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The end of the caravan?

3674 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Pudsey_Bear, 
S
Looking at another forum which I've posted about elsewhere I couldn't help but notice a posting that forecast apocalypse for tuggers.

Given my recent thread about electric/hybrid motorhomes it sort of touched on similar areas and attracted my attention.

The OP postulated that with all the electric cars that are being developed throughout the world (often with governmental assistance) there's a very high chance that they'll be taking a substantial part of the new car market within a few (2 to 3 he said) years. However apparently these cars will not be able to tow caravans. Hence his position that the caravan market will die within a few years.

I'm not so sure this would be the case. I don't think that 4WD cars are going to be electric in the near future and they seem to be the tuggers weapon of choice. Even if the saloon/hatch/estate go all-electric their owners will surely just switch to a Chelsea tractor if they're vanners?

The other possibility is they'll all become 'chuggers' like us, because if caravans die for lack of motive power I can't see delivery vans going electric. If pulling weight is a problem for the electric motors it's highly unlikely that we'll get an electric Ducato or Tranny. If the van chassis are still available then surely they'll still be converted to motorhomes?

SDA
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S
Really can't see electric cars taking over in that short space of time. Governments rely on oil companies far too much for tax revenue.
There have been many alternative power units for vehicles invented and all not made any headway against the oil burners. Urban myth reckons that the oil companies stifled further development, more likely it would hit government taxes to much.
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peedee
Agreed Space runner I cannot see it happening either. Abit like LPG power really. If that also dies then how are we gonna fill the gas tank?

peedee
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Spacerunner said:
Really can't see electric cars taking over in that short space of time. Governments rely on oil companies far too much for tax revenue.
There have been many alternative power units for vehicles invented and all not made any headway against the oil burners. Urban myth reckons that the oil companies stifled further development, more likely it would hit government taxes to much.
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Mmm that's a thought.

An average motorist pays about £700 to the Treasury in fuel bills a year plus £100 or more in VED.

Electrickery is only VATted at 10% I believe and household bills would rocket if they upped the price to replace the lost fuel income, which would not be acceptable.

VED is nowt for electric cars and if they increased it substantially to replace lost fuel tax then people wouldn't buy the electric cars anyway. The same would apply if they introduced a pernicious tax on the initial purchase of electric cars.

Is this another case where Gordon's mob haven't thought things through? Throwing our tax money at electric cars which will dramatically reduce the tax take, unless they tax them so they don't sell! Derr!

SDA
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R
Steamdrivenandy said:
Looking at another forum which I've posted about elsewhere I couldn't help but notice a posting that forecast apocalypse for tuggers.
SDA
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Yes, I saw the post too. I think the poster was being deliberately provocative and I don't buy the scenario for a moment! If the poster is being serious then I certainly wouldn't rate his of her investment advice (the role of the forum concerned).

Roger
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teemyob
Tuggers and Chuggers

Thats will be the MH Industry pretty much billhooxed then.

Trev.
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Alfa_Scud
Why won't they be able to tow caravans though?

Now don't get me wrong I'd love to see less of 'em on the road, more space for us, but I was under the impression that electric motors produce more & a much flatter torque curve than a standard engine. This being the case, I'd have though they'd be ideal for tugging, presuming they can take the load in the first place obviously.

Takes a seat & waits to be shot down in flames
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W
I understand that a small diesel engine is far more efficient than electric power and with a smaller carbon footprint.

I really cannot understand the logic in encouraging everyone to use electric cars when we are told to stop using 100w light bulbs and not to leave the TV on standby :?

Perhaps I have missed something here but I cannot see that an electric car will be very popular on a cold January morning with no heater 8O
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Pudsey_Bear
TNT the parcel delivery outfit use Electric 7.5 tonne trucks for local work, trying to be seen to be green, but I wonder just how much leccy those buggers suck up through the night.

Kev.
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S
What Alfascud said.

Electric cars have excellent torque and should be stable towing platforms due to the weight of their batteries and lower centre of gravity. The problem has always been effective range, although that is now up to about 200 miles on one charge.

You ought to see the film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" about the EV1 car GM made, which was actually rather good. The Tesla sports car tested recently by Top Gear was impressive too, though it still needs some work to make it more reliable and cheaper.

There must be plenty of scope for saving weight on Motorhomes so that we can have viable electric powered ones. Ditch the ovens, for starters. There are already some electric vans available, not just milkfloats.

SD
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Wizzo
I agree that the electric vehicle should be ideal to tow a caravan because of its inherant weight and stability but the problem probably lies in its lack of range and the length of time taken to 'refuel'. Imagine wanting to go to the South of France for your hols, if you had to stop 5 nights to 'refuel' then you'd have to set off back as soon as you get there!

Towing a caravan would also reduce the effective range of the car in just the same way as it increases a petrol/diesel's fuel consumption.

JohnW
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O
The only advantages an electric car has over a very efficient diesel is that over 90% of the pollutions are produced at the power station. This means less pollution in towns and easier removal of the pollutants before they reach the atmosphere.
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Pudsey_Bear
oldun said:
The only advantages an electric car has over a very efficient diesel is that over 90% of the pollutions are produced at the power station. This means less pollution in towns and easier removal of the pollutants before they reach the atmosphere.
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Could I be so bold (it's early yet) as to ask where the other 10% of the pollutants are created?

Kev.
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Kev_n_Liz said:
oldun said:
The only advantages an electric car has over a very efficient diesel is that over 90% of the pollutions are produced at the power station. This means less pollution in towns and easier removal of the pollutants before they reach the atmosphere.
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Could I be so bold (it's early yet) as to ask where the other 10% of the pollutants are created?

Kev.
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And (with tongue in cheek) it's OK to pollute the countryside and all the people who live near a power station. As long as towns aren't polluted everything will be OK.

I know that's not exactly what was meant but there's an element of that in it. As long as we can't see it in towns, then let the countryside go hang. Urban ostrich thinking? :wink:

SDA
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Pudsey_Bear
I have to agree, it's just another NIMBY approach to driving.

Where do these morons think the power is coming from, Oh we only use off peak energy, ah well, that's OK then, coz if you only use it at night it doesn't cause any pollution, Bull Manure, if it's using energy in whatever form it's going to cause pollution.

Unless it from a green source such as a wind farm, but they use energy in the construction, they never seem to be doing owt anyway.

OK, we'll all go on to Hydrogen vehicles, made with fully recyclable parts etc, and the only product is water, err how do we make Hydrogen??

Kev.
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