EV general discussion

If I were looking to invest money, I'd be extending my house, not modifying a car :p

Right now, my Leaf covers all the driving I need - so obviously no point. However getting the range of a 2020 £30k+ spec EV for £12k is quite an interesting prospect. Mostly, because it shows it's possible and economically viable. In years to come - it may become cheaper and a more common thing to do.
 
as ive been researching EVs and the like

i came across a couple of videos, that i found intriguing and interesting, probably posted here, but worth a watch :


 
I’d still take that with a pinch of salt and doesn’t look like it’s coming to market any time soon.

As with any battery techs breakthroughs, come back when your able to produce millions of cells per month for a reasonable price.
 
Yeah that was pretty much a discussion i was having with someone in work, he was saying its pointless to buy a Tesla etc as these new batteries like solid state/aluminium air etc are all round the corner. And my argument was yeah they may be in a lab somewhere but not in a production car they're not, it'll be years before we move over from lithium ion.

While i welcome new battery tech and think there's some amazing things out there it will take quite a while to get to a stage where they'll be in your next electric car.
 
Any existing EVs today will be 10 years old and the car itself is likely to be falling to bits like pretty much every car out there. Remember it’s 2020...

I doubt we’ll see anything other than incremental improvements in battery tech regardless of the formula used.

The first solid state batteries rolling off the line are not going to be anything close to operating at their theoretical maximum, nothing ever does. It’s wishful thinking at best.

The days of huge technological breakthroughs in electronics are long gone and improvements are getting more and more difficult to make.

The current tech is also good enough for 99% of people, making it cheaper is the main issue IMO.
 
Bug One said:
I don't think it's lithium ion EVs that these will be killing off. It's ICE cars.
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Surely they're already on death row? Within 15 years it will be illegal to sell a new ICE car in the UK. Mercedes has already announced that they are not developing any new ICE power units so the range that is there is the end. I'm sure other manufacturers are at similar points in their product development cycles.

So I'm afraid that I agree, these new batteries will make older battery tech cars look very unattractive. Range anxiety is still a major issue for many drivers. Even if it is utterly irrational.
 
b0rn2sk8 said:
The days of huge technological breakthroughs in electronics are long gone and improvements are getting more and more difficult to make.
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That statement is a serious hostage to fortune! I can GUARANTEE that you'll have that quoted back to you at least once in your life!
 
It'd be really interesting to know if any manufacture is spending any meaningful sums of money on still developing ICE stuff, like whole new generations of engines not just tweaks to existing stuff.
 
sovietspybob said:
It'd be really interesting to know if any manufacture is spending any meaningful sums of money on still developing ICE stuff, like whole new generations of engines not just tweaks to existing stuff.
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For cars, I think that there is still research by some Japanese manufacturers as they see hybrid as the best way forward with CURRENT battery technology. As far as I'm aware ALL the HGV manufacturers are still working on diesels because there is no sensible electric alternative.
 
Oh yeah Mazda always like to go their own way for better or for worse.

It's a shame, for me anyway, that they're going down the tiny battery route as the CX30 looks really nice but compared to what else is out there it seems a pointless proposition for me :( shame as i really like Mazdas generally, we've had 2 over the years.
 
b0rn2sk8 said:
Any existing EVs today will be 10 years old and the car itself is likely to be falling to bits like pretty much every car out there. Remember it’s 2020...
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Difficult to know isn't it! There's far fewer components and moving parts in EVs, though those that are are more significant/costly to replace. Given how batteries in general work there's nothing to suggest that a current EV battery couldn't be swapped with different tech in the future... (bit of a guess there, but certainly if they were developed with retro-fitting in mind).

Is there any data that's recorded as to why current cars are scrapped?

My current Kia Sportage is 7 years old and hasn't had any work done or had any signs of needing anything replaced other than usual wear and tear (tyres, break pads). I see plenty of 10 and 60 plates around and unless you look at the plate you wouldn't spot them as being an old car.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Generally it's because the value depreciates to such a level whereby people consider them not worth continuing to invest in.
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Exactly. For most people, cars are just commodities. A tool for doing a job.

How long would you keep a washing machine? If the motor dies, or the bearings go - is it cheaper to buy a new one, or keep maintaining an old one.
 
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