What do you think of electric cars?

[PremierPDS]

Well I'm no chemistry expert but I do know they alreay use liquid hydrogen for rocket fuel. But then again, more chemicals have to be added to it to turn the gas into liquid...

Bikes, hmmm, definitely an idea but then I wouldn't fancy cycling from Liverpool to Cornwall any day soon- I doubt I'd make it to the top of the street lol!

[AccountingBasics]

There are plans to start putting infrastructure in place for recharging, this includes fast charging stations.

The next generation of electric cars is on the way, we test drove a Mitsubishi iMiEV at the weekend. The car felt and drove like a normal car, unlike the G-Wiz we already own.

A lot more development is still required for new cars and at the moment all the large manufactures are in a race to get their car to market first. Battery technology is improving all the time.

Hydrogen cars are being developed at the moment by some manufactures, but others have dropped their research and are continuing with electric cars.
I agree about using public transport, walking or cycling where possible, but for a lot of people including ourselves it is not an option. We live in a small village and the children go to school in the next village.

[PremierPDS]

Why have they dropped their research in favour of electric cars?

[AccountingBasics]

The advantage of electric cars at the moment is although there are not enough charging stations around the country; you can charge an electric car at home.
With a hydrogen fuel cell car you need the infrastructure in place. There are a few places where the car can be refuelled, but these are only available in a limited number of places and normally for research. Some of the main manufactures have requested that the Hydrogen network is put in place.
Some big cities already have electric charging points and others are planning them for the future.

[PremierPDS]

Might be a really silly question but couldn't all petrol stations just be converted into hydrogen filling stations? Wouldn't this be easier than installing tens of thousands of charging points all over the country for electric cars? I might be chatting bubbles here but it's just the first thing that came to mind!

[skeeter]

Interesting...where does everybody think this energy comes from?

Power Stations > Plug Socket = Fossil Fuel.

Apparently the enviornmental cost of production of the car is less. My friends electric s-mart caught on fire. There is something in it somewhere.

[PremierPDS]

I think the idea is that petrol is a by- product of oil which isn't a renewable fuel. From my understanding the government is/was making plans to build a large number of nuclear power stations over the coming years which will produce electricity by way of chemical reaction as opposed to burning fossil fuels...

[AccountingBasics]

Interesting...where does everybody think this energy comes from?

Power Stations > Plug Socket = Fossil Fuel.

Apparently the enviornmental cost of production of the car is less. My friends electric s-mart caught on fire. There is something in it somewhere.

Correct - and we'd all like a cleaner way of generating electricity. But even when powered by fossil fuels, electric cars are still the lowest emission vehicles around.

It's a complex subject though, and the path to the truth is long and winding. We started researching this book about two years ago. We've spent time talking to the electricity companies, the battery manufacturers, the vehicle manufacturers and car designers as part of the research into the subject and the research is still ongoing.

Did you fill in the questionnaire, Skeeter? We'd value your input.

[skeeter]

I do have more views on the subject.

I feel I may bore people with them...I have a questionnaire too that needs filling in. Want to swap? Mine has the same annonomous rules, but we're not contacting people after.

Fancy it? We would welcome your views too.

[AccountingBasics]

Skeeter, I have just spent some time on your website and have completed your questionnaire.

We would appreciate your time in completing our survey as we would like to know your views on electric cars.