Q: I'm thinking of replacing my electric car with a fossil fuel car and have some questions: 1. I have heard that petrol cars cannot refuel at home while you sleep. How often do you have to refill elsewhere? Will there be a solution for re-fueling at home? 2. Which parts will I need to service and how often? The salesman mentioned oil in the engine and timing belts that need replacing and a box with gears in it. What is this? How much will this service oil change cost and how often - and what happens to the old oil. 3. In a petrol or diesel car, do I get fuel back when I slow down or drive downhill? 4. The car I test drove seemed to have a delay from the time I pressed the accelerator pedal until it began to accelerate. Is that normal in petrol cars? 5. Is it true that petrol is flammable? The petrol and diesel is so dangerous, that you can only buy the fuel at a special filling station, and not anywhere (hotels/ Car parks/Home Work)? 6. I understand that the main ingredient in petrol is oil. Is it true that the extraction and refining of oil causes environmental problems as well as conflicts and major wars that over the last 100 years have cost millions of lives? Is there a solution? 7. I have also been told that you have to transport oil all over the world to turn into petrol or diesel, and these ships have in the past damaged the environment by leaking the oil. Is that true? 8. I have been told that these internal combustion engines make a noise when you start them - so early starts can wake people up, and driving a lot of internal combustion engine cars in towns makes towns noisy? 9. Is it true people can steal the fuel from your tank? 10. What is the drop in range in cold weather? I've been told a car that does 45mpg can drop to 37 mpg in winter. Just curious on that one. 11. These petrol type cars generally stop on the brakes alone - so the brakes wear out faster - how long will they last compared to my current car which lasts over 500.000 kilometers?
13. I heard there's something called an exhaust system in a petrol car. I understand that this spews poisonous fumes into the atmosphere we breathe. Can someone predict how many people per year may die due to these poisons in the air? If the car is left running in an enclosed area - like a garage - for minor repairs, setting of controls etc, is that dangerous? 14. The petrol car jerked me around three or four times every time it accelerated. Was something wrong with it? If not, that is very annoying. 15. The engine was so noisy during my test drive, I couldn't hear my music.
I’ve seen a few of these over the years. A lot of it really comes from what someone is used to. It is a fun peek at what it looks like from ‘the other side’. Oldie but a goodie:
