In the News Another EV failure

[Cougar377]

The way speed limits are going down across the country and road tax is going up, I think what powers our vehicles is a moot point. Give it a few more years, when the Govt. introduce a red flag walker in front of vehicles & everyone is reduced to electric driverless public owned vehicles or walking as the faster way of getting around, we'll look back at EVs with some nostalgia.

Private motor vehicles will become limited to the rich/famous for exclusive use on private roads/tracks. Hopefully I won't be around to see it, but I suspect it's coming quicker than most people think.

Given the rate of increase in the populace and the expansion of housing it won't be long before the country will be mostly made up of a handful of supercities and we'll only travel via an extended public transport network.

 

[Malone]

I think they should make clockwork cars


I promise that’s not a wind up

 

[JayTee]

The way speed limits are going down across the country and road tax is going up, I think what powers our vehicles is a moot point. Give it a few more years, when the Govt. introduce a red flag walker in front of vehicles & everyone is reduced to electric driverless public owned vehicles or walking as the faster way of getting around, we'll look back at EVs with some nostalgia.

Private motor vehicles will become limited to the rich/famous for exclusive use on private roads/tracks. Hopefully I won't be around to see it, but I suspect it's coming quicker than most people think.

Been thinking this way meself Lee, it’s almost as if there’s an agenda behind it all.

 

[Squag1]

Been thinking this way meself Lee, it’s almost as if there’s an agenda behind it all.

Oh there is.......whatever it is.

 

[Lee337]

Given the rate of increase in the populace and the expansion of housing it won't be long before the country will be most made up of a handful of supercities and we'll only travel via an extended public transport network.

On a positive note, there'll be no need for garages to put your personal transport in so they can be converted to house... [add group of your choice here]

 

[Cougar377]

On a positive note, there'll be no need for garages to put your personal transport in so they can be converted to house... [add group of your choice here]

The last bikers will be living beyond civilisation in a barren and lawless wasteland Mad Max style.

Yorkshire, probably....

 

[JayTee]

Oh there is.......whatever it is.

Long thought that the reason things happen is because the political will is there to make it happen, so when they don’t happen I tend to think the same process is in place.
Machiavellian thought is behind a lot of government mindset

 

[JayTee]

The last bikers will be living beyond civilisation in a barren and lawless wasteland Mad Max style.

Yorkshire, probably....

Naaa! whe’ll all just move out with you .

 

[sr71caspar]

 

[Pow-Lo]

I’m genuinely interested…what is your alternative?

I agree that things have to change. As has been said above, the problem with EVs is the infrastructure. Further argument in favour of cars with proper engines is highlighted in Caspar's post.

I recall an old episode of Top Gear, probably going back a good 25 years, maybe more, where Clarkson was pissing about in a car powered by water. Yep, water. I wasn't convinced until I heard a discussion about there being several ways to power 'engines' but the oil majors keep buying all the patents to keep us peasants reliant on petrol/diesel. I'm now wondering if there's some truth in that now.

 

[Cougar377]

The simple fact is that the National Grid couldn't cope with the demand if we all rushed out and bought an EV tomorrow.

 

[Squag1]

A town in the midlands got E buses.
They couldn't charge until 11pm, I think it was 11. But in the cold weather the batteries didn't last but they still couldn't charge them earlier. Chaos!!

 

[Pow-Lo]

A town in the midlands got E buses.
They couldn't charge until 11pm, I think it was 11. But in the cold weather the batteries didn't last but they still couldn't charge them earlier. Chaos!!

Imagine the fun they're going to have with HGVs. First of all, their cargo carrying capacity is likely to be reduced because of the additional weight of the batteries over that of the mighty diesel engines and then charging the bastard things.

I really can't see how EVs are sustainable.

 

[Lee337]

I did a small project about EVs for a job interview around 6 years ago. Part of it was looking at the hybrid buses in London. I discovered that most of them had their batteries removed because of reliability issues & electrical faults. 95% of them only ran their diesel engines.

At least they didn't burst into flames like some of the modern all electric versions.

 

[andyBeaker]

I agree that things have to change. As has been said above, the problem with EVs is the infrastructure. Further argument in favour of cars with proper engines is highlighted in Caspar's post.

I recall an old episode of Top Gear, probably going back a good 25 years, maybe more, where Clarkson was pissing about in a car powered by water. Yep, water. I wasn't convinced until I heard a discussion about there being several ways to power 'engines' but the oil majors keep buying all the patents to keep us peasants reliant on petrol/diesel. I'm now wondering if there's some truth in that now.

I have no idea what Casper said but one of the big, and it is big, pluses of EVs is one that is largely overlooked…they convert their ‘fuel’ into power at over 90% efficiency - ICEs are less than 30% efficient, much better at producing heat and noise than power. Annoyingly spawn of the devil diesels are slightly more efficient than proper petrol ICEs. Also EV motors are pretty much maintenance free Compared to ICE.

So pros and cons for both. But the one sure thing is that fossil fuel is not sustainable.

 

[Pow-Lo]

I have no idea what Casper said but one of the big, and it is big, pluses of EVs is one that is largely overlooked…they convert their ‘fuel’ into power at over 90% efficiency - ICEs are less than 30% efficient, much better at producing heat and noise than power. Annoyingly spawn of the devil diesels are slightly more efficient than proper petrol ICEs. Also EV motors are pretty much maintenance free Compared to ICE.

So pros and cons for both. But the one sure thing is that fossil fuel is not sustainable.

Here:

 

[Cougar377]

I have no idea what Casper said but one of the big, and it is big, pluses of EVs is one that is largely overlooked…they convert their ‘fuel’ into power at over 90% efficiency - ICEs are less than 30% efficient, much better at producing heat and noise than power. Annoyingly spawn of the devil diesels are slightly more efficient than proper petrol ICEs. Also EV motors are pretty much maintenance free Compared to ICE.

So pros and cons for both. But the one sure thing is that fossil fuel is not sustainable.

So what's your answer for replacing all the fossil fuel power stations.?

 

[andyBeaker]

So what's your answer for replacing all the fossil fuel power stations.?

So what's your answer for replacing all the fossil fuel power stations.?

Solar, wind, wave, hydro, nuclear, hydrogen power…all existing technologies that need developing. There are way, way more sophisticated and efficient solar systems than I have - yet since June 20 installation it has covered 79% of our electricity usage and that number will increase over the full year.

Heat sink pumps. Air pumps.

The possibilities are numerous and all difficult.

The one thing that is obvious is that this is a race we need to win.

 

[Duck n Dive]

I've often thought that the underground heat source pump system seems quite good. You do need either a series of vertical bores or a very, very large garden to bury the pipework.


But........ it works by using/drawing heat out of the ground...... so if it it becomes mega successful around the world will it just gradually cool the planet and cause an ice age?



It's interesting that some of those parts of the world with very large populations (India, China etc) seem to think the future lies off the planet.
It's unclear if they want to utilise off planet raw materials or simply leave. If we start seeing middle east countries using their wealth to explore space then maybe its time to start looking over our shoulders....

 

[andyBeaker]

I've often thought that the underground heat source pump system seems quite good. You do need either a series of vertical bores or a very, very large garden to bury the pipework.


But........ it works by using/drawing heat out of the ground...... so if it it becomes mega successful around the world will it just gradually cool the planet and cause an ice age?



It's interesting that some of those parts of the world with very large populations (India, China etc) seem to think the future lies off the planet.
It's unclear if they want to utilise off planet raw materials or simply leave. If we start seeing middle east countries using their wealth to explore space then maybe its time to start looking over our shoulders....

A very clever ground source heat pump has been developed where the pipework is embedded in the steel cage for concrete foundations where very deep bore holes/piles are required. Unfortunately not a building technique that is needed in most parts of the world (although with the amount of rain we have had down here over the last few weeks it might catch on).

I have only seen one ground source heat pump being installed ‘horizontally’ under the surface - the amount of soil that needed to be excavated and the length of tubing required was colossal. But, technology will improve.