Originally Posted by nick w
Going back to the electric theme...
I've just read a serious review that concludes current EVs need to do 50000 miles to "break even" on world damage and cost. So it seems to me that the ideal purchaser is someone who will do lots of miles in shorter journeys. Commuting, for instance. In my situation now, where the family runaround does about 6T a year maximum, usually far less, (and that will include journeys of 300 miles or more) , I think I'm just not the target customer. I wouldn't hesitate to go that way if I was. I've nothing against electric vehicles, in fact they offer intriguing options.


The workshop building my MGB said that due to the environmental cost of producing steel etc. that I can drive my MGB once finished for 90,000km before it catches up to a new petrol car, or about 150,000km for an electric car. Not sure if he is right but the cost of manufacture must be fairly high, plus the light MGB with a modern Mazda engine should be fairly light on damage to the environment.

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...ric-cars-after-allegra-stratton-comments

If she rides her bike most places , only drives 3000miles a year and is happy with her old car then surely it is better for the environment for her to keep the car she has for trips than buying a new electric car. But that doesn't sell electric vehicles.

When it comes time to change the family car I hope the cost has dropped and range has increased that an electric car make sense. But for now I expect to keep using the Skoda Octavia and Skoda Rapid that both generally gets 5L/100km is less damaging to the environment than replacing the cars with new ones.

Note I said less damaging, I find it annoying how people say I bought an electric car to help the environment. To help the environment people need to learn that the best thing is to not buy anything and walk everywhere.