[Drivingforfun]

It can be as realistic or unrealistic as you like

I think I'd happily make the switch if I could charge at home. I'm in the niche position of doing about 20,000 miles a year yet never doing more than about 100 miles in one go... so range anxiety wouldn't be an issue and I'd get all the other benefits

[Rolebama]

Comparable pricing to ICE, a decent range comparable to equivalent ICE, and access to my garden so I could charge it at home.
As an aside, the Govt has suggested purpose-built car parks for EV charging. I discovered I carried a loading on my insurance for using a lock-up garage out of sight from my home. I get a little saving through parking on the road outside my home. How much would it cost if I had to park it wherever the nearest EV charging car park is?Especially for those of us where the nearest viable car park could be as much as half a mile from our homes? (I have to add here that there have been a number of attempts over the years to reclaim the Green Belt, but they are usually thwarted by public opinion, but, of course if the public wanted EV car parks, it would probably be another matter.)

[olduser]

That echo's my feelings Drivingforfun, rang is improving as we are seeing cars designed to be EV's rather than converted cars, and improvements in batteries.

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Comparable pricing to ICE, a decent range comparable to equivalent ICE, and access to my garden so I could charge it at home.
As an aside, the Govt has suggested purpose-built car parks for EV charging. I discovered I carried a loading on my insurance for using a lock-up garage out of sight from my home. I get a little saving through parking on the road outside my home. How much would it cost if I had to park it wherever the nearest EV charging car park is?Especially for those of us where the nearest viable car park could be as much as half a mile from our homes? (I have to add here that there have been a number of attempts over the years to reclaim the Green Belt, but they are usually thwarted by public opinion, but, of course if the public wanted EV car parks, it would probably be another matter.)

It almost sounds like a good argument for car rental, with each renter providing there own insurance, and delivery to your door.

[Drivingforfun]

@Rolebama

Could be the uplift be due to the garage, as well as/instead of the location? My granny's insurance was cheaper if we said we parked her car next to the garage on the drive, rather than in her garage.

I looked into why and there's risks associated with garage parking - the main ones being scrapes and, supposedly, lots of people don't lock their car as they think the garage keeps it secure enough 🤔

[Rolebama]

I was told it was because the car is away from the public gaze, it allosw car thieves longer to do their dirty deed with less chance of being spotted.

[Nick]

There are definitely a good list of pros and cons for parking your car in a garage, often depends on what type of car - larger cars may be more prone to being damaged when entering and exiting a garage. It's definitely safer than being on the streets from criminal damage and/or theft.

Here's a interesting article on the RAC site about how where you park your car overnight can impact your premiums.

[Drivingforfun]

That's interesting @Nick

The algorithms are so clever now... I wonder if they take the person's age and even the car type into account? I know if I was the one taking on the burden of risk from my granny, I'd feel more confident with her just leaving her Fiesta parked on the drive than trying to get it into the garage. On the other hand a 45 year old with a small desirable sports car probably the garage is safer.

[Seal]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

It can be as realistic or unrealistic as you like

I think I'd happily make the switch if I could charge at home. I'm in the niche position of doing about 20,000 miles a year yet never doing more than about 100 miles in one go... so range anxiety wouldn't be an issue and I'd get all the other benefits

I currently have an ICE hybrid car, had it just a few months, I love the car itself but fervently wish it had been available solely as an ICE vehicle. Less to do with charging more a case of very unhappy about the 2025 budget and the prospect of being forced into paying up front for expected pay per mile charges and yet again waving goodbye to any excess payment made on expected mileage and of course the reverse issue of being saddled with any outstanding mileage not paid by the previous owner if buying a used vehicle. I think my current vehicle will be sold before 2028 and I’m now looking towards buying a ‘self charging hybrid’ which doesn’t currently attract any pence per mile tax or perhaps grabbing the last of the ICE vehicles before their demise. There is no green issue as far as HMRC/Government are concerned the issue has and always will be, revenue and the loss of that revenue and how best to recoup it. I consider myself very lucky to have had some of the very best years for motoring. EVs are not the answer long term in my opinion, the issue of ‘raw materials’ is already being fought over and land grabs by other countries will become the norm to obtain those raw materials, whilst our own country struggles to find the space, investment and resources to sustain an entire country with enough electricity to feed/charge 40 million or more vehicles. It can never happen, will never happen. And on that note I wish you all a very happy New Year and safe motoring. May the force be with you.

[olduser]

I agree there are problems to be solved yet but they are slowly being solved. I see nothing any worse than the problems that had to be solved in the very early days of IC engines and cars. Offer me a car that will use 97% (at worst) of the energy I put in against a car that only converts 40% of the energy I put in, it's a no brainer.

That's without thinking about, how much of the UK is set to disappear under water, and other islands that will be completely lost due to ice at the poles melting. The increase in ocean levels will modify ocean currents, and we depend on the gulf stream for our relatively mild weather. Fish will move, they are dependant on the upwelling of nutrition from the deep. The oceans are absorbing CO2 but that is shifting the Ph to acid, the creatures at the start of the seas food chain use calcium for shells and supporting structure, take the base out from the food chain, and it will collapse - no fish!

Those of us who only have a few years left to live will probably not see this but following generations will suffer. As heating and cooling of the Earth tends to have positive feedback eg. warm the world = more volcanic activity = more earthquakes = more C02 and dust, dust = screening from the sun = less vegetation = less CO2 absorbed, dust on ice = more heat absorbed = more water, and so on...

[Seal]

@olduser
well I was looking forward to celebrating 2026 but having read all of that I don’t think that’s gonna happen now. 😂 Happy New Year- Have a good one people.