It's interesting how the Media jumped on the band wagon of it being an EV that started the fire. we didn't hear much about this one https://apnews.com/article/newark-cargo-ship-fatal-fire-firefighters-killed-0cca093cce2fa82fc1fe535ae8932b99 Yes its possible that it was an EV battery but it could have been a number of other things as well. We will just have to wait for the investigation to come to it's findings. As for EV's I think they have a place in motoring. We are a household of two cars one an old 2004 Diesel which I have owned for 14+ years and the other a 2017 Leaf which we have owned for 2+ years. Because we brought the Leaf in during Lock down the price was low and I could sell it today for what I paid for it. the advantage if the Leaf is cheap running costs the disadvantage is range 80 miles to a charge. The advantage of the old diesel is great fuel economy on a long journey 50+mpg the disadvantage is that drops below 30mpg running around town. Just based on the economics and ignoring all the environmental stuff The Leaf saves me around £1500 a year on fuel costs which is paying for most of the loan repayments. This is worked out on the fuel cost for the Leaf of 7p a mile from home charging though this could be lower with an overnight charging tariff (4p a mile) the diesel at 30mpg costs 22p a mile around town and at 50mpg 13p a mile on a long journey. If I took the Leaf on a long journey it word cost 25p a mile when it was charged on a public charger. Would I take the Leaf on a long journey NO but around town its great. The Diesel is great for the long journey's and if there is an occasion that we need to use both cars.
Going off topic I know but we will embrace an EV at some point, probably before we are forced to, because it will serve our needs. I've just ordered another ICE car, a petrol hybrid, which is our main car and will do us for a few more years. Will look at changing my sports car
in a year or two for a small EV which will suit my wife better and be our runabout. I won't be charging it inside the integral garage though, no way!
The honeymoon period for EVs is starting to come to an end though unsurprisingly. From 2025 road tax/VED for EVs is being increased from £0 and they will no longer be exempt from premium car tax (currently if over £40k.). Also the government will have to find a way of replacing the revenue lost from fuel duty. What with the cost of electricity, the cost of the cars, increased insurance and these other costs, they may be good for the environment but financially???
Breakdown services and fire services are already having to invest to deal with the increasing number of EVs and we are only just starting!
Chris
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Topic: Car Carrier on Fire in the North Sea. (Read 3654 times)