Posted on 07/18/2021 11:51:22 PM PDT by Cronos
Many observers are forecasting that the world’s transition to electric cars will take place much sooner than expected. Now, BBC is also joining the fray. “What makes the end of the internal combustion engine inevitable is a technological revolution. And technological revolutions tend to happen very quickly … [and] this revolution will be electric,” reports BBC‘s Justin Rowlett.
Rowlett points to the late ’90s internet revolution as an example. “For those who hadn’t yet logged on [to the internet] it all seemed exciting and interesting but irrelevant — how useful could communicating by computer be? After all, we’ve got phones! But the internet, like all successful new technologies, did not follow a linear path to world domination. … Its growth was explosive and disruptive,” notes Rowlett.
So how fast will electric cars go mainstream? “The answer is very fast. Like the internet in the ’90s, the electric car market is already growing exponentially. Global sales of electric cars raced forward in 2020, rising by 43% to a total of 3.2m, despite overall car sales slumping by a fifth during the coronavirus pandemic,” reports the BBC.
According to Rowlett, “We are in the middle of the biggest revolution in motoring since Henry Ford’s first production line started turning back in 1913.”
Want more proof? “The world’s big car makers think [so]… General Motors says it will make only electric vehicles by 2035, Ford says all vehicles sold in Europe will be electric by 2030 and VW says 70% of its sales will be electric by 2030.”
And the world’s luxury automakers are also getting in on the action: “Jaguar plans to sell only electric cars from 2025, Volvo from 2030 and [recently] the British sportscar company Lotus said it would follow suit, selling only electric models from 2028.”
Rowlett spoke with Top Gear’s former host Quentin Wilson to get his take on the electric revolution. Once critical of electric cars, Wilson adores his new Tesla Model 3, noting, “It is supremely comfortable, it’s airy, it’s bright. It’s just a complete joy. And I would unequivocally say to you now that I would never ever go back.”
I felt the same way until I drove one.
The idea is nice, but the best lithium car batteries can only deliver about 6% of what gas can deliver.
I can’t take a weekend out and travel 350 miles in 3.5 hours and then stay for a day and then travel back 350 miles in 3.5 hours.
You are easily adding a day’s time for recharging the car, assuming that you can recharge the car where you are at.
I'll just be sure to be living in high desert by then.
National power grid upgrade and NEW nuke plants to feed it 1st then there can be a discussion where there is potential for SHORT TRIP USE.
https://i.imgflip.com/5gy1gu.jpg
What if I want to drive from Eastern CT to Western PA... at night, A/C or heater maybe on full blast, while expecting to sit in stop & go traffic for an hour or two, maybe more? That’s the load on the battery pack for starters I’d require. No stopping to recharge longer than it would take to fill up a tank with gas.
Powered By Coal - Back To The Future!
Take the same concept if for some reason gas supplies ended to your area.
You can always store a spare battery in your garage
imagine the endless possibilities of a covid powered vehicle...
The comments are gold
The argument “if the grid is out...” is just like saying “if petrol runs out in my area...”
I’m not sure where one starts when the subject is unable to think clearly.
My generator runs on GASOLINE hahahaha
Batteries and technology will double every few years once these cars are on the road. The automotive aftermarket will deliver.
...and totality useless for trips longer than 300 miles.
Wow. You missed the worse point about electric cars. THE LONG RECHARGE TIME.....
It’s not a battle between electric and fossil. Electric vehicles will be advantageous in certain applications but not all.
“Most of those who buy them do it to be seen driving them.”
Probably true. When I lived near the ocean, I used to dream of buying a large, fancy, boat - not to go out in the water, but just to tow it around my neighborhood every weekend.
You’ve been inhaling unicorn skittle farts again.
who knew? golf carts are cutting edge technology
Electrical was never their strong point but ok
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