The future of classic cars...

[rover90]

Assuming we all survive this current CV crisis, I think the classic car movement is facing a far greater threat than E10 fuel, which has been discussed in a recent thread. If you have watched any TV since Christmas, you can't fail to have noticed the number of adverts for hybrid/electric cars. Personally, I don't have a problem with these - and the dreadful fires in Australia must surely help underline the case for their introduction. However, if the government succeeds in stopping the sale of internal combustion engines in the next 10/20 years (can't remember the exact target date) it will be a very altruistic fuel company that continues to provide petrol at an affordable price for the classic car driver. The movement is huge, and includes many large and small firms making very good business supporting old cars. Unfortunately, the majority of these cars get relatively little use. In normal times, during your day-to-day weekday driving, how many classic cars do you see? If I see more than three it's a good day!

Somehow there must be a way around this - I hope... I remember reading a BBC online article about a firm electrifying classics. It seems that if you crash a Tesla you will get very good money for the motor and associated gubbins because there are people out there sticking them into everything from VW Campervans to at least one Ferrari. Whilst it would take time to get used to the smooth power delivery of an electric motor, and certainly the smell, it does perhaps have possibilities? I think a lot of people will resist such an idea, but if (or when) it comes down to being able to drive my car or leaving it to rot in the garage, I know what I'll choose.
There is just one huge, massive, problem... we drive STANDARDs! I drive a 1931 Big Nine. Can you imagine a Tesla-powered Standard with Bendix brakes..?!! OK, I'm joking, but my point is serious and sooner or later we are going to need to consider an alternative method of propulsion if our hobby is to survive. Is a classic car more than just its engine? I do hope so. Meanwhile I'm heading off to my garden shed - somewhere I've got a rechargeable Flymo.. !

[standardthread]

I was around driving what became 'classic' cars at the start of the 80's when the scare story that petrol was BAD, diesel was best. I did have a passing whim of converting my then, three Heralds to diesel engines, I didn't.

I have also looked at hybrid/electric cars as another passing whim. First is cost, then, batteries on these, most you don't own, you rent. Rapid charge them they die VERY quickly (been around ni-cad batteries with my job for years so have experience of dead batteries have haven't been flattened before they are re-charged so they have a 'memory'). There is also range, followed by charging points every 20 feet on every street. Don't forget, there is also the 'rare earth' component of these batteries, not a lot of it, principle supplier, China!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a re-chargeable lawnmower, car battery version, did the job.

Hydrocarbons are there, and will be around for a long time, and COVID 19 has significantly reduced CO2 emissions!

I'm too long in the tooth to be around when petrol engines disappear, and, don't forget, change your car to battery power and it is no longer a 'Historic Vehicle'.

[rlubikey]

Rover90, petrol won't disappear when sales of new fossil-fuel vehicles is banned. Existing cars will remain on the road for some time after. In any case, I'm not convinced that battery vehicles is the way to go for the reasons StandardThread has mentioned. I think that hydrogen is a better bet - either fuel cell or infernal combustion - as it gives us cars which behave in a similar fashion to those we drive now. (Fill 'er up mate!) Also, clean hydrogen can be made from the excess energy we will have during the day from renewables. But, back to your point, petrol will still be around long after 2035 - long enough to see me out.

Cheers, Richard