EV opposition in the media is ramping up

[johnb80]

But that wasn't the object of the exercise. Honestly, it's a laugh a minute.

Why let truth get in the way of a good story??

 

[Rolfe]

And it was a good story! They came over well and it was fun to watch. For me, half the fun was laughing at the Mutt and Geoff behaviour. How daft can you get, how many ways can you screw up the simple task of charging a car?

But of course most of their slavish fans in the comments took it seriously. Lee said at the start that he was going all out to win, which was clearly a barefaced lie. The daft thing was, I don't think Lee had a hope in hell of winning against that diesel car, even if he'd pulled every trick in the book. But as you say, where's the fun in watching an EV lose simply because even competently managed charging takes longer than the five minutes it's going to take to put a bit of diesel in a car, and on a trip like that you're stuck with high public rapid charger prices?

One point leaped out though. They encountered a section of motorway that was limited to 60 mph to reduce pollution. This applied to all vehicles. Lee was rightly calling foul. Why should an EV be limited like that? If this becomes at all common, EV drivers are going to get ratty. If they can have different speed limits for cars, lorries and buses, for cars towing caravans and so on, why not for EVs? Let EVs go at 70 and limit all ICE vehicles to 60. That would put the cat among the pigeons.

 

[Gomev]

...

One point leaped out though. They encountered a section of motorway that was limited to 60 mph to reduce pollution. This applied to all vehicles. Lee was rightly calling foul. Why should an EV be limited like that? If this becomes at all common, EV drivers are going to get ratty. If they can have different speed limits for cars, lorries and buses, for cars towing caravans and so on, why not for EVs? Let EVs go at 70 and limit all ICE vehicles to 60. That would put the cat among the pigeons.

There's a stretch like that on the M1 near Sheffield (Meadowhall), always annoys me.

 

[johnb80]

There's a stretch like that on the M1 near Sheffield (Meadowhall), always annoys me.

Just sit back in the comfy seat, check the miles per kWh and have a very smug grin how much cheaper your mileage is compared to the peasants surrounding you burning oil.

 

[Rolfe]

Seriously, it's an interesting what-if scenario. All the incentives to get an EV so far have been financial, and they're not really enough. And as the guy in the film from Norway said, they're already being rolled back as if the government think the job's done, when in fact the vast majority of vehicles on the road are still ICE-driven, and only about 20% of new car sales are EVs. EVs are still too expensive, both to buy, and to charge if you don't have home charging. Never mind the insane inconvenience if you don't have home charging.

It would take some thought in the detail, but a permanent decree that ICE vehicles (or at least private cars) were speed restricted to 60 mph - and possibly barred from the outside lane of a 3+ lane motorway - while EVs were free to travel at 70 and use the outside lane would concentrate a few minds, I think.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Why let truth get in the way of a good story??

2 years ago, Andrew Till (MrEV) did Land's End to John O'Groats in a KIA E-Niro. He did it in 20 hours, 49 minutes, with 6 charging stops and it cost him £57.95. The only difference was that he had a 2nd driver so didn't need to stop over.



Now, those 2 idiots should be ashamed of themselves, as the BMW was only 2 hours quicker, and the Taycan should have out performed the Niro. But put an idiot with a point to make behind the wheel, and that's what you get.

 

[Tommy]

Error 40 … as they say in the IT world ?
Meaning the error is 40cm behind the steering wheel of the car …
or ID-10T error ?
Meaning IDIOT …

 

[Rolfe]

2 years ago, Andrew Till (MrEV) did Land's End to John O'Groats in a KIA E-Niro. He did it in 20 hours, 49 minutes, with 6 charging stops and it cost him £57.95. The only difference was that he had a 2nd driver so didn't need to stop over.



Now, those 2 idiots should be ashamed of themselves, as the BMW was only 2 hours quicker, and the Taycan should have out performed the Niro. But put an idiot with a point to make behind the wheel, and that's what you get.

I must watch that, it looks fun.

I was actually wondering whether that route might be possible (with a single driver) in two days in an MG4 SE SR. It doesn't have the range of the Kia Niro and would need more stops. Mind you, Andrew has run out of juice twice in that Kia, while filming, and I do not intend to do that.

It would need the booking of a hotel with an available destination charger somewhere around the Preston area, I think. (Or I could just stay at Killington Lake and charge overnight on one of their two 40 Kw DC Gridserves, I suppose...) And quite careful mapping of all the reachable >100 Kw DC chargers near the appropriate points on the route. Food and rest would not be a problem, just getting somewhere to sleep.

If the Kia needed nearly 21 hours all told, I would have thought the MG4 would have needed longer than that. but I just put the route into ABRP and it says 18 hours 11 minutes total, with nine charges totalling 3 hours 34 minutes. (Of course, taking it on means you really have to do it twice, counting the drive to get to the start and the drive to get back home.)

I remain to be convinced, and of course as that pair demonstrated, shit happens. But if it could be done in 10 hours driving per day, I'd be tempted to give it a shot. In June, while the schools are still in termtime and the daylight is plentiful.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I must watch that, it looks fun.

It's in 2 parts. I must admit, that journey is on my bucket list.

 

[Tommy]

It's in 2 parts. I must admit, that journey is on my bucket list.

Do it on a bike, much more fun ?‍

 

[Ejaydee]

If they can have different speed limits for cars, lorries and buses, for cars towing caravans and so on, why not for EVs? Let EVs go at 70 and limit all ICE vehicles to 60. That would put the cat among the pigeons.

It certainly would, but I think it is an excellent idea. The ICE car drivers would be livid, if all the EV's were swanning by (quietly, comfortably and with no pollution in our wake). Perhaps a letter to the PM to suggest it could be in order ?

 

[Archev]

Just sit back in the comfy seat, check the miles per kWh and have a very smug grin how much cheaper your mileage is compared to the peasants surrounding you burning oil.

Come, pity those poor peasants

They know not what they do

For once, like them, in ignorance

We burned the oil too

Given time to come around

I’m sure they’ll see the light

And prod that left hand pedal

And enjoy a helluva fright

They’ll see in that split second

What we knew all along

Electric power’s nicer stuff

And of course it does’na pong

They’ll then return in pious mode

For they were always right

Spouting they were biding time

Or some such other …?…absolute nonsense

 

[Ejaydee]

@Archev Loved the poem, but being slightly picky, my left foot does not do a lot, or have I misunderstood?

 

[Archev]

@Archev Loved the poem, but being slightly picky, my left foot does not do a lot, or have I misunderstood?

Brilliant - Its this incontinent driving with the legs crossed - I’ll now go and fire the proof reader oh wait - it’s me ?‍

 

[Gadget Geek]

@Archev Loved the poem, but being slightly picky, my left foot does not do a lot, or have I misunderstood?

I think you've just found the root cause of the Scottish MGZS kidnapping EV!

 

[johnb80]

Do it on a bike, much more fun ?‍

You have a real misunderstanding of the meaning of 'fun', youre mad

 

[Ian Key]

You have a real misunderstanding of the meaning of 'fun', youre mad

Unless by bike he meant

 

[Gomev]

Just sit back in the comfy seat, check the miles per kWh and have a very smug grin how much cheaper your mileage is compared to the peasants surrounding you burning oil.

I do that for every mile I drive. The grin would be much wider and smugger if could pass them while they are restricted.

 

[Archev]

I do that for every mile I drive. The grin would be much wider and smugger if could pass them while they are restricted.

Go smuggly my friend

 

[Gadget Geek]

This would be my bike of choice.

e-bike on steroids?