the BIG problem with these vehicles IS the batteries , as the current battery technology is heavy and large , but some hope may come in the form of super capacitors for certain applications such as regenerative breaking ( ergo when you brake the battery's get charged a bit - it also works when going down hill to an extent and is even used in mobility scooters )
see also
however there are experimental battery types around and LI ION types ( more familiar in power tools and other rechargeables like you use in your cameras )offer advantages but are at the mo more expensive
one of the OTHER problems is the electric vehicles must look like "proper " cars syndrome - and of course people expect them to be able to do the same distances and speeds - but if you look at your OWN driving habits - how many short journeys ( eg town driving ) do you do and an idea i have had is to have a "modular " car with a slot in all electric module for town /low distance /speed driving and a hybrid module for longer journeys - - it could be done - but if it ever will of course is another matter as it means inconvenience and people don't want that
like wise do you REALLY need a full size car ?? - it is an observable fact ( certainly here in the UK ) that most cars rarely are used to full capacity ,vis only one occupant - so there are alternatives - certainly for town driving BUT of course there will be those who still have the "big car " mentality and will NEVER consider the alternative till forced to
i no longer drive , well not cars anymore as my disability precludes me from doing so -( eyesight ) - and frankly whist i do miss not having a car at times - a lot of the time i don't !! - the expense for one thing
so i now get round using a mobility scooter - well i have 2 actually - one has full weather protection and one is an open version - both cost pennies to recharge - will do about 15 miles or so reliably ( plenty for most journeys and are road legal ( if required ) though i don't use them on the roads as they are not really suitable - but having said that - why bother ?? i can get round town faster than most cars on a busy day - they carry a fair bit with some ingenuity and one can even tow a small trailer - both have a top speed of 8 mph which is quite fast enough ( you are limited to 4 mph on the pavement /side walk ) - maintenance really is basic - and the only things you need to replace are tyres - light bulbs and of course batteries ( about every 3 years or so with daily use and good recharging practices ) - oh and before any of you ask YES we DO have to tax them ! - insurance is advised though not obligatory ( only a fool does not have any though
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so in all i think that we need a sea change in our outlook on "personal" mobility , and i will hazard that if the law where changed to allow light electric vehicles here ( as in some parts of the states ) with a top speed of say 20 mph - and a range of say 30 miles ?? - we could see this happen - just think it would cure parking problems as you could probably get 3 in one car space
but of course - until either the cost of petrol go's a lot higher or people DO stop and asses their REAL transport needs - nothing will change - and i recon the petrol cartels are quite happy to keep it that way as are ( our ) government as the rake off in fuel tax is enormous
one thing i like is to be able to say to those who take the mick " well for the cost of one liter of petrol buddy - I get a full weeks driving - do you ?? " - and that usually gets them interested in just what these little electric vehicles CAN do - the down side is you unfortunately have to be disabled to legally use them
above : muggins on Plymouth hoe - with the 2nd eddystone lighthouse in the background - they built a new one and put the old one here
ho hum swings and roundabouts of life