A CAR expert has explained why he feels electric vehicles (EVs) “aren’t the future” after driving the latest Porsche.
Christopher Sharp test-drove the newest offering from the beloved German manufacturer and walked away feeling that giving up internal combustion isn’t the way to go.
PorscheChristopher Sharp’s test drive of the Porsche 911 Dakar convinced him that an all-electric future is not the answer[/caption]
Christopher took the 911 Dakar on a road trip through Finland filled up with electrofuel, also known as e-fuel.
E-fuel is a type of synthetic fuel made using a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen without the need for crude oil.
It only emits around the same amount of carbon dioxide as was used in the manufacturing, making it far more eco-friendly than traditional fuel without fundamentally changing the drivetrain.
In the case of the fuel used for this trip, it was actually fully carbon-neutral.
Writing for the Express, Christopher said: “Unless you’re very intimate and have driven the car regularly, there is no obvious difference between a car powered by e-fuel and one powered by petrol.
“A large part of my enjoyment came not just from the car’s interior and acceleration, but from the sound of the twin-turbo flat-six just a few feet behind me.
“One of the benefits of e-fuels, if they go mainstream, is that car enthusiasts can keep their old and beautiful cars going without worrying about their emissions or converting them to electric.
“Drivers will be able to enjoy the sound without harming the environment.”
E-fuels are, theoretically at least, compatible with existing engines, meaning that they could be used in both modern and classic cars.
This is a particular relief for petrolheads with a ban on new sales of petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030.
Unfortunately, they are firmly in the development stage and not widely available but e-fuels should only become more commonplace as research progresses.
Christopher added: “The lack of availability shouldn’t be a barrier to their development in the same way it wasn’t for the electric car.
“When the recent electric renaissance began, electric cars were few and far between and so were charging stations.
“In 2023, whilst there are some gaps in the network and uncertainties over their practicality, electric cars have been welcomed into the automotive environment.”
Indeed, new data revealed that numbers of charging points in the UK have increased by around 20,000 in just two years.
However, there is still an issue with supply as large areas of Somerset, Cumbria and Yorkshire are complete blackspots for EV charging.
It comes after a group of car experts revealed the five most common complaints from EV owners and how you can fix them.
Meanwhile, a mechanic explained a top service tip that could save hybrid drivers thousands and help them avoid disaster.