It is because there are 20 million vehicles that they can be (and thus are) heavily taxed. And it is because battery electric vehicles are a tiny niche that they can be (and thus are) heavily subsidised. If at some future date there were 20 million battery electric vehicles, what do you think would happen to the taxes and the subsidies? Take your time.
Cheer up Pete, whatever it is just remember... It's only a forum. [emoji106] Yes we are heavily taxed, no idea where all that money actually goes though. I can only assume that contractors skim so much off the top that it's crippling us. We can only see what the future will bring on that front but we need a big change and our attitudes now are finally starting to change. Hopefully it ends somewhere good, not down your morbid road.
this is where renewable's and pump storage comes in. charge yer batteries at night when demand is low.
Actually, as a track only tool, if they were cheap enough to buy the charging issue would be irrelevant and you'd have a silent track day missile. Unfortunately with dwindling oil supplies that's the wrong way round. You want petrol power for track day toys and electric power for day to day mass transportation drudgery. Whatever the technology, with no long term plan in place to supply the energy we're currently using in this country, I sincerely hope we don't all go over to electric transport tomorrow or the lights will go out. Not knocking the technology though. As is so often the way, its several steps ahead of the politics. I've got a Ducati and a 1290 KTM. I like torque. Who wouldn't want 168 lb/ft from a stand still. And yes, it does look nice. That fairing has a hint of the 1098 about it. Look great in red..
It is interesting to see that the Tesla Model S (probably the most practicable battery electric car so far) is offered with battery packs sized 60, 75, 80, or 90 kW/h. At approx. 8.5 kW/h = 1 litre of petrol, the energy carried is thus roughly 7, 9, 10, or 12 litres of petrol. If a car manufacturer offered for sale a big expensive luxury car with a maximum fuel tank size of 12 litres, hands up all those who would love to buy one, assuming you could afford the price.
Just new technology. Look at how expensive and poorly efficient cars were 100 years ago. Now they are efficient and cheap. ONce the newer technology has been developed and improved, cost will come down and efficiency will improve and we will all lap it up!
I'll miss the sound of a booming Termi v-twin but I suppose we have to move forward and it looks like electric is the way. If that was a lovely new 2019 Panigale and it would cover at least 150 miles on a full charge, I think I'd go for it.
They'll no doubt start off with synthesised sound, just to ease the users into it. From a safety perspective it makes sense. TT Zero bikes had to be fit with horns as the wildlife wasn't able to hear the bikes coming and move [emoji15]
i think we should forget about electric and get back to our roots. screw technology its just to much bother. get ivor on it.
One of the reasons I love twins and triples is because of the cacophony noises they make. The noise the monster makes on overrun puts a big fat grin on my face every time I hear it. I know I'd miss that while whining along. OK, it's fast but there has to be more to it than just going fast, right? Shit, am I just getting old and this is the standard oldie aversion to change and a sign of the onset of galloping decrepitude? :Oldman: I am, after all, the guy who thought mobile phones wouldn't catch on. Mind you, they did look like this at the time:
Battery electric vehicles were invented over 120 years ago, and have been made, sold, and used ever since. The UK used to have many thousands of electric delivery vehicles and milk floats (many of them made by Brush of Loughborough). They eventually followed steam traction into history. Since then many attempts have been made to re-introduce battery electrics to the roads down the years, most of which have sunk without trace. The facts and figures in their advertising material invariably owed more to wishful thinking than to hard reality, a tendency which is still sadly prevalent today.
Remember when your laptop battery used to last you an hour at most. Now they last into double figures. It's called progress and I've no doubt that they will get there someday and electric vehicles will be come more financially viable and have the range required to make that so.
Yes that's all perfectly true. Still, the energy has to come from somewhere and somebody has to pay for it.
But it can be generated cheaper and easier than petrol will be when the supplies start to dwindle. We'll be producing and storing our own energy at home in future years. It's the only way as oil isn't going to last forever.
