Electric vehicles

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Electric vehicles

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MikeB4
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#1324721 15-Jun-2015 08:30

dwl:
MikeB4:
old3eyes:
MikeB4: The pedestrian warning sound should be compulsory and Protected from tampering

How do you get on then when a trolley bus is coming along?? They don't have warning devices. If people can't look when they cross a road then don't go out..

What about the blind, the young ?

The driver remains responsible for taking all reasonable precautions and driving defensively. What about a Prius?

That is true, but unfortunately a large percentage of NZ drivers refuse to take responsibility and believe road rules only apply to them if they agree to them. There needs to be legislation requiring warning systems
On electric powered vehicles before they become prevalent.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Sideface

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#1324722 15-Jun-2015 08:39

MikeB4:
old3eyes:
MikeB4: The pedestrian warning sound should be compulsory and Protected from tampering

How do you get on then when a trolley bus is coming along?? They don't have warning devices. If people can't look when they cross a road then don't go out..

What about the blind, the young ?

Sadly, children get run over by noisy vehicles as well - no child below the age of 10 should be crossing a road alone.

I drive a hybrid, which is completely silent when stationary or traveling slowly.
I drive past our two local schools very, very carefully.

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old3eyes

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#1324723 15-Jun-2015 08:41

dwl:
old3eyes:
MikeB4: The pedestrian warning sound should be compulsory and Protected from tampering

How do you get on then when a trolley bus is coming along?? They don't have warning devices. If people can't look when they cross a road then don't go out..

There don't seem to be any rules on the Prius or Camry hybrid and several times they have surprised me with their silence, especially in car parks. Bicycles can be deadly quiet and can cause a surprising amount of damage if going fast. If going to make warning compulsory then how about all those existing hybrids.

Even existing cars. The only thing you hear on a modern car these days are the tires as they approach. You won't hear much if any engine noise.

Regards,

Old3eyes

MikeB4

MikeB4
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#1324741 15-Jun-2015 09:06

Sideface:
MikeB4:
old3eyes:
MikeB4: The pedestrian warning sound should be compulsory and Protected from tampering

How do you get on then when a trolley bus is coming along?? They don't have warning devices. If people can't look when they cross a road then don't go out..

What about the blind, the young ?

Sadly, children get run over by noisy vehicles as well - no child below the age of 10 should be crossing a road alone.

I drive a hybrid, which is completely silent when stationary or traveling slowly.
I drive past our two local schools very, very carefully.

There is also the increased risks to cyclists on the roads not hearing vehicles approaching from behind. The risks to pedestrians is not just crossing roads there is car parks , vehicle crossovers, recreation areas.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

dwl

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#1324746 15-Jun-2015 09:14

kemosabe: Until we get Tesla style super chargers spread around NZ, I dont see pure EV working for most typical users. To me the most logical approach is PHEV so you have some space and can go as far as you like. At 2-3 l/100km the cost of fuel becomes incredibly cheap in comparison to pretty much any other vehicle.

Over 3 years and 60,000 km taking into account buy price, expected resale, fuel, insurance and maintenance costs; you can easily justify a hybrid or good condition second hand PHEV.

Hence my interest in importing a Prius PHV, just not sure if I will have a compliance issue as haven't seen or heard of any in NZ.

I agree that without charging networks being more common (and almost non-existent now) EVs probably won't be flexible enough for most users if their only car. However, where there is more than one car in a family and one has the role of commuter (which I think can be a lot of situations) the EV can be a good fit as of today.

Unfortunately we are still at the early adopter stage and I think the rate of depreciation on EVs (whether new or second hand import) will be higher until a good support model is established. I was disappointed talking to a Nissan dealer when he said that Nissan will only support the Leaf models sold into this market. I can understand they want to protect the brand but it means a potential source from Japan is more risky. Maybe Prius PHEV can be better supported after market. Unfortunately you probably can't buy a cheap OBD reader that will give a good insight into what is happening.

The Outlander PHEV seems very viable now, and shouldn't have any major problems with depreciation or servicing, except for that low tow rating if you have that requirement.
[Edit] typo

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1324747 15-Jun-2015 09:19

MikeB4: There is also the increased risks to cyclists on the roads not hearing vehicles approaching from behind. The risks to pedestrians is not just crossing roads there is car parks , vehicle crossovers, recreation areas.

Times and technology are changing. Nobody takes cheques anymore, I can't sign for my VISA, and I am forced to do more and more myself, usually online.

The modern world is a hostile place to people who have spent their entire lifetime doing things one way, and see no reason to change a system that worked perfectly well.

Electric cars are quiet, and making them behave in any way like an ICE is just ridiculous. Even if warning sounds become compulsory, they aren't going to be as effective as a low-frequency rumble from an ICE. You WILL just have to get used to looking before you walk out in to the street no matter what idiotic rules are imposed on us.

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Mark

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#1324750 15-Jun-2015 09:33

MikeB4:

There is also the increased risks to cyclists on the roads not hearing vehicles approaching from behind. The risks to pedestrians is not just crossing roads there is car parks , vehicle crossovers, recreation areas.

This problem is easily solved, each driver just needs to employ a person to walk in front of them as they drive, waving a red flag and calling out to warn people that you are approaching.

Do I have to solve everyones problems for them ?!?

;-)

Seriously though ... I seem to remember being taught "Stop, Look, Listen" at school, at home, via the radio and TV and it must work as a process as I've not been killed yet!

raytaylor

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#1324753 15-Jun-2015 09:37

MikeB4: There is also the increased risks to cyclists on the roads not hearing vehicles approaching from behind. The risks to pedestrians is not just crossing roads there is car parks , vehicle crossovers, recreation areas.

This is quite simple to resolve.
Cyclists are to pull over and give way to all vehicles, coming from any direction, going in any direction.

Ray Taylor

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Jaxson

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#1324772 15-Jun-2015 09:52

robjg63: NZ is ideally suited for EVs.
Apparently because:

renewable/clean offpeak power

The whole area does require a lot of planning and thought.

Once enough people arrive home from work and plug the car in over night, mixed with ovens and hot water use, you have a new peak period.

That if too peaky, you fire up coal stations to fill up your clean eco car.

qyiet

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#1324773 15-Jun-2015 09:53

MikeB4: The pedestrian warning sound should be compulsory and Protected from tampering

Everyone leave MikeB4 alone, he has a point, this new technology is dangerous. I think we should go back to the system of having someone ride ahead of any motorcar on horseback with a red flag to warn people that it's coming.

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

Warning: reality may differ from above post

frankv

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#1324792 15-Jun-2015 10:22

Jaxson: Once enough people arrive home from work and plug the car in over night, mixed with ovens and hot water use, you have a new peak period.

If a battery does require 12+ hours charging from (say) 5pm-6am, then it's not going to be pulling very much current from the grid.

Assuming a reasonably short battery charging time (say less than 8 hours), there's no reason why a car should be charging before (say) 10pm. In fact, the car could regulate its charge-up time itself, so is just fully charged at (say) 6am.

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Batman

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#1324799 15-Jun-2015 10:25

Surely rise of EV should be coupled with nuclear energy. What is the point of not burning petrol and then flooding the forest for hydro power, or worse burning coal?

DravidDavid

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#1324809 15-Jun-2015 10:39

I still think the best way to go about an EV is building it yourself. You can end up recovering costs in the end due to it being so cheap to run.

As far as the warning system goes. It's a non issue. Someone raised the point that all you hear from modern cars is the road noise. It's absolutely true. Although I have to say at parking lot speeds, the Prius is so deathly silent it attracts my attention.

The best way to prevent being run over is checking twice both ways and then stepping out. The rest is natural selection.

RUKI

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#1324838 15-Jun-2015 11:04

The best way to prevent being run over is checking twice both ways and then stepping out. .

The best place to learn those skills is Moscow. If you are not looking at both sides simultaneously and not jumping as Kangaroo even when on a pedestrian crossing – you are a dead man.

Lazy crossing with the pace of a snail or rushing your bike into pedestrian crossing (kids should be educated to cross it holding the bike and not riding it) is what is dangerous – not the car being silent or not.

Suggest that one lady who does make-up with one hand and holding smartphone texting with another while driving on State Highway 1 is presenting more risks then all EVs or Prius registered in NZ altogether.

trig42

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#1324845 15-Jun-2015 11:18

frankv:
Jaxson: Once enough people arrive home from work and plug the car in over night, mixed with ovens and hot water use, you have a new peak period.

If a battery does require 12+ hours charging from (say) 5pm-6am, then it's not going to be pulling very much current from the grid.

Assuming a reasonably short battery charging time (say less than 8 hours), there's no reason why a car should be charging before (say) 10pm. In fact, the car could regulate its charge-up time itself, so is just fully charged at (say) 6am.

I wonder, can you use an EV as a UPS as well? Power goes down at home, plug in your car and keep the fridge/PC/TV going?

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