Are EVs the way forward?

So in about 10 years time when half of us have a Buzz we'll have the Forum Charging Network where we can each borrow each others chargers as we road trip to the opposite end of the country...

There's also probably going to be a point soon where advancing battery and solar tech means the ICE Campers are fully off grid and never need to plug into the grid and the EV Campers have to find a campsite with a 7kw destination charger at each pitch to plug into the grid, which is kind of ironic in many dimensions...
When we were on the IOW in our camper back in July a large family group opposite had a visitor in an MG4 EV and the cheeky sod used one of the site hook ups to charge his car overnight.
 
So in about 10 years time when half of us have a Buzz we'll have the Forum Charging Network where we can each borrow each others chargers as we road trip to the opposite end of the country...

There's also probably going to be a point soon where advancing battery and solar tech means the ICE Campers are fully off grid and never need to plug into the grid and the EV Campers have to find a campsite with a 7kw destination charger at each pitch to plug into the grid, which is kind of ironic in many dimensions...
This also made me chuckle
IMG_6775.pngIMG_6774.png
 
We got told it had been the hottest year here too.
Even though it was miserable and freezing most of the year.
My summer holiday it was 12 degrees during the day in July. I had to wait on the snow leaving Skye before we went there.
Apparently it was still the hottest we just never noticed it because it was at night.
 
and yet NASA says this:

It's not the temp differences at issue, it's how the representation of temps has changed over time.

2017: temp range 20-37C, shown in neutral green
2022: temp range 19-32C, shown in vivid reds and oranges

IMO, a deliberate and calculated ploy designed to promote the notion that we're in crisis.
 
I was worried about battery replacement in the i3 (I've been looking for about 2 years for the right one to come up) and they're warranted to 80% performance for 100,000 miles or 8 years. The one in mine was made in 2018 has done 24,000 miles and is currently at 98.5% of it's original capability.

Replacing the whole pack if needed is 6-9 grand plus labour. I don't really see that as much different to the prices quoted for replacing a T6/6.1 engine that's failed.

The battery is modular so there are companies that will rebuild it for less, same way you can buy a reconditioned engine.

I'm about as concerned about the battery as I am about the 6.1 engine.
 
All with a pinch of salt.

The first pic… EVs are still relatively new. Battery replacement is obviously an even newer part of ownership as they last a few years. There are competent people setting up businesses that take out a pack, remove and test the cells and only replace the dodgy ones before rebalancing. That costs a fraction of the price of a total replacement at a main dealer. Just as VW will charge you not far south of £2k for a cam belt and water pump but some Indy might even be around £700.
Once repair shops are up and running for the new tech and the customer base is larger costs will come down.

The second one I covered earlier… we know smoking causes cancer yet a death certificate won’t say ‘smoking’ as a cause of death it will say cancer.
Asking a very specific question to get a targeted answer is easy. Determining if it was car fumes or factory fumes that caused a fatal asthma attack is less so as most deaths don’t get an autopsy so it will be recorded as asthma attack, or cancer, heart attack, stroke… all of which air quality impacts.

The last one, yeah they changed the colour over a few years. Amazing. Yet looking back at global records over many decades is possible and has been done and does indeed show a steadily rising temperature. People moan about grey summer days as the oil industry focus on confusing the matter of climate change and sowing arguments as a distraction. Basic school science tells us warmer air holds more water so is it really a shock our summers are getting greyer and wetter? We have far less snow in warmer winters - and these days they use blue for cold temps instead of green ;)
 
All with a pinch of salt.

The first pic… EVs are still relatively new. Battery replacement is obviously an even newer part of ownership as they last a few years. There are competent people setting up businesses that take out a pack, remove and test the cells and only replace the dodgy ones before rebalancing. That costs a fraction of the price of a total replacement at a main dealer. Just as VW will charge you not far south of £2k for a cam belt and water pump but some Indy might even be around £700.
Once repair shops are up and running for the new tech and the customer base is larger costs will come down.

The second one I covered earlier… we know smoking causes cancer yet a death certificate won’t say ‘smoking’ as a cause of death it will say cancer.
Asking a very specific question to get a targeted answer is easy. Determining if it was car fumes or factory fumes that caused a fatal asthma attack is less so as most deaths don’t get an autopsy so it will be recorded as asthma attack, or cancer, heart attack, stroke… all of which air quality impacts.

The last one, yeah they changed the colour over a few years. Amazing. Yet looking back at global records over many decades is possible and has been done and does indeed show a steadily rising temperature. People moan about grey summer days as the oil industry focus on confusing the matter of climate change and sowing arguments as a distraction. Basic school science tells us warmer air holds more water so is it really a shock our summers are getting greyer and wetter? We have far less snow in warmer winters - and these days they use blue for cold temps instead of green ;)
Let me guess
You used to be a scientist ?as well as a weather girl ?
 
The last one, yeah they changed the colour over a few years. Amazing. Yet looking back at global records over many decades is possible and has been done and does indeed show a steadily rising temperature. People moan about grey summer days as the oil industry focus on confusing the matter of climate change and sowing arguments as a distraction. Basic school science tells us warmer air holds more water so is it really a shock our summers are getting greyer and wetter? We have far less snow in warmer winters - and these days they use blue for cold temps instead of green ;)
Nobody in this thread has denied that climate change is a reality and it's disingenuous to suggest otherwise. The question being asked is why would anyone feel the need to manipulate the presentation of the data as demonstrated by the last pic? The answer is, of course, because the manipulation suits the presenter's agenda, which should be an uncomfortable truth for every thoughtful person, because, as we all know, good science and preconceived ideas don't make happy bedfellows - Copernicus v Catholic Church being a case in point.
 
My T6 is currently our daily driver. It’s EUR5 and done 165k. I can’t bear the thought of letting it go for a rebadged Ford, so I’m going to keep the last of the thoroughbred T6s as my hobby vehicle but only use it for long journeys, heavy loads, getaways, beach, mountain biking etc. Looking at ways to keep it in great condition for a very long time.

For a daily, I’ve test driven a used ID3 and it is SO MUCH FUN.

Will be 3 years into its 8 year battery warranty. Used ID3 are only really coming onto the market now in significant numbers. Surely that’s going to make a dent in new sales?
 
A few more pics that raised my eyebrow
View attachment 259941

Another myth of the sort you'll find the in the Daily Mail.

A new battery pack for a BMW iX3 is, for example, somewhat less expensive than a new crate engine for an X3 and the labour required to fit it.

Like for like new crate engines and the extensive labour required to install them (and remove the old one) are usually much more expensive than new batteries, and used batteries are often turning up now less expensive than low mileage ICE engines with good provenance.

But people don't let actual facts get in the way of a good grumble.

Did you know the average life of an ICE car in the UK is only a little under 11 years. This is true. As you go about today look at rhe registration plates on the cars you see and the vast majority are newer than 63 plate. The useful life of the average traction battery is almost double that. Not only that, but traction batteries are many, many times more reliable than ICE engines, so not only do they last longer they also are far less likely ro require replacement.

If people simply don't like electric cars then fair enough. I don't like Emmerdale or low fat yoghurt, but then I don't go about repeating urban myth to justify why I don't like them. They simply don't interest me. Its interesting how few folk simply come out and say that about electric cars, preferring as they do to repeat Internet myths to justify it.
 
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Did you know the average life of an ICE car in the UK is only a little under 11 years. This is true. As you go about today look at rhe registration plates on the cars you see and the vast majority are newer than 63 plate. The useful life of the average traction battery is almost double that. Not only that, but traction batteries are many, many times more reliable than ICE engines, so not only do they last longer they also are far less likely ro require replacement.

My lad works as a mechanic in a rural garage. Most cars that they see reach the end of their lives due to worn out suspension, steering, braking systems and corrosion and they are generally much older than 11 years so have become uneconomical to repair. This is generally caused by lack of preventative maintenance.

20 odd years ago people would say "diesel is best. The engine will do double the mileage of a petrol one." That may have been true, but the rest of the car is still the same.
 
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My lad works as a mechanic in a rural garage. Most cars that they see reach the end of their lives due to worn out suspension, steering, braking systems and corrosion and they are generally much older than 11 years so have become uneconomical to repair. This is generally caused by lack of preventative maintenance.

20 odd years ago people would say "diesel is best. The engine will do double the mileage of a petrol one." That may have been true, but the rest of the car is still the same.
I had a 5 Series BMW Tourer (518i) from 1998 to the end of 2017. It did 450000 miles (not a typo) and at the end it was the sub frame that gave up and was not repairable - economically. The engine was in great condition, absolutely no issues when fully tested, and it continued it's life in another 518.
 
I was worried about battery replacement in the i3 (I've been looking for about 2 years for the right one to come up) and they're warranted to 80% performance for 100,000 miles or 8 years. The one in mine was made in 2018 has done 24,000 miles and is currently at 98.5% of it's original capability.

Replacing the whole pack if needed is 6-9 grand plus labour. I don't really see that as much different to the prices quoted for replacing a T6/6.1 engine that's failed.

The battery is modular so there are companies that will rebuild it for less, same way you can buy a reconditioned engine.

I'm about as concerned about the battery as I am about the 6.1 engine.
My 2019 i3s battery is at around 96% with 48k miles. I anticipate it lasting well over 8 years or 100k.
Even at 80% it's still going to be more than useable
 
My T6 is currently our daily driver. It’s EUR5 and done 165k. I can’t bear the thought of letting it go for a rebadged Ford, so I’m going to keep the last of the thoroughbred T6s as my hobby vehicle but only use it for long journeys, heavy loads, getaways, beach, mountain biking etc. Looking at ways to keep it in great condition for a very long time.

For a daily, I’ve test driven a used ID3 and it is SO MUCH FUN.

Will be 3 years into its 8 year battery warranty. Used ID3 are only really coming onto the market now in significant numbers. Surely that’s going to make a dent in new sales?
Get a Pro S with the 77kw battery and heat pump for the cabin heater, likely 300 mile range but around £20k used compared to the £12k upwards of the smaller batteried cars, yep, I want one. :geek:
 
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