I fully appreciate that electric cars seem to be considered the future by so many people, commercial companies, Governments etc. This is by both legislation (eg UK all new cars must have electric propulsion by 2030) and the choice of companies, such as Jaguar, who are committed by research and investment to retire the internal combustion engine in favour of electric motors within the next few years.
I am just not convinced that electric is the future. Charging will always be an issue. In our cities two thirds of homes typically have no off road parking and how does secure charging work with on street parking in residential areas, where owners consistently wrestle for on street parking space. Recharging on long journeys will surely become a nightmare with literally thousands of vehicles potentially swamping limited space motorway service areas and the like. The infrastructure or the energy output may just not be there. Is there capacity in the national grid to support the increased demand?
Batteries production consumes considerable energy and along with transport to centres of manufacture, potentially creates more emissions. The essential mining and use of scarce minerals, which can be non recyclable and controlled by a limited number of regimes must present further difficulties in the future, as electric car production is ramped up. Moreover, as the batteries have a limited life (typically 7–8 years I believe?), renewing them in existing vehicles is likely to be extremely expensive, which must compromise used car values and by direct consequence the attractiveness of laying out the substantial figures to buy a new vehicle by consumers. Electric cars themselves are more complex then traditional motors, which drives up maintenance costs, because they require greater technical expertise. Will depreciation and maintenance costs be a killer to demand?
I just don’t get the obsession with electric cars, but I am fully prepared to admit I could be wrong. Can anyone address these very substantive concerns for me?
If we accept that fossil fuel solutions should be condemned to history what are the alternatives? I fully accept that research into alternative technologies, such as hydrogen, nitrogen and possibly hybrid fuels is well behind electric, but they are happening. Although there is an argument that time is short and have we enough time to properly develop these alternatives? In Leicestershire we have one of the main UK research centres into opportunities at MIRA. To me, with a rather superficial technical knowledge, they potentially offer solutions to the issues with electric as I see it.
I would welcome any reaction to these observations, as I have really never read much criticism of electric vehicles. In my mind I have a feeling that we are all susceptible to group think on this issue: electric propulsion is good, full stop. Is electric fully capable of replacing fossil fuels in the real world. Or am I completely wrong? If so please tell me, as I along with others, I know, are not convinced and uncertain customers do not make electric car purchases unless they have to. This will slow a revolution in moving away from vehicles that use fossil fuels and by direct impact further global warming.
