Quote from: Freddy on November 23, 2017, 18:16:30 PM
It won't be soon enough for me unfortunately. I'm planning on buying a second hand car soon, but I can't afford electric. I've been off the road for a long time, so I figure my footprint is still minimal.

Fair enough Freddy, just don't get a diesel, apart from the filth they put out the UK government are going to tax the hell out of them.  

No it won't be diesel

  I saw a few interesting things on the internet, Self driving cars will decide who dies in a crash.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/self-driving-cars-will-decide-who-dies-in-a-crash/ar-BBFyqFi?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp
  Seems like a pretty hard program to write, it is probably made harder because each state has there own laws.
  I'm also interested in the hydrogen approach to provide power to the vehicles, have to see how that is going to work out and if it will be applied to cars.
Carl2

I hate to see when people politicize innovation such as EV, and I find it somewhat upsetting that some media outfits are leading the charge. Here's an example of what I'm talking about. Please bear in mind that I DO NOT share any of the views expressed here. I'm just the messenger.

The same thing probably happened when people moved from horses to cars - ie, plenty of people saying nah it's never going to happen.

I don't think it's going to be plain sailing moving all trucks over to electric or hydrogen from diesel, there will be some difficulties to overcome but it will happen, they can't stop progress. Also I don't see it as being anything to do with government, business and profit will move the technology forward, I believe that is how capitalism works in the real world.

One other slight problem, what do we do when the oil runs out or will it last for ever 

We need a plan B, let's get working on it now   

Good find though Dave  I've encountered the same mentality quite a few times, I am prepared to listen to their arguments but every time they fail to convince me. 

Time to lighten things up a little bit 

Here is a video of "a day in the life of a Nissan Leaf", it's a 24kWh Leaf like mine, gives a good idea of the range and features of the car, the guy also talks about his experience of owning it for 2 years, he delivers the video in a calm (British) type way, about 45 mins long, if anyone is interested or has the time.   

Oh, boy, more controversy! Ain't life GRAND?

I'm going to share two Youtube vids, as well as a link to a site that (I believe) can provide some moderately trustworthy facts to back up one or the other of the videos here. I'll let you figure out for yourselves which one.

first, are EV "really" green?


Now, for the "other side":


Ok, now for a link or three to provide some (hopefully) unbiased data, all (admittedly) from a single overall source:

US Energy Generation (EIA)
Emissions From Electricity Generation (EIA)
Which fuels Create Which Emissions (EIA)

Some numbers for those who don't wish to read the articles:

US Electricity Generation Sources:

Source	Percentage	Lbs of CO2 per Million BTU*
Natural Gas	34%	117
Coal	30%	216.6**
Nuclear	20%	0***
Petroleum	1%	159.25**
Renewables (wind/solar/etc.)	15%	0***

* Based on the burning of the fuel, not necessarily the electricity generated - This is the best data I could find
** Averaged against multiple sources of the same general type (e.g. gasoline and diesel, or Anthracite, lignite or bituminous (coal))
*** As no "fuel" is burned, no CO² emission data is included

I'm not a fan of these "statistic" within a short space of time they become out-dated especially in places where they are actively bringing more renewable energy online.

Looking at them videos in both cases an EV is said to be greener, the first video really does try it's best to poopoo doesn't it but in the end has to admit that EV's produce less CO2. I make that a win for electric cars 

Doesn't this come down to how clean the electricity powering the EV's is  ? Hang on, I think we have been here before ... many times now.

President Trump says coal is going to be clean, I heard him say it on TV, no really I did.



So if coal is going to become clean then EV's win with or without renewable energy 

However if Trump was slightly misleading us then maybe we should be looking at alternative energy supplies, just in case. Fortunately some people are working on it, right now.

National Grid confirms summer 2017 as “greenest ever” and launches “world’s first” green energy forecast

Seriously, the argument is over:

EV's are cleaner than petrol/diesel powered cars.

EV's don't give out nasty emissions in our towns and cities.

As cleaner/greener energy comes online EV's become cleaner.

Hey! maybe even Trumps new "really clean coal", ok, I admit it's a long shot 

  I came across this vid and had to include it.


Carl2

Clarkson seems to have changed his mind, I did wonder how long it would take him 

Clarkson was talking about the first Tesla Roadster in the last video, here is a video with some interesting facts about the "old" car, well I found it interesting 

Just posting the weekly news, some info in this vid about Bolt sales, the new Leaf in production in the US, Honda finally starting to make an EV and lots more.

  The stock market says Tesla just got two separate orders for the semi, one for 40 and one for 50 so they will have some money coming in.  The stock market keeps posing the question as to will Tesla run out of money and fail or will it be successful.  There cars seem to be the most sought after cars out there.  There is a lot to the company and they seem to be way ahead of other companies.  I wish them luck.
Carl2