Blackheath Weather

#EV #environment #climatechange #climatecrisis

This is genuinely 🙏 not a toot to start an argument or prove a point. I'm interested in your thoughts and feelings.

How many of you will own an EV by 2028? I'd say it's 50/50 for me. My ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) is used very little, I walk, train/bus & teleport. 🙃

This is about you & your thoughts & feelings. Be kind/civil. 🙏🌻

Very likely
55.3%
Unlikely
21.9%
Not sure
22.8%
Poll ended at .
Jan 20, 2023 at 1:48amWeb
Show threadSerenaJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow already do
Show threadSerenaJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow and your approach of just not driving much at all is even better! Hopefully there will be more electric options available to the community so can use that when you need something more than bike/feet/public transport
Show threadBlackheath WeatherJan 20, 2023
@SerenaJoyner Yes, I had to save the life of someone very close to me some years ago, so I had to do a lot of driving to the hospital back and forth during that event but generally, I avoid using the car much. I couldn't have done all that emergency driving back and forth with an EV but that will change, I'm sure.
Show threadBlackheath WeatherJan 20, 2023
@SerenaJoyner Cool as. How have you found insurance costs and charging challenges? For me, I just can't justify buying one yet as I want to add more solar panels to my home and get a solar battery.
Show threadAlex von KitchenJan 20, 2023

@blakeheathsnow Probably not. A new vehicle would be a very significant expense, and there are no EVs that do what I need in a vehicle
There's a chance I convert an existing vehicle to electric, but that is also very expensive

Given I rarely use my car or motorbike, they aren't major components of my CO2 emissions

Show threadJames PurserJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow depends on cost and adaptability for disabled use
Show threadJudeNungaJan 20, 2023

@blakeheathsnow

My little car is cheap to run, and not used a lot, (I have an ebike and escooter and use them mostly for transport, (or just use shanks pony), as I live in a small town.

However, the next car I buy will be an EV, because once they start becoming popular, the parts for ICE cars will get more expensive.

I hope to be able to use my EV as a battery to power my house as well, (I have solar panels).

I won't be buying a tesla though, my budget doesn't stretch to that, and I have a feeling they are going to end up being not a popular brand in the future. I'm hopeful that the EVs from China will be affordable for people who aren't wealthy.

A car is just transport for me, I don't look at them as some sort of status symbol , or other measure, so I look for affordability, durability, and cost of maintenance, and if it will suit my needs.

Show threadBlackheath WeatherJan 20, 2023
@JudeNunga The BYD Seagull is amazingly affordable already but not here yet. My kind of car. BYD is a very big overseas company but it's presence isn't good enough in Oz, for me yet.
Show threadJudeNungaJan 20, 2023

@blakeheathsnow

Apparently we will see these coming to Australia soon, we certainly need something that isn't so expensive, I expect these will be very popular. I remember when smaller Korean and Japanese, cars became popular in the 90s, because they were affordable.

All I see now is giant 4x4 cars and utes, ugly, huge and expensive to run, Australia has become the dumping ground for these monstrosities.

Show threadMre. Dartigen [maker mode]Jan 20, 2023

@blakeheathsnow I wish I had a chance at it, but until more of a second-hand market appears, I doubt I'll have the money for it. Converting an ICE to EV costs about as much as buying one here, if not more, so I really don't have any options.

That's really my only peeve with EVs at the moment - little to no second-hand market in my area, and the few that are available second-hand are still way outside of my budget. It seems to me that this is in part because EVs either aren't as popular for fleet vehicles (a big source of second-hand cars) or the ones that are fleet vehicles aren't getting turned over as often. (I would've thought they'd be popular since hooray, lower costs, but... guess not.)

At the moment I can compromise with just not driving on account of not having any car (as limiting as that is) but I'm not a fan of the lack of budget options and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Sure, money is saved in the long run - and the running costs of ICEs are a big part of why I don't have a car anymore - but when you can't afford the upfront cost, the long-term savings are kind of irrelevant.

Show threadBlackheath WeatherJan 20, 2023
@dartigen Great post, thanks. And replacing the battery in a second hand EV is very high at present...
Show threadBenJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow *toot
Show threadAlec  🇦🇺 👨‍💻Jan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow My next car is certain to be an EV, but since my last car lasted 14 years I have a ways to go yet.
Show threadanders dJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow same boat, mainly cycle with car use limited to hauling big things and longer distances. Even the option of a secondhand hybrid is difficult to justify; retain the old vehicle and get the most out of it being a sustainable option
Show threadanders dJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow a rejoinder to this, an EV car or an EV bike? The former no but the later maybe but it would supplement an small efficient ICE
Show threadIdealistic Pragmatist Jan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow I’m unlikely to own any motorised vehicle by that year or any year, but if I did, I suppose it would probably be an EV. 🤷‍♀️
Show threadKieranuJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow owned one since 2019 but I live in a country with about 3% EV uptake so definitely an early adopter
Show threadPete LamJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow It depends on cost and finances. I cannot afford to buy one at the moment.
Show threadChris Vitalos ✅Jan 20, 2023

@blakeheathsnow

When it is time to replace one of the two gas powered autos we own now, we will consider an EV. The pricing and selection should continue to improve over the next few years.

Show threadNathaniel HörnblowérJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow I'm on my second EV already.
Show threadTony thefathippyJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow
Now I'm the only driver, I'd like to turn two cars' worth of depreciation, insurance, rego, maintenance, etc into one car. An EV makes sense, but most are too big for two. Cupra Born and MG4 add some more options this year, and Tesla's cut prices (don't like him or Tesla's self driving, but do like the cars)
Show threadMichael SkeggsJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow one person in our house drives 400km a week to visit clients. Reducing fuel/emissions is important. But the average Aussie car drives 13000km. The national fleet average fuel economy is about 11L/100km. Or 1400L burned pa. If you travel less, and already have a fuel efficient car, there is little need to change swiftly. But for higher km drivers, especially if they can charge from “free” solar, the financial and environmental benefits add up.
Show threadHmmmJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow I ride an eScooter. As I get older I’ll move to an eBike, then, an eTrike. After that, I’ll probably be confined to an old folks home.
Show threadPensionDanJan 20, 2023
@blakeheathsnow
Maybe you should consider an option for car-free survey takers.