EV general discussion

[OspreyO]

Yeah, a minority have functions like that as touchscreen only and the 'touch buttons' on the steering wheel that VW tried was fairly quickly reversed anyway

Edit - did smirk slightly that to demonstrate your point you've used a video called "VW ID.3: The Touch Controls Are FINE"

Well I'm open to hearing his opinion, I really like Martin Karel videos, but I disagree with him here. But its good overview of the overcomplexity (IMO) of the steering wheel controls.

AFAIK VW only reversed it on the golf Passat and Tiguan, not other models.

 

[jpaul]

Things like volume are very frequently on the steering wheel now, climate control is a set and forget system anyway, demister is a 'before you drive off' function, sat nav shouldn't be getting adjusted on the move beyond a typical 'accept alternative route' prompt etc. etc

yes don't need to touch most of controls once underway.
Sat Nav is the most frequent interaction I need if I am driving somewhere urban unfamiliar, where I find google maps can propose some stupid routes,
so I need to be able to get an overview map/zoom-out ... to see what it's up to. - a screen with more real estate could help significantly though (so maybe tesla/merc/explorer nailed that)
[google have a lot of sins to answer for]

 

[Jonnycoupe]

would rather hold the wheel with my primary hand to be fair…

yes don't need to touch most of controls once underway.
Sat Nav is the most frequent interaction I need if I am driving somewhere urban unfamiliar, where I find google maps can propose some stupid routes,
so I need to be able to get an overview map/zoom-out ... to see what it's up to. - a screen with more real estate could help significantly though (so maybe tesla/merc/explorer nailed that)
[google have a lot of sins to answer for]

Nah I’ve got Apple Maps overview on main screen and close up map in the cluster, and can set it vice versa. Using the JLR PIVI system also turn instruction/minimap in the HUD. So no, Tesla did not nail that by any stretch of the imagination.

You haven’t even drove these cars and speak with such authority I have no option to call you out on it I’m afraid. New Year’s resolution pope, dial it back!

 

[OspreyO]

yes don't need to touch most of controls once underway.
Sat Nav is the most frequent interaction I need if I am driving somewhere urban unfamiliar, where I find google maps can propose some stupid routes,
so I need to be able to get an overview map/zoom-out ... to see what it's up to. - a screen with more real estate could help significantly though (so maybe tesla/merc/explorer nailed that)
[google have a lot of sins to answer for]

Sat Nav I often adjust. going around sudden traffic, breakdowns etc. Changes of destination mid journey. Happens a lot at sports events, we get diverted to a different pitch or parking, or someone on site tells you to avoid something or go a different route for some reason, or indeed a charger not working or busy so divert to a different location.

Temp is another one, once you get warmed up you turn it down, or you get too cold, or it needs demisting, or someone gets in changing the humidity.

ACC Cruise control is another I adjust mid journey.

Probably media too, get bored with the radio, or music playing and want to change it. Changing music is pita on the touch screen. I can change tracks with buttons though, much better.

 

[Simon]

I guess easily distracted drivers are going to get distracted no matter what. Everything mentioned above is on the wheel buttons except temp which is a simple slide on the screen ( always same position and same time as checking mirrors) or the lower panel.

Reference is my 3 series which everything is buttons but putting an address into the nav with idrive scrolling thru A-Z is no less distracting that just tapping a qwerty keyboard which most people know where the buttons are.

But I’ll agree the Tesla ones are more of an issue based on where the screen is

 

[Kenai]

Sat Nav I often adjust. going around sudden traffic, breakdowns etc. Changes of destination mid journey. Happens a lot at sports events, we get diverted to a different pitch or parking, or someone on site tells you to avoid something or go a different route for some reason, or indeed a charger not working or busy so divert to a different location.

Temp is another one, once you get warmed up you turn it down, or you get too cold, or it needs demisting, or someone gets in changing the humidity.

ACC Cruise control is another I adjust mid journey.

Probably media too, get bored with the radio, or music playing and want to change it. Changing music is pita on the touch screen. I can change tracks with buttons though, much better.

How many of those are actually being buried into touchscreens to any significant degree?

Sat Navs obviously are but then the non-touch alternative there isn't usually much better if you're actually trying to add new destinations or actively tell it to avoid something. You end up endlessly scrolling through weird keyboard layouts letter by letter etc.

Temperature most cars still seem to have the basic functions as buttons and even if they are touch based like some of the newer VWs, it's still easy to adjust. (We'll skip over the fact people who constantly adjust temperature on climate controlled systems are wrong and broken )

ACC Cruise i've never seen an example where this is controlled entirely on touchscreen - I guess maybe Tesla because they've taken the screen concept to the extreme?

Media, again, virtually everything i've experienced with a touchscreen has media controls on the steering wheel anyway.

Back to my original post - I still think a lot of this problem is overblown based on a very small minority of extreme examples - most cars are not burying common controls to the extent you'd think judging by how much people seem to complain about it all.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

First charge went well, local quick charge point. Was done before we finished our shop. Was only about £20 for a 60% charge. More costly than home charging, but far cheaper than petrol. Granny charger arriving later and will then eventually sort out a home charging station, but no rush given the mileage and charging points near us.

 

[OspreyO]

How many of those are actually being buried into touchscreens to any significant degree?

Sat Navs obviously are but then the non-touch alternative there isn't usually much better if you're actually trying to add new destinations or actively tell it to avoid something. You end up endlessly scrolling through weird keyboard layouts letter by letter etc.

Temperature most cars still seem to have the basic functions as buttons and even if they are touch based like some of the newer VWs, it's still easy to adjust. (We'll skip over the fact people who constantly adjust temperature on climate controlled systems are wrong and broken )

ACC Cruise i've never seen an example where this is controlled entirely on touchscreen - I guess maybe Tesla because they've taken the screen concept to the extreme?

Media, again, virtually everything i've experienced with a touchscreen has media controls on the steering wheel anyway.

Back to my original post - I still think a lot of this problem is overblown based on a very small minority of extreme examples - most cars are not burying common controls to the extent you'd think judging by how much people seem to complain about it all.

The question I was replying to was how much of this stuff do people change while underway. Not how much is buried in a touch screen.

I can say I used to be able to change all the media much easier on my older car with a CD/MP3 system.

 

[cuke2u]

As the touchscreen is only an attempt by manufacturers to circumnavigate the law on the use of mobile phones why not enforce a rule that states they can only be active when the car is stationary.

 

[OspreyO]

First charge went well, local quick charge point. Was done before we finished our shop. Was only about £20 for a 60% charge. More costly than home charging, but far cheaper than petrol. Granny charger arriving later and will then eventually sort out a home charging station, but no rush given the mileage and charging points near us.

Same. I've never used my granny charger in anger. Tested it once. When I had no home charger, just used the local fast charger.

 

[Tinders]

First charge went well, local quick charge point. Was done before we finished our shop. Was only about £20 for a 60% charge. More costly than home charging, but far cheaper than petrol. Granny charger arriving later and will then eventually sort out a home charging station, but no rush given the mileage and charging points near us.

Doubt it’s far cheaper than petrol. £20 petrol @40mpg would give around 120 miles.

 

[squerble]

How many of those are actually being buried into touchscreens to any significant degree?

Sat Navs obviously are but then the non-touch alternative there isn't usually much better if you're actually trying to add new destinations or actively tell it to avoid something. You end up endlessly scrolling through weird keyboard layouts letter by letter etc.

Temperature most cars still seem to have the basic functions as buttons and even if they are touch based like some of the newer VWs, it's still easy to adjust. (We'll skip over the fact people who constantly adjust temperature on climate controlled systems are wrong and broken )

ACC Cruise i've never seen an example where this is controlled entirely on touchscreen - I guess maybe Tesla because they've taken the screen concept to the extreme?

Media, again, virtually everything i've experienced with a touchscreen has media controls on the steering wheel anyway.

Back to my original post - I still think a lot of this problem is overblown based on a very small minority of extreme examples - most cars are not burying common controls to the extent you'd think judging by how much people seem to complain about it all.

Tesla uses steering column stalk or steering wheel button to activate ACC/Autopilot, then the right thumb scroll wheel to change the speed. The only thing needed on the screen is to look and check the speed you're at/adjusting.

 

[ICDP]

Doubt it’s far cheaper than petrol. £20 petrol @40mpg would give around 120 miles.

Please oh wise and all knowing lord… point is to this mythical petrol car that does 40mpg

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Doubt it’s far cheaper than petrol. £20 petrol @40mpg would give around 120 miles.

Whichever way you cut it it’s cheaper. Doubt it’ll always be the case.

 

[OspreyO]

No idea what 60% and £20 means without a measure of distance or KW..

 

[Jonnycoupe]

Or kWh.

 

[The_One]

Please oh wise and all knowing lord… point is to this mythical petrol car that does 40mpg

my mk7 golf clubsport does 40mpg all day long on a run

 

[Jonnycoupe]

If you wanna double that number I can play this game?

 

[Journey]

@CaptainRAVE speaking of public charging, have you heard of Octopus Electroverse? They often have plunge pricing on chargers these days, network dependant, but 40% off Osprey for example, handy if you know you want to charge.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

@CaptainRAVE speaking of public charging, have you heard of Octopus Electroverse? They often have plunge pricing on chargers these days, network dependant, but 40% off Osprey for example, handy if you know you want to charge.

That’s pretty neat, no, I didn’t

Edit: apparently my wife has