But for those wishing to offer critique, actually engaging rather than hectoring always comes across better–my eyes glossed over your comments due purely to the way you wrote them, even though I suspect I’m closer to your position than Charlotte’s on this specific case. tl;dr

The problem with adopting a new technology for transportation is that cars are such big ticket items, there’s an economic intertia that has created a mild chicken-egg scenario in terms of people not being able to commit to the EV ‘risk’ especially with the high price, and the high price being hard to reduce without the demand for EVs. This is nowhere near as bad as the hydrogen infrastructure chicken-egg situation though!

We need some early adopters to wean ourselves off the internal combustion engine and these subsidies seem like a fairly cheap way of helping with this, the actual cost to the taxpayer will be miniscule compared to recent govt spending, at at least it’s for a demonstrably good cause! If the electric cars turn out to be up to the job, which I think they probably will be (as a second car in a two car family) then that will encourage a perception change.

Yes 2011 electric vehicles will be ‘worse’ than existing cars in many ways, but in terms of energy efficiency and running costs they will be much much better, so with Mitsubishi and Nissan both being in the market in 2011 they shouldn’t be ‘crap’ as in your definition, just different. Please get with the programme, we can wait for another 2008 type oil shock, but it would be better if we’ve at least started the transition to EVs ASAP.

http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/imiev/
http://www.nissan.co.uk/GB/en/inside-nissan/innovation-and-technology/ev.html

Two mainstream manufacturers actively publishing their EVs on their UK websites, still not convinced I suppose?

The Government throwing money at them won’t make that so though. It’ll just create crap electric cars, just like throwing money at the British car industry created crap British cars, and make it harder for non-subsidised projects to get to market.

I’m not against alternatives to the fossil fuel based cars. I just insist that they’re actually better, which isn’t the case yet.

I’m up for saving over £1000 a year at todays petrol prices (which for the economic climate are worringly high). I’ve done some basic calculations and I figure that even if petrol doesn’t increase AT ALL in real terms over the next ten years I’m likely to break even. Electricity prices may also increase in real terms over that time but you also have to take into account the lower maintenance costs of an EV, lower tax (for now) and the fact that it’s around 3x more efficient than an internal combustion engine, well to wheel, and that’s even if the electricity comes from the least advanced coal power stations.

The future of personal transportation is almost certainly electric, and when they get to the cost/capabilities state that they make internal cars look crap you’ll be all over them, probably the same way you have a flat panel TV now but couldn’t beleive the ridiculous cost when they first came out. Everything has to start some where, or don’t you understand basic economics?

These will get better. The next generation does not “need’ the infrastructure, for they are Series plug-in hybrids, so can recharge at home for the short work journeys but rely on an on-board generator for longer trips. 800+ mile ranges giving 80-100mpg efficiency and 100mph top speeds.

Subsidies smell of lobbying, directly or indirectly from those most to gain.

We are about to be ripped off.

If you want to be really green, just convert an old V12 5.3litre Jag to electric traction.

Most diesel railway engines (except the small 2- and 3-car multiple units) consist of a diesel generator feeding a set of electric motors via some heavy-duty electronics; since it’s more efficient to run the engine at constant RPM, and easier to vary the speed from within the electrical domain than to use clutches and gearboxes with so much torque going through them. It would hardly be beyond the bounds of feasibility to modify existing stock to be able to run from overhead wires wherever available, and start the on-board generator in time to switch over where the wires run out (or in the former Southern Electric Railway area, where third-rail DC is still used). This would even provide full continuity of operation while the electrification work was being performed.

Scarcity = higher prices = high demand for alternatives = increased supply of alternatives.