SaltyNZ:

 

It's a problem that needs to be solved eventually, but off-hand I can already think of two which are planned to be on the market within 12-24 months. There is also the eNV-2000 which has already been around for quite some time. Indeed, the second time I ever used a public fast charger, an electrician was already there charging his van.

 

But I agree, more options would be welcome.

 

The 40kWh e-NV200 would do just fine a lot of uses. The range would be 200km at least. It has battery cooling. You could fast charge it as required. It has a decent cabin size for tools / other stuff or you can fit it out with seats.

The LDV van is much bigger, but has less range (150km) even with a 56kWh battery, due to it's size. But 150km and the ability to quickly give it a 15 minute zap as needed if you need another 60km or whatever.....make it perfect for almost any tradie. The only obstacle would be the up-front cost (much cheaper to run than petrol or deisel, after that).

I'm looking for the government to narrow the gap. The IPCC says we have 12 years to avoid wrecking the planet inevitable by cutting emissions by 45%........and they said that to do that we have to start in a big way in the next 12 months.

We don't have time to waste. Most of us alive now WILL see the planet dying in front of us if we carry on as we are.

This is inextricably entwined with a current wrong-headed policy settings that keep the poor, poor. As it stands, only the wealthy can move first......but we ALL need to be able to move to lower emissions regime asap....so the government - all governments -  are basically going to have to go to a war footing and just do what needs doing.....and don't worry about who earned what or who paid for what. Jealousy can't be fatal.

Linuxluver:

 

The 40kWh e-NV200 would do just fine a lot of uses. The range would be 200km at least. It has battery cooling. You could fast charge it as required. It has a decent cabin size for tools / other stuff or you can fit it out with seats.

The LDV van is much bigger, but has less range (150km) even with a 56kWh battery, due to it's size. But 150km and the ability to quickly give it a 15 minute zap as needed if you need another 60km or whatever.....make it perfect for almost any tradie. The only obstacle would be the up-front cost (much cheaper to run than petrol or deisel, after that).

The eNV's are pretty versatile, range would probably suit some 'tradie' applications. The LDV is quite comfortable with it's range, even on the open road.

Linuxluver:

We don't have time to waste. Most of us alive now WILL see the planet dying in front of us if we carry on as we are.

 

And that is what ultimately led me to buy an EV. All this arguing over the actually only very slight inconvenience of a currently available 2nd-hand EV - not to mention that the currently available new ones greatly decrease that inconvenience factor anyway - completely misses the point that that if we don't do this mildly inconvenient thing now, we're going to really regret it within our own lives, let alone our children's.

SaltyNZ:

 

Linuxluver:

We don't have time to waste. Most of us alive now WILL see the planet dying in front of us if we carry on as we are.

 

And that is what ultimately led me to buy an EV. All this arguing over the actually only very slight inconvenience of a currently available 2nd-hand EV - not to mention that the currently available new ones greatly decrease that inconvenience factor anyway - completely misses the point that that if we don't do this mildly inconvenient thing now, we're going to really regret it within our own lives, let alone our children's.

 

I would love to live in a world where the price premium is only a 'slight inconvenience'. 

Unfortunately for myself and many others, that is not the case. 

Linuxluver: all governments -  are basically going to have to go to a war footing and just do what needs doing.....and don't worry about who earned what or who paid for what. Jealousy can't be fatal.

 

Because command economies and socialism have produced such good results so far, what could possibly go wrong?

GV27:

 

I would love to live in a world where the price premium is only a 'slight inconvenience'. 

 

Unfortunately for myself and many others, that is not the case. 

 

It wasn't the case for me either, but I did it anyway because we're all f***ed if we don't.

kingdragonfly: Anyone know why test vehicles seem to use "dazzle camouflage"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage

I think it hides the lines\shape of the final finished Production example. Pretty much all the car manufacturers use it to hide the lines\shape of there new vehicles

As an example, here is a spy shot of the now released BMW 8 series coupe

And here is a picture of the production example

The camouflage hides the design very well.

SaltyNZ:

 

GV27:

 

I would love to live in a world where the price premium is only a 'slight inconvenience'. 

 

Unfortunately for myself and many others, that is not the case. 

 

 

It wasn't the case for me either, but I did it anyway because we're all f***ed if we don't.

 

Unfortunately, given the choice between paying $$$ for an EV or driving a Corolla that has depreciated to almost nothing, I'm going to keep driving the Corolla. That way, I can still pay my rent.

While the sentiment is noble, it's out of touch for a huge number of people out there. 

With EV's, has there been some sort of agreement between all manufacturers to standardize the recharge plug?

With a ICE petrol car, it doesn't matter if I'm driving a old Morris mini or the latest Ferrari, I know that the fuel pump nozzle will fit into the fuel tank filler hole on the car.

In theory, there is nothing stopping say Mercedes developing there own plug, then offering customer's reduced rates through some sort of plan.

Therefore, to help with EV adoption, surely a standard should exist?

WyleECoyoteNZ:

 

With EV's, has there been some sort of agreement between all manufacturers to standardize the recharge plug?

 

Yes, of course they have.

Linuxluver:

 

Most of us alive now WILL see the planet dying in front of us if we carry on as we are.

That simply isn't true.  Things will go horribly wrong, but the planet will not 'die'. 

Firstly; the planet isn't alive.  It's a hunk of rock with a small amount of water and a even smaller biosphere. 

Secondly; while parts of the biosphere will die, other parts will survive.  We are at ~400ppm CO2.  The biosphere once thrived at 800ppm.  We can probably expect hundreds of millions (maybe billions) of people to be killed.  That sucks, but it isn't a risk to the biosphere.

When sufficient people have died.  Emissions will decrease, forest sequestration will increase and CO2 will reduce again.  Surviving animals will evolve to occupy any vacant niches and ecosystems will stabilise. 

The planet will be just fine.

WyleECoyoteNZ:

 

Therefore, to help with EV adoption, surely a standard should exist?

 

Yes,

Just like global car companies should have a standard for which side the indicator stalk is, and countries should have an agreement on which side the steering wheel should be on.... :)

wellygary:

 

WyleECoyoteNZ:

 

Therefore, to help with EV adoption, surely a standard should exist?

 

 

Yes,

 

Just like global car companies should have a standard for which side the indicator stalk is, and countries should have an agreement on which side the steering wheel should be on.... :)

 

Or which way is change-down on sports-matic gear boxes (Mazda 3 and Mitsi Paj are opposite).  End result is I have to look.

Are slappy-paddles standardised?  I only have one car with them fitted.  Sitting here I can't remember which side is change-down

Or headlight beam controls - forward-back on Mazda; on the Mitsi you just pull forward and they cycle between high and low beam.

To be fair, in practical reality it is already standardised. Chademo or CCS are basically universal except for Tesla, which has a Chademo adapter available also.