EV/ICE tipping point reached?
 

The Beeb and Quentin Wilson seem to think so:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57253947

What do you think?

I think they're probably right. We're either there or its imminent for new cars.

But for those of us who can't afford a new car (EV or not), or even a good used EV, I wonder how long it will be until we are forced out of our £1000 ICE runabouts by hikes in road tax and fuel prices? Undoubtedly it will be before used EVs drop to that sort of price range.

I hope the technology to convert ICE cars to EV becomes affordable before fuel becomes unaffordable, but I fear it won't...

MJ beat me to my main issue with EV cars, and that is governments and manufacturers are forcing EV cars on the population whether they want them or not (and removing alternatives), and those who can't afford an EV car won't have any alternatives except public transport as ICE vehicles are consigned to the scrap heap.

I know it's a chicken and egg situation, but I still feel that the infrastructure isn't there yet to cope with the ever increasing numbers. The supply of EV cars is outstripping the demand for chargers.

Just by chance, I watched a video about a fortnight ago by Shmee150 of him charging his Taycan. His idea was to show how convenient it was, but it didn't pan out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwevvreoNjE

My suspicion is that it won't pan out anything like anyone is forecasting.
Unless there's a major and very rapid improvement in charging infrastructure and/or battery technology EV's won't suit everyone. I don't actually see them becoming totally dominant, other options will probably appear.

We'll change the way we look at transport and moving around, the mix of options will be different to now, especially depending where you live (e.g. my elder sons family in Hackney use electric bikes for most journeys).

And I don't necessarily see as many people "owning" a car. In fact I think back to my youth, living and working in London, I just hired a car when I needed one.
With autonomous vehicles on the horizon things will probably change more than we can imagine.

We've just been away for a few days; it's debatable if the trip could have been achieved as easily in an EV; there were certainly no charging options whatsoever where we stayed.
But we used the same vehicle for that, because we own it, as we do as a local runabout. With better/different options we might not need to do that.

Having said about the cost of EVs, curiosity got me wondering as to exactly how much they cost, and I came across an article on the CAR magazine website, with 'affordable EVs' in the title:

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electr...-electric-car/

Glad I wasn't drinking my tea at the time! 13 cars ranging in price from £20k-£40k and one £20k car has a 70 mile range. I think I'll be sticking to my LPG fuelled A8 for as long as I can. That seats four in comfort, has a massive boot (even with the LPG tank), takes 10 minutes to fill and even with only doing short (less than 5 mile) journeys, I still get 350 miles from a tank.

For now, Tesla have it covered with both range and infrastructure. Maybe time to try the EuroMillions tonight.

Demand for electricity is pushing up prices already. On the Agile Octopus half hourly changing rates I around this time last year I was averaging about 8p, now I am averaging 15-16p, and it rarely goes under 12p now. So I have switched to another provider 11.891p all 24h fixed for 12 months starting tomorrow. Electricity bill is expected to be a lot higher next winter for those who do not fix prices now https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09k3ywd Soon EV will cot as much as petrol to drive per mile.

Which supplier is doing 11.891p please?

The reason I voted No is that we are not at the point that the charging infrastructure is adequate, not with the short range of many EVs, nor do I think it will be by 2030 either.

Moto has just opened a brand new services at Rugby and they've made a big song and dance about the charging facilities? How many chargers for non-Tesla vehicles do you think they've installed to warrant this big song and dance?

A: 12

Feckin 12 chargers in a brand new services, and that's assuming they all work!

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...-site-EVs.html

Years ago they tried forcing diesel cars upon us, then made a U turn.

EVs are all well and good but once the shift is significantly towards EV, watch out for a new EV tax either on vehicle cost or taxing the supply

My last 2 company cars have been phev's and my company will buy whatever government requires/mandates so luckily I have nothing to worry about, except hight tax etc. government will impose to force out ICE cars. But hopefully my car being a 2.8 will be affordable to keep much longer then 3.7 and 4.2