No space to recharge

SIR – Malcolm Greenhill (Letters, July 13), making the case for electric cars, is right that horse-and-cart owners thought that petrol cars would never catch on.

But these same owners soon discovered an advantage to the car: it takes only minutes to refuel, whereas a horse takes all night. In that sense, the electric car is a retrograde step. A petrol station can serve a stream of customers, each taking a just few minutes to fill up, pay and leave. At best, recharging will take 45 minutes.

With customers staying far longer on the premises, forecourts will have to be many times larger, or there will have to be many more of them.

Cynthia Harrod-eagles Northwood, Middlesex

SIR – Malcolm Greenhill claims that he can charge his electric car overnight for £8. How much does he expect it to cost once petrol-driven cars have been taken off the road, and we are all dependent on electric vehicles?

Mike Finnis Hinchley Wood, Surrey