Adventures in an all electric vehicle.

[Shox Dr]

It's not what I'd do, it's what the marketing department think their customers want who might make that decision.



The Daf 45 and 55 were seen as joke cars back in the day from what I remember. I can't comment as I 've never even sat in one let alone driven one.

Probably a marketing ploy by other car manufacturers

 

[daleyd]

When ABS braking became mainstream - bodyshop thru put dropped... That is a fact!

There’s something like a 75% reduction in fatalities over the last 30 years despite there being more cars on the road (can’t recall the exact figures but something like that…).

But yeah, modern cars are rubbish

 

[m_c]

When ABS braking became mainstream - bodyshop thru put dropped... That is a fact!

But ABS increases braking distance on snow, so I'm going to use that edge case to justify why we shouldn't have it!

 

[daleyd]

Probably a marketing ploy by other car manufacturers

Wasn’t the daf version just an early form of a cvt? I seem to recall it used rubber belts, so probably fine for a comparatively low powered car from that era but I guess even by the 70’s/80’s it was no longer much cop and better alternatives were available.

Cvt tend to sap quite a bit of power as well, anything you add between the motor and the wheels is going to reduce efficiency.

 

[aesmith]

Regarding motor size, browsing specifications suggests that the drive train might be better at low speed, worse at high speed. Compare Nissan Leaf where 150HP rated motor gets it to 90mph, vs a random choice of Ford Fusion where 88HP gets it over 100. Fusion is lighter but boxier so i would have thought aerodynamics would be worse rather than better.

 

[daleyd]

Regarding motor size, browsing specifications suggests that the drive train might be better at low speed, worse at high speed. Compare Nissan Leaf where 150HP rated motor gets it to 90mph, vs a random choice of Ford Fusion where 88HP gets it over 100. Fusion is lighter but boxier so i would have thought aerodynamics would be worse rather than better.

Probably optimised for intended use - there’s no point designing & gearing an ev for high speed when the range drops significantly with higher speed - and the speed limit is 70 or so anyway. (Bit higher in other countries but generally around there)

As said there’s no “gearbox” on an most ev, so you don’t get the choice to change up a gear (my hybrid car uses a small motor and the ice gearbox, I *think some ev have a 2 speed gearing arrangement, but I might have dreamed this!)

 

[mtt.tr]

I don't understand the top speed comparison, my average speed over 60k miles is about 37mph

 

[fizzy]

You were wearing a seatbelt - the only person to survive her crash was the bodyguard in the front passenger seat - the one closest to the pillar it hit . . and he was wearing a seatbelt. The passenger compartment of that Merc was pretty much intact - as an advert for the strength of the thing, it was pretty impressive.

I'm still surprised no-one ever made a thing of it.

I agree. It is just as important for rear seat passengers to wear seatbelts. They would all have survived. My accident was actually worse than that one. When they hit the pillar the car spun around and travelled a bit further. In my case I nose dived into a concrete ditch. G forces were insane.

 

[fizzy]

It would be nice to see this with a big modern car against a small modern car. Say a Range Rover against a Yaris. Both 5 star.

 

[Morrisman]

Well, other than the fact that when I used to work in a petrol station, you drive away from the pump without first paying, I'm on the blower to report a drive off!

The problem is petrol stations becomign a shop, not people "hogging" a pump

When they serve coffee and hot snacks it's pretty obvious people are going to spend time loitering.

They both have two parking bays, but they are before you get to the pumps.

The two near me that have been refurbished recently don't even have 'pay at pump' facilities, despite them being revamped during The Great Covid, when simply looking at someone for too long would spread infection, let alone walking past them.

If they had a couple of charging bays I could understand them serving refreshments, but forcing people to go in a shop to pay for their fuel, then surrounding them with temptations is obviously a financial move.

 

[daleyd]

It would be nice to see this with a big modern car against a small modern car. Say a Range Rover against a Yaris. Both 5 star.

Of course a big car would likely come off better? That’s simple physics. Im sure there are tests done to show this, but even if not then it stands to reason. All other things being equal a bigger crumple zone, more mass etc should make for a more survivable vehicle. But then cars are a compromise and not everyone wants, needs or can afford a large 4x4.

It’s about doing the best with what you have. What is interesting is that a well designed small modern car is shown to be significantly improved over a larger but older vehicle.

 

[DAPPH]

Ha ha I'm about to take possession of a brand new Electric motability car that can hold my electric wheelchair .... a Citroen Berlingo . does about 230 miles per charge in warm weather .

Had to wait three months for the electric adjustable drivers seat to be made and fitted.
This paying to charge , on my wife's Outlander when we got it in 2015 charging was free for a year , five years ago only one or two companies seemed to be doing charging now there are dozens , each will need an app for their services , soon like the connector cables it will be a single thing . easy to make payment from a bank charge or credit card .

Plan for your first few journeys well and get the apps for each charge point for the way there & back . It's just like the early motoring day in hte 1890's filling points were few and far between and not all were the same .

I mean it’s not like anything like that could happen to existing vehicles…

Catalytic converter theft - how to protect yours | RAC Drive

As catalytic converter theft rises across the UK, find out what steps you can take to protect your car and stop thieves from targeting your vehicle.

www.rac.co.uk

Apparently there is roughly £22 of copper in a 7 mtr charging lead , running off with five ,six , seven or nine metres of chopped cable is a bit of a giveaway . Most of the weight of the cable is layers of insulation .

Scrappies are a lot more wary of where cable comes from as every seller is supposed to be registered and only paid via a bank account. Our local scrappie is bank transfer payments only ( far less armed bandit hold up's for a days cash too ) when
Due to these changes in the law ( 6 or so years ago in Wales ) scrappies are now likely to be held liable for helping thieves if they are caught with loads of unaccounted cable that is not easily traced . The environmental people EA also have a great input due to control of waste materials .

I broached to subject of stolen or chopped cables with the motability people as they handle the insurance claims initially . It's not a problem we were told ...motability rent out a tremendous amount of electric cars .

 

[DAPPH]

I mean it’s not like anything like that could happen to existing vehicles…

Catalytic converter theft - how to protect yours | RAC Drive

As catalytic converter theft rises across the UK, find out what steps you can take to protect your car and stop thieves from targeting your vehicle.

www.rac.co.uk

Until the government forced all suppliers of new cars to fit locking wheel studs to at least one on each wheel , wheel thefts were the in thing as a set of mag alloy rims could set you back £ 1500 plus the cost of the tyres .

 

[Robotstar5]

Until the government forced all suppliers of new cars to fit locking wheel studs to at least one on each wheel , wheel thefts were the in thing as a set of mag alloy rims could set you back £ 1500 plus the cost of the tyres .

I was watching the wheel fitting station on the production line, they fit the same keyed nut to each car as it goes through until the box is empty then the key changes with the next box. I thought it a bit odd that consecutive cars had the same key until someone pointed out each car goes to a different dealer/country.

 

[RonMig]

At this point I've only read up to page 4, #80... (getting bored of the arguments, civil-enough as they are).

Retired, my longest normal round-trip in one day is 40 miles, once a week.
Maybe every 3 months, I "might" do a 120 mile day.
Other more normal days its 15 mile round trips, couple of times a week.
None of the destinations are public transport friendly.

Not short of a bob or two but at 67, I just can't bring myself to be overly spendy on cars - my diesel 4x4 (love it) cost £2k in 2018 and maintenance over 5 years has been less than £3k, so that's where I'm in my ££££budget comfort zone.

I think an EV would suit most of my trips; would just come down to finding an EV for about £2k.
I like the look of the Renault Zoe but the cheapest one on autotrader is £3k , 300 miles away, and doesn't work
and not too keen on "renting" the battery, either.

Might have to wait 10 or 15 years before availability is so widespread that the prices come down to my level.
But by that time I will be over 80, so seems less likely for me.

So I may as well enjoy my 4x4 mud-plugging go-anywhere gas-guzzler and forget EVs

 

[pedrobedro]

Fit a towbar and pull a big diesel generator everywhere, plug it in and charge as you drive.

 

[Robotstar5]

Fit a towbar and pull a big diesel generator everywhere, plug it in and charge as you drive.

And if you hooked a fuel bowser to the back of the generator you would have a phenomenal range.

 

[fizzy]

Ha ha I'm about to take possession of a brand new Electric motability car that can hold my electric wheelchair .... a Citroen Berlingo . does about 230 miles per charge in warm weather .

Had to wait three months for the electric adjustable drivers seat to be made and fitted.
This paying to charge , on my wife's Outlander when we got it in 2015 charging was free for a year , five years ago only one or two companies seemed to be doing charging now there are dozens , each will need an app for their services , soon like the connector cables it will be a single thing . easy to make payment from a bank charge or credit card .

Plan for your first few journeys well and get the apps for each charge point for the way there & back . It's just like the early motoring day in hte 1890's filling points were few and far between and not all were the same .

Apparently there is roughly £22 of copper in a 7 mtr charging lead , running off with five ,six , seven or nine metres of chopped cable is a bit of a giveaway . Most of the weight of the cable is layers of insulation .

Scrappies are a lot more wary of where cable comes from as every seller is supposed to be registered and only paid via a bank account. Our local scrappie is bank transfer payments only ( far less armed bandit hold up's for a days cash too ) when
Due to these changes in the law ( 6 or so years ago in Wales ) scrappies are now likely to be held liable for helping thieves if they are caught with loads of unaccounted cable that is not easily traced . The environmental people EA also have a great input due to control of waste materials .

I broached to subject of stolen or chopped cables with the motability people as they handle the insurance claims initially . It's not a problem we were told ...motability rent out a tremendous amount of electric cars .

Environmental laws don't seem to apply to a certain site near Swansea. Many nights I see a large plume of smoke in the air along with a strong smell of burning plastic. Strangely the Police and the Environment Agency seem to be deterred by a large number of caravans. Copper prices still high obviously!

 

[bricol]

Of course a big car would likely come off better? That’s simple physics. Im sure there are tests done to show this, but even if not then it stands to reason. All other things being equal a bigger crumple zone, more mass etc should make for a more survivable vehicle. But then cars are a compromise and not everyone wants, needs or can afford a large 4x4.

It’s about doing the best with what you have. What is interesting is that a well designed small modern car is shown to be significantly improved over a larger but older vehicle.

Yep - Americans like to thing a big two tonne Caddy from the 50's/60's would be the thing to be in . . there's a video out there of a good one being slammed into a much more modern car - Chevy Cruz or similar if I remember. The modern car allowed the occupants to open doors and get out . . . the Caddy driver would have needed a paint scraper to remove them from the rear bulkhead.

So considering an older car is now more fatigued, more corroded, less well designed in the first place . . . I'm much rather be in the modern car . . . as an owner of several older cars. And a Caterham .. . when even a bloke on a push bike is going to do me some serious damage . . .

 

[bricol]

Saw on facebook this morning on some USA wheeling page, a lot of laughs about a Rivian electric truck being towed out of Moab . . . usual anti-EV stuff.

Some sanity posts about there are many many more ICE Jeeps towed out, many other vehicles not suited for the terrain they were being thrown at being towed out - it hadn't need to be towed out as it was electric, it needed towing out as it was unsuitable for the terrain.