What do you think of this Government incentive of £5,000 cash for electric car...

[LEYTON IS FIVE NOT OUT]

...buyers in 2011? In my view it's great for anyone who only has to drive round the block, but what about motorists such as myself who have to travel 300 miles every 8 weeks from Manchester to Newcastle upon Tyne and back in the same day, to attend hospital appointments with my Grandson. I worked out that with all the stopping for charging that would be required, it would probably take me about 24 hours to travel the 300 miles, instead of the 3 hours it currently takes me in my diesel car, so in my view totally unrealistic. What are your thoughts about future low or carbon free motoring, what is the way forward?

 

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The majority of car journeys and the most polluting ones are the short stop start commutes to work and the shops. In many repsects the proposal is well targetted.

Electric cars are still a developing technology. With increased demand manufacturers would have an incentive, not to mention finances to research and develop better performing cars. In just the same way it has happened with internal combustion engined cars.

The chances of you being able to drive from Manchester to Newcastle when the internal combustion engined car was still in it's infancy, over a century ago, would have been slim. Both due to mechanical unreliabilty and the distinct lack of 24 hour petrol stations.

I'm driving from Manchester to Cornwall for a wedding. An electric car would indeed be currently very impractical but for my 20 mile round trip commute. Not all that bad. If it doesn't suit your usage then don't get one. You don't buy wellington boots if you never walk in mud and water.