Are we being forced to go electric?

[icowden]

Not quite. Looks like the Model 3 problems haven't bettered the first year on record yet.

Year ------- number of safety recalls
2017 : 9
2018 : 11
2019 : 14
2020 : 14
2021 : 13
2022 : 9
2023 : TBC (1 so far)

If you look at the detail, most of them are junk or minor software issues not requiring the owner to go to a service centre. Those that are more concerning affect a *very* small number of vehicles. I'd still trust a Tesla far more than any ICE vehicle.

 

[Buck]

This YT video highlights the polarisation of views with us moving to EVs. It does nothing to add to the credibility of the so called journalist Mike Parry or Jeremy Vine. An interesting watch.


View: https://youtu.be/_mYDV4Tfse0


For those referencing the Congo/DRC there are two specific reference in the above that provide some clarity to the situation.

 

[CXRAndy]

video and my experience owning EVs over 4 years

Cheaper to run in use and servicing
Less tyre wear
slightly heavier

Biggest plus side for me no emissions

Our EV I drive up to 200 miles per day, my children in EVs around 60 miles

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

This was a I pace jaguar.

That explains it, probably a lighting fault, nothing to do with it being an EV

 

[Jameshow]

That explains it, probably a lighting fault, nothing to do with it being an EV

I just wondered if the brake lights activate in every level of regeneration.

 

[fossyant]

video and my experience owning EVs over 4 years

Cheaper to run in use and servicing
Less tyre wear
slightly heavier

Biggest plus side for me no emissions

Our EV I drive up to 200 miles per day, my children in EVs around 60 miles

Me, zero miles a day. Averaging it all out, 10 miles per day, 3000 a year ! I can see where an EV benefits you doing those sort of distances. That's nuts, 200 a day though !

 

[CXRAndy]

I just wondered if the brake lights activate in every level of regeneration.

No, if you lift off gradually the car will slow but not illuminate the brake lights. I can't tell you at what level but I do know the brake lights don't come on every time

 

[Jenkins]

No, if you lift off gradually the car will slow but not illuminate the brake lights. I can't tell you at what level but I do know the brake lights don't come on every time

A question on regen braking on electric cars following the discovery of yet another annoying facet of the Hyundai Ioniq PHEVs at work - if you have a fully charged battery, do you still get the regen braking to give the effect of enginge braking? The Hyundai I used today had been left on charge overnight so had a 100% battery and refused to give any level of engine braking effect until it dropped to 90% - to get this I had to move to 'sport' mode (ICE) and use the flappy paddles to drop a gear negating the benefits of the electric motor on local trips.

This car annoys me more every time I drive it.

 

[cougie uk]

A question on regen braking on electric cars following the discovery of yet another annoying facet of the Hyundai Ioniq PHEVs at work - if you have a fully charged battery, do you still get the regen braking to give the effect of enginge braking? The Hyundai I used today had been left on charge overnight so had a 100% battery and refused to give any level of engine braking effect until it dropped to 90% - to get this I had to move to 'sport' mode (ICE) and use the flappy paddles to drop a gear negating the benefits of the electric motor on local trips.

This car annoys me more every time I drive it.

You won't get regen braking if the battery is full - so you'd have to brake as normal.
In practice though - you rarely charge your battery to full - so it's not really an issue. I think I charge mine to full once a month or so ?

 

[icowden]

A question on regen braking on electric cars following the discovery of yet another annoying facet of the Hyundai Ioniq PHEVs at work - if you have a fully charged battery, do you still get the regen braking to give the effect of enginge braking?

It's going to depend on the car. My ID4 works the same regardless of charge level but it has a sort of dynamic regen braking

During the majority of everyday braking maneuvers—up to around 0.25 g of deceleration—the electric drive motor performs the braking alone, while the electric brake servo only activates the friction brakes in situations that demand more stopping power. The transition from generator-based to hydraulic braking goes almost unnoticed, thanks to highly accurate and swift brake and drive system control. These systems also make sure that the rear wheels, where brake energy recuperation takes place, always have a sufficient amount of grip.

Each ID.4 features predictive Eco Assistance as standard. It analyzes data from the navigation system and vehicle sensors to provide drivers with effective support in driving efficiently and in a relaxed way. Once the ID.4 approaches a low-speed area, such as urban environments, junctions and bends, Eco Assistance notifies drivers to take their foot off the accelerator pedal. From this moment on, the system manages optimum coasting and energy recovery without drivers having to intervene. The car responds similarly when it approaches a vehicle ahead that is travelling at a lower speed.

Drivers can use the gear selector rocker switch to change from the D position to B (Brake) at any time. In this mode, the ID.4’s drive almost always recovers energy during lifting off, but not all the way to a standstill. The limit has been set at 0.13 g—enough for clearly noticeable deceleration that won’t confuse drivers of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles: intuitive operation is one of the vehicles’ greatest strengths.

So if the battery is full it uses more hydraulics than if it isn't. To the driver it feels the same. I always drive in Brake mode personally.

 

[Jenkins]

Thanks @cougie uk & @icowden . To add to the reasons not to buy the Hyundai is that if you have selected one of the 2 regen braking modes and then move out of full auto - to neutral or park while at a standstill (yes I know it's not really necessary in electric mode) or to reverse - it then reverts back to non-regen mode when you re-engage drive. It really is the worst of both worlds

 

[lazybloke]

If you look at the detail, most of them are junk or minor software issues not requiring the owner to go to a service centre. Those that are more concerning affect a *very* small number of vehicles.

Details as listed by the (American) NHTSA...

Three examples of hardware recalls (back to base):
Incorrectly fitted brake calipers (6,000 cars)
seatbelts potentially breaking free of achors (24,000 cars)
touchscreen issues preventing access to safety functions (134,000 cars)

Two examples of OTA software updates:
Inexpected emergency braking at high speed (416,000 cars)
Electric windows not detecting obstructions - Chop! (1.1 million cars).

Quite a mixture there, but clearly some significant safety issues, hardly "minor". Significant numbers too.

I'd still trust a Tesla far more than any ICE vehicle.

And there's my problem; I have nothing to base that trust on, so I automatically rail against the statement.
If I was raiding the savings for an EV now, I'd look at the likes of JD Power and Consumer Reports - my quailty criteria might point me towards a Kia or MG.

 

[Electric_Andy]

It would be nice to have much wider cycle lanes behind a barrier on main routes. And to relax the laws about other electric vehicles. ideal world, a slim electric vehicle (something like a Twizy or whatever they are called) but limited to lets say 15mph. Could be treated as a bicycle but big enough to carry 2 people. Fully enclosed. I guess a 2-seater mobility scooter but able to go as fast as a legal e-assist bike. Could be used as a single commuter, or carry a child to school. Simplistic design would allow battery to be taken out and charged indoors. ICE/Hybrid car could be used for longer journeys but at least the majority of short/city trips could be avoided by car. Many trips you wouldn't average more than 15mph anyway. But if it was cheap I'd not mind taking longer to get anywhere, but I bet on some routes would be quicker overall if you didn't have to sit in traffic and had a dedicated infrastrucure you could safely share with cyclists.

It seems that the more we clog up the roads with full-sized cars, the more idling will be done, the more stop-start traffic means more emissions. but having EVs on the road will only partially offset that. Perhaps single occupancy vehicles should be looked into me, but not ebikes, something you can hop in and out of whilst wearing a suit

 

[youngoldbloke]

It would be nice to have much wider cycle lanes behind a barrier on main routes. And to relax the laws about other electric vehicles. ideal world, a slim electric vehicle (something like a Twizy or whatever they are called) but limited to lets say 15mph. Could be treated as a bicycle but big enough to carry 2 people. Fully enclosed. I guess a 2-seater mobility scooter but able to go as fast as a legal e-assist bike. Could be used as a single commuter, or carry a child to school. Simplistic design would allow battery to be taken out and charged indoors. ICE/Hybrid car could be used for longer journeys but at least the majority of short/city trips could be avoided by car. Many trips you wouldn't average more than 15mph anyway. But if it was cheap I'd not mind taking longer to get anywhere, but I bet on some routes would be quicker overall if you didn't have to sit in traffic and had a dedicated infrastrucure you could safely share with cyclists.

It seems that the more we clog up the roads with full-sized cars, the more idling will be done, the more stop-start traffic means more emissions. but having EVs on the road will only partially offset that. Perhaps single occupancy vehicles should be looked into me, but not ebikes, something you can hop in and out of whilst wearing a suit

What is a 'suit'?

 

[icowden]

What is a 'suit'?

It's what people in the olden days used to wear to work in offices. I believe high ranking executives often still wear them.