Driving an electric car from Sydney to Melbourne / the Downsides of EVs

[LindsayGT]

A couple of interesting reads!

https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/can-you-drive-around-australia-in-an-electric-car/

https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-21-misleading-myths-about-electric-vehicles/

[ruSTynutz]

The first article was quite interesting... 

It was nice that they actually admitted many of the shortcomings that an EV poses for that sort of touring.

The fact that they had a flat tyre shows that a spare really is a must have, especially with this sort of use, whether it's an EV or a ICE vehicle.
I'm assuming they carried the spare/spares in the trailer and not in the EV9, which, if true, is disappointing
Most people don't have the luxury of a support vehicle and trailer following them around so it would have been more interesting/realistic to see the EV9 loaded up the way most people would have their vehicle loaded on a trip like this.

However, the EV9 did have some driver aids that needed to be turned off at the start of each day – for our own sanity more than anything. I take offence at being told to take a break 20 minutes into a 500km drive, and the driver attention monitoring system was enthusiastic to say the least.

Likewise, the speed-limit warning chime, which we turned off every time we saddled up. Lastly, the lane-keep assist system is a hindrance on country roads where you might be avoiding washouts, potholes or roadkill, and you need to move over or around hazards that the car doesn’t want you to. As such, that system was turned off each time too.

It just goes to show what a joke some of these so called "Driver Aids" can be, and their inclusion (in my opinion) is really more about getting the coveted ANCAP 5 Star Rating than actually making the driving experience safer...

What might appear on paper, though, to be a 600km range (around town) very quickly drops to 350km on the open road. Forget about 130km/h in the NT, 110km/h or even 100km/h is your battery-saving friend. Especially in the heat of the day. We had numerous days where the mercury hit 38 degrees, and at highway speed, with the AC running, the EV9 wouldn’t get anywhere near its city best.

Pretty much confirms what I've been saying that EV range isn't really good enough.
I'm not saying you can't do long trips but it certainly involves much more forward planning and  than a comparable trip in an ICE vehicle.

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I did have a quick look at that second link but got to wondering how accurate some of their "so called" fact checks are when I read this:

adding that those fires that do occur in EVs do not burn more intensely or at higher temperatures than for combustion engines.

Also this one:

EVs do not depreciate any faster than conventional cars.

Hmmm, really??? 

[Biggles]

When you really need reliability...

[ruSTynutz]

 

[Nigel]

When you really need reliability...

Who`d have thought?

[Joso]

That’s if they don’t go up in smoke first they are deadly

[Gadget]

That’s if they don’t go up in smoke first they are deadly

Not an EV in sight.
https://youtu.be/U6dlHpKE-ug?si=J121a7zpjuzMPJW9

Evfiresafe.com

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[LindsayGT]

How can this be stopped?

https://www.rideapart.com/news/722784/honda-ev-strategy-kill-gas-motorcycles/

https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2024/c240516eng.html

What would it take for Honda to cancel its progress on EV research and development?

[ruSTynutz]

As has been seen already, quite a few car manufacturers are scaling back or delaying their electric vehicle plans so with a bit of luck, this scaling back will also happen with motorcycle manufacturers... 

[Gadget]

Old story, new hecklers.

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[Gadget]

Evidenced based reporting over feelpinions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2024/05/19/the-vibes-lie-electric-vehicles-accelerate-toward-50-of-global-sales/

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[ruSTynutz]

Evidenced based reporting over feelpinions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2024/05/19/the-vibes-lie-electric-vehicles-accelerate-toward-50-of-global-sales/

Reads more like a commercial for EVs...   

[Gadget]

Evidenced based reporting over feelpinions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2024/05/19/the-vibes-lie-electric-vehicles-accelerate-toward-50-of-global-sales/

Reads more like a commercial for EVs...   

That says more about your bias than anything else.

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[ruSTynutz]

Of course you could never be accused of bias...
That article was more about "projections" than actual evidence, from what I could see... 

[ruSTynutz]

Weak EV Sales Spur Europe ICE, Plugin Hybrids, Undermine CO2 Rules

Europe’s car market wasn’t supposed to be like this. Electric vehicle sales were expected to be booming, plug-in hybrids would be the compromise choice and combustion engines were heading for the knacker’s yard.
On the surface, the Western European market for all sedans and SUVs in 2024 has slowed down a bit but still appears to be healthy. Industry forecaster GlobalData said it expects sales to grow 4.5% this year to 11.98 million, much slower than last year’s 13.9% increase.
But the industry is in turmoil as the unexpected slowdown in EV sales growth raises questions about the huge amount of capital invested in developing them. European Union carbon dioxide regulations look incoherent as internal combustion engine sales unexpectedly rally. The likelihood of tariffs on more affordable Chinese EV imports also raises problems for the EU’s determination to force its citizens to buy EVs.

To continue reading, click this link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2024/05/14/weak-ev-sales-spur-europe-ice-plugin-hybrids-undermine-co2-rules/

[LindsayGT]

It’s probably useful to read what else Neil Winton has to say.

https://www.wintonsworld.com/

He seems far more measured than the Aussie knowitall who likes to make YouTube videos.

And I noticed this article. Quite interesting and nowhere near the hysteria exhibited by some!

https://www.wintonsworld.com/evs-acquitted-of-short-term-excess-fire-risk-charges/


From his most recent article!

https://www.wintonsworld.com/the-two-faces-of-evs-brilliant-in-town-hopeless-on-highways/


“ More than 30 EVs over three years
My reviews of more than 30 EVs over three years show as soon as speeds advance past 60 mph, the range drops away alarmingly. This is simply the laws of physics in action, as expressed by Peter Wells, Professor of Business and Sustainability at Cardiff Business School.

“Range falls off a cliff at high speed. For an electric car, the extra energy required getting from 60 mph to 75 mph is astonishing and virtually doubles energy consumption to move all that air out of the way,” Wells has said.

This range argument has been the elephant in the room for years. Back in 2012 when I questioned Elon Musk at the Geneva car show, he confirmed that Tesla average range claims were measured at 55 mph. It doesn’t much imagination to realize cruising at 75 mph is going to slash range.”

In recent times, since my catastrophic crash on February 19, last year, I’ve been happy to move along at around 100kph, rather than the posted limit of 110kph. I found that the journey time length was insignificant, and much more relaxed.🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[ruSTynutz]

Great informative post, Lindsay! 

[Brock]

Fuel usage at high speeds is also a problem for ICE vehicles, thats why my BT50 has an 80Liter tank (or larger) . Just dont watch the liters/K indicator when you put the foot in.. Of course I can carry extra fuel, but extra amps are hard to contain.

[ruSTynutz]

Of course I can carry extra fuel, but extra amps are hard to contain.

EV owners need these: https://www.smart-energy.com/industry-sectors/electric-vehicles/electricity-jerry-cans-developer-to-research-advanced-ev-solutions/
Of course, they probably weigh a ton but just might enable you to get another coupla hundred metres up the road before it too is empty... 

[Gadget]

https://youtu.be/0S2oPlkB-zM?si=W1gQ4kO6Rjc7hqSC

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[Williamson]

Fuel usage at high speeds is also a problem for ICE vehicles, thats why my BT50 has an 80Liter tank (or larger) . Just dont watch the liters/K indicator when you put the foot in.. Of course I can carry extra fuel, but extra amps are hard to contain.

What motor in your BT?.  I had two Rangers with the 2.2 diesel, one with the 3.2.  The 2.2s were very good (8 litres per 100km) on the highway at up to 110km/h, the 3.2 was pretty awful. 

Then came the Pajero with a 2.4, better than the 2.2 Rangers.

Currently a 3.0 diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee.  It gets around 8.0 at around 100km/h, and towing the 2000kg caravan at 90km/h, around 13 to 14.

[Brock]

I have a 2.2 4x2 in Thailand that is good on fuel, a 3.2 4x4 here, fuel usage is a bit high, but liveable. Its a good motor with a ton of grunt. I can feel the difference in the new (Isuzu) BT50 with the smaller engine.

[Williamson]

I have a 2.2 4x2 in Thailand that is good on fuel, a 3.2 4x4 here, fuel usage is a bit high, but liveable. Its a good motor with a ton of grunt. I can feel the difference in the new (Isuzu) BT50 with the smaller engine.

Yes, the 3.2 certainly had more grunt than the 2.2, but the 3.0 Jeep V6 has enormous torque, craps all over the 3.2.

Work replaced my 3.2 Ranger early last year, never had a chance to give it a test (only did 4,000km in 12 months - mostly by others), but it was sure noisy, crude, rude and unsophisticated.  Don't think I'd ever buy one for myself.

[ruSTynutz]

EVs are giving new owners more headaches, and Tesla is a big reason why: J.D. Power study

J.D. Power's latest initial quality survey finds that EVs have more problems and higher severity of repairs compared to traditional autos.

J.D. Power’s study tracks responses from nearly 100,000 purchasers and lessees of 2024 vehicles within the first 90 days of ownership,
and for the first time in the study’s 38-year history, it incorporates repair visit data. Overall, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles
averaged 180 PP100 (or 180 problems per 100 vehicles), while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) averaged a whopping 266 PP100, 86
points higher than ICE vehicles.

Click link to continue reading: https://tinyurl.com/4fjd87w9

[West Aussie Glen]

Tesla Model Y not available due to lack of power.
My mate had a Tesla Type 3 which he enjoyed but sold it to his son after buying a Tesla Y as his wife is mote comfortable in the Y both from a the seat and reduction in Range Anxiety as they regularly do the Perth to Yallingup trip of 520kms return.
With Tesla 3 a coffee stop at a charging point fitted nicely into the trip.
Unfortunately the Tesla Y let him down the other day.
There was a planned power outage and he hadn't left enough time to manually open the garage door to get to a doctors appointment so he had to go in his wife's Yaris Hybrid.
PS He has had very little trouble with either Tesla