We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

OutlawPete · 19-02-2010 08:36PM #1

Ireland will install its first electric car charge locations by Easter and there are plans to install 1.500 electric charge locations by the end of 2011.

So, when do you see yourself driving an electric car?

Is it just bollix as our electricity is just being produced from fossil fuels anyway, so to be acting like we've cracked the renewable energy problem is a little premature?

Will you miss the roar of a V8 in twenty years when we're all being mowed down by silent fecking cars?

Ireland is to install its first electric car charge locations by Easter. There are plans to install 1.500 electric charge locations by the end of 2011. The cost of installing the charging points will be $27million.

The three charging points will be located in Dublin City, one will be outside the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) headquarters, the second will be put outside the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the third will be located outside the Irish Development Agency on Wilton Place.

The charge points will be initially installed along major routes and built up urban areas. There will be thirty DC fast charging points installed on Ireland's motorways. The DC points can fully recharge a car in 30 minutes.

The project was spearheaded by the Government, ESB, Nissan and Renault. The directive wants 10% of all vehicles in Ireland to be fully electric by 2020. It is estimated a total of 30,000 chargers will be needed to cater for an estimated 230,000 electric vehicles.

ESB's head of network sustainability, Senan McGrath said, "What is going on in Ireland is at least as advanced as what is going on elsewhere."

Nissan will release a conventional electric model by the end of this year, while Renault will release the Renault Fluence in 2011. The cars will have a top speed of 100km/h and a range of 160km. The cars are specifically aimed at urban commuters.

It is hoped that 4,000 cars will be on the road by the end of 2011.

Source

Morlar · 19-02-2010 08:39PM

The only question I have about that is how much* & who pays ?

The cost of installing the charging points will be $27million.

Hank_Jones · 19-02-2010 08:41PM

I don't see myself driving an electric car for a long time, basically as long as I can get away with not driving one.
Maybe if they improve the performance of them and make them more than run arounds that have to be kept close to home, as that is the only place you can charge them, maybe I would slightly reconsider.
The ones they have now are like hairdryers though, and I like my cars to have a bit of acceleration to them.

€27 million baahahahah, that's quite the waste of public money.
How many electric cars have they sold in Ireland again?
Like 15?

Thought this was going to be in this thread:
(figured I'd add it

)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA5MtAmT24g

DubMedic · 19-02-2010 08:46PM

Never can I see myself driving one of those stupid looking things.

They can fcuk off with their stupid electric cars.

Yes, I'm a petrol man.. electric cars are just wrong.

.

alwaysadub · 19-02-2010 08:49PM

Well the car would wanna run for a fair while if i've to travel across the country to charge the fecking thing..

Ruu_Old · 19-02-2010 08:52PM

I see an e-voting machine scenario happening to be honest.

Hank_Jones · 19-02-2010 08:55PM

Ruu wrote: »

I see an e-voting machine scenario happening to be honest.

I would think that we are probably the front runner within the EU on this one.
So it will most likely go all pear shaped.
It's not as if we have the funds to be throwing money away on this sort of thing anyway.

artanevilla · 19-02-2010 09:47PM

Sure people'll be using them to charge their phones and stuff.

MistyCheese · 19-02-2010 09:48PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

We are? Great! When? Should I wear comfortable shoes?

stovelid · 19-02-2010 09:50PM

I assume that eddie grants will be available to upgrade your car.

/sorry

Blisterman · 19-02-2010 09:55PM

Ahh, I remember one drunken night, shortly after I moved to London, getting lost in the worst part of Brixton, fearing for my life, when I turned a corner and looked at a street sign. I was on Electric Avenue!!! All was well, and I got home safely, thanks to Eddy Grant.

So yeah, electric cars. They're cool.

ibarelycare · 19-02-2010 09:59PM

I'll be dead within 60 years. I'll drive the sh*t out of my petrol cars until then. No need to worry about things that won't effect me. :pac:

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 19-02-2010 10:17PM

I reckon I'd really hate driving an electric car

There are few greater pleasures than dropping a gear and overtaking some slow bag that you've been stuck behind for 3 miles

Tar.Aldarion · 19-02-2010 10:41PM

Can't wait til there are good ones about.

oppenheimer1 · 19-02-2010 10:47PM

Maximo Tart Source wrote: »

I reckon I'd really hate driving an electric car

There are few greater pleasures than dropping a gear and overtaking some slow bag that you've been stuck behind for 3 miles

Thats the problem... people reckon they'd really hate it rather than actually try it. Sure Electric cars are not entirely suitable yet for long distance driving but they are perfect for urban. The majority of people do not travel more than 120km in a day. The internal combustion engine has over 120 years of development behind it, but the electric/alternative car is catching it quickly.

Beside where I work there is a G-Wiz plugged in and it makes perfect sense, inexpensive city run around, low tax, and very cheap to run. For most people a car is just a device for getting you from A to B and nothing more. I consider the electric car to be like the "ryanair" version of a car.

Ignorance perpetuated by the likes of Jeremey Clarkson and Co will keep the electric car down though.

Sofiztikated · 19-02-2010 10:56PM

But do they have to be so frigging ugly?

Never mind if its an a2b yoke, but just look at the gwhizz. You can't tell me when you get up in the morning, go outside to go to work, see your gwhizz, you wouldn't just sigh and your heart deflate a bit.

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 19-02-2010 10:56PM

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Thats the problem... people reckon they'd really hate it rather than actually try it. Sure Electric cars are not entirely suitable yet for long distance driving but they are perfect for urban. The majority of people do not travel more than 120km in a day. The internal combustion engine has over 120 years of development behind it, but the electric/alternative car is catching it quickly.

Beside where I work there is a G-Wiz plugged in and it makes perfect sense, inexpensive city run around, low tax, and very cheap to run. For most people a car is just a device for getting you from A to B and nothing more. I consider the electric car to be like the "ryanair" version of a car.

Ignorance perpetuated by the likes of Jeremey Clarkson and Co will keep the electric car down though.

Thats all fair enough

But I'm willing to be one of the last to make the change until the technology develops to a decent standard

Fear Uladh · 19-02-2010 10:57PM

****ing hate that song.

cafecolour · 19-02-2010 10:59PM

I'm sticking with my bicycle

Thomas828 · 19-02-2010 11:30PM

There'll always be people who are afraid of anything new. Look at Smart cars. The idea that anyone would be driving them would have been shot down twenty years ago. And what did people think of the Mini Metro when it first rolled off the production line in 1981?

Mike 1972 · 19-02-2010 11:42PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Is it just bollix as electricity is produced by burning oil anyway, so to early to be acting like we've cracking the renewable energy problem?

Its been a long time (early eighties) since Ireland got the majority of its electricity from Oil

Fossil fuels Yes Oil no

OutlawPete · 19-02-2010 11:50PM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Fossil fuels Yes Oil no

Meant to say Fossil Fuels, edited post.

What are the percentages now of exactly what we use to generate our own and the importation of fossil fuels.

Mint Sauce · 19-02-2010 11:55PM

better start stockpiling the AA batteries

ejmaztec · 20-02-2010 01:13AM

They'll at least have to play a recording of a V8 while they're on the move, just loud enough to drown out the whining noise.

Capt'n Midnight · 20-02-2010 02:06AM

how much do electric cars cost more than the equilivent diesel ?

how efficient are they from well to wheel, #Ireland generates a lot of our electricity from fossil fuel, conversion from heat to electricity to chemical energy in the battery and back to power the motor probably won't beat direct conversion in a good diesel

lithium batteries are expensive and there are limited supplies c.f Bolivia
other batteries weigh more and so you need to waste power lugging dead weigh around.

The Pontiac · 20-02-2010 02:17AM

Thomas828 wrote: »

Look at Smart cars. The idea that anyone would be driving

I've only seen a handful of Smart cars on the road.

I can't see myself driving an electric car, ever!! I think my 10 year old Focus would kill any electric car manufactured within the next 15-20 years anyway - performance, comfort etc. And a Focus is just your average car.

donkey balls · 20-02-2010 02:24AM

the only people who will be able to afford these yokes will be the green TD;s senators&ministers on there nice salaries&pensions:rolleyes:

Mike 1972 · 20-02-2010 01:30PM

I would buy an electric car tomorrow if someone came out with an affordable model capable of motoway speeds and a 300Km range between charges (with lights/radio etc on)

Ive thought about the Prius (not quite fully eletric I know) but its 17 Grand (sterling) too big for my needs and IIRC its CO2 emissions are actually not that much lower than what Im driving right now.

Agricola · 20-02-2010 01:48PM

Electric cars are a farce. Hydrogen power is where it will be in 50 years time.

ejmaztec · 20-02-2010 02:07PM

The Tesla one looks ok for an electric car, but it costs a mint. The base price in the US is $50K, but the one on the second link has a price of $125K after options.

http://www.teslamotors.com/models/
Advertising bullsh1t alert!

- 300 mile range
- 45 minute QuickCharge
- 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds
- Seats 7 people
- More cargo space than sedans
- 2X as efficient as hybrids
- 17 inch infotainment touchscreen

http://www.wheels.ca/newsFeatures/article/784576

God knows how much they'd cost here.

Sheeps · 20-02-2010 02:11PM

Hank_Jones wrote: »

€27 million baahahahah, that's quite the waste of public money.
How many electric cars have they sold in Ireland again?
Like 15?

Ugh..... This quote is so dumb.

We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

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