I really do wonder what the future of motoring holds in store.
I do quite like the idea of electric cars, but only if the car's exterior was made entirely of solar panels and it recharged itself as it went along. Having a car that's limited to a distance of about 200 miles, then has to be plugged into the mains, seems very inefficient.
Hydrogen fuelled engines must surely be high on the list of upcoming inventions. The person who can create a 'small' machine that can separate Oxygen from Hydrogen, that will fit in the boot of a car, will become the world's richest man/woman. Just imagine filling your car from the outdoor tap. Perfect.
I recently heard a woman talking about taking her driving test in a Hydrogen fuelled car back in the 50's, but I can find no record of such a car at that time. However, I'm sure these things are not new.
I don't see Petrol and Diesel cars dying out quite yet. OK they might be polluting, but they work well and have a proven track record. My attitude would be to limit their use rather than ban them altogether. If more people worked near to where they lived, it would save a huge amount of pollution.
I don't suppose I'll be around to see what science has in store, but 'need' is the mother of invention, and we are reminded by Mr Micawber that "something is bound to turn-up".
Modern ICE vehicles are actually very clean - the exhaust can frequently be cleaner than the air entering the engine in heavily polluted areas, and EVs are in some respects more polluting with their higher levels of dangerous tyre particulate emissions.
ReplyDeleteHydrogen fuel cell vehicles are nothing new, they have been around for years, and Toyota are developing the technology. The real problems are that separating hydrogen from other compounds (water, natural gas etc) is energy intensive and the resultant hydrogen is not a very dense store of energy - you need quite a lot to replace the energy content of current petrol/diesel fuels.
ReplyDeleteThe energy density issue is one that dogs EVs - batteries are a hugely inefficient way to store energy from a power-to-weight basis, this is why they will never be a realistic proposition for commercial aircraft, they are just too heavy.
In an ideal world we need a power source with the energy density of nuclear but without the side effects.
As I said above, something totally new will probably turn-up, unless of course we all stop driving around like loonies. I don't see EV's being the answer.
DeleteI've been managing without a car since before my 1995 divorce. Before we married I had a motorbike, a small one, okay it was a scooter, but before that and after, I've used public transport to get around. Only one of my children drives and very occasionally she will pick me up to go with her somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI would quite like being car-less, but for the moment it's impossible; especially out here.
DeleteI have never had a car. I have had a little Yamaha scooter for going back and forth to work. Apart from that I have walked or used buses. When I got older I moved somewhere within a mile radius of hospital and town. I can walk to either of them, no problem.I have local shops as well. I won't always be mobile, so I do what I can now. The walking keeps me fit too.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday Cro.xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Caz. If you really don't need a car, then what's the point in having one. I expect a lot of people could do without one. However, having a driving licence is essential.... just in case!
DeleteSince moving to town I haven't needed to drive the car for over a year. I think I have now lost my confidence in driving.
ReplyDeleteTake it out for a spin, your confidence will return at once.
DeleteI'm still hoping that power will come from a Mr Fusion with empty can and banana skin to make the car go. (Back to the Future III I think)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it's not in a lot of people's interests to fuel a car with Banana skins (other than Banana growers, of course).
DeleteI enjoy driving, and always have done. Living out of town, I need a car to get to the nearest bus stop.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I remember my father once telling me that some clever inventor in the 1930's developed a pill, which when added to water, turned into a "fuel" which could be used to run a car. Naturally the petrol companies didn't like the idea and bought him out!
I don't think my father was joking!
It does sound a bit like 'conspiracy theory' but who knows.
DeletePeople do seem to drive about too much these days - often on unnecessary journeys. I agree that it would help a lot if people lived closer to their places of work. Also, I would say a good thing about home working is that it reduces the need to travel every day.
ReplyDeleteThey drive around too much, and probably own too many cars too. I'm proud to say that I only have one car, and I use it as little as possible.
DeleteA friend and I were speaking only yesterday about how reliable petrol cars were. We were reminiscing about how often 'in the old days' they would break down, one would ring the AA ir RAC and then sit at the side of the road until the man arrived (I even remember when he arrived on his motor bike and side car, life the bonnet and within minutes assess the situation and either tinker about with some part and all would be well, or else send for the truck to take you to some garage. These days that all seems just another of those ancient memories of the far distant past. Thank goodness I no longer drive - would I have to start again the learning process of what to do when my (silent?) car suddenly stopped (usually in the dark in the middle of nowhere or on Spaghetti junction in the rush hour)? No. Dodgem cars are the nearest I shall ever get to 4 wheels.
ReplyDeleteAnd the AA used to salute you too!
DeleteI remember the AA folk parked by the roadside, saluting every car that had a badge. I'd totally forgotten all that.
Plug in rechargeable hybrids solve the range issue, by shifting from battery to hybrid on longer trips. How often do we drive more than 200-300 miles in a day? For us, it is 2-3 times a year. One of the reasons I wanted to live where I live, is access to a subway system. Even with that, things like grocery shopping are difficult. We will keep a car as long as one of us can drive safely.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK I drive to a big supermarket once a week, otherwise we have wonderful stores within walking distance. Out here in France my nearest decent shopping is 20 Kms away, so a car is essential. I wish it wasn't, but I do love being miles from civilisation.
DeleteI'm not a fan of EV's. In Massachusetts, USA, where summers and winters can be extremely hot or cold, Tesla batteries lose their charge. The technology has a way to go before I buy an EV.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about all sorts of problems with Teslas. There are lots of them in Brighton; even my neighbour has one. I think they are simply fashionable, and they will soon loose their appeal.
DeleteStopped driving a few years ago (after an accident), but DH still drives. Nothing much is within walking distance where we live... so can't imagine what we'd do without a car.
ReplyDeleteOut here in France we have to have a car, or a motor bike, or a horse. We couldn't exist without transport.
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