Why are people buying electric cars?

[gman]

Yes, the repairs are so poor that they sometimes don't even last a day.

On the run up to the election I noticed lots of long-term potholes in Glasgow suddenly having quick fixes, literally a pour and stomp. Obviously they won't last long, but I do wonder how many people were so easily duped and gave their vote just for an insulting repair.

 

[ancient_mariner]

2 ton SUV's do far more damage to the roads than a 1 ton car, it really is that simple. Both our cars weigh around 1.4 tons.

1 million cars sold every year too big to park; as car owners back higher SUV charges to fix potholes

Around 4.6 million cars have been sold in the UK that are bigger than a typical urban car parking space since 2021 - more than 1.2 million a year, with numbers growing, according to researchers at Clean Cities.

cleancitiescampaign.org

And EVs tend to be much heavier than IC vehicles:

Skoda Karoq (2026) 1365-1405kg
Skoda Elroq 55 (2026) 1874-2024kg

DIN kerb weight quoted in both cases. https://carstan.info/weight/skoda/karoq https://www.auto-data.net/en/skoda-elroq-50-55-kwh-170hp-electric-52846

 

[gman]

2 ton SUV's do far more damage to the roads than a 1 ton car, it really is that simple. Both our cars weigh around 1.4 tons.

1 million cars sold every year too big to park; as car owners back higher SUV charges to fix potholes

Around 4.6 million cars have been sold in the UK that are bigger than a typical urban car parking space since 2021 - more than 1.2 million a year, with numbers growing, according to researchers at Clean Cities.

cleancitiescampaign.org

Then there's HGV's to consider. An 18 tonne HGV can cost less in vehicle tax than many cars. That's crazy!

 

[cambsno]

France and Germany both have mountain ranges where temperatures fluctuate annually by up to 50C or more. Are there any similar mountains in south-east England?

I am talking about where I was - Koln, basically identical temps and conditions to here. I am not talking extremes like the alps but cities like Berlin, Paris, Koln, Calais etc where the weather is basically the same

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Then there's HGV's to consider. An 18 tonne HGV can cost less in vehicle tax than many cars. That's crazy!

HGV taxation seems to be somewhat esoteric...

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69b04c8f24c6431b84f0e40f/v149x1-rates-of-vehicle-tax-april-2026.pdf

 

[Clive K]

I am talking about where I was - Koln, basically identical temps and conditions to here. I am not talking extremes like the alps but cities like Berlin, Paris, Koln, Calais etc where the weather is basically the same

You said France and Germany, not one Koln & Paris.

 

[cambsno]

You said France and Germany, not one Koln & Paris.

Ok Mr Pedantic. The majority of France and Germany then have a similar climate to us

 

[Clive K]

Ok Mr Pedantic. The majority of France and Germany then have a similar climate to us

No they don't. Germany doesn't have the Gulf Stream to warm their winters. Places like Dortmund, Berlin and Jena are similar to Chicago in that there is only about six weeks of the year when they don't need coats. The south of France can be 40C for weeks on end. Ex-pats in France don't qualify for the winter fuel allowance.

You named countries rather than specific locations to try and add credibility to your opinion.

 

[cambsno]

No they don't. Germany doesn't have the Gulf Stream to warm their winters. Places like Dortmund, Berlin and Jena are similar to Chicago in that there is only about six weeks of the year when they don't need coats. The south of France can be 40C for weeks on end. Ex-pats in France don't qualify for the winter fuel allowance.

You named countries rather than specific locations to try and add credibility to your opinion.

I was talking the majority of the countries. The difference between the Highlands and Kent is quite varied but am talking overall and excluding the fringes like Highlands/Alps etc... As someone who has been to Koln (not far from Dortmund) 11 times at various parts of the year I can tell you the weather is near identical to where I live in Cambs. If I set off in shorts and T short here I am ok in the same gear there. There is no material difference in the weather. Look at a weather app for Cambridge and Koln for next 2 weeks, virtually identical.

https://www.worlddata.info/climate-comparison.php?r1=de-north-rhine-westphalia&r2=gb-england I selected England v North Rhine - yes, there is a small difference in averages

Annually 6.3 low to 14.7 for Germany - 7.3 low to 14.4 for England. Pretty damn identical - 130 days rain Ger, 123 England. Look at the stats. There is a slightly wider variation for Germany to here but its minimal. France is slightly warmer but the pattern is the same. If you focus on more northern areas like Normandy then you will see its identical.

And as for needing coats aside from 6 weeks of the year in Berlin, I would see a Dr if i were you about your circulation - May-Sept is longer than 6 weeks and average temps of 20 for that entire time!

So if the same weather is in Koln and Normandy, to Cambridgeshire, and Cambs has worse potholes, it aint the weather affecting it.

 

[Delphin]

Just because I was interested there is an online car tax calculator for Germany, the price there is slightly cheaper for my car. The price of diesel in basically the same as here.
German income tax is higher though.

German Car Tax Calculator 2026 – Calculate Road Tax Online

Calculate German car, motorcycle, camper & commercial tax online – fast, free, including CO₂ and engine size. No registration required!

www.kfzsteuer-online.de

Find Gas Stations - Cheap Fuel Prices Nearby

Find the cheapest gas stations near you. Compare live petrol, diesel and E10 prices. Over 18,000 gas stations in Germany.

tankalert.de

Salary Calculator Germany 2026 - Salary After Tax

Use our Germany Salary Calculator to find out your net pay and how much tax you owe based on your gross income.

salaryaftertax.com

 

[Delphin]

The major problem with our road (and many other issues in the UK) is short-termism . There is a section of A road locally that has at least 50 patches in 200 feet, they patch the patch, it's like driving a ploughed field (no need for a speed limit).
What is needed is the road closed and a full rebuild, not just a resurface but go right down to the substructure, but as that would disrupt a major junction they always just try to do a short term fix.

 

[Steep]

The major problem with our road (and many other issues in the UK) is short-termism . There is a section of A road locally that has at least 50 patches in 200 feet, they patch the patch, it's like driving a ploughed field (no need for a speed limit).
What is needed is the road closed and a full rebuild, not just a resurface but go right down to the substructure, but as that would disrupt a major junction they always just try to do a short term fix.

Money, it's down to money (or lack of). If they had the money they would close the junction and fix it, a couple of weeks disruption is nothing compared to years of work on work off.

 

[gman]

If the Japanese can repair a massive sink hole and pass safety checks in 7 days, then there is really no excuse for the ridiculous length of time it takes us to do roadworks here. My guess is that it's not just about money, but it's also laziness, incompetence and corruption.

Blink and you'll miss it: Japanese sinkhole repaired at speed – video

A 30-metre sinkhole on a busy street in the Japanese city of Fukuoka has been repaired astonishingly quickly

www.theguardian.com

 

[Mr Bump]

Got to be not only best looking small car relaunch
but best looking small EV out ever.

 

[gman]

French...car...electrics... I think I'll pass lol It does look good though.

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Got to be not only best looking small car relaunch
but best looking small EV out ever.

View attachment 482855

French...car...electrics... I think I'll pass lol It does look good though.

Have test driven one, its a lot of fun, nice to drive with a lot of 1970's ttouches, throwbacks to teh original R5

Didn't buy it, as boot is too small (for us) and we preferred the Volvo EX30

 

[cambsno]

The major problem with our road (and many other issues in the UK) is short-termism . There is a section of A road locally that has at least 50 patches in 200 feet, they patch the patch, it's like driving a ploughed field (no need for a speed limit).
What is needed is the road closed and a full rebuild, not just a resurface but go right down to the substructure, but as that would disrupt a major junction they always just try to do a short term fix.

Issue with that is it would sit closed for two weeks while some blokes look at it. Then take 6 weeks working 2 hours a day to resurface it

 

[Mr Bump]

Have test driven one, its a lot of fun, nice to drive with a lot of 1970's ttouches, throwbacks to teh original R5

Didn't buy it, as boot is too small (for us) and we preferred the Volvo EX30

i think its a young persons car and has a proper touch of retro.

 

[Pound Coin]

Issue with that is it would sit closed for two weeks while some blokes look at it. Then take 6 weeks working 2 hours a day to resurface it

Oh come on. This tired anti-everything bulls is tedious.

Our high street was resurfaced over three days. Should have taken 4. Work done at night so that the motorists weren't inconvenienced. Residents were kept awake, but that was acceptable friendly fire.

Why not ask someone from Highways why there appears to be down time. There are reasons. Many of which relate to the expectation that workers aren't driven into, or drivers aren't able to drive into massive holes, or into each other whilst passing massive holes. Or clog up smaller roads as they find ways round. etc.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

So many things have been loaded onto the local council system that key functions appear to be starved of funds.

Perhaps stopping all except statutory services, then selling off all property not required for statutory purposes, would enable local councils to do the work that central government has instructed them to do?

 

[Delphin]

Yes, we were given notice that our road would be resurfaced within the next 4 weeks.

They came on the first day and spread the first layer of tar and the chipping, spent the next 4 days driving multiple road sweeper up and done to remove the loose stuff and another tar layer the next day.

No delays, kept going all day till it was finished. The only thing that hasn't happened yet is the road markings.

 

[Delphin]

So many things have been loaded onto the local council system that key functions appear to be starved of funds.

Definitely true, more stuff forced on to councils by central government while funding to them has been cut.

During the 2010s, councils’ overall core funding per person fell by 26% in real terms, on average, with higher council tax revenues only partially offsetting a 46% fall in funding from central government. But these cuts affected areas differently: in the most deprived tenth of councils, funding per person fell by 35%, compared with 15% in the least deprived areas. Councils in the North and London were also relatively harder hit. Councils responded by prioritising statutory services: while spending per person on children’s social care rose by 11% in real terms, per-person spending on culture and leisure, housing, planning and development, and transport fell by over 40%.

 

[Pound Coin]

So many things have been loaded onto the local council system that key functions appear to be starved of funds.

Perhaps stopping all except statutory services, then selling off all property not required for statutory purposes, would enable local councils to do the work that central government has instructed them to do?

Remember that national government can cut local services funding and use that reduction to cut national tax.

To the simple, tax cuts look good, so they vote for them. Until their tyres are burst, then it is the councils' fault.

 

[cambsno]

Oh come on. This tired anti-everything bulls is tedious.

Our high street was resurfaced over three days. Should have taken 4. Work done at night so that the motorists weren't inconvenienced. Residents were kept awake, but that was acceptable friendly fire.

Why not ask someone from Highways why there appears to be down time. There are reasons. Many of which relate to the expectation that workers aren't driven into, or drivers aren't able to drive into massive holes, or into each other whilst passing massive holes. Or clog up smaller roads as they find ways round. etc.

Road in my next village - main road through it, been passed numerous times and road is closed yet not seen anyone working on it (could have allowed one way traffic). Or https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/25410290.a1307-work-huntingdon-godmanchester-ongoing/ - yes, 4 years. Lots more local examples where things seem to be just left.

 

[gman]

Definitely true, more stuff forced on to councils by central government while funding to them has been cut.

During the 2010s, councils’ overall core funding per person fell by 26% in real terms, on average, with higher council tax revenues only partially offsetting a 46% fall in funding from central government. But these cuts affected areas differently: in the most deprived tenth of councils, funding per person fell by 35%, compared with 15% in the least deprived areas. Councils in the North and London were also relatively harder hit. Councils responded by prioritising statutory services: while spending per person on children’s social care rose by 11% in real terms, per-person spending on culture and leisure, housing, planning and development, and transport fell by over 40%.

Seeing as Delphin seems to be allergic to posting links, here it is for anyone who is interested: link

 

[gman]

Yes, we were given notice that our road would be resurfaced within the next 4 weeks.

They came on the first day and spread the first layer of tar and the chipping, spent the next 4 days driving multiple road sweeper up and done to remove the loose stuff and another tar layer the next day.

No delays, kept going all day till it was finished. The only thing that hasn't happened yet is the road markings.

Must be sitting rather high now.

 

[Pound Coin]

Road in my next village - main road through it, been passed numerous times and road is closed yet not seen anyone working on it (could have allowed one way traffic). Or https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/25410290.a1307-work-huntingdon-godmanchester-ongoing/ - yes, 4 years. Lots more local examples where things seem to be just left.

That report doesn’t say it is closed?

 

[ancient_mariner]

Must be sitting rather high now.

This is becoming a problem in Oxfordshire, where some of the manhole covers are a couple of inches below the surface and form an intentional pot hole until they get raised.

 

[Pound Coin]

View attachment 482930

Seeing as Delphin seems to be allergic to posting links, here it is for anyone who is interested: link

That report shows that Transport funding has dropped 45% in real terms and explains why.

 

[cambsno]

That report doesn’t say it is closed?

No, but for at least a year I drove up it with a lane closed and cones, with no action!

 

[Pound Coin]

No, but for at least a year I drove up it with a lane closed and cones, with no action!

Obviously not a priority in an environment where spending on roads is down 46%. There’s a brand new dual carriageway not far away to take all the through traffic. That will have cost a pretty penny.

Edit £1.5bn for 12 miles.

 

[gman]

This is becoming a problem in Oxfordshire, where some of the manhole covers are a couple of inches below the surface and form an intentional pot hole until they get raised.

Are they not planing off the old surface first?

 

[Pound Coin]

Are they not planing off the old surface first?

Sounded like surface dressing, I don't think they plane off for that? As I understand it, it is a cheap way of prolonging the life of the carriageway by a few years.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Are they not planing off the old surface first?

None of the roads resurfaced round here have been planed. I walked up the road outside my house yesterday, and could see 5 or 6 layers of tarmac and stones in different colours in the holes where the surface is ablated. FWIW the road bed is different, a pale creamy yellow material.

 

[gman]

None of the roads resurfaced round here have been planed. I walked up the road outside my house yesterday, and could see 5 or 6 layers of tarmac and stones in different colours in the holes where the surface is ablated.

So a sticking plaster on top of a sticking plaster on top of a sticking plaster etc?