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

[LindsayGT]

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

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

Whenever these stories pop up it’s good to read the comments. At the end of this story, almost 800 comments. One of the comments that popped out was


“ It's worth reading the results on the JD Powers website. The "quality" measurement includes both mechanical and non-mechanical issues, such as badly designed cup holders, confusion over how to operate components, etc.” Whatttt!!!

Read em!

The story was also somewhat confusing to me. Aren’t Ram and Dodge the same mob?  Ram was apparently the most reliable. I know a guy who was driving between Uluru and the Stuart highway. 40000 km on the clock so almost new. It popped its bottom end and had to be transported back to WA on a flatbed. Thankfully a new engine was installed under warranty. Took quite a while though.

[ruSTynutz]

“The removal of traditional feature controls, such as turn signals and wiper stalks, has not been well received by Tesla customers,”

I don't blame them, why make change for the sake of change?

I also can't get my head around why the hell everything needs to be done via the "iPad" screen...
Yes, I get that it is probably way cheaper for Tesla to do it that way as they don't have to manufacture individual
switches etc but how anyone could think operating just about everything through the screen is a good thing is absolutely crazy!
Even having the speedo showing on the screen instead of directly in front of the driver is ridiculous...
Also, having to use the screen just to open the glove box...really? 
And before someone pipes up and tells me you can also open it with voice command or by programming a switch, is that really
easier than just having a catch on the glove box?

I know many other manufacturers are going down that path to a certain extent (and not just in their EVs) but, in my
opinion it's just fashion over function! 

[ruSTynutz]

Whenever these stories pop up it’s good to read the comments. At the end of this story, almost 800 comments. One of the comments that popped out was

“ It's worth reading the results on the JD Powers website. The "quality" measurement includes both mechanical and non-mechanical issues, such as badly designed cup holders, confusion over how to operate components, etc.” Whatttt!!!

Read em!

Probably ties in with my "issues" in my last post... 

[ruSTynutz]

Hybrid sales are outstripping EVs, sounding alarm for emissions reductions

In Short: Car buyers looking for low-emission options are choosing hybrid vehicles over fully battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs), according to latest sales figures.
Experts are worried this will delay mass uptake of EVs and the needed deep cuts to national transport emissions.

What's next? Some automakers are scaling back or delaying their EV plans in favour of hybrid production.

Sales of hybrids are rapidly outstripping those of electric vehicles (EVs), with experts concerned the developing consumer trend will slow the national reduction in transport emissions.

Hybrids, which combine batteries and electric motors with internal combustion engines, recorded 14.4 per cent of new car sales last month, up from 7.8 per cent in June last year, according to data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) this week.

To read more, click this link: https://tinyurl.com/2s3px63z

[ruSTynutz]

Now I know what Elon did with all his unsold Teslas! 

https://youtu.be/4TCXvkaUyzM?si=FOF2_wDY7Q3yPLz-

[Gadget]

One for Ford fans.

https://youtu.be/hdbICmNdtlw?si=N4Qc_W63_i6E3632

Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk

[LindsayGT]

An update on the McLennans!

https://www.facebook.com/ElecTrekking

18,625 km into our trip from our first stop in Gin Gin WA to Gin Gin QLD. This half of the lap has been a fantastic experience with very few challenges related to the EV and minimal time spent waiting around to charge... and has only cost us $1,128 at charging stations.

[ruSTynutz]

One for Ford fans.

https://youtu.be/hdbICmNdtlw?si=N4Qc_W63_i6E3632

That whistle would drive you nutz... 

Oh, I wonder how many laps you get out of a charge? 

[Gadget]

One for Ford fans.

https://youtu.be/hdbICmNdtlw?si=N4Qc_W63_i6E3632

That whistle would drive you nutz... 

Oh, I wonder how many laps you get out of a charge? 

Gone fishing.

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[ruSTynutz]

You call that fishing? 

I had better luck with this post that someone mysteriously removed...twice! 
Apparently some are happy to dish it out but can't take it when it's given back...

[ruSTynutz]

Hey, I laughed! 

[ruSTynutz]

Insurers review policies related to EVs following series of accidents

Insurance companies in Korea have begun reviewing their policies regarding electric vehicles (EVs) following reports of fires caused by these vehicles.

With the rapid growth of the EV market and increasing vehicle sales, related fire accidents have also been on the rise. This is raising concerns that the existing insurance system, which is primarily focused on internal combustion engine vehicles, may not adequately reflect the unique characteristics and risks associated with EVs.

Fears surrounding EV accidents started after a spontaneous fire, which began in a parked Mercedes-Benz EV, wiped out an entire underground parking garage filled with other vehicles in an apartment complex in Incheon on Aug. 1.

Then on Aug. 16, a Tesla caught fire in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, while the car was parked on the side of the road, further fueling the public's widespread concerns.

According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute, the number of fire and explosion incidents involving EVs has been higher than that of internal combustion engine vehicles over the past five years.

EVs had 0.93 incidents per 10,000 vehicles, while non-EVs had a lower rate of 0.90 incidents.

To continue reading: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2024/08/602_381045.html

[cravenhaven]

Interesting that Korea is having so many EV fires, compared to the rest of the world.
Even last years numbers of 1.3 EV fires/10000 compared to 1.9 ICE fires/10000, is considerably higher than anywhere else. I couldnt find out for sure, but I wonder if they count hybrids and FCEV as part of EV wrt fires.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/south-korean-alarm-over-ev-fires-puts-spotlight-safety-concerns-2024-08-15/

I've heard that Mercedes have had a lot of trouble with their EV's, including fires, but I would have thought the majority of EV's in Korea would be Hyundai/Kia.

[Biggles]

From a quite different angle- another consideration that may only apply to Teslas, as others may have suitable spare wheels:

However, his flat tyre story trumped mine by a mile.
For starters, he told me that Teslas don't carry a spare tyre. That left him calling roadside assistance, who had some further bad news.
The usual providers can't change the tyres on a Tesla because they can't jack the vehicle up due to the batteries. That meant my mate had to organise a tow truck to get his Tesla to the tyre change shop.
Ok, it's a pain but doable.
Then came the following problem. There was only one Tesla replacement tyre (wheel?) available in the State and that had been earmarked for another customer.
That meant it would be four days before his vehicle could return to the road!
Imagine that. Four days of no vehicle because of a flat tyre?
Even I was back in action within an hour of my own labour!
Imagine being on a long Tesla trip between cities and needing help. It could be a week or more of waiting plus the additional expense of the specialised roadside transport required.

[cravenhaven]

From a quite different angle- another consideration that may only apply to Teslas, as others may have suitable spare wheels:

However, his flat tyre story trumped mine by a mile.
For starters, he told me that Teslas don't carry a spare tyre. That left him calling roadside assistance, who had some further bad news.
The usual providers can't change the tyres on a Tesla because they can't jack the vehicle up due to the batteries. That meant my mate had to organise a tow truck to get his Tesla to the tyre change shop.
Ok, it's a pain but doable.
Then came the following problem. There was only one Tesla replacement tyre (wheel?) available in the State and that had been earmarked for another customer.
That meant it would be four days before his vehicle could return to the road!
Imagine that. Four days of no vehicle because of a flat tyre?
Even I was back in action within an hour of my own labour!
Imagine being on a long Tesla trip between cities and needing help. It could be a week or more of waiting plus the additional expense of the specialised roadside transport required.

Well that's just plain EV bashing untruth.
Any tyre repair place can jack up a Tesla, and most of them have replaced tyres on Teslas by now. Like all cars, there are manufacturer recommended jack points and in the case of EV's you need to be careful that the jack doesnt slip onto the battery pack (BTW I've seen a jack slip on an ICE vehicle and go through the floor pan). If you have the special low noise,  low rolling resistance tyres that most EV's are supplied with, then you might have trouble getting that same tye in an emergency, but any tyre (of the correct size) will do, just like any other car.
WRT to the lack of spare tyre, the EV manufacturers seem to be spearheading that policy, but they are not the only cars that come with no spare.
I'm sure that if you asked Ford or Toyota for an emergency replacement wheel for your car, they would have a similar response to the Tesla response you quoted.
I currently run "Winrun" tyres on my Tesla, and regularly rotate them with standard jacks and wheel stands.

[ruSTynutz]

but I would have thought the majority of EV's in Korea would be Hyundai/Kia.

It seems you thought right: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1019534/south-korea-most-sold-electric-vehicle-model/
Although perhaps that may have changed this year as Chinese EVs seem to be flooding the market here and elsewhere...

[ruSTynutz]

Interesting that Korea is having so many EV fires, compared to the rest of the world.

It would appear the good ol' US of A are attempting to keep up...

https://youtu.be/aKFaudtDkOc?si=kocGhloWlfOrFKyv

[Gadget]

From a quite different angle- another consideration that may only apply to Teslas, as others may have suitable spare wheels:

However, his flat tyre story trumped mine by a mile.
For starters, he told me that Teslas don't carry a spare tyre. That left him calling roadside assistance, who had some further bad news.
The usual providers can't change the tyres on a Tesla because they can't jack the vehicle up due to the batteries. That meant my mate had to organise a tow truck to get his Tesla to the tyre change shop.
Ok, it's a pain but doable.
Then came the following problem. There was only one Tesla replacement tyre (wheel?) available in the State and that had been earmarked for another customer.
That meant it would be four days before his vehicle could return to the road!
Imagine that. Four days of no vehicle because of a flat tyre?
Even I was back in action within an hour of my own labour!
Imagine being on a long Tesla trip between cities and needing help. It could be a week or more of waiting plus the additional expense of the specialised roadside transport required.

I've had 2 service calls to change a flat tyre.

One came to my home, jacked it up on its dedicated jacking point, changed the tyre, lowered it, pulled out the torque wrench, and torqued the wheel nuts up.

The other was on the south side of Brisbane. Scrap metal on the road pierced the sidewall. Service van turned up, trolley jack, jacking point, changed, lowered, torqued.

We could watch Netflix, YouTube, etc, while we waited half an hour for them to turn up.

Great service.

I've also plugged a slow leak at home. Didn't even have to remove the wheel.

Disinformation is easily spread.

Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk

[ruSTynutz]

I've had 2 service calls to change a flat tyre.

One came to my home, jacked it up on its dedicated jacking point, changed the tyre, lowered it, pulled out the torque wrench, and torqued the wheel nuts up.

The other was on the south side of Brisbane. Scrap metal on the road pierced the sidewall. Service van turned up, trolley jack, jacking point, changed, lowered, torqued.

We could watch Netflix, YouTube, etc, while we waited half an hour for them to turn up.

Great service.

I've also plugged a slow leak at home. Didn't even have to remove the wheel.

Disinformation is easily spread.

Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk

Lucky you were in "service" range otherwise it might have been interesting!
Also lucky with the scrap metal...If it had pierced the battery things may have got rather expensive!

[Gadget]

I've had 2 service calls to change a flat tyre.

One came to my home, jacked it up on its dedicated jacking point, changed the tyre, lowered it, pulled out the torque wrench, and torqued the wheel nuts up.

The other was on the south side of Brisbane. Scrap metal on the road pierced the sidewall. Service van turned up, trolley jack, jacking point, changed, lowered, torqued.

We could watch Netflix, YouTube, etc, while we waited half an hour for them to turn up.

Great service.

I've also plugged a slow leak at home. Didn't even have to remove the wheel.

Disinformation is easily spread.

Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk

Lucky you were in "service" range otherwise it might have been interesting!
Also lucky with the scrap metal...If it had pierced the battery things may have got rather expensive!

LFP batteries can be shot and not burn...

Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk

[ruSTynutz]

I was thinking more on the lines of battery replacement... 
But, in saying that, https://tinyurl.com/yn7s3v5t

[cravenhaven]

Lucky you were in "service" range otherwise it might have been interesting!
Also lucky with the scrap metal...If it had pierced the battery things may have got rather expensive!

Same with a petrol vehicle though. A piece of metal going through the fuel tank is likely to cause some serious excitement.

[cravenhaven]

It would appear the good ol' US of A are attempting to keep up...

https://youtu.be/aKFaudtDkOc?si=kocGhloWlfOrFKyv

Seems like Rivian dont know how to do safe electronics.

[ruSTynutz]

Lucky you were in "service" range otherwise it might have been interesting!
Also lucky with the scrap metal...If it had pierced the battery things may have got rather expensive!

Same with a petrol vehicle though. A piece of metal going through the fuel tank is likely to cause some serious excitement.

True to a certain extent but besides a petrol tank being a lot smaller and probably more out of the way than an EV battery, at least you may have some chance of sealing a holed petrol tank. Probably unlikely to ignite also, if that's what you're thinking... 

[LindsayGT]

https://www.consumernotice.org/personal-injury/vehicle-safety/highway-vehicle-fires/

I just did a search on vehicle fires on one of our freeways. More than I would have thought.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=mitchell+freeway+vehicle+fire&qs=GS&pq=mitchell+freeway+vehicle+fi&sc=10-27&cvid=83EFD15B5EDB4E0AA878F8E99628AC06&sp=1&ghc=1&lq=0&FPIG=465700010A854606A9F7C46AA24D7E8D&first=1&FORM=PERE