Diesel & petrol alternatives? Your thoughts please

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From figures that I read the UK sold about 50,000 plug in cars last year compared to 43,000 in France. So with similar population levels France is behind UK in that regard Brue.

And Norway is the furthest ahead, I think?

France is about 5 times the size of the U.K. so how many charging hours would you need to cross the country.  It still comes down to distance per charge.  

another resurected thread I see.

I’m not sure it ever died. 

Somebody on the Volvo Forum says his XC90 is now down to 12-14` on battery only in winter (after three years and 95000`- high mileage) but it won`t be long before tales of woe about batteries start to emerge. I am sticking with diesel for the time being, when the technology proves itself (or to put it another way cost effectiveness is proved) I will no doubt look again.

One of the statistics I cams across shows the problem with electrics is the recharging on the road. This takes up to an hour for a full charge but in that time a normal motorway services can refuel 280 cars. If we go electric times will improve but you will still need something the size of Heathrow to park the cars while recharging is done. To compound the problem most people are going to stop for something to eat and drink to pass the time and if they are late back that will block the charging point.

Thank you for your many and varied replies. I agree with those who say that the technology is very new and subject to rapid change. It will I think, take more years than I have left before the systems have evolved sufficiently well to justify a gamble.

Battery technology is of course rapidly improving. Lithium may well be superceded by new experimental technologies. As for fuel cells; yes currently not a solution, however, that is another technology undergoing rapid improvement. As was pointed out by 'DougS', infrastructure would be another problem to solve.

I spoke to a club techie the other day, who said that the club currently still recommend diesel. That is modern diesel vehicles that are more efficient and less poluting than earlier designs. I imagine that my 12 year old C-RV is a bit of a Dinosaur now.

I shall have to consider what to do in the next year or two, so I guess it may have to be Diesel, unless legislation gets in the way.

I hope everyone agrees that Climate Change is for real, and that we make our choices with that in mind.

Those 'Prophets of doom' are serious scientists who are doing a marvellous job of trying to unravel the complexities of climate science. It is a huge subject: it can no longer be denied that the polution that we are all responsible for is doing massive damage to our fragile planet. I am a scientist, who reads papers on the subject, from all points of view: the concensus is frightening reading. ( I'm sure this will stir up a hornets nest!)

DougS also made a point that towing caravans may one day be banned. If climate change is to be seriously addressed, then who knows, we may lose our hobby and return to using tents.

 

towing caravans may one day be banned. If climate change is to be seriously addressed, then who knows, we may lose our hobby and return to using tents.

Doing a quick calculation on the back of an envelope shows me that using a tent would be much worse for global warming/climate change.  Still have to carry the same amount of kit to go in the tent, plus lots of insulation and more fuel to keep tent warm; damage to grass as not going to move all that lot every day to lift groundsheet; long set-up and take down time; bigger vehicle to carry all the stuff.

Having it all in a nice tidy cosy box makes far more sense unless the "tent" suggestion was for bare legged hairshirt camping!