EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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#2058648 19-Jul-2018 09:49

plod:
Geektastic:

plod: My life is far to unorganised to make an EV work for me. Will be looking at hybrids when the time comes I think

Just got rid of ours in PX for a Volvo diesel.

The a/c compressor needed replacing. $3,500 + GST and fitting...! It's a special part due to the hybrid engine. I even tried Japan direct, as I am going there later in the year - still US$1500. Had a headlight go on it - that was not far off the same money, but that was under warranty fortunately.

The windscreen went and was replaced with a Chinese one despite my protestations. The insurers would not pay to import the correct one from Japan, which was lighter in weight, specially heat reflective (so the a/c did not have to work so hard) and so on.

The diesel, to cap it all, returns better MPG...!

What did you have?

Toyota Alphard Hybrid.

MikeAqua

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#2058714 19-Jul-2018 11:05

MarkH67:

Geektastic:

The only answer - unless someone invents a way of charging a 500km capable battery in 5 minutes - is surely cartridge batteries, where you pull in and the empty battery is slid out, a charged one slid in and off you go.

Rubbish!

There is another very simple answer - all you need is an EV with enough range to see out any day of travelling, such a vehicle would only need to be charged overnight.

Either or would solvev the issues

1,000km tested-range as Tesla are claiming they will build (perhaps 800 in real world use) would be fantastic.

But 500km with 5 minute 'charge' would be comparable to an ICEV so perfectly manageable.

Another thing to think about is autonomous cars. Once all cars are autonomous, accidents should be a thing of the past. Cars can then be built lighter (like aircraft) on the assumption they won't crash . That will significantly increase range.

Mike

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#2058945 19-Jul-2018 17:47

GV27:

but by your own post, an EV works for you because you can also store, run, insure, fuel a petrol vehicle to do what the EV can't.

It's less that I can afford two cars - we always had two cars, so an EV has nothing to do with it - and more that the other car is worth less than the time it would take to get rid of it. Best case would be if a tree fell on it. It is also financially crippling to drive.

It's school holidays at the moment. My mother has been using the Leaf to drive the kids to things because she does not want to drive a Pajero. I have driven it 4 times these holidays. Once I drove it all the way to work because I had stuff to carry home, and the other three times I only drove to Albany and caught the bus. Those 4 trips (and I have to do it again tomorrow, sigh) have already cost more in petrol alone - not even counting bus fare - than the electricity for an entire month's commuting in the Leaf.

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SaltyNZ

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#2058948 19-Jul-2018 17:51

MikeAqua:

Cars can then be built lighter (like aircraft) on the assumption they won't crash .

That's a hell of an assumption. Just because an AI is driving the car doesn't mean that if a tree falls on the road with 1 second's warning, it won't crash. Not to mention the fact that in order to be autonomous, they don't have to be better than humans, just as good as.

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afe66

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#2059235 20-Jul-2018 10:42

SaltyNZ:
GV27:

but by your own post, an EV works for you because you can also store, run, insure, fuel a petrol vehicle to do what the EV can't.

It's less that I can afford two cars - we always had two cars, so an EV has nothing to do with it - and more that the other car is worth less than the time it would take to get rid of it. Best case would be if a tree fell on it. It is also financially crippling to drive.

It's school holidays at the moment. My mother has been using the Leaf to drive the kids to things because she does not want to drive a Pajero. I have driven it 4 times these holidays. Once I drove it all the way to work because I had stuff to carry home, and the other three times I only drove to Albany and caught the bus. Those 4 trips (and I have to do it again tomorrow, sigh) have already cost more in petrol alone - not even counting bus fare - than the electricity for an entire month's commuting in the Leaf.

I've had leaf as our second car for 2 years.

Still got a petrol ford focus which rarely gets used.
Currently lots of big building trucks going up and down our narrow street and I have been secretly hoping for a crash which writes off the focus so I can go totally EV.

Haven't yet had a moment where I needed specifically use petrol car. (I've done 300-400km legs with rapid chargers)

I charge in driveway but park the focus tactically on street otherwise we cant get out of driveway because of the way people are parking because of building works.

kingdragonfly

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#2059243 20-Jul-2018 11:13

An 8 minute video called "The Most Common EV Charging Misconception"

"We need to talk about private home charging more than we do. 99% of our charging infrastructure already exists, and this is something that absolutely needs to be communicated and not enough people are doing. Here is my attempt.

In short, no matter if it's a Chevy Volt, Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf, or any of Tesla's cars, you will most likely be charging it at home. It's the cheapest and easiest way to do it--creating your own charging infrastructure."

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Jeeves

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#2059421 20-Jul-2018 16:18

I just want to give a shout out to OEM audio in Christchurch.

My EVSE for my Leaf stopped working the other day, sent them an email and I think the owner maybe? Paul.. got on the blower with me and discussed the fault.

Likely due to burning out a component due to under voltage from using an extension cable to charge the Leaf ... so really, entirely my fault. But Paul said send it down and they'll take a look.

Next day, gives me a call to confirm it was probably due to me using an extension cable.. but he's going to send me a brand new replacement anyway, free of charge. Next day (Bear in mind they're in Chch and Im in Akl).. shiny new charger turns up.

Great service - if you're in the market for an EVSE... highly recommend the chaps at OEM Audio. Not every day you receive get ol customer service like that.

tdgeek

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#2059558 20-Jul-2018 18:20

kingdragonfly: An 8 minute video called "The Most Common EV Charging Misconception"

"We need to talk about private home charging more than we do. 99% of our charging infrastructure already exists, and this is something that absolutely needs to be communicated and not enough people are doing. Here is my attempt.

In short, no matter if it's a Chevy Volt, Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf, or any of Tesla's cars, you will most likely be charging it at home. It's the cheapest and easiest way to do it--creating your own charging infrastructure."

Thats exactly right. I just dont get the comments about range etc. If you drive 300kms a day and back, an EV wont work. Most fill up on petrol and use that over many days. EV is less days, but still many days. Cars sleep at home.

GV27

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#2059598 20-Jul-2018 19:16

tdgeek:

Thats exactly right. I just dont get the comments about range etc. If you drive 300kms a day and back, an EV wont work. Most fill up on petrol and use that over many days. EV is less days, but still many days. Cars sleep at home.

The problem isn't as much 300kms a day on the reg, it's having to have another vehicle on standby for the times when you have to do it, even if it is once or twice a month/weekends.

Having said that, this is less of an issue as charging times come down, battery capacities increase and battery management systems are improved to cope better with fast-charging. The old Nissan Leaf can't do it, but maybe the 2021 Suzuki Swift or 2020 Mini Cooper will be able to.

Teeps

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#2059610 20-Jul-2018 19:28

I think people who don't have an EV find it difficult to comprehend the mindset change. They're used to running their vehicle down on fuel and then driving to a petrol station and filling it up and see that as something that takes them ~5 mins to do, they then think about doing the same in an EV and comment that it takes so much longer to 'fill' it up, when in reality you do not use an EV in the same way.

I have owned my EV for just under 5 months and have driven nearly 5,000km in it, even having been out of the country for 6 weeks of that time, so even though I don't do high mileage, the car does get used for all our normal daily usage.

Since owning the car I have only used a DC fast charger twice, the first time was in the first week as I wanted to try it out and learn how to use it, the second time was a few weeks later when I had been using my EV in a similar way to an ICE vehicle and was running it to near empty before charging it up, unfortunately I found the extension cable I was using to charge my EV outside was faulty (the EVSE was ok, just the RCD in the extension cable was faulty) so I decided to use the DC fast charger that evening as I wouldn't have been able to use the car the next day without charging.

At the time I was still in the learning phase as being a new EV owner, but soon realised that I didn't need to restrict myself in the same way I did with my ICE vehicle and run the car to nearly empty before filling it up to make best use of my time. Instead I now top up my car overnight every day, even though it doesn't need much each time, and I get into a car with its full range every morning.

I understand that this is quite a mindset change, but before you have an EV I think most people think that charging it up is an inconvenience, but in reality it's a lot easier than needing to think of visiting a petrol station. My ICE uses 98 fuel, and it was actually a detour for me to go to a garage to fill it up, so the EV is a lot more convenient.

It's very easy to mistakenly think EV ownership as a problem, but once you own one you realise how easily they fit into your life, and actually make it easier. We purchased our EV as a city car so we weren't using our ICE on a daily basis causing pollution for commuting journeys, but having owned it I have no concerns about going EV full time as our ICE just doesn't get used anymore, and I can't think I'd ever purchase an ICE vehicle again.

tdgeek

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#2059618 20-Jul-2018 19:38

GV27:

tdgeek:

Thats exactly right. I just dont get the comments about range etc. If you drive 300kms a day and back, an EV wont work. Most fill up on petrol and use that over many days. EV is less days, but still many days. Cars sleep at home.

The problem isn't as much 300kms a day on the reg, it's having to have another vehicle on standby for the times when you have to do it, even if it is once or twice a month/weekends.

Having said that, this is less of an issue as charging times come down, battery capacities increase and battery management systems are improved to cope better with fast-charging. The old Nissan Leaf can't do it, but maybe the 2021 Suzuki Swift or 2020 Mini Cooper will be able to.

I get that. For those that have two cars such as the post above it works well. One car, most of the time its no issue, but if you plan a longer trip, it hopefully just needs some minor planning. Or worse, a workaround for the trip, or a problem.

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MarkH67

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#2059735 21-Jul-2018 06:39

GV27: The old Nissan Leaf can't do it, but maybe the 2021 Suzuki Swift or 2020 Mini Cooper will be able to.

I would guess that the 2019 60kWh Leaf could also do it without much trouble. Also, the new Hyundai Kona with the 64kWh battery (this is possibly the exact same battery as the new Leaf will be getting) which should be available later this year would have no problems with 300km trips. I would be surprised if there wasn't a 60kWh Hyundai Ioniq and a 60kWh VW eGolf out within the next couple of years as well. In fact, by 2021 I would bet that there will be over a dozen choices that have 60kWh or better batteries.

The 2020s will be a good decade for EVs and all 60kWh and beyond models will be fine for longer trips and completely remove the need for a fossil fuel burning second car. Once you can drive for 3+ hours between charging stops, you will be happy to stop for a break anyway. Hopefully, we will be getting some upgraded chargers on the main routes, with 100kW charging rates - by the time you have drained your bladder and had some food and drink, your car will be charged.

My prediction is that by 2021 the 40kWh models will disappear and the 60kWh battery will be in the base model at a more reasonable price. If you want 60kWh this year then obviously you will pay a price premium, after a couple of years that capacity won't be the newest thing out and won't command a hefty price premium.

paulchinnz

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#2059738 21-Jul-2018 07:32

Woops wrong thread.

Anyway, egolf is supposedly end of line so I'd be very surprised to see a new 60kwh version too.

But yeah we're currently in a transition phase / tipping point? for availability of EVs with range comparable to ICE. Just wish it'd happen faster.

gzt

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#2059907 21-Jul-2018 12:53

Nissan set to release nismo leaf in July. Aka boy racer leaf:

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/news/nissan-leaf-nismo-goes-on-sale-in-japan-only/

paulchinnz

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#2059912 21-Jul-2018 13:01

I wonder how this Nismo's battery will hold up if 'driving like you stole it' in the absence of active cooling...

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