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

[Biggles]

And hey- go easy on us hybrid owners!  We still buy petrol and so pay a share.  If they're unhappy about their relatively low fuel consumption then that would require yet another metric to attempt fairness.

[ruSTynutz]

Sorry Bill, I was thinkin' a thousand for pure EVs, not a vehicle that can't decide what it wants to be...

[West Aussie Glen]

Should be $500 because they're so much heavier!!   

How heavier is your hybrid compared to a non hybrid, a guess would be about 10% and if it uses 10% less than the same ice model then hybrid should be paying an extra 20% fuel road t :grinx

[West Aussie Glen]

Not sure if this link has been posted before:-
https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/is-it-actually-hard-to-drive-an-ev-across-australia/ar-AA1JLgIU?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=73317a4f4d28418ddf343a5efbc29440&ei=143
I love the heading in BOLD Print for the last two paragraphs.

[Williamson]

How heavier is your hybrid compared to a non hybrid, a guess would be about 10% and if it uses 10% less than the same ice model then hybrid should be paying an extra 20% fuel road t :grinx

From a sample of one from CarSales.com quoted specs, the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid is 4.5% heavier than the equivalent ICE version.

I looked at that model because as far as I can recall, these were the first Hybrids, and thus have been allegedly damaging our roads more than the ICE version since 2008, ie. more than any other make / model.

If any blame is to be directed and revenue received for heavier vehicles causing more damage to the roads, perhaps the bean counters should look at the vehicles that are heavier and being sold in greater numbers, eg. Toyota Hi Lux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu DMax, etc... 
But this is likely to result in overcharging tradies to overcharge even more.

[Langers]

& in SA I'm already paying 50% Rego because being a ute it's (the DMax) classed as a commercial vehicle, despite not being used as a commercial vehicle (never get in the way of a Govt. and your wallet). So, I'm more than happy for our EV driving friends to pay a little more for the possible damage to our roads. But to be honest, in my view it is the very heavy vehicles with their airbag suspension that's causing much of the problem out on the country roads. I can't help but wonder whether road engineering and building hasn't kept up with the increased weights of these behemoths thundering down our roads.

[Williamson]

& in SA I'm already paying 50% Rego because being a ute it's (the DMax) classed as a commercial vehicle, despite not being used as a commercial vehicle (never get in the way of a Govt. and your wallet). So, I'm more than happy for our EV driving friends to pay a little more for the possible damage to our roads. But to be honest, in my view it is the very heavy vehicles with their airbag suspension that's causing much of the problem out on the country roads. I can't help but wonder whether road engineering and building hasn't kept up with the increased weights of these behemoths thundering down our roads.

Last work vehicle I had was a DMax, I didn't like it very much, it was a base model, so perhaps it was a bit crude.

Re. rego and insurance fees, I can remember tradies squealing about fees on the talkback radio recently, so may be it's like that in VIC too.

Re. road design and construction, this was not my forte, but one of the annual tasks was to get AADT (average annual dail traffic) surveys (I had a very important role at Council).  The road design engineers were not as interested in the daily traffic volume as much as they were in the percentage of heavy (7.5 tonne) vehicles.  May be it is time that the road design standards were reviewed.

Reviews - Australian Standards required car parks (individual bays and the overall layout) be designed to cater for the 85th%ile vehicle, which happened to be a Ford Falcon sedan (the 99th%ile was the station wagon and the Fairlane), these hadn't had any really tangible changes since the late 1960's.

Back in (probably) 2018 / 2019, as it started to emerge that the largest selling vehicles in Australia were the Hi Lux, Ranger, DMax, Triton, etc, I asked one of my very bright young engineers (Paul) to put some figures together to confirm (facts, figures, evidence) what were all anecdotally knew, that cars were getting bigger.  Yeah, Paul proved what we all knew.

A DRAFT "paper' was prepared for a national roads & traffic conference (we were gunna be famous), but it was buried by the Director and CEO. 

Que Sera, Sera

[ruSTynutz]

Not sure if this link has been posted before:-
https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/is-it-actually-hard-to-drive-an-ev-across-australia/ar-AA1JLgIU?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=73317a4f4d28418ddf343a5efbc29440&ei=143

After reading the heading of that article (Is it actually hard to drive an EV across Australia?) I was a bit surprised he considers driving from Melbourne to Sydney is crossing Australia... 

[West Aussie Glen]

We already know it is't hard to drive an EV across Australia, I guess the title was just to grab ones attention.

[ruSTynutz]

Still a lot harder than an ice!
Plus a lot more time, planning & inconveniences involved...

[Gadget]

Time to give this crap a rest how many times does it have to be put on the site give it a spell

It's his "crusade". He's trying to 'educate' us.

He thinks my 45+ years with ICE vehicles is meaningless, so I  have no idea what I'm doing with an EV.

Psst, don't tell him I just bought a  2nd one because the first one is so good.

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[Gadget]

EV Burns After Sitting 2 Years – TWICE!

https://youtu.be/EQWGWtluejs

No Tesla has those tail lights.

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[Gadget]

*

For the last 40+ years, my wife and I have driven from Brisbane to Cairns in a wide variety of cars and 4WDs (V8, 6, V6, 4 cyl Turbo diesel), the distance is 1,700 km or 1056 miles, and we have always done it over 2 days.

We drove it on our EV, and every time we stopped to ️,, or , we:

order ️ and ///

Consume ️ and ///
Un-
....

We were never waiting on the car. In fact, I had to interrupt a couple of meals to go unplug and move the car, because it was already full.

Arrived in the same 2 day time period, and arrived completely fresh and relaxed.

Whilst we were in Cairns, I towed a trailer with several loads of furniture.

The return trip of 3,579 km or 2,224 miles cost AU$211 (US$136.58)


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[ruSTynutz]

he's trying to 'educate' us.

Obviously wasted on you as you love EVs so much that you can't even acknowledge that there are downsides to owning and driving an EV or admit that there are some advantages of an ICE over an EV...
 

EV Burns After Sitting 2 Years – TWICE!

https://youtu.be/EQWGWtluejs

No Tesla has those tail lights.

Perhaps you don't know Teslas as much as you think you do!
Check out a Tesla X and you may just find you're wrong... 

[Gadget]

I'm 63 years old, on the spectrum, and very factual, and my job in calibrations requires high personal integrity.

If there was a single downside, I would have found it by now and I am the type to acknowledged it.

I never thorns a product I haven't tried and tested for myself.

You're implying I'm narrow minded, but unlike you, I've owned and driven both, and I can provide a list a mile long of the downsides I've personally experienced with ICE Vehicles with each getting their scheduled routine maintenance:

Cylinders wear
Worn and broken Rings
Worn and burnt valve seats
Loss of compression
Water in the fuel
Water in the fuel tank
Water in the cylinder and hydrostatic lock
Holes in the radiator
Burst water hoses
Broken timing chains
Slipped timing
Slipping fan belts
Worn clutch
Blocked air filter
Faulty air flow sensor
Cracked distributor caps
Worn points
Faulty ignition leads
Faulty spark plugs
Faulty fuel pump
Faulty EFI Computer
Leaky fuel filters
Blocked injectors
Blown and leaky head gaskets
Water in the oil jacket
Oil leaks
Hole in the sump
Faulty gear boxes, manual, auto, and Faulty DSG gearbox Controller
Stripped differential gears
Broken drive shafts
Worn brake pads
Worn out disc rotors
Worn out drum cylinders
Worn out CV joints
And more heat related failures under the bonnet.

My EV after 3 years:

one set of wiper blades
one cabin air filter
End of list


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[Gadget]

I saw a VW Golf with a burnt bonnet on the side of the road at the Uhlmann Rd exit the other day, but I don't extrapolate that all VW Golf are fire bombs.

evfiresafe.com for firefighter research based on data not media and social media click bait.

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[ruSTynutz]

I can provide a list a mile long of the downsides I've personally experienced with ICE Vehicles with each getting their scheduled routine maintenance:

Good for you! I don't believe I've ever said there aren't downsides with ICEs...
There are obviously downsides to any vehicle, whether it's an EV or an ICE.

But, If you can't admit or acknowledge them when it comes to an EV, then I guess that's your issue.

You may find this Ai Google search on the downsides of EVs of interest...or not:

Electric vehicles (EVs) have several drawbacks, including high initial purchase price, limited driving range, long charging times, and
the need for a robust charging infrastructure. Additionally, battery degradation, potential range limitations in cold weather, and the
environmental impact of battery production are also concerns.

Detailed Disadvantages:

High Initial Cost:
EVs typically have a higher purchase price compared to gasoline-powered cars, though this is offset by lower running costs.
Limited Driving Range:
While ranges are improving, many EVs still have a shorter range than gasoline cars, leading to "range anxiety" for some drivers.
Longer Charging Times:
Charging an EV takes considerably longer than refilling a gasoline car, especially when using public charging stations.
Charging Infrastructure:
The availability and reliability of public charging stations, particularly in certain locations, can be a significant hurdle.
Battery Degradation:
EV batteries lose capacity over time, reducing the vehicle's range and requiring eventual replacement, which can be costly.
Battery Production's Environmental Impact:
The manufacturing of EV batteries requires rare earth minerals and can have environmental consequences in mining and processing.
Cold Weather Performance:
Extreme cold can affect battery performance and range, leading to slower charging and reduced mileage.
Potential for Higher Insurance Costs:
Some insurers may charge higher premiums for EVs due to the higher cost of repairs and potential for battery damage.
Depreciation:
EVs tend to depreciate faster than traditional vehicles, potentially impacting resale value.
Limited Model Availability:
The range of EV models, particularly in certain body styles or with specific features, may be more limited than gasoline cars.
Reliability Concerns:
Some EV components, especially batteries and related electronics, can be prone to issues, particularly in newer models.

[ruSTynutz]

Perhaps you don't know Teslas as much as you think you do!
Check out a Tesla X and you may just find you're wrong... 

As you're "very factual" I'm surprised you didn't comment... 

[Gadget]

Again, you're insulting my integrity.

As former soldier, as a decent human being, I am offended and insulted.

Google AI just scrapes the internet. Good and bad. Real and fake. Factual and oil industry propaganda.

The commercial media are very dependent on coal, gas, and oil advertising revenue. They've written dozens of anti-EV articles based on falsehoods to discredit EVs, and Google just sucks up all the lies, Ag you believe them, without critical thinking.

Here's a hint. You don't like them, don't buy one.

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[Gadget]

Now I don't have to see that crap anymore.

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[ruSTynutz]

< on the spectrum...

That explains a lot...

[ruSTynutz]

With our very high temperatures during summer here in Australia, this video shows how extreme heat will affect EV range... 

How far can electric cars REALLY go in EXTREME heat??

https://youtu.be/5G1KQhCotSI

[West Aussie Glen]

Still a lot harder than an ice!
Plus a lot more time, planning & inconveniences involved...

Not really, I would take the same time in an EV as I do on my Goldwing.

[ruSTynutz]

What about when you're driving your ICE car?

[Gadget]

Still a lot harder than an ice!
Plus a lot more time, planning & inconveniences involved...

Not really, I would take the same time in an EV as I do on my Goldwing.

Zero inconvenience.

Every stop, was a stop we were going to make anyway, and is further than my 4.2 litre VB SLE commodore could do on a tank (220 km range when driven willingly), or my 650 V-Star.

Plugshare.com and Abetterroutplanner.com make trip planning very easy. So easy with ABRP, as it is automated, linked to the car, so it knows the SoC, and plans accordingly.

Far less planning than I did on the ST during a LDR.

This November, I'm driving Brisbane to Adelaide via Western NSW, to Melbourne, then up the East Coast via Lakes Entrance. ABRP trips already planned. Took me about 30 seconds each for the 3 major legs.



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