You did have one advantage over all of them in the debate: You were probably best liked and most likable and funny person on the panel. That goes a long way in debates.
In the words of Hemmingway (on bankruptcy), "It happens very slowly and then all at once". It very much feels like the Epstein war has moved the EV uptake graph into the 'all at once' part.
The stunning lack of foresight that this post emphasises is that the fossil fuel industry had enough time and money to have bought up each and every clean energy startup and have been the leaders of the green revolution. Still making money and extending the life of their mega companies. How much are they kicking themselves (if they can see anything from their ivory towers)? However, they were too busy rolling around in their money like pigs in mud. Their injection of cash would have meant we would be less worried about what the Orange One is doing right now and we’d all be living in a different (better?) world. Sorry, rant over.
In 2012 I had been driving a second generation Toyota Pious for three years. It was a great car. Pretty much bulletproof, efficient, well supported by both main dealers and an enthusiasts garage in Golders Green (sadly long gone). My one niggle was that it was a mild hybrid rather than plug-in. Plug-in was rare in 2012. I'm shocked by how far the market and the technology has progressed in those few years since.
the car makers need to address the problem of range. I am driving around 220 miles to cornwall soon. with my wife sharing driving and having a couple of breaks it should take 4 hours at most. if the car needed recharging half way it could take 3 or 4 times as long. also we visit places that haven't caught up with charging points in car parks.
they are ok for basic commutes but not for all use
Hi Ashley, I had to read your comment a couple of times juist to make sure I understood what you are saying.
A journey of 220 miles, during which you will stop twice (very sensible) and you estimate will take 4 hours.
So if I understand correctly you think electric cars cannot do that?
You may not know this but I get to test many different electric cars for our YouTube channel, Everything Electric
Out of the 9 different electric cars I have driven in the last year, only one could not do that journey on one charge. That was a very small urban car, the Leapmotor B10 which can only do 140 miles on a charge. The other 8 could easily cover 220 miles, most with 30 or 40% range remaining when you get to Cornwall.
You also suggest if you have to stop and charge during a 220 mile journey, the journey will take 12 to 16 hours!!
How on earth could that be the case? I have just checked on Zapmap, an app that shows, in great detail, where chargers are, once you were in Cornwall, if you are anywhere near Camborne there are no less than 18 rapid and ultra rapid chargers in the town, all of them contactless, meaning tap to pay.
So you could drive to Cornwall, non stop, at motorway speeds, drop by a charger in Camborne, re-fill the car which would easily get you back home, stretch your legs, get a coffee or tea, and 20 minutes later you're done.
It's SO easy and SO much cheaper than buying imported fossil fuel.
As somebody said, debate is mental masturbation. They depend largely on manipulation of the audience rather than being a study of the facts. Like scientists debating creationists and the creationists playing the Gish Gallop game.
Surprised that in 2012 that the fossil fuel advocates had not understood "Limits to Growth" which was published in 1972
It is quite something how EVs gathered speed, as it were, very slowly, and now very quickly.
I acquired my plug in hybrid car in 2019. There were 7 chargers at work and almost every car using them was a hybrid. There was an occasional EV… the woefully low range Golf, perhaps a Leaf or Zoe, and then (“wow… they have arrived!) a real life Tesla.
Now we have 45 chargers, I think 80%+ usage is EVs, and I see models I’ve never seen before on an almost weekly basis…. some of them not ridiculous 2.5 tonne behemoths!
As for me, from the first time I ever drove my car in electric mode, I knew my next car would be an EV. I’m looking forward to it.
Okay, I now realise that English is your second language, but that aside, you clearly have zero argument against what I have explained, so you have to resort to some other tectic.
You make the very weak assumption that I have some kind of religious fervour regarding electric cars, and I am alone in this weird, quirky belief system.
Your problem is, I am a lifelong and very happy atheist and have zero religious belief in anything, particularly electric cars, and also I am not alone because worldwide, there are now over 100 million people using electric cars, trucks, bikes, busses, vans, scooters and they don't give a toss about any arguments, they use these machines because they are better.
You did have one advantage over all of them in the debate: You were probably best liked and most likable and funny person on the panel. That goes a long way in debates.
In the words of Hemmingway (on bankruptcy), "It happens very slowly and then all at once". It very much feels like the Epstein war has moved the EV uptake graph into the 'all at once' part.
The stunning lack of foresight that this post emphasises is that the fossil fuel industry had enough time and money to have bought up each and every clean energy startup and have been the leaders of the green revolution. Still making money and extending the life of their mega companies. How much are they kicking themselves (if they can see anything from their ivory towers)? However, they were too busy rolling around in their money like pigs in mud. Their injection of cash would have meant we would be less worried about what the Orange One is doing right now and we’d all be living in a different (better?) world. Sorry, rant over.
In 2012 I had been driving a second generation Toyota Pious for three years. It was a great car. Pretty much bulletproof, efficient, well supported by both main dealers and an enthusiasts garage in Golders Green (sadly long gone). My one niggle was that it was a mild hybrid rather than plug-in. Plug-in was rare in 2012. I'm shocked by how far the market and the technology has progressed in those few years since.
the car makers need to address the problem of range. I am driving around 220 miles to cornwall soon. with my wife sharing driving and having a couple of breaks it should take 4 hours at most. if the car needed recharging half way it could take 3 or 4 times as long. also we visit places that haven't caught up with charging points in car parks.
they are ok for basic commutes but not for all use
Hi Ashley, I had to read your comment a couple of times juist to make sure I understood what you are saying.
A journey of 220 miles, during which you will stop twice (very sensible) and you estimate will take 4 hours.
So if I understand correctly you think electric cars cannot do that?
You may not know this but I get to test many different electric cars for our YouTube channel, Everything Electric
Out of the 9 different electric cars I have driven in the last year, only one could not do that journey on one charge. That was a very small urban car, the Leapmotor B10 which can only do 140 miles on a charge. The other 8 could easily cover 220 miles, most with 30 or 40% range remaining when you get to Cornwall.
You also suggest if you have to stop and charge during a 220 mile journey, the journey will take 12 to 16 hours!!
How on earth could that be the case? I have just checked on Zapmap, an app that shows, in great detail, where chargers are, once you were in Cornwall, if you are anywhere near Camborne there are no less than 18 rapid and ultra rapid chargers in the town, all of them contactless, meaning tap to pay.
So you could drive to Cornwall, non stop, at motorway speeds, drop by a charger in Camborne, re-fill the car which would easily get you back home, stretch your legs, get a coffee or tea, and 20 minutes later you're done.
It's SO easy and SO much cheaper than buying imported fossil fuel.
Thank you for your full answer. I sit corrected and will look for your show
Oh!
Thanks, Robert, for another fascinating glimpse into the history of electrification.
As somebody said, debate is mental masturbation. They depend largely on manipulation of the audience rather than being a study of the facts. Like scientists debating creationists and the creationists playing the Gish Gallop game.
Surprised that in 2012 that the fossil fuel advocates had not understood "Limits to Growth" which was published in 1972
It is quite something how EVs gathered speed, as it were, very slowly, and now very quickly.
I acquired my plug in hybrid car in 2019. There were 7 chargers at work and almost every car using them was a hybrid. There was an occasional EV… the woefully low range Golf, perhaps a Leaf or Zoe, and then (“wow… they have arrived!) a real life Tesla.
Now we have 45 chargers, I think 80%+ usage is EVs, and I see models I’ve never seen before on an almost weekly basis…. some of them not ridiculous 2.5 tonne behemoths!
As for me, from the first time I ever drove my car in electric mode, I knew my next car would be an EV. I’m looking forward to it.
Okay, I now realise that English is your second language, but that aside, you clearly have zero argument against what I have explained, so you have to resort to some other tectic.
You make the very weak assumption that I have some kind of religious fervour regarding electric cars, and I am alone in this weird, quirky belief system.
Your problem is, I am a lifelong and very happy atheist and have zero religious belief in anything, particularly electric cars, and also I am not alone because worldwide, there are now over 100 million people using electric cars, trucks, bikes, busses, vans, scooters and they don't give a toss about any arguments, they use these machines because they are better.