Vauxhall Ampera - would you consider one?
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From: Ivan on 6 Jul 2010 13:36 "Bagpuss" <hairycatpuss(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:2233d29f-9819-44f9-a247-94c9a331a75d(a)b35g2000yqi.googlegroups.com... > On 30 June, 19:56, "Dr Zoidberg" <AlexNOOOOO!!...@drzoidberg.co.uk> > wrote: >> http://fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear/blog/vauxhall-ampera >> >> Basically an electric car with a small low powered petrol engine to keep >> the >> battery charged if you exceed the 40 mile range. >> This sounds like a far more sensible drive train than the sort you find >> in a >> pious - the engine can be tuned to be run continually at it's most >> efficient >> speed, smoothing out the energy demands over your journey. >> >> Obviously the price will be an issue, but the running costs have the >> potential to be quite a lot cheaper. >> Most of my journeys would be fine in electric-only mode, and just about >> all >> of them would be fine when petrol-assisted. > > For �25k? Not a hope in hell. > > I'll continue to spend a grand, two at most on something old, and keep > the rest in the bank thanks. > > Miaow! > In addition to a conventional petrol engine, it has a generator, a battery, electric motor/s and all the control gear that goes with it, it's bad enough with most modern cars locking the motorist into specialist servicing from expensive overpriced dealerships, imagine what the bills would be if you had a major problem with one of those out of warranty! and they forget to mention that although cheaper per mile, electricity still isn't exactly free. > >
From: Adrian on 6 Jul 2010 13:54 "Ivan" <ivan'H'older(a)yahoo.com> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: > and they forget to mention that although cheaper per mile, electricity > still isn't exactly free. Since most of it is generated from petrol being burnt on board the car it is not only not free but not "zero emission at the point of use". Very little UK electricity is generated from renewables, so very little of the plug-in juice is zero emission, either. Then, of course, there's the small matter of the UK electricity generation network being fairly near capacity, so if more than an insignificant number of people switch from petrol/diesel to electricity, there will have to be a shedload of money spent in very short order - with a matching hole in the treasury's income. Wonder how they'll fill that one...?
From: Steve Firth on 6 Jul 2010 14:11 Bagpuss <hairycatpuss(a)gmail.com> wrote: > For �25k? Not a hope in hell. Hmm Vauxhall Ampera or Fiat 500 with �17K in the bank. I'll have the Fiat, thanks.
From: AstraVanMann on 7 Jul 2010 00:49
"Adrian" <toomany2cvs(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> and they forget to mention that although cheaper per mile, electricity >> still isn't exactly free. > > Since most of it is generated from petrol being burnt on board the car it > is not only not free but not "zero emission at the point of use". Very > little UK electricity is generated from renewables, so very little of the > plug-in juice is zero emission, either. > > Then, of course, there's the small matter of the UK electricity > generation network being fairly near capacity, so if more than an > insignificant number of people switch from petrol/diesel to electricity, > there will have to be a shedload of money spent in very short order - > with a matching hole in the treasury's income. Wonder how they'll fill > that one...? I imagine they'll double the tax on cheese to pay for it. -- "For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died." |