NO EV FOR ME
Firstly, I wish to boast, albeit humbly, that I have been a subscriber to CAR since the early 1970s. Today, I am the proud owner of a complete and up-todate set of CAR from the very first issue, safely stored in a bookcase located in my study.
I cannot disclaim it is inevitable for the sake of our planet to phase out internal combustion engines (ICE) and replace them with electric-driven motors. Manufacturers have spent a lot of money investing in technology and have done a fantastic job in developing unique electric platforms. As of now, electric vehicles are in their infancy; improvements will be seen over time. Having said all that, I mourn the demise of the ICE. Gone will be the beautiful brute roar of a V8 and the silky sound of an inlinesix. I was fortunate to witness first-hand the phenomenal engineering development of the ICE over many decades and it is sad to know that engineers could possibly further develop the ICE.
Compare a 1,4-litre fourcylinder petrol engine from 1970 to that of a similar modern vehicle. It would be like comparing an ox wagon with an Aston Martin (or a Morris Marina to a Toyota Etios – editor).
I cannot imagine driving an electric car. In my view, it is not a car in the true sense of the word. Yes, it is something to commute with but a real car, no. I will never buy one. According to a Japanese saying, I belong to a generation called “the young old”. In human terms, my time with cars will run out over the next decade or two. Should the time come to replace my car, I will buy a second-hand ICE vehicle to serve me until my last days.
JOHAN WEPENER
Durbanville
[Johan, the onward march of electric mobility and where that leaves dyed-in-the-wool petrolheads like us is something we broach frequently at the magazine. There’s an entirely new language to learn for EVS: permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors, directcurrent recharging stations and kwh/100 km consumption rather than good old L/100 km. The team members who have had meaningful experiences in EVS all say the same thing though: if this is the future, we needn’t be worried – editor.]