European Union to Ban Cars In Cities By 2050

[Der Teutoniker]

I'd be all behind phasing out petrol powered cars...once there's a replacement fueled car that's just as efficient and priced that is.

And if a program can be set up that accomplishes this task by 2050, I'd be all behind that too.

However, with neither of those things planned for and only a seemingly petulant "Derp, use moar rail!", a blanket ban on cars seems overly stupid, even for the EU.

I can dig this.

[Secunderabad]

I'd be all behind phasing out petrol powered cars...once there's a replacement fueled car that's just as efficient and priced that is.

And if a program can be set up that accomplishes this task by 2050, I'd be all behind that too.

However, with neither of those things planned for and only a seemingly petulant "Derp, use moar rail!", a blanket ban on cars seems overly stupid, even for the EU.

Forcing the issue with a ban, and giving enough time (39 years) would mean that there will be an alternative by then. There will have to be. Someone will do it because there will be demand for it.

[Great Nepal]

And what exactly is this "new technology" you are talking about? Cos electric certainly doesn't do the job.

Oh very funny.

And rather wrong.

Electric cars are developing with great rapidity, and the development of hybrids means that full petrol cars are being phased out already.

Electric is the new technology.

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

[Bavin]

Hmm.. I think this threads prediction that suitable or even wanted alternatives will be found by 2050 is doubtful. If it happens fine great, just ya know probably not gonna happen.

In forty years we went from flight to atomic bombs, and to the moon twenty years after that, and you think we can't finish tweaking electric vehicles by that time? Your lack of faith disturbs me, as does the implication that electric cars somehow do not exist.

[Great Nepal]

Hmm.. I think this threads prediction that suitable or even wanted alternatives will be found by 2050 is doubtful. If it happens fine great, just ya know probably not gonna happen.

In forty years we went from flight to atomic bombs, and to the moon twenty years after that, and you think we can't finish tweaking electric vehicles by that time? Your lack of faith disturbs me, as does the implication that electric cars somehow do not exist.

Sure we can do it, we just need a cold war or a world war 3.

[Bavin]

Oh very funny.

And rather wrong.

Electric cars are developing with great rapidity, and the development of hybrids means that full petrol cars are being phased out already.

Electric is the new technology.

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

Tesla Roadster. Does this satisfy your rather shallow demands?

Also I'm pretty sure that the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are cheaper than BMWs when you factor in gas prices over the car's lifetime.

[South Norwega]

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

It does the bloody job. The only remaining problems are range.

So if you're on a short commute in a city environment, electric cars are better.

[Maurepas]

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

Tesla Roadster. Does this satisfy your rather shallow demands?

Also I'm pretty sure that the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are cheaper than BMWs when you factor in gas prices over the car's lifetime.

A Tesla Roadster costs $109,000. My '09 Chevy Aveo cost me $10,000.

In order for this to be a legitimate solution, and not a stupid gimmick for the companies in question to charge a premium price on, the tag for these cars needs to be lowered about $90,000.

[Lacadaemon]

Also I'm pretty sure that the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are cheaper than BMWs when you factor in gas prices over the car's lifetime.

Yes, but then you have to sleep alone or get prostitutes. So the externalities of the whole nissan leaf situation soon add up.

At any rate electric cars are crap, because batteries are heavy and rubbish. (And since it's science not magic are likely to remain so). The proper way to go would be hydrogen fuel cells with the hydrogen being produced using nuclear energy.

[Lacadaemon]

So if you're on a short commute in a city environment, electric cars are better.

Do you own an electric car?

[South Norwega]

So if you're on a short commute in a city environment, electric cars are better.

Do you own an electric car?

I don't own any car, for the reason that one is unnecessary.

[Senestrum]

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

Tesla Roadster. Does this satisfy your rather shallow demands?

Also I'm pretty sure that the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are cheaper than BMWs when you factor in gas prices over the car's lifetime.

Does it give that awe-inspiring throaty roar of a '67 'Vette with the pedal on the floor? Does it grant me the supreme level of control that conventional drivetrains are capable of? And what if I just plain like gas cars? Who are you to say I can't drive them places?

[Lacadaemon]

Do you own an electric car?

I don't own any car, for the reason that one is unnecessary.

You do realize that some people actually need cars because of policies that were enacted 40 years ago, and that electric cars, whatever distance you are going are shit? (Unless you can afford tesla).

Most wage earners can't afford to have families and live in city centers where their jobs are - or they work in the suburbs. And even one's that take commuter rail very often have to drive (or be driven) to the station first.

I don't see that it is at all reasonable to hand down these edicts, at least not with out some sort of democratic process being involved at any rate.

[Trotskylvania]

Tesla Roadster. Does this satisfy your rather shallow demands?

Also I'm pretty sure that the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are cheaper than BMWs when you factor in gas prices over the car's lifetime.

Does it give that awe-inspiring throaty roar of a '67 'Vette with the pedal on the floor? Does it grant me the supreme level of control that conventional drivetrains are capable of? And what if I just plain like gas cars? Who are you to say I can't drive them places?

Electric cars actually accelerate faster than gasoline powered cars. More torque, and no gear shifting.

[Great Nepal]

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

Tesla Roadster.

Tesla Roadster costs about £86,950 compared to BMW Z4 sDrive35is for £37,257. A massive fail on price thing.
Tesla Roadster has top speed of 125 mph compared to BMW 155 mph. A fail on speed thing.
Styling is similar: a draw on that.
Tesla Roadster goes from 0 to 97 km/h in 5.7 seconds compared to BMW 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. A fail on acceleration thing.
next please.

[Great Nepal]

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

It does the bloody job. The only remaining problems are range.

So if you're on a short commute in a city environment, electric cars are better.

Actually, it doesn't do the job when it is slower, more expensive and has lower acceleration.
Otherwise I can say a old style horse drawn carriage does the job.

[South Norwega]

Tesla Roadster costs about £86,950 compared to BMW Z4 sDrive35is for £37,257. A massive fail on price thing.
Tesla Roadster has top speed of 125 mph compared to BMW 155 mph. A fail on speed thing.

When will you need to go even remotely that fast ever?

[Great Nepal]

Tesla Roadster costs about £86,950 compared to BMW Z4 sDrive35is for £37,257. A massive fail on price thing.
Tesla Roadster has top speed of 125 mph compared to BMW 155 mph. A fail on speed thing.

When will you need to go even remotely that fast ever?

Well, usually at night when you are with your friends in area with no speed cameras?

[Whiskey Hill]

I don't own any car, for the reason that one is unnecessary.

You do realize that some people actually need cars because of policies that were enacted 40 years ago, and that electric cars, whatever distance you are going are shit? (Unless you can afford tesla).

Most wage earners can't afford to have families and live in city centers where their jobs are - or they work in the suburbs. And even one's that take commuter rail very often have to drive (or be driven) to the station first.

I don't see that it is at all reasonable to hand down these edicts, at least not with out some sort of democratic process being involved at any rate.

You do realize that we're talking about a policy that will be enacted 40 years from now, so we could redesign our society to fit our needs?

[Maurepas]

You do realize that some people actually need cars because of policies that were enacted 40 years ago, and that electric cars, whatever distance you are going are shit? (Unless you can afford tesla).

Most wage earners can't afford to have families and live in city centers where their jobs are - or they work in the suburbs. And even one's that take commuter rail very often have to drive (or be driven) to the station first.

I don't see that it is at all reasonable to hand down these edicts, at least not with out some sort of democratic process being involved at any rate.

You do realize that we're talking about a policy that will be enacted 40 years from now, so we could redesign our society to fit our needs?

What I don't understand is why they would attempt to ban the cars before redesigning the system to fit that goal.

Why not, instead of banning cars by 2050, create a program to make them obsolete, and implement the new system by 2050?

[Senestrum]

Does it give that awe-inspiring throaty roar of a '67 'Vette with the pedal on the floor? Does it grant me the supreme level of control that conventional drivetrains are capable of? And what if I just plain like gas cars? Who are you to say I can't drive them places?

Electric cars actually accelerate faster than gasoline powered cars. More torque, and no gear shifting.

I am aware of that. I did not ask if an electric car could beat a gas-powered car in a drag race. I asked if they could give me the level of control that a decent conventional drivetrain gives.

[The Soviet Technocracy]

Misleading title is misleading...

No petrol or diesel cars in city centres by 2050. You've got 40 years to shape up and implement something you should implement anyway. Hardly tyrannical.

40 years to invent something that is as capable as something with thrice that long to develop.

GG, EU.

[South Norwega]

When will you need to go even remotely that fast ever?

Well, usually at night when you are with your friends in area with no speed cameras?

You don't need to go that fast. Ever. It's dangerous, illegal and stupid. Especially with friends.

[Genivaria]

Then please talk to me again when electric cars can match atleast BMW's standards in terms of styling, speed, acceleration, initial cost etc.
Untill then, electric certainly doesn't do the job

Tesla Roadster. Does this satisfy your rather shallow demands?

Also I'm pretty sure that the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf are cheaper than BMWs when you factor in gas prices over the car's lifetime.

How much do you want for it?

[Lacadaemon]

You do realize that we're talking about a policy that will be enacted 40 years from now, so we could redesign our society to fit our needs?

The EU has just spent the last 15 years encouraging exurbs to be built, and now they come up with this. I suspect that they aren't remotely rational, so I am doubtful any such thing will happen.

Further, why fucking go to the huge expense of redesigning the whole of society, just because a few hacky-sack players have a hard on for public transport? It would make entirely more sense to develop existing provable technologies around existing infrastructure.

Public transport's not that good really. The whole point of being a rich society is that people don't have to put up with that sort of hassle.