Granted, but it's not about now is it? What's heartening, as I said, is the rate of progress. In 10, maybe even just 5 years, it will seem less ridiculous and more o a direct alternative to petrol power.rtfm wrote: ↑Sun Sep 02, 2018 3:33 pmI agree that progress made is good, but the range is still poo so I'd rather wait until it has a decent range and can be charged quickly (in 10 mins or less) nationwide. Otherwise it's just an expensive toy that can't be taken touring.
For example, my recent Wales long weekend camping would have taken 15 full (!!!) charges. Ridiculously impractical and that's assuming you can actually find somewhere to charge it every 40 miles....
To be honest, though I'm looking forward to being able to afford and run an electric two wheeler, the infratructure to have enough charging points around the country is still a bit of a pipe dream. That is unless a big industrial player comes in and funds it (and don't bet against that happening... my money is on Honda ...
)The internal combustion engine (ICE) as a means of propulsion is nearing its end game. However, I predict that we'll see the ICE continue to 2040 and beyond in true hybrid designs.
Freed from the need to be tractable and provide a driving experience, the ICE can be made very efficient, quiet and clean, run on biofuels and used purely to generate power to charge batteries. That's the principle behind developing hydrogen fuel cels to. Not to provide propulsion, but to spin an alternator or more likely a DC generator.
When that happens you'll be able to repeat your Welsh camping trip powered by an electric motor, without having to recharge batteries anywhere at all.
Wil pure electric bikes and scooters have a future? Of course they will. However, my own view is that shorter journeys of up to 50 miles, suited more to purely electric power, will best be served by hot-swapping. Again, i only takes one o the major players to fund it and it will happen.
