Electric cars.

There are parts of the population, many motorists and even members here, who I believe, if you were back at the transition from horse to automobile, would be saying they will never catch on. You have to go out and search for fuel, buying it at the chemist's shop in gallon cans. They are difficult to start, keep breaking down and are prohibitively expensive.



I will be 75 in just over a month but I welcome technology with open arms. Fossil fuel-powered vehicles are dead, they just don't know it yet. Yes, just over 100 years on, some people still have horses, but they are no longer a viable form of transport.

 

I think it also comes down to what you like.
I still drive a manual, lots of people will be driving automatics, although I have driven them, can't say I want to change.
Also things like stop start, I just don't want it.

 

I drove manual transmissions for just over 25 years before getting my first automatic. I then drove automatics for the next 25 years. Six years ago I went back to a manual and I am now on my second manual. I have gotten used to the manual again but I don't like them. Fine on the open road but as soon as you get in queueing traffic they are a nightmare. I really fancy the new Honda Jazz hybrid. It has an electric transmission and for the most part, the engine just charges the battery. Also gives some assist at high speeds but there is no clutch or gearbox. A not dissimilar configuration to a diesel-electric locomotive.

 

I think that in 20 years time, folks will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.

 

I spotted something surprising today. A new hospital department has been built on the Inverness University campus close to the hospital. The small car park there had two car charging places, neither of which was in use. The department opened last month so I wonder how long it will be before drivers not visiting the department discover them.

 

I’m sure folks were sceptical when ICE powered cars were first pioneered. Same with aircraft, more recently the Covid vaccine. I dare say history is littered with things that were considered impossible/impractical, yet here we are. The thing to remember is that no one is being forced to ‘jump’ for at least ten years in my estimation, plenty of time to adjust/decide when one wants to get onboard. Range is being extended, prices are dropping, battery technology will no doubt advance. When there is a demand, the market usually latches on.

 

I think the difference is that when ICE cars were introduced they were a new innovation and likewise aircraft.

What's actually happening now is we are being slowly forced/ coerced into dumping something that works perfectly well and change to something that doesn't, regarding usability and cost.

 

We can just bung up a few more windmills, they seem to be the answer to all our energy problems if you listen to the "experts" and the greens.