Electric cars.

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by pete, Apr 7, 2021.

  1. gks

    gks Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2021
    Messages:
    1,732
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Production Manager
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Ratings:
    +5,008
    I think he is basing it on last months new car registrations, the fleet sector is the only sector showing any growth in the EV market, where as the private sector is in decline. Take away all the perks and tax breaks that the fleet sector is receiving and it will give a different set of figures of what the current market share of EV's are in the UK. Even the Irish has seen a sharp decline of 41% less new EV registrations in March, which does not bode well considering March is traditionally the busiest month for new car sales.

    So he maybe not be speaking for all us, but there is a strong argument he is speaking for the majority.
     
  2. Clueless 1 v2

    Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2022
    Messages:
    2,038
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +2,769
    The Alliance of British Drivers.

    Where does that leave me? I'm British, and I drive. I didn't think I needed to be in an alliance. I've managed perfectly fine for years without being in an alliance. So far, just applying common courtesy and compliance with the standardised rules has done me just fine.

    The Alliance of British Drivers conjures up images of a sort of cross between Basil Falty, the stereotype of the free masons, and elderly skin head former anarchists.

    I wonder what are the benefits of being in this alliance? Is it like article 5? If one member gets his car pooed on by seagulls do they all go out chasing seagulls?
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Clueless 1 v2

      Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 26, 2022
      Messages:
      2,038
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +2,769
      Apparently, if we take their membership claims, approx 0.007% of British drivers are members.

      I see no basis to assume they represent the majority.
       
      • Funny Funny x 1
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jul 3, 2006
        Messages:
        63,559
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - Last Century!!!
        Location:
        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +123,964
        Are you objecting to the title he has for his group/organisation? If so, then I don't quite understand that. :scratch: I understand you wouldn't want them to represent you but are you saying that they are not an alliance and are not British?

        Most organisations pick names for themselves that don't necessarily relate to what or who they represent. The Conservatives are certainly not conservative - some of them are very extreme - but they can call themselves what they like. I know what I call them!

        With regard to EV's, I don't want one and, hopefully, won't be made to have one.

        Hertz in America are getting rid of 20,000 of their EV fleet and are selling them at approx. half their purchase price - according to Reuters. Apparently servicing and damage repairs are considerably higher than expected and have made the cars uneconomic.

        Tesla, Polestar, GM and Ford are all cutting back their planned production as fleets are not buying them now.
         
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 5, 2012
        Messages:
        27,767
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Public Transport
        Location:
        At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
        Ratings:
        +52,209
        Now, now... I am glad you stopped there and didn't actually say what you call them! I'd hate to have to moderate you. :heehee:
         
        • Funny Funny x 1
        • Clueless 1 v2

          Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jun 26, 2022
          Messages:
          2,038
          Gender:
          Male
          Ratings:
          +2,769
          I'm not objecting to their title. I'm mocking it. Having just been off to Google them, I think that's what they deserve. But in the interest of balance, I acknowledge that as many as 0.007% of British drivers probably disagree with me, as is their right.
           
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          51,122
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +94,026
          Isn't this just the organisation who is quoting the statistics.
          It could be RAC or AA or the man in the moon, its the statistics that count, as long as they are correct.
           
          • Agree Agree x 4
          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

            Joined:
            May 5, 2012
            Messages:
            27,767
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Public Transport
            Location:
            At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
            Ratings:
            +52,209
            May even be a bit higher than that. See, the trouble is that the majority of folks were never asked about stuff like this - it was simply foisted upon them 'for their own good' by people who believe they have the right to ride roughshod over other folks views and wishes.
             
            • Agree Agree x 2
            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

              Joined:
              Jan 9, 2005
              Messages:
              51,122
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Retired
              Location:
              Mid Kent
              Ratings:
              +94,026
              If EVs are so good, let them fight it out with ICE vehicles.

              The sales will decide, that is the public.

              There is no real incentive to make EVs better/cheaper because in a few years they will be the only thing on the market.
               
              • Agree Agree x 5
              • Clueless 1 v2

                Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Jun 26, 2022
                Messages:
                2,038
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +2,769
                I read their website. They oppose any effort to take any space away from motor vehicles. People who only drive and who only care about themselves might agree with them on that. People who would like everyone to have choices about how they get around might not. I've read in the news that in Edinburgh I think it is, the local authority has 'rode roughshod' over other folks views by banning parking on the pavements. There seems to be a mass moan about it at the moment. The people doing the moaning don't seem to be those with limited vision who have to attempt to navigate the pavements without walking into things, or the disabled people who have to take their wheelchairs out into moving traffic to get past a parked car. In fact the people that have been roughshod over seems to be exclusively the people that wanted to park wherever they wanted without regard for the needs of anyone else.
                 
                • Agree Agree x 2
                • Fat Controller

                  Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  May 5, 2012
                  Messages:
                  27,767
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Public Transport
                  Location:
                  At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                  Ratings:
                  +52,209
                  OK - that is a wider discussion than the statistics and particular statement that was posted here. With reference to the parking on pavements in Edinburgh (or anywhere else for that matter), that is something that requires a lot more information and a bit of nuance to the debate.
                  There are roads not all that far from me where the council mark parking spaces either fully or partially on the pavement - - now, that wouldn't work in my street, but it does in others.

                  The problem that we have in just about everything nowadays is that there is no middle ground - if you dare to try and straddle any middle ground on any debate, you get pelters from both sides. If certain groups deem themselves to be 'right' (or righteous, would be more accurate) then they will literally force things through to make them happen and sod the consequences. Those e-scooters and e-bikes are a prime example of that, forced through amid the pandemic with blind-eyes being turned all over the place... then a few of them caught fire on public transport leading to them being banned there and now local police forces (certainly my local force) are having a hell of a job with yoofs using them to shoplift or steal bags and phones etc before tearing off at speed.

                  Getting back to the original argument that was being made by this organisation - why should we as taxpayers be funding/subsidising the purchase of new vehicles for fleet buyers? Especially the whole time we've got crumbling roads, people homeless, people not able to feed themselves and their kids, schools in a mess and the NHS so broken it is downright dangerous.

                  Priorities - we've got them completely upside down.
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Agree Agree x 1
                  • gks

                    gks Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Feb 28, 2021
                    Messages:
                    1,732
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Production Manager
                    Location:
                    Cumbria
                    Ratings:
                    +5,008
                    Exactly, the CEO of Mercedes and probably all the German car manufacturers have come out opposing these tariffs that the EU want to impose on the Chinese and other countries manufacturing EV cars. They are pushing this EV agenda to reduce emissions, so if they want people like me to take it serious, there should be an international agreement of zero tariffs and you should still be able to qualify for subsides regardless of where the car is manufactured. Raising tariffs on something that is supposed to be better for the environment in the long run does not make sense. Imposing tariffs might end up doing the opposite and slowing the transition to EV's which is stalling now anyways.

                    Mercedes-Benz boss urges Brussels to cut tariffs on Chinese EVs (ft.com)
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jul 3, 2006
                      Messages:
                      63,559
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired - Last Century!!!
                      Location:
                      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                      Ratings:
                      +123,964
                      I don't trust him either! :nonofinger: Definitely not British. :whistle:
                       
                      • Funny Funny x 2
                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                        Joined:
                        Jul 3, 2006
                        Messages:
                        63,559
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Retired - Last Century!!!
                        Location:
                        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                        Ratings:
                        +123,964
                        I've just had a brainwave :thumbsup:. Why not reinstate the Locomotive Act of 1865 (Red Flag Act) - I remember it well :old: - where speed was restricted for horseless carriages in towns and you had to have someone carrying a red flag walking in front. That will also make some people fitter with all the walking in front and, if you don't have someone to do the walking, it would increase employment. :ideaIPB:
                         
                        • Funny Funny x 2
                        • Clueless 1 v2

                          Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Jun 26, 2022
                          Messages:
                          2,038
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Ratings:
                          +2,769
                          I was responding to the implication that a statement from one guy who apparently represents 0.007% of motorists represents the majority opinion. That implication falls apart under the slightest amount of scrutiny. I have no wish to labour this point. Anything further is just more opinion of a very, very small percentage of the population.
                           
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice