More bad news for EVs

[klondike]

I'll copy this in as it's the Telegraph and they limit free views for those without a sub.

The EV fiasco has descended into farce. Just ask Hertz

Whether it's heat pumps or electric cars, the Government's ambitions are running well ahead of public appetite

You might not want to buy an electric car because they have such a high purchase price, but you wouldn't mind renting one for a short trip, surely? Then you can enjoy the fabled lower fuel costs, the terrific acceleration and smooth running of an EV without the pain of what can often be high monthly repayments.

Alas, that is not how American customers of car rental giant Hertz appear to see it. The company in the US is disposing of the 20,000 EVs it bought with great fanfare in recent years, and is replacing them with petrol models. Some of the Teslas, which are no more than two years old, have been listed for sale at $14,000 – little more than a third of their $40,000 price tag when new. The company says it will take a loss of $245 million but it seems to have little choice given the lack of demand from customers and the vehicles' higher repair costs.

What a difference from October 2021 when the company ordered 100,000 Teslas, sending the car company's shares surging by 5 per cent. But it is indicative of a more widespread malaise in the fortunes of electric cars. Over the past year, figures from the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed a steep fall in interest from private buyers. Now it seems that fleet buyers are having second thoughts, too.

It is all coming at a terrible time for the government and the car industry in Britain. Since 1 January, when the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate came into effect, car manufacturers have been under an obligation to ensure that 22 per cent of the vehicles they sell are pure electric (a proportion which will rise steadily by 80 per cent by 2030). If they fail, they could be liable for huge fines.

Yet as is becoming increasingly clear in so many areas, the Government's Net Zero ambitions are running well ahead of public appetite. People might tell opinion pollsters that they are all square behind Net Zero policies, but it is a different story when it comes to signing on the dotted line for a new EV or a heat pump (neither of which, by the way, will really get the country anywhere close to Net Zero emissions, even with universal take-up, because their manufacture involves significant carbon emissions, as generation of electricity still does).

I'm no petrol-head. I will very happily dump my old diesel for an EV when someone can sell me one that does at least 500 miles between charges, takes around 10 minutes to charge and costs no more to buy or insure than a petrol or diesel car. As for the oft-made assertion that I could save on running costs over the lifetime of an EV, I'll believe that when I see a genuine comparison between electric and petrol. Trouble is, almost all the comparisons presented by the electric car lobby ignore the huge differential in tax – the fact that around half of what you pay for a gallon of petrol is tax whereas if you charge your EV at home you will pay only 5 per cent VAT. That advantage isn't going to last, because the Government isn't going to sit back and watch £28 billion of revenue from fuel duty evaporate.

Like everything to do with Net Zero, electric cars are being pushed at us too hard and too fast.    One day, they may very well become ubiquitous, but as Hertz experience shows, they are not yet even nearly ready. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/12/the-ev-fiasco-has-descended-into-farce-just-ask-hertz/

[JBR]

I can't say that I'm surprised.  After all, what are the disadvantages of electric cars?

- They cost an arm and a leg to buy.
- They have limited mileage.
- They take a long time to re-charge.
- There are often queues at chargers which consequently make charging time even longer.
- One has to be careful, when running low on charge, not to use the heater, lights or even screen wipers.
- They are very heavy and so make the tyres wear out more quickly than ICE cars.
- They tend to burst into flames without warning!

Surely, they have advantages?

- Well, yes, you don't have to pay road tax... yet!

[klondike]

There were some ICE cars with £0 road tax. My diesel Peugot was only £30. I imagine no new ICE is zero rated and they may even have slapped some on since I had mine.

[Diasi]

The mileage range of an EV drops as the outside temperature drops, so I don't expect many EVs to be charging up & down the Dalton any time soon. 

[dextrous63]

If EV's are so great, why aren't they (and the support security ones) used as ministerial vehicles? 

[klondike]

I imagine with the armour on top of the batteries they'd sink into the tarmac.

[Raven]

Still feel the same as I did when they first came on sale, and we were getting bribed to change over. NO NO NO. I don't want one doubt I ever will.

[JBR]

Still feel the same as I did when they first came on sale, and we were getting bribed to change over. NO NO NO. I don't want one doubt I ever will.

Good point.
If the government is desperate for us all to buy EVs (or anything else) and creates such 'incentives', my first thought is, "what are they trying on now?"