So Germany is committed to ditch the internal combustion engine by 2030...

[Georgio]

...great for the planet from a Co2 point of view, but is it?

So everyone jumps into their convertible electric cars Z XII ( ) that need overnight charging, where does the additional power come from, certainly in the UK we're already close to brown-out when everyone switches a kettle on at the same time?
Solar energy, too dependent on weather and there still isn't a viable storage option for local power.
So we're now at 2016 and this is supposed to be happening in 14 years time?
Personally, unless there's a fuel cell option around the corner that is cheap I don't see this happening.

Aside from that, with the growth of car ownership exploding in China to an estimated 200+ million cars by 2020, will anything we do in Europe make the slightest difference anyways?

 

[Marius]

Not sure why z4 forums should be worried about, most members will be dead by then

 

[ben g]

This move to electric power has been happening for the last 15 or so years :lol: I can't see it happening by 2030 tbh.

The batteries still have a way to go, then theres the issue with powering it, as you said.

I work on a production line manufacturing diesel engines and ever since I started in 2007, there has been rumours of electric engine production. Almost 10 years later and still no sign of it happening any time soon.

 

[Marlon]

Its hard to beat the internal combustion engine & fossil fuel combo

 

[cj10jeeper]

While the IC engine is old tech and living on borrowed time, the big manufacturers are geared up to produce it as is an oil production and petrol industry to keep it in use.
The move will come and probably not to electric as it's just a good intervening technology, although if Tesla start selling volume market cars then the rest will follow really quick
The answer probably will be a fuel cell and imho when it comes the change will be fairly quick, but end of the IC in 2030 sounds very optimistic.

 

[Rorybeanbutler]

This looks a good option I saw on top gear FB. Basically uses salt water and is cheaper to make than petrol. A big car maker has got involved too.

http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/quantino/first-drive

 

[buzyg]

Not sure why z4 forums should be worried about, most members will be dead by then

Oy!! :slappy: I'll be happy if the government let me retired by then. I'll only be 70. :wink:

 

[freemadw]

2030 is only 13 years away. There's an awful lot of infrastructure that will need to be put in place to support electric vehicles or alternative fuels like hydrogen. While electric cars and small vans are becoming more common place, there isn't really any alternative for HGVs. You don't really want to replace 5 tons of payload with batteries.
Germany especially has abandoned nuclear and are building coal fired power stations, I suspect that replacing fossil fuels with the use of electric vehicles would result in more CO2 emissions rather than less.
I do think that things will change quickly and self-driving cars aren't too far away. Once they start becoming widespread, I think a lot of people won't own their own car, they'll pay a subscription and just pay when they want to use the vehicle, rather like the car clubs operate in some cities. The majority of those vehicles could be electric and can go and recharge themselves when not in use.
Needless to say we will never see anyone really important in a self driving car. People like the Prime Minister, the Royal Family, President of the US etc. will always have a highly trained driver at the wheel of their vehicles.
Cheers, Dave

 

[Baza]

Not sure why z4 forums should be worried about, most members will be dead by then

It could be touch and go for me ,I wonder if there will be fuel cells for Zimmer frames.