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[Sir Tigger KC]

That's the reported range of Tesla's new Roadster.    Seems like battery technology is coming along and I wonder how long it will be before electric cars become 'mainstream'. I like the idea of electric cars to be honest and if a 400 mile plus range became the norm and the cars were affordable, I think that I'd seriously consider one if buying a new car.   

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/26/us-tesla-roadster-upgrade-idUSKBN0K412O20141226

[Crazycarzowner]

The other thing to consider though is how long it takes to re-charge between stops? 

[Andy B]

and charging points are still thin on the ground at the moment. And there's a choice of three types of plug ... you'd have thought there would have been a common plug across all manufacturers 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIS4J0XUO0

[Sir Tigger KC]

and charging points are still thin on the ground at the moment. And there's a choice of three types of plug ... you'd have thought there would have been a common plug across all manufacturers 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIS4J0XUO0

I think with a 400 mile range charging points wouldn't be an issue for most as you'd charge at home, but I didn't know about the 3 different types of plug! 

So I could roll up at a charging point at a motorway services and find my plug incompatible with the charging point? 

[Andy B]

.... but I didn't know about the 3 different types of plug! 
 ....

It was just a few months ago we parked up in a car park in Balloch and I had a nosey at the charging station/point and I saw there were three different plugs 

[Andy B]

.....

I think with a 400 mile range charging points wouldn't be an issue for most as you'd charge at home,  ....

Not the car you'd use to go from London to Inverness in then 

[The Sheriff]

We've got a charging point in our garage, fitted free about six years ago apparently. It would probably be the wrong plug for modern milk floats, but surely could be changed?

[Nick W]

You should also be concerned about how many charging points there are, and how many of them are working. An example: the M2 and M20 services have 3points between them, and only two are working. A Leaf needs 45mins for a two-thirds charge(I believe), which doesn't sound too bad, but what if it's already in use?
The infrastructure and battery technology are simply inadequate for fully electric cars to be viable for anything other than short trips.
And that's before we get into how the huge increase in electricity demand would be satisfied.

[biggriffin]

Bah. bloody tree huggers, use petrol and destroy a polar bear

[Sir Tigger KC]

And that's before we get into how the huge increase in electricity demand would be satisfied.

Wind Turbines of course!   

[biggriffin]

And that's before we get into how the huge increase in electricity demand would be satisfied.

Wind Turbines of course!   

Have you got alot of wind, at the moment (Brussels)

[Sir Tigger KC]

And that's before we get into how the huge increase in electricity demand would be satisfied.

Wind Turbines of course!   

Have you got alot of wind, at the moment (Brussels)

Too right!!    If the Boffins could figure out a way to capture all the extra methane produced over Christmas then the worlds energy problem would be solved! 

[Sir Tigger KC]

.....

I think with a 400 mile range charging points wouldn't be an issue for most as you'd charge at home,  ....

Not the car you'd use to go from London to Inverness in then 

Why not? You'd have to refuel most cars on that run anyway and OK the recharge would take longer than filling the tank, but do it while you stop for lunch and it's sorted! 

As they improve the range of electric cars and they become more competitive, then the infrastructure will develop to match demand. 

[Andy B]

.....

I think with a 400 mile range charging points wouldn't be an issue for most as you'd charge at home,  ....

Not the car you'd use to go from London to Inverness in then 

Why not? You'd have to refuel most cars on that run anyway and OK the recharge would take longer than filling the tank, but do it while you stop for lunch and it's sorted! 

As they improve the range of electric cars and they become more competitive, then the infrastructure will develop to match demand. 

but it takes you & me 5 mins tops to refill our fuel tank ...... and until they do improve the range/charge rate of electric cars that will be the underlying problem

[05omegav6]

Teslas own Supercharger stations are solar powered, (so the tree huggers can pop that in their pipe and smoke it), and free iirc takes about an hour to fully charge the Model S from flat using a Supercharger point. Standard public points charge at a minimum rate of a mile a minute or thereaboots, faster if they're working properly...