Electric vehicles

This item about hydrogen production may be of interest.

Research

"seriously, why would you buy a car with a range of just 70 miles? Beyond me" asks ChrisH.

Well, I did, because it suits my purposes. I and my wife are retired and so do not have to travel to a place of work each day and return, and so our journeys are mostly within the boundaries of the borough in which we live. Most of our friends live about two miles from us, and the local supermarket is just five miles away, so our average weekly mileage rarely exceed 30. This would crucify the engine in a petrol/diesel car, and here I speak from experience - I worked with fire engines for 20 years, where the norm is demanding maximum performance from a cold engine when responding to emergency calls, hours spent idling in the drill yard, and pootling around locally on "risk visits". I've seen steps in the cylinder bores of Bedford engines that you'd need a step-ladder to get across and this at 20,000 miles. With my Leaf I don't have to buy hydrocarbon fuel with its exorbitant tax burden, just plug it into a 13A socket outlet every so often, the vehicle attracts 0% vehicle excise duty, a 3kW heater beneath the bonnet is available instantly without waiting for an engine to warm up, the lack of noise when travelling along is wonderful and the vehicle as a car is roomy, comfortable and well-built to Japanese standards. What's not to like?

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 23/11/2020 16:57:33

Not sure if this is possible, but at least they are being realistic about the time frame - in the next 30 years. Have to assume it would be fail-safe or the potential disaster does not bear thinking about.

https://asf.imeche.org/news/news-article/space-based-solar-power-station-could-beam-energy-down-to-uk?utm_campaign=2038923_TP_PE%20Weekly_20201120&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=3X32,17P8R,30ADMA,4CHVQ,1

Steve

Really? Did I say that? I think you need to retract your accusation - and politely request you it as an apology, as I most certainly did not write that. I don’t like it when people misquote me, or simply make things up.

pgk pgk

Re your of 23/11 starting "Many of us are old enough to remember frost on the inside of single glazed windows"

- well said, you hit the nail right on the head there.

Chris

NDIY - I apologise unreservedly to you, I misread the post, the quote came from ChrisH on the 22nd at 1953 hrs. I really am very sorry.

Hi, the frost on the inside made some very pretty patterns at times too.

With respect to two cars in one household, well I did have two cars to myself in my last few years of working, mainly because the only one I had before then, broke down and was off the road awaiting spare parts for a couple of weeks, so I bought another for work and decided to keep it, so that I had always had a car that I could use. Living out in the sticks with no public transport, I always needed a car, but of course I couldn't drive both of them at the same time, I dare say many other people will need more than one car in their household for many different legit reasons. Just to add, I've only got one now as I don't have to be anywhere except doctors appointments etc. at specific times.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 23/11/2020 11:24:21

And I have three. No I'm not bragging. I keep my ancient 27yr 200sx out of nostalgia and have to keep remembering to use it to keep it functional. The third car is me banging my head against a brick wall called my OH. She loves the power of the Tesla but hates it's size, is scared she'll scratch it, won't dream of considerations like recharging it, wouldn't dream of using public transport or arranging a taxi and being ready on time and drives about 2K miles a year, has her shopping delivered or i have to go get it.

She goes to London twice, perhaps three times a year and therefore 'needs' her own car and pulling over out of her route to spend time recharging is an anathema even though the Tesla comes with free supercharging and the 250mile each way trip would only cost tyre wear. Hers is three months overdue for it's first year service but that's too much of a nuisance too. I mutter but tread lightly over such matters

She's obviously a very modern lady

pgk

Apology accepted.

I've edited Tim's post so it quotes the right forum member.

Small wonder "I conveniently missed it" as your elaboration that battery refurbishment is available now didn't appear to be specifically mentioned in the original quote and the point being made by the previous poster was not the potential of being able to get a replacement or even a refurbished battery - but the cost.

"Look at this video. But do remember that battery repairs/replacement/improvement/prices/etc will change as BEVs become more widespread."

In fact "battery" recycling by the likes of Corvus is well underway already outside the automotive industry where batteries are refurbished by replacing defective cells and the refurbished units re-deployed to less arduous duty cycles than their first application - good business for them as they essentially get to sell the same 'battery' twice!

Something you appear to be missing when you are telling all to "get used to it" is the majority of responses on this thread acknowledge change is coming but are highlighting the challenges that need to be overcome in the next 10 to 15 years. Given the infrastructure changes required to support battery electric vehicles I can't fully agree with your statement "nearly all cars will be electric in about 30 years time". I can agree the method of turning the wheels may well be electric motors but in my opinion they will be mainly supported by hydrogen fuel cells and not batteries. Better power density and volume density (dependant on compression) than batteries, more convenient and most similar in refuelling as vehicles are today, less down time for refuelling but more importantly less infrastructure investment required at distribution level. Lastly to return to SOD's energy storage issue is energy is more easilly stored in a gas than as electrons in a battery and it doesn't involve child labour in mining to do it.

Paul.

Multicar ownership might perhaps be encouraged where only one is in use at a time and arranged to allow most efficient use. ie a micro car for the single occupant short trips and a family size for the weekends. A tax and insurance regime is needed to encourage this, along with a tiny car with say 20 mile range only.

FYI very roughly 25% of housholds have two cars and 25% have none with obvious town/country bias.

Bazyle - so back to the 1960's and bubble cars (Isetta, Heinkel, Messerschmitt)

I would be interested to see percentage of households having three plus cars, specially in rural/semi-rural locations. Personally I don't think multicar usage will end. The only bus which comes within mile of my home is the school bus, we last had a scheduled bus service 30 plus years ago.

If you have two offspring living at home and they both work then they are both likely to have vehicles of their own. Wife works - needs a a car, so that 3, add my three vehicle and that makes 6. Ok kids have now left home so back to 4. I can only drive one at once, so two in use regularly. I am retired and wife semi-retired, we could easily be in different parts of the country. Round trip to see daughter is 440 miles. I can do this easily in my car, 3-4hrs each way, 4 or 5 hours visit then drive home. How many electric vehicles could do this? I would not expect to have to stop on a journey of this distance.

Certainly I appreciate electric vehicles will suit some people, I have a colleague who does about 15 miles each way to his business and will be able to charge up at home or work so no problem.

Lost of people on here have mentioned the issue of installation of suitable charging infrastructure and how long this will take. Until people know that they will be able to get there vehicle charged easily whether at home or elsewhere the EV take up will be slow.

Colin

What are peoples’ views on the ability of electric cars to tow trailers and caravans? Will it be possible?

I have a friend who has a Mitsubishi Hybrid 4 x 4 who tows a caravan and a museum dispay to rally's and he says when towing the battery side goes out the window very quickly. I use a 4 x 4 to tow my trailer of engines to rallys and can tow 1.5 tons behind me, I know Tesla's can tow but how much I dont know and I doubt the batteries would last and its a totally impractical vehicle if only for the low ground clearance on fields that I attend. The other issue I would have is attending the Dorset Steam Fair for instance 155 miles for me and when I get there there is no where in a field to charge so it sits for six days nad I've then got to get home again, My 2kw generator has difficulties charging my mobility scooter batteries every day so I've no chance.

Martin P

It has been discussed in this thread. Yes but obviously a hit on range and euro regulation means that a car can do it doesnt mean it's licensed to. Model3's come with thatoption as an example
Link is a pic of a model S towing (not in europe) Link


GENERAL

Remember that 9 years is a long time in tech. The rate of progression is such that by then a 50KWH battery on an average modest car will exceed 200 miles range in all weathers. The ID.3 with a 58KWH battery has a stated range of 263 miles (realistic will be less) and it's not the most efficient. Also by then batteries will be good for a million miles (realistically 10-15 years). Chargers will be more commonly available - certainly at all motorway services. More expensive cars will have 600 miles ranges. Topping a 50KW battery when it has 50 miles left will take 10-15 mins to get to 180 miles. Just time to pee, and enough charge for Colin to finish his journey to daughter and get back to that services for another 15 min top-up before going home.

The progression on self-drive is such that it'll be hands free on all motorways and possibly in all towns. There will be issues with single carriage way and single track roads. Anyone who doesn't believe that should look for youtube videos of the 'FSD Beta's' being tested at the moment - a way to go but quite impressive and other competitors like Mobileye are close behind but keeping their stuff closer to the vest There's even suggestions that the cars might be able to route themselves to chargers and plug themselves in.

pgk

Even if the car could theoretically tow a trailer or caravan for more than 20 miles without flattening the battery, and even if safe to drive across ground rougher than a bowling-green, would it be provided with any way to fit a tow-bar and the trailer electrics?

I gather the motor manufacturers are developing all-electric utility vehicles that would presumably be better for towing than the Mitsubishi Hybrid, but the retail costs would probably be out of reach for many private owners.

The obvious thing I expect the rosy-glasses brigade would suggest, a propo attending large events miles from home, is re-charge the vehicle at the nearest point to the destination, on arriving. Along with the other dozens of motorists trying to do the same thing at about 20 minutes a time at least, from the very few compatible charging-points in the area. Hard luck on the locals, too - they will not want that situation.

I think when this battery-only policy really bites, it will be the death-knell for almost all big out-of-town cultural and sporting events; even if they are still legal then anyway. Many in towns too, by the inherent transport difficulty. Think of the numbers of cars at the urban venues for our big exhibitions and the rural settings of rallies; and consider this is similar for so many other interests too. Yes, visitors could arrive at most exhibition-centres by public transport and many do, but at rural venues with no bus-stops within miles; and exhibitors to both?

When I told an American on another forum of the battery-only policy, he asked me if there will be a surge of sales of petrol and diesel cars in the last few years, and those cars being kept very carefully maintained for as long as possible. I replied I have no idea but it's an interesting point!

Martin

Your wouldn't try to do that with a ford fiesta either.
There's kit in design that;s more than capable. Rivian RT1 is stated to come out 2022 with 400 mile range and towing capacity of 4 tons. The cybertruck is due out next year and add Nikola's Badger, Bollinger's B2, Lordstown Motor's Endurance, Ford's electric F-150, GMC's Hummer EV to the list of concept stuff due... mostly US where the pick-up rules. 9yrs time and you'll have plenty of choice.

pgk

Yes but think of all the extra battery's you can get in a caravan. I thought you lot were engineers.

regards Martin

Or a big diesel generator to charge the car up.

I’ll get me coat.

Edited By V8Eng on 23/11/2020 22:36:29