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Electric Cars
Comments
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That is where tech innovation is going to have an impactbobmunro said:Stu_of_Kunming said:
I was about to say the same thing, it's the exact system I use for my bike tooHex said:
Which is what they do with their electric bikes in Taiwan.MrOneLung said:what they need is batteries you just swap out at a charging centre/petrol garage.
You drive in, take out your battery, put it into a charging dock, this allows you take out a battery that is fully charged, pop it into your car and off you go.
Bit like a larger version of your cordless lawnmowers
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2hLjcNxjKI
I'm sure it can work fine with bikes - the batteries in my EV weigh 700kg.0 -
I have had two EVs, my first was a Skoda Enyaq, loved it, build quality was superb although not quite industry leading in terms of technology. I now have a Tesla Y, fucking hate it!!. build quality is dog shit, although the tech is pretty advanced. I hate the way it rattles when you drive, I hate the way that the large screen shows soo much information that is useless for a normal driver, I have the way the stupid parcel shelf fold part way, I hate the cruise control and autopilot, but mostly I have the way they insist on communicating when you try to book the car in with a fault, they need to realise that not everyone wants to communicate using messaging, I want to speak to someone!!
Anyway, moan over, counting down 1 year, 10 months and 3 days until it goes back.3 -
You could move?Stuart_the_Red said:
If you think there’s a dearth of EV charging points, try finding a hydrogen point.Rob7Lee said:
I was looking into the Mirai before settling on our hybrid. The nearest hydrogen station here in France is about 100 kilometers away, but is only open to commercial vehicles, after that I would have to drive 250 kilometers one-way to fill up!1 -
Has anyone mentioned the brand new German fire station that burnt down recently? The cause? Thermal Runaway in their brand new electric fire engine.1
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I went to Motorpoint yesterday and bought a Ford Kuga hybrid. I just couldn’t make the jump to full electric, I don’t have confidence in the cars or the infrastructure. My wife will use this car for her daily commute so it has to be reliable and last us a few years as I like most can’t afford to change cars every other year.To be honest I have never felt so unenthusiastic buying a car. We have a budget of £30k and there is plenty of choices to be had at that figure but nothing like the specs of my Mondeo Vignale that I currently own. I asked my wife for her opinion as she will drive the car most of the time, as long as as it has a quick clear front windscreen anything will do as long as it is newer and comes with a warranty.So the Kuga hybrid has 27 months left of a 3 years a quick clear windscreen, an 2,5litre engine, a small electric battery and ilthe Vignale spec. And then came the shocker, annual road tax £590. I know the tax is based on the original price of the car but when a pretty dull Ford falls in that tax bracket it says to me most cars will be there soon.Plenty of EVs on their website, unbelievable how much they lose in such a short time, I assume I’m not alone in having little confidence in them. I’ll probably buy one next time round as there will not be much else.Cars like the XR3i or GTi or Si or the other suffix which you knew were cheap fun are gone forever which is a shame but at least I got to experience a few of them.1
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I’m confused. Let me first admit that I do not want to know what goes on under the bonnet. I just want a car to go when and where I want it. Much like your wife I guess. So when I compare an EV with a hybrid I come up with the following. An EV has an electric motor and supporting tech. A hybrid also has an electric motor and supporting tech. That makes them roughly equal in terms of reliable tech. However, the hybrid also has an ICE which has many more moving parts to go wrong. Also a hybrid has tech to ensure the electric motor and ICE work in tandem. So in my simple world, the EV is likely to be much more reliable. How did you come to a different conclusion regarding reliability?charltonkeston said:I went to Motorpoint yesterday and bought a Ford Kuga hybrid. I just couldn’t make the jump to full electric, I don’t have confidence in the cars or the infrastructure. My wife will use this car for her daily commute so it has to be reliable and last us a few years as I like most can’t afford to change cars every other year.To be honest I have never felt so unenthusiastic buying a car. We have a budget of £30k and there is plenty of choices to be had at that figure but nothing like the specs of my Mondeo Vignale that I currently own. I asked my wife for her opinion as she will drive the car most of the time, as long as as it has a quick clear front windscreen anything will do as long as it is newer and comes with a warranty.So the Kuga hybrid has 27 months left of a 3 years a quick clear windscreen, an 2,5litre engine, a small electric battery and ilthe Vignale spec. And then came the shocker, annual road tax £590. I know the tax is based on the original price of the car but when a pretty dull Ford falls in that tax bracket it says to me most cars will be there soon.Plenty of EVs on their website, unbelievable how much they lose in such a short time, I assume I’m not alone in having little confidence in them. I’ll probably buy one next time round as there will not be much else.Cars like the XR3i or GTi or Si or the other suffix which you knew were cheap fun are gone forever which is a shame but at least I got to experience a few of them.
Then there is the EV infrastructure. Personally, in this EV developing environment, I believe the infrastructure should be ahead of the game so that it can’t be used as an excuse for not purchasing an EV. My experience of the infrastructure is very limited but from what I can see with my own eyes, it is at least up with the game. I have not see huge queues at charging stations or EVs parked on motorways having run out of charge. Of course you have to plan ahead to some degree but that is also truer of petrol stations these days as they reduce in number.I spent a few days this week on the Isle of Wight, using public chargers for the first time. I have limited self to using Electroverse associated chargers for now as the bill goes to my Octopus account. The 10kw charger in Shanklin was ok until we had to leave early due to torrential rain. The following day we finished off at a 120kw charger at Waitrose in East Cowes. Very fast !0 -
That's my impression of Teslas too, as a passenger only. It's a typical American car in terms of build quality, with the added dubious advantage of a Silicon Valley approach to the tech side.Justin20474 said:I have had two EVs, my first was a Skoda Enyaq, loved it, build quality was superb although not quite industry leading in terms of technology. I now have a Tesla Y, fucking hate it!!. build quality is dog shit, although the tech is pretty advanced. I hate the way it rattles when you drive, I hate the way that the large screen shows soo much information that is useless for a normal driver, I have the way the stupid parcel shelf fold part way, I hate the cruise control and autopilot, but mostly I have the way they insist on communicating when you try to book the car in with a fault, they need to realise that not everyone wants to communicate using messaging, I want to speak to someone!!
Anyway, moan over, counting down 1 year, 10 months and 3 days until it goes back.
I've always found it telling that while the UK automotive press always fawned over Teslas, Which magazine consistently sounded a jarring note about reliability, based on their panel of 8,000 actual owners.Teslas were often near the bottom, down there with all kinds of less than quality names. And many car owners are reluctant to tell researchers they made a bad choice. Recently I see the score for some Tesla models has improved but not all. And it won't while Musk runs it. He doesn't understand that quality control and delivery requires a lot more than just shouting at people to do better or else they're fired.3 -
Got an electric car a few weeks back. Complete game changer. Saved over £300 in fuel costs already.No issues with vehicle at all on delivery, it just works.Just do your research I would say and choose the right vehicle for your situation.I needed 300 mile plus range to get to office and back a few times a month. So went for Long range option.Solar and battery coming in a month or so too. That will save a heap of money in the long term.4
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I wonder what the situation will be like in, say, ten years' time. With many more EVs on the road, the "infrastructure" (by which we usually mean just the number of places a car can be charged) will have to be significantly greater than it is now. But for ICE cars, what is the likelihood of anyone's favourite petrol station still being open and still being able to provide fuel at a "reasonable" cost?
If the predictions are anywhere near accurate, most cars on the road in the UK will be EVs; and the vast majority (estimated between 62% and 86% of new registrations per year, by 2030) of new cars registered. Fewer and fewer cars will run on petrol or diesel. Will the huge reduction in liquid fuel powered cars result in many closure of the filling stations that support them? That seems likely, doesn't it?
Sometimes you can have one view of how the world might change by taking the situation of today and looking forwards. But often it's better to look at a fixed point in the future and imagining how the world would get there.
People making the fair, right, thought-out decision now to stick to ICE cars might find that "infrastructure" - the very thing that made their minds up in 2024 or 2025 - is the one thing that makes that decision very costly for them in ten years' time.3 -
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If I didn't have a drive and my own way to charge at home I would not buy an electric car.The main cost benefit is to charge at home cheap, or if you have option at work for free.
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It seems to me that car companies want to sell cars to the people who buy them new. They are less concerened about the long life of the vehicle and forgetting about electric cars, there has been a trend in engines having more plastic parts and having shorter lifespans. Turbos and injection systems that increase horsepower give you a nicely performing car for the time you want to use it and probably decent enough for the person you sell it to after a few years. But they do shorten the life of an engine.
What I think is criminal is the lack of understanding that keeping cars longer has an environmental benefit. So you have the eco boost engines with wet belts that everybody knew would be a disaster going forwards but the calculation Ford and other companies made was that this would be too far down the line to be an issue for them. They were encouraged by governments due to a minor fuel saving these engines provide.
If you want a car that is going to last you need a normally aspirated engine which is not over stressed. Not very exciting and if you are one of the many who are not bothered if the car lasts 7 years or 17 years you will probably not be interested. But there is a ecological calculation which is not being done and I would say a company that designs a wet belt engine can't be trusted in terms of their green credentials. That is the problem with the fake deisel emmisions scandal and why they can not be trusted over electric cars they produce.5 -
Likewisefenlandaddick said:If I didn't have a drive and my own way to charge at home I would not buy an electric car.The main cost benefit is to charge at home cheap, or if you have option at work for free.0 -
Well the ICE despite having many moving parts is very reliable and it’s what I know. It’s so well made nowadays and to be honest I have to go back to late 80’s since I had a break down. My 1972 Mini 1000’s coil had a lose connection which I fixed with a pair of pliers. I do admit though I have always been very hands on with cars and the maintenance of them up until recently when lve lost interest in cars, I don’t find them very involving as there is not much to do other than cleaning. They don’t even burn too much oil and there is warming lights and gauges for everything.Hex said:
I’m confused. Let me first admit that I do not want to know what goes on under the bonnet. I just want a car to go when and where I want it. Much like your wife I guess. So when I compare an EV with a hybrid I come up with the following. An EV has an electric motor and supporting tech. A hybrid also has an electric motor and supporting tech. That makes them roughly equal in terms of reliable tech. However, the hybrid also has an ICE which has many more moving parts to go wrong. Also a hybrid has tech to ensure the electric motor and ICE work in tandem. So in my simple world, the EV is likely to be much more reliable. How did you come to a different conclusion regarding reliability?charltonkeston said:I went to Motorpoint yesterday and bought a Ford Kuga hybrid. I just couldn’t make the jump to full electric, I don’t have confidence in the cars or the infrastructure. My wife will use this car for her daily commute so it has to be reliable and last us a few years as I like most can’t afford to change cars every other year.To be honest I have never felt so unenthusiastic buying a car. We have a budget of £30k and there is plenty of choices to be had at that figure but nothing like the specs of my Mondeo Vignale that I currently own. I asked my wife for her opinion as she will drive the car most of the time, as long as as it has a quick clear front windscreen anything will do as long as it is newer and comes with a warranty.So the Kuga hybrid has 27 months left of a 3 years a quick clear windscreen, an 2,5litre engine, a small electric battery and ilthe Vignale spec. And then came the shocker, annual road tax £590. I know the tax is based on the original price of the car but when a pretty dull Ford falls in that tax bracket it says to me most cars will be there soon.Plenty of EVs on their website, unbelievable how much they lose in such a short time, I assume I’m not alone in having little confidence in them. I’ll probably buy one next time round as there will not be much else.Cars like the XR3i or GTi or Si or the other suffix which you knew were cheap fun are gone forever which is a shame but at least I got to experience a few of them.
Then there is the EV infrastructure. Personally, in this EV developing environment, I believe the infrastructure should be ahead of the game so that it can’t be used as an excuse for not purchasing an EV. My experience of the infrastructure is very limited but from what I can see with my own eyes, it is at least up with the game. I have not see huge queues at charging stations or EVs parked on motorways having run out of charge. Of course you have to plan ahead to some degree but that is also truer of petrol stations these days as they reduce in number.I spent a few days this week on the Isle of Wight, using public chargers for the first time. I have limited self to using Electroverse associated chargers for now as the bill goes to my Octopus account. The 10kw charger in Shanklin was ok until we had to leave early due to torrential rain. The following day we finished off at a 120kw charger at Waitrose in East Cowes. Very fast !I went for a Hybrid but test drove a plug in hybrid mainly because that’s what was on offer with the spec. I think I made the right choice between 2 as the plug in does not change with the engine or regenerative breaking. At least that’s how Ford do it. If the spec for the car was the other way around I’d of had the plug in and paid for a charging point on the front of my garage. The plug in drove with electric up to about 25 mph and has a range of about 30 odd miles. The one I’m getting combines electric and ice and you get,(supposedly), 50 odd mpg.The charging at home is something I like the idea of for convenience but I’m a little sceptical about the costs claimed. Obviously if you have solar power with battery storage you can fuel your car with the power of the sun, less the price of the cost of everything from the panels to the plug. Not many work in the years needed for pay back. I looked into solar panels a few years back but couldn’t get answers to my not very difficult questions, but that’s another story. Also the inconvenience of mucking about with electric power providers with different tariffs for different times and possibly different supply’s.As with anything the harder you drive a motor of any kind the more fuel you will need, this worries me to EVs range and the frequency of charging points. Going at motorway speeds they cannot have the same range as ion and around town. A few years ago I had a chat to one of the McLaren engineers. He was in charge of the fuel cell,(so he said), I asked him how fast the electric car in development was , he said 200mph and some. I then asked him how long could it, all things being equal, could it maintain that speed. Never got an answer.This new car I’m getting will probably take me up to retirement, 5 years approximately, so I’m sure things then will be more clearer to me and I would like to think charging points will not be a problem.I would have liked another Mondeo but we don’t have them in Europe which think is a shame. The 2024 model is quite nice https://www.autocango.com/carspecs-detail/Ford-Mondeo-94LDX90 -
@charltonkeston
Thanks for the detailed response. I wouldn't argue with much of what you say but a couple things need some clarification.
We had a slow (nearly 9hrs) journey home from the IoW; the ferry broke down (luckily before we boarded) and the A3/M25 was very slow. As we got to the ferry the prediction was arriving home with 25% battery but the actual figure was 37%. I don't mind it erring on the low side.
I know what you mean about the tariff jungle, even though there are only a few providers now. I have gone for a relatively simple tariff without specific EV allowances. Roughly, we pay 29p per Kwh from the grid and get paid 14p for supplying back to the grid.
Regarding solar panels, at our age we may not get our money back but it was something we felt we should do. I don't know where you live (but could guess) but suggest you investvigate the 'Solar Together' scheme run by Kent CC and other councils. It removes all of the worries about selecting an installer and the discount was approx 1/3rd.
https://solartogether.co.uk/kent/home?utm_source=google&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=pmax&utm_campaign=SPUK | Pmax | ALL | Scheme 4&utm_term=&hsa_acc=3731731000&hsa_cam=21523192520&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Py4BhCbARIsAMMx-_KX7NMz0Pf9-dtPfvnFcvb6HNTIiHm90tHc8DSB-vfMyfHe8KkINd0aAvz7EALw_wcB
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Thanks for the link Hex. My farther-in-law had panels and a battery fitted through that scheme. Unfortunately and predictably Bromley isn’t part of it. My in-laws are very happy with it although they are in their late 70s, I’m not sure if they will profit from them but they like looking at their phone app.Hex said:@charltonkeston
Thanks for the detailed response. I wouldn't argue with much of what you say but a couple things need some clarification.
We had a slow (nearly 9hrs) journey home from the IoW; the ferry broke down (luckily before we boarded) and the A3/M25 was very slow. As we got to the ferry the prediction was arriving home with 25% battery but the actual figure was 37%. I don't mind it erring on the low side.
I know what you mean about the tariff jungle, even though there are only a few providers now. I have gone for a relatively simple tariff without specific EV allowances. Roughly, we pay 29p per Kwh from the grid and get paid 14p for supplying back to the grid.
Regarding solar panels, at our age we may not get our money back but it was something we felt we should do. I don't know where you live (but could guess) but suggest you investvigate the 'Solar Together' scheme run by Kent CC and other councils. It removes all of the worries about selecting an installer and the discount was approx 1/3rd.
https://solartogether.co.uk/kent/home?utm_source=google&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=pmax&utm_campaign=SPUK | Pmax | ALL | Scheme 4&utm_term=&hsa_acc=3731731000&hsa_cam=21523192520&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Py4BhCbARIsAMMx-_KX7NMz0Pf9-dtPfvnFcvb6HNTIiHm90tHc8DSB-vfMyfHe8KkINd0aAvz7EALw_wcB1 -
In all honesty a lot of the solar installation companies are the same price as these schemes now. Councils aren't putting a lot of cash money into it, more pushing collective bargaining with firms that have no obligation to play alongcharltonkeston said:
Thanks for the link Hex. My farther-in-law had panels and a battery fitted through that scheme. Unfortunately and predictably Bromley isn’t part of it. My in-laws are very happy with it although they are in their late 70s, I’m not sure if they will profit from them but they like looking at their phone app.Hex said:@charltonkeston
Thanks for the detailed response. I wouldn't argue with much of what you say but a couple things need some clarification.
We had a slow (nearly 9hrs) journey home from the IoW; the ferry broke down (luckily before we boarded) and the A3/M25 was very slow. As we got to the ferry the prediction was arriving home with 25% battery but the actual figure was 37%. I don't mind it erring on the low side.
I know what you mean about the tariff jungle, even though there are only a few providers now. I have gone for a relatively simple tariff without specific EV allowances. Roughly, we pay 29p per Kwh from the grid and get paid 14p for supplying back to the grid.
Regarding solar panels, at our age we may not get our money back but it was something we felt we should do. I don't know where you live (but could guess) but suggest you investvigate the 'Solar Together' scheme run by Kent CC and other councils. It removes all of the worries about selecting an installer and the discount was approx 1/3rd.
https://solartogether.co.uk/kent/home?utm_source=google&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=pmax&utm_campaign=SPUK | Pmax | ALL | Scheme 4&utm_term=&hsa_acc=3731731000&hsa_cam=21523192520&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Py4BhCbARIsAMMx-_KX7NMz0Pf9-dtPfvnFcvb6HNTIiHm90tHc8DSB-vfMyfHe8KkINd0aAvz7EALw_wcB0 -
Looking at a secondhand IONIQ 6 - quite like the slightly weird shape! My local dealers offering a free (subject to survey) home charger./. Have a friend with ther IONIQ 5 and loves it - will have a test drive I think. Any thoughts from Hyundai owners?0
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Very pleased with my ioniq 5, true range around 280 , we only charge at home, solar panels and good night rate midnight to 05-00.1
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See if they say anything in this weeks budget about future tariffs for EV / pay per mile or whatever other mechanism might (eventually) come in to play?0
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Regarding infrastructure, EVs are something like 40% heavier. Think of the issues that creates for ferries, bridges, general road wear and tear. Where is the joined up / long term thinking on all of this? 🤔3
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I'm guessing the thinking is that the associated knock on problems can be sorted using renewable energy/resources, making the effect carbon neutral. 🤔 HmmmmWeegie Addick said:Regarding infrastructure, EVs are something like 40% heavier. Think of the issues that creates for ferries, bridges, general road wear and tear. Where is the joined up / long term thinking on all of this? 🤔0 -
https://apple.news/ALcuQX3LCQUmC9PohrTEETgSeems there is unlikely to be much future for hydrogen powered cars in the US if the Republican candidate gets elected next week.0
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Whilst the fire services report no increase in the number of EV fires, just that they are of a different nature, this sort of thing being reported won't tempt more to transition in a hurry.
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2024-10-28/cctv-images-show-electric-car-explode-into-flames-on-familys-driveway.
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Traded in my EV at midday for my new ICE - and I'm happy as Larry!
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Chap that sorted my towbar electrics did a few years in the fire service and the general advice on handling an EV fire was to run !!!
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My daughter recently aquired a tesla 3 through work. Mileage meant to be 300+ went to Eastbourne from Herne Bay and had to recharge to get home. Not very practical0
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Tis nearly the season where all electric cars are rendered useless.3
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I’ve seen this a lot along with the tyre wear which creates pollution.Weegie Addick said:Regarding infrastructure, EVs are something like 40% heavier. Think of the issues that creates for ferries, bridges, general road wear and tear. Where is the joined up / long term thinking on all of this? 🤔I’m sure van’s, lorries and other commercial vehicles already do the bigger share of wear and tear.0 -
Not if you buy yourself a nice warm puffa jacket, then you can avoid sticking the heating on 😁cafcnick1992 said:Tis nearly the season where all electric cars are rendered useless.0
