Australian Atheists Forum

We are considering switching from an electric car to petrol or diesel. I have some questions to see if it really suits me and my family and hope someone knowledgeable can help?

1. I have heard that a petrol car cannot be refueled at home but I have to go to a special place for this? How often do I have to fill up, is it several times a year? Will there be options for refueling at home? We are used to the car being filled up every morning, as sort of by itself.

2. Are there many parts that need to be replaced? The seller said something about oil and filter change, gearbox, timing belt and other service. Do you see how many percent degradation you have on the wearing parts or will they break suddenly?

3. Do I often have to brake with the brake pedal, or can I accelerate and brake with the same pedal as in my current car? Do I get gas back into the tank when I brake or go downhill?

4. Do all petrol and diesel cars have much slower acceleration? I test drove one yesterday and it felt like it took a very long time from when I stepped on the gas pedal until it reacted. Maybe there was something wrong with that particular car?

5. We now pay $0.02/mile but with the petrol it will be about $0.13, even if the new car is cheaper to buy it will very soon cost more. We drive 15,000 miles per year. We hope that more people will use petrol so that the prices will go down... is there such a trend?

6. I have understood that petrol and diesel consist largely of oil. Is it true that the extraction of oil is associated with global environmental problems and widespread wars with absolutely terrible consequences for people around the world, including several world wars and trouble in the last 100 years in which tens of millions of people have died? Is there any solution to that in sight, we don't want to contribute to such crap, do we?

7. My son also heard that petrol cars emit fumes and toxic gases. I’ve read about air pollution and its impact on respiratory health. Are we contributing to that by switching to a petrol or diesel car?
Will these pose risks to our health and the environment?

... have more questions but these are the ones I came up with now. Thanks for all the help!

“The Vehicle Emissions Star Rating website offers information on emissions and efficiency in a simple format so consumers can choose a new or used car which reduces their emissions,” she said.

Unsurprisingly, battery-operated electric vehicles were the most energy-efficient.

“Battery EVs are the cleanest light vehicles, receiving a six-star rating because they do not produce any tailpipe emissions,” she said.

“The NSW government is supporting their uptake by growing the network of EV chargers across the state.”

joele wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:55 am Interesting reporting channel 9.. Doesn't look much like it exploded to me, it doesn't even have the charge door open with cable half hanging out as you would expect if it drove off while charging...

(SNIP)

Irrev-Black wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 11:05 am

joele wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:55 am Interesting reporting channel 9.. Doesn't look much like it exploded to me, it doesn't even have the charge door open with cable half hanging out as you would expect if it drove off while charging...

(SNIP)

No other media outlet (and I have seen this reported in three different networks) has the Splodey Battery Hypothesis.

Willy of Ockham says boyo + "what does this button do?" = more likely.