Not that it applies to me, but, what about people who live in communal or high rise flats etc?

We have garages but a lot of people don't put their car away and leave it in the forecourt (visitors car park) where we have some spaces.

We could install chargers there which would be the cheapest option however my neighbours have got very territorial over "their" parking space. Of course it's not theirs its everyone's so I can see a situation where a petrol car is parked on a spot and an electric car needs it to charge, so an argument starts.

The alternative is to install chargers in each garage, more expensive but is should stop the rows about pinching spots.

However I don't drive so why should have to pay for someone else's choice of vehicle and how they charge it.

We are a small block imagine the arguments for a tower block wth 50 plus apartments.

Edited by Badger11 (26 Jan 2022 6.57pm)

when discussing a new development in south London, i was part of a conversation with the local Civic society who considered parking for residents a luxury, as London had really good public transport.

This isn't really anything to do with provision of facilities, but when you have prevailing attitudes of "well, we've got a car on our own driveway, but others are going to have to do without", that attitude stinks.

Everyone should have the right/access to a car if they so desire. How else are you to get a fortnights shopping at the supermarket, get a load of stuff from IKEA or take your kids out to the country/beach for the day, or go to an away game with mates ?

Electric cars suck at the moment, but they also have to conform to combustion-engined vehicles safety specification. Electric cars could be manufactured from lighter materials as they generally (could) have a lot less mass than combustion-engined vehicles. (all to do with crash testing and momentum)

OK, hear this.

Leaving politics and technical issues aside, this is what it's actually like going electric.

I bought an electric car in November 2019, and have driven nothing else since then, apart from the occasional foray in my 3.0 litre Triumph Stag.

Range:
Last July I drove to Haverfordwest. From Oxford where I live I took the A40 for most of the way. When I arrived I had 100 miles left 'in the tank'. I stayed in the tiny village of Wolf's Castle which took about 20 seconds to drive through. And this blinkandyoumissit village has a charge point for two vehicles. Not that I was worried - I could have got deep into Southern Ireland before I needed to recharge.

Infrastructure:
There's no worry about finding one, and when you do, it's usually available. The big problem is the variety of how you pay. Newer chargepoints are as easy to use as in your supermarket, while older ones might require a phone app, an RFID token or a dedicated payment card associated to your current account. It's there and it's adequate, and yes, if you are on a long, unfamiliar journey, you should plan for it. 10-15 minutes on an app the night before is all that's needed.

Expenses:
The initial cost is more than an ICE car, but the running expenses nosedive thereafter. In over 2 years driving I have covered 16.5k miles - I'm retired, but I do all the driving I want charging overnight at home for about a tenner, which lasts me a fortnight. £30 a month max. Compare that to my Jag that cost me £140 a month in fuel alone.
Very little maintenance, no RFL, no fluids. And when my tank is full it weighs the same as when it's empty!

Performance & driving:
OK, my car tops out at 104mph. Big deal. Otherwise it's performance is in GTI territory. Acceleration is instantaneous, and braking starts before your boot has left the accelerator pedal. And it's quiet. You can hear the radio and/or your passengers. Assuming you want either!

Overall:
It's not the best car I've ever bought - it's the best THING I've ever bought. I'm an Evangelist.

Edited by Harpo (30 Jan 2022 9.32pm)

You may yet convert me (it sounds tempting),..but for the moment I'll stay an atheist
I'm loving the acceleration bit, where I imagined it would be much like a Scalextric car.

Edited by Forest Hillbilly (01 Feb 2022 6.46am)