]

................ The revolution is in full swing in Norway. Funded by their fossil fuel exports.

And powered by their huge hydroelectric resource.

I've been in Wales for the weekend and been impressed by the amount of rain and by the hills upon which it falls. They are not quite as impressive as the Norwegian hills but there is still a very large resource for micro hydro there most of the year even if it is only for local consumption. A Welsh electric car grant, anyone? All powered by rain!!

[PS_RalphW]

UK EV sales reached 10% in June, exceeding traditional (non hybrid) diesel sales. Tesla model 3 was the best selling car overall. (they have a 3 monthly sales push to help their quartly financial figures)

On current trends, EVs will be dominant long before 2030.