Are EVs the way forward?

[DaveD]

Lots of people want everybody else to drive less and reduce their carbon footprint, it's a very virtuous thing.
Our PM went to COP26 in Glasgow and promised we'd all cut our carbon footprint. Then he got in a private jet to return to London because the train which had been offered would make him late for dinner at the Garrick Club.
At around the same time our government's climate spokesperson, Allegra Stratton, lived in London. She drove a diesel Golf, as she said it suited her use better than an EV.
Leonardo DiCaprio is so committed to the cause that he got an award for climate activism. He flew from the USA to Paris to collect the award, and back by private jet, although I'm sure he planted a tree or cycled to the shops to make up for it.
So on that subject, I assume that those of us who care about climate change all drive the lower output T6's, rather than the dreadful 204 with the engine that emits more carbon per mile than the others?
Oh and while we're talking climate change, who said of their dirty DIESEL T6 that's boiling the planet every time he turns the key, "I'll be keeping my 6.1 for 15 or 20 years simply because I can't afford to drop 50 large or more on a van every five minutes"?

Here's a picture of my T6 helping plant trees to prove that a diesel T6 can redeem itself.

 

[Stay Frosty]

102hp here, can't afford the 204hp for a multitude of reasons including feeding that 0 to 60 in under 10 secs and replacing the engine after the third pass.
That's either a copper beech or a dead oak?

 

[DaveD]

102hp here, can't afford the 204hp for a multitude of reasons including feeding that 0 to 60 in under 10 secs and replacing the engine after the third pass.
That's either a copper beech or a dead oak?

Copper Beech you very clever chap!!!!

 

[DaveD]

It has been a proglem with ICE cars.

Over my years in the feds I've known petrol cars to get stuck in cruise or for the throttle to stick wide open, or for the car to shut down at speed on the motorway leaving the hapless driver wjth minimal brakes or steering.

I only did 30 years in the Police but never saw it once.

 

[DaveD]

Particles from brake pads are reduced with EVs as increasingly they use the motors to regenerate electricity from the kinetic energy of the vehicles, unlike ICE vehicles that use friction brakes to slow the vehicles down. In other words, EVs reduce the pollution produced, not only by reducing tailpipe emissions, but also be reducing particulate emissions from friction linings in brake and clutch components.

Want to start talking about lubricating oils, spark plugs, air filters, drive belts and the waste from them in ICE vehicles compared to EVs?

Another one.
How's your 150 Hp DSG T6? Still running on diesel?

 

[DaveD]

I do a lot of miles and probably see a few dozen burnt out ICE vehicles a year ( one only last week ), but I've yet to see a burnt out EV.

I've seen hundreds of burnt out ICE cars and no burnt out EV's.
In the real world it's the best way to destroy the forensic evidence.
Don't let the real world get in the way of this debate though.

 

[Trouts]

I still can't believe I'm talking about climate change and pollution with a load of diesel van drivers.

but what's the realistic alternative here.
EVERYONE on this thread has said there isn't one yet...

so what do you (or anyone else) suggest?

 

[Stay Frosty]

I suggest VW operate an exchange service where they buy back our Transporters and give us a really sweet deal on an IdBuzz car or van depending on use and I'll have a two tone lime green and pearl white LWB 7 seater with the bigger battery even though it's only me and the missus these days.

 

[Ali-G]

I suggest VW operate an exchange service where they buy back our Transporters and give us a really sweet deal on an IdBuzz car or van depending on use and I'll have a two tone lime green and pearl white LWB 7 seater with the bigger battery even though it's only me and the missus these days.

So how would that work for a fortnight of off-grid touring around the Scottish Highlands and Islands?

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I suggest VW operate an exchange service where they buy back our Transporters and give us a really sweet deal on an IdBuzz car or van depending on use and I'll have a two tone lime green and pearl white LWB 7 seater with the bigger battery even though it's only me and the missus these days.

I like the IdBuzz but they are completely useless as a campervan.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

So how would that work for a fortnight of off-grid touring around the Scottish Highlands and Islands?

Beat me to it

 

[Ali-G]

I like the IdBuzz but they are completely useless as a campervan.

I don't like the Buzz, and yes, useless as a camper.

 

[DaveD]

but what's the realistic alternative here.
EVERYONE on this thread has said there isn't one yet...

so what do you (or anyone else) suggest?

I don't need an alternative to ICE, I'm happy with fossil fuels and I'm not a hypocrite.
Forum members post endlessly about their powerful T6's and their touring Europe and now a small minority want me to worry about my van boiling the planet. Of course, all those who posted about their DPF delete are AWOL, a good decision.
Everybody on here bought a van from the company who cheated EU emission tests! Oh the irony!
I'd like to spend longer giving you a better reply but I drove 300 miles today to help a close relative, I know, because I read it on this thread, that the average person only drives 23 miles per day, but I didn't have a spare week to do the return journey. Nobody sells an ICE car with a 25 mile range, which is enough for the "average journey".

In the meantime I suggest that you understand why an EV doesn't work for the nurse who parks her £1,500 Corsa as near as she can to outside the flat she rents, the car she uses to drive to the various hospitals she works at on shifts when the bus isn't a safe or realistic alternative.
Perhaps we should tell her that, "Everyone survived without cars, most families managing fine without them as late as the sixties, and we'll manage without them when they're gone. Excuses about living in a flat or being poor are not good enough - people need to learn they can't always have their cake and eat it." (Also from this thread).

I'm sure somebody on here could tell her how she could buy, lease or PCP an EV on her meagre wages and buy or rent a home with off street parking to charge it while she grabs some sleep between shifts.

Perhaps if those fans of EV's on this thread didn't have a premium diesel van I'd take their virtue signalling a little more seriously.

So in summary, I suggest that we think how this affects EVERYBODY, not just those who can afford to buy and run a T6. When that nurse and millions of others like her in a range of jobs just can't see a way of getting around, and gives up work, we might have to look at it from her point of view.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Simples take my coal/ biomass fired generator along and let that run all night...
Thought you had caught me out? For a start off no tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, first trip would be south to Austria mirroring the trip of that couple at Busfest two years ago in their SWB Id Buzz.


The chap in the blue T shirt and jeans.

 

[Lubrown]

Perhaps if those fans of EV's on this thread didn't have a premium diesel van I'd take their virtue signalling a little more seriously.

I think you’re reading way too much into it.
Not sure anyone is a huge fan. People were answering the question posed, others were coming up with the usual stuff that has been debunked, and a more balanced, reasoned and in many cases proven response provided. It’s a discussion.

You seem to fall for the black or white narrative when in real life there are endless shades of grey. You’re presuming we all drive all the time in the vans and most of us have the biggest engine.

And as for being put off buying something because you think others like it - you do you. I don’t mind what you drive, I will however happily share information that counters regurgitated mistruths - mainly because I’m not a fan of mistruths.

 

[Graham Jones]

Must be another mistruth.

 

[ginkster]

Must be another mistruth.

View attachment 260751

No, I can imagine that is true. It doesn’t mean that the decision was based on science, facts or sound risk assessment though. Good news for the EV owners though as they get reserved wide spaces so no dings in the door and guaranteed parking.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Simples take my coal/ biomass fired generator along and let that run all night...
Thought you had caught me out? For a start off no tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, first trip would be south to Austria mirroring the trip of that couple at Busfest two years ago in their SWB Id Buzz.
View attachment 260749
View attachment 260750
The chap in the blue T shirt and jeans.

I like the dog

 

[Graham Jones]

No, I can imagine that is true. It doesn’t mean that the decision was based on science, facts or sound risk assessment though. Good news for the EV owners though as they get reserved wide spaces so no dings in the door and guaranteed parking.

The flames should cover up the dings.

 

[Sasquatch]

Must be another mistruth.

View attachment 260751

Yep, there are car parks in the UK that have banned electric cars.

That doesn't alter the reality that they're many times  less likely to self immolate than ICE cars. It's simple knee-jerk.

The fire that recently destroyed the multi storey at Luton Airport was caused by a diesel Range Rooney going up in flames. That's spelled D-I-E-S-E-L.