
It appears that our commitment to greener cars is likely to hit the buffers in years to come as the prohibitive cost of maintaining electric cars becomes reality. Car makers have made great strides in embracing green technology and have managed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of many cars. Indeed the larger manufacturers are likely to have more eco friendly cars in their range than not and the fact that they are still desirable models, and the performance and attractiveness undiluted, means that the car buying public are happy to invest their money in greener cars and do “their bit” for the environment.
Fully Electric cars however are quite a different matter. Not only are they expensive to begin with but despite what the “I absolutely love the Nissan Leaf” brigade might have us believe, let’s be honest, they’re just not particularly desirable. Not only that, they are also likely to see their residual values slashed by up to 70 % over 5 years, due to the fact that when the battery is due for replacement the cost is estimated to be a whopping £8,000! The truth is the fundamental problems with electric cars still remain; lack of scientific breakthroughs on battery technology, range anxiety and cost.
Now I believe that most of us will happily do our bit for the planet but that perhaps it does not extend to pouring money down the drain just to establish our green credentials and until someone comes up with a way of significantly reducing the cost of replacement batteries and an environmentally friendly way of disposing of them, then they will continue to be what they always have been…the next big thing.
It’s like the Emperor’s new clothes in many ways; with the lack of advancement of the concept electric cars will never be more than a gimmick and once the novelty wears off people will think “I don’t know why I ever bought this thing”. In the long run it is unlikely than anyone except the most ardent “greenie” with the deepest of pockets is likely to want to buy one.
Anyone for a ride in my Sinclair c5?