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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Are Electric Cars the future of Low Carbon Transport?"
(677 posts)- Started 14 years ago by chdot
- Latest reply from Baldcyclist
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Posted 6 years ago #
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Electric / pedal pod-car prototype seen at Spezi show. Can't see how this could be made to work for any less than existing non-powered velomobiles.
http://www.podbike.com/#preorderPODBIKE® is a human powered vehicle with electric assist, an e-bike with four wheels, providing weather protection and seats one adult plus a child inside a filtered air cabin. PODBIKE® will be made from easy reusable materials that together with high efficiency results in personal transport with minimum environmental impact.
We are currently building the first two prototypes and these are planned finalized during 2nd Quarter 2017.
Planned launch of first production series of Podbike® is medio 2018.
Estimated initial salesprice for a PODBIKE® base model will be NOK 50.000 (incl. VAT/ local sales tax).Posted 6 years ago # -
Think someone watched Tron too much as a kid. So far the only worthwhile electric cars are Teslas and at a push the BMW i8?
Hybrids at the moment are a bit pointless as the advantages are outweighed by the extra weight of the batteries and the additional transmission losses.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@mcairney depends on the needs of the user and the definition of worthwhile. Many of the current low range electric cars would be sufficient for many people's commutes. Hybrids, especially those capable of going short distances using just a battery, will help to alleviate urban air pollution as they become more common, if nothing else.
Having said that, the first 'affordable' Tesla, the Model 3, is supposed to start rolling off the production line today so it'll be interesting to see what kind of effect it has, not that we're likely to see any here until sometime next year...
Posted 6 years ago # -
I hadn't considered that hybrids can run on the battery only at low speeds. And many normal cars will have stop-start technology which can help reduce pollution when stationary though you have to be using the car regularly for it to work.
The majority of hybrids still have comparable fuel economy to frugal diesel cars though.The major advantage with conventional cars over electric is that they can be refueled in minutes via plentiful charging stations.
I probably use my car a lot less than I did a couple of years ago (I used to commute by car, now I commute by bike or public transport) but when I do it's often to make longer journeys during the weekend. The only electric car currently on the market which would be suitable for my use case is a Tesla but they're a bit out my price range! Hopefully other manufacturers will catch up soon..Posted 6 years ago # -
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The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
"
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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https://twitter.com/ianwalker/status/943918604608856066
If you're charging an electric car right now, can it perhaps wait? You're currently charging it by burning coal and other fossil fuels
Posted 6 years ago # -
Also some interesting political history on nuclear power
Posted 6 years ago # -
Still no incentive to buy them, cost of normal cars still so low to lease. As little as £200 a month for a Nissan Cashcow, even mid ranges German models really cheap, you can pick up an Audi A5 Sportback for £307 a month on a 2 year deal.
Until that changes the combination engine is going nowhere.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Most of the car "deals" I've seen are ~15% APR. That's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The website looks dodgy, but it’s not. Monthly cost also includes VED. Buying (well leasing) brand new cars has never been so cheap,...
https://m.lingscars.com/deal-list
*earlier post should have read combustion.
Posted 6 years ago # -
From Guardian link -
“
One thing that had happened in the intervening years was a PR blitz by the nuclear industry, which had deployed scores of lobbyists, including former politicians such as the former energy minister Brian Wilson, to push the idea of a “nuclear renaissance” in the UK. Between 2003 and 2006, says Andrew Stirling, professor of science and technology policy at Sussex University, “Britain saw the beginnings of a massive pro-nuclear lobbying and PR campaign that continues to this day.”
“
More successful than the great car lobby?
Posted 6 years ago # -
“*earlier post should have read combustion.”
Oh I don’t know, this makes complete sense! -
“Until that changes the combination engine is going nowhere.”
Posted 6 years ago # -
Other thread had the EV event and how the Norwegian Government are pricing EVs into acceptance.
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17975Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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Apparently EV sales are lower than expected. Wonder how much more subsidy will be required to get people to buy them.
https://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news-analysis/3028279/is-2018s-electric-vehicle-sales-slump-just-a-bump-in-the-roadPosted 6 years ago # -
Wonder how much more subsidy will be required to get people to buy them.
Make them free and I might consider it.Posted 6 years ago # -
Good article from Alastair Dalton:
Posted 6 years ago # -
'Mr Cameron said: "The SNP is completely out of step with its own policy here. It is miles away from being able to declare Scotland diesel and petrol free by 2032, which will in turn render low emission zone trials in Scotland’s main cities utterly worthless."'
Reaching the point of declaring Scotland diesel and petrol free is the only thing that would render low emission zone trials utterly worthless... A delay in achieving that goal will render low emission zone trials even more important!
Posted 6 years ago # -
There was a new electric 'black cab' taxi (this one was actually dark green) at the Future Vehicle Showcase on Saturday. Whilst it is not fully electric, having an on-board generator to charge its battery to extend its range, it is definitely a step in the right direction and will be satisfying to start spotting in the 'wild'. Hopefully the reduction in stress of driving an electric taxi might help make the average driver a little less temperamental too...
Posted 6 years ago # -
"The Energy Saving Trust, which administers the loan on behalf of Transport Scotland, has reported that the scheme is regularly oversubscribed and, in February alone, 101 new loan applications were received, totalling more than £2.8 million.”
Headline should say 'Increased take up of EV scheme'.
News in Scotland is constantly manipulated now to be negative to Holyrood.
Sales of EVs across UK have been poor despite the best efforts of media to promote this variant of driving.
Personally I would be more impressed if the £2.8 million loans had helped buy e-bikes.Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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Trialing out electric bike, just done few miles on way to watch match - v impressed. Can see how it would make cycling attractive for many - particularly with Scotland's hilly landscape!
Will look to use some of our (recently doubled!) Active Travel budget to promote e-bikes.
“
https://twitter.com/humzayousaf/status/990552158834692097?s=21
Posted 6 years ago # -
In answer to the original question. No. Electric buses are.
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Electric buses are coming, and they’re going to help fix 4 big urban problems
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/10/24/16519364/electric-buses
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China made solar panels cheap. Now it’s doing the same for electric buses.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Edinburgh has six so far. Saw one stuck in a huge bus jam on Princes St so they work more or less the same as other ones but are cleaner as you say. As buses spend around 20%? of their journey static this is important.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"Edinburgh has six so far. Saw one stuck in a huge bus jam on Princes St"
That'll be the No.1 service. LB also run a fleet of diesel/electric hybrids with regenerative braking on that route. Having traveled on both the experience is similar, as the hybrids seem to spent much of their time on electric power, the diesel engine kicking in occasionally.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The pure-electrics are a joy to ride if they are on a good road surface. Virtually tram-like.
Makes me wonder about using trolleybus tech to charge larger models en-route away from sensitive areas.
Posted 6 years ago # -
From the LB web site news section in September last year:
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The delivery of these cleaner and greener buses to our fleet is central to Lothian’s ‘Bus 2020’ Environmental Strategy, which includes ongoing investments in low and zero emission buses. We aim to reduce our emissions footprint by a further 42% by 2020.
So far in 2017, Lothian has invested in:
15 Wrightbus Volvo B8RLE Euro 6 for East Coast Buses
6 Wrightbus zero emission full electric buses
30 Wrightbus Volvo B5TL Euro 6 for route 26
15 Wrightbus Volvo B5TL Euro 6 buses for Airlink
20 Wrightbus Volvo B5LH Hybrid Euro 6 buses for Skylink 300---
Fewer particulate emissions generating buses on Easter Road and in the Old Town, which has to be good.
And finally, from this month's LB news:
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We have taken delivery of a new fully electric Nissan Leaf car this week.
The car will be added to our ancillary fleet taking our electric ancillary vehicle total to four and replaces a diesel car.
The vehicle, which will be used as a company pool car, is supported by Transport Scotland’s ‘Switched On Fleets’ programme and reinforces our ongoing commitment to minimise the environmental impact from our operations and support air quality improvements in the city centre.
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No electric bikes?
Posted 6 years ago #
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