Would you have an electric car if you had the money for a new car and were in the market for one?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Freight would have to be on a swappable battery to be viable I think.

Or doing lots of small/medium journeys involving lots of stopping and starting, like, I dunno, delivering from a central warehouse to shops.

Far more people in the US live in/near a big city than do out on an Interstate with eighty squillion straight miles.

[Count Steer]

Freight would have to be on a swappable battery to be viable I think.

Or doing lots of small/medium journeys involving lots of stopping and starting, like, I dunno, delivering from a central warehouse to shops.

Far more people in the US live in/near a big city than do out on an Interstate with eighty squillion straight miles.

Shifting bulk stuff umpteen miles by road is pretty anyway. Don't they have railways in the USA?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

Enormously more fuel efficient than any kinda road transport too.

I bet someone even does a standard sized box which is easy to ship from Boat to Train to Lorry!

[Count Steer]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

Enormously more fuel efficient than any kinda road transport too.

I bet someone even does a standard sized box which is easy to ship from Boat to Train to Lorry!

It does seem strange that a country that was built by the railroads is so dependent on moving bulk stuff around by lorry. But then, how much freight gets shifted by rail here? We used to even have mail trains, now they seem to fly it about from the mail hub at East Midlands airport. I guess it's all down to the 'But I want it now...or, at the latest tomorrow!' expectations people have.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Gerrit on the canal! They already go to the major cities

Isn't the major problem in the UK the fact train lines run nearly at 100% capacity just with people? That is/was the major benefit of HS2 wasn't it? Getting people off the lines.

[ChrisW]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

[Cousin Jack]

Using trucks in the UK may also be something to do with the fact that BR was very good at losing stuff.

[Count Steer]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

It looks like some states think that humans on trains are the devil's work! It's astonishing really. A place that size was made by and is ideal for railways, but nope, let's all drive, use a U-haul or take a Greyhound.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? AFAIK the US has the most miles of railway of any country, but basically no real passenger service.

[v8-powered]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? AFAIK the US has the most miles of railway of any country, but basically no real passenger service.

Remember talking to someone when I did some work on the railway in the USA, something like only 10% coverage out there.

[mangocrazy]

Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? AFAIK the US has the most miles of railway of any country, but basically no real passenger service.

Now was the passenger railway service in the US artificially nobbled, or was it a triumph of free market enterprise and everyone chose personal transportation (i.e the car)?

[Nordboy]

So, I've started considering the move to electric, albeit into a used one. My current car is a Jaguar XFS 3.0 supercharged petrol which does under 30mpg on average. Most of my journeys are round trips of 20 odd miles to work and home. I'm probably the ideal electric candidate.

I don't want to spend a lot £20k'ish so looking for something under 4 yrs old and low miles. This is where I hit my issue. My car is a lovely place to be, it's not a rolls royce, but it's luxury and really goes when i want it too.

I'd be looking at a Kia Niro or Hyundai Kona for this price, now some of the specs are pretty good but not really at the jag levels. I'd be sacrificing pretty much everything in order to go electric and save some money on fuel. Being a bit of a car snob, I suppose I see it as a huge downgrade.

Maybe a mind reset on my behalf is required to make the jump?

[Count Steer]

This is where I hit my issue. My car is a lovely place to be, it's not a rolls royce, but it's luxury and really goes when i want it too.

I'd be looking at a Kia Niro or Hyundai Kona for this price, now some of the specs are pretty good but not really at the jag levels. I'd be sacrificing pretty much everything in order to go electric and save some money on fuel. Being a bit of a car snob, I suppose I see it as a huge downgrade.

Maybe a mind reset on my behalf is required to make the jump?

It's a bit of a step change and could be a bit reversing it if it doesn't work out. In an ideal world I'd keep the Jag for high days and holidays and buy the commuter for day to day but that's the cost of buying a second car + fixed costs on top.

Maybe rent an electric (Hertz do them but I haven't checked what models they do) for a week and see how you feel about it commuting etc? It wouldn't be 4 years old though.

PS Maybe look at a bit more luxe hybrids too?

[Horse]

[ZRX61]

Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

[Count Steer]

Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

Software (autopilot ) to be updated remotely so you won't need to worry about avoiding the queues at the dealers.

[ZRX61]

Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

Software (autopilot ) to be updated remotely so you won't need to worry about avoiding the queues at the dealers.

The local dealer (in Van Nuys) is just a warehouse next to the airport.

[ZRX61]

Actually saw a Tesla truck yesterday. Parked off the side of the road in the Playground area of Mulholland. Not brushed stainless, this one was a very dark, almost black, flat gray. They're even worse looking in person.

[Bwana]

Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

Software (autopilot ) to be updated remotely so you won't need to worry about avoiding the queues at the dealers.

Is that a temporary fix waiting to become the next flaw?

[Count Steer]

Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

Software (autopilot ) to be updated remotely so you won't need to worry about avoiding the queues at the dealers.

Is that a temporary fix waiting to become the next flaw?

I wouldn't be at all surprised. Given the complexity of driving on iffy roads, surrounded by iffy drivers and assorted random events - deer, drunks, the occasional light aircraft making emergency landings, weather etc etc etc the idea of handing over decision control to a software package developed by a Musk company doesn't fill me with confidence.

Having bought a relatively modern vehicle with the best of Japanese technology in, I'd like a big red button marked 'Old Skool' that turns it off. Example, the tyre pressure monitoring system....cold day...beeeeeeep! Oh me, oh my....one tyre is down 1psi How do I reset it to accept that....4 screens later....press and hold OK. Now drive for 30 minutes. For heaven's sake it's a little hybrid shopper!

*Goes off to find a 50s step-sided Chevvy*