Electric Cars

It may be the fact that Petroleum Spirit has had it's day, but, does anyone remember, a few years ago, we were told that unless we accepted a new Nuclear Plant, built by foreign folks was accepted, the lights would go out, but, this new plant has not, as yet transpired, but, we are plugging in endless electronic vehicles, and the lights are still on, is all this down to Solar Panels, and windmills?

Re: Electric Cars

Our nuclear plants are getting to the end of their useful lives. Perhaps that was the gist of it. Once we start shutting down remaining plants we will be reliant on importing electricity because we don't have enough renewables to satisfy the gap left behind. The last one will be out of time in 2035. The meter is still running until 2023.

Re: Electric Cars

Then we will be in thrall to foreign companies who will be able to rip us off even more.

The UK is totally surrounded by water so I can't understand why more investment isn't being ploughed in to tidal/wave power to generate electricity. More predictable and less unsightly than numerous windmills sticking up like daffodils everywhere and definitely much better than solar.

Maybe a solution would be to build ALL future homes with solar panels on the roofs as a matter of course

Re: Electric Cars

Solar panels need to be replaced every ten years or so. Last time I checked tidal wave power wasn't generating enough to justify the cost. It makes absolutely no sense that we don't have our own expertise to set up companies to build such things, but that's a bigger issue about investing in our young people in the right way and creating the right environment for British companies to lead in the sector. Engineering just isn't revered as much here as it is in other countries. Ironic given that people like Brunel and others were from here. I blame poor management and not creating the right culture. We do seem great at getting others to come and run things for us (and profit from doing so).

Re: Electric Cars

We could do a lot by simple energy saving.

A massive amount is wasted by people overfilling the kettle for example.

Computers get pointlessly left on constantly.

Even the 'vampire' consumption by things on standby adds up.

Do all this and we could save a power stationsworth or two.

Re: Electric Cars

We should do what we should have been doing for years now: building more nuclear power stations.

We've left it so long, though, that we are now having to ask the French to design them for us, which is deplorable considering we were the first to develop such things back in the '50s.

Re: Electric Cars

Without getting into the usual nuclear power arguments, remember there is not an infinite supply of nuclear fuel.

Re: Electric Cars

Who would want to buy an electric car? they must be mad. try getting from Cornwall to Scotland with one. Drive for 50 or so miles then stop for several hours for it to recharge. Your holiday would be spent where ever a charging point is

Re: Electric Cars

No, certainly not an infinite supply.

At present rates of use, our existing technology would last us over 200 years. On the other hand, the utilisation of developing technology such as extraction of uranium from sea water (the world doesn't stand still) could result in nuclear power lasting us for a surprising 60,000 years!
https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...deposits-last/

That would certainly see me out, anyway and at some time over that very extensive time period I should expect them to have concluded the development of controlled nuclear fusion for energy supply, and that would provide virtually unlimited power for ever. I expect that mankind would have killed itself off long before even the 60,000 year time limit above.