Lee01

Battery stations - Chinese car manufacturer Nio has gone to scale with it in China and is now trying it in Europe. The idea is to cut down waits at charging stations and stop EV buyers from worrying about battery life. But I wonder if it could also be an answer for people who have nowhere to charge off-road at home? I've always thought that swapping out batteries would be far easier not to mention quicker cutting journey times. Of course there'd need to be a consensus on the standardisation of battery types but if Apple etc can be made to swap to USB-C then anything's possible. https://restofworld.org/2024/ev-battery-swapping-china/?fbclid=IwAR3y1u5FKEBh_0ZQjA58RitEEKh-5TL7g9CuL2dAIibcVdW_zjlfAY_Ij8U

I was watching one of them on Secrets of the London Underground a couple of weeks ago. Theirs was only used for shunting carriages in the yard though. Quite old as well so I doubt that one could pull/ push anywhere near that weight.

I've wanted a Unimog for years now but no way I could justify the purchase. See loads here doing all sorts of tasks with all the attachments they can be fitted with. I saw one with a pair of roller brushes (like a car wash but vertical) on a hydraulic arm. It's purpose was to clean the snow poles

That Michelin statement reads more like them trying to be eco more than from a safety angle IMO. But as for your tyre - yes, change it sooner rather than later and request a wheel alignment assesment and calibration (preferably a Hunter or similar four wheel alignment)

Yep. That's what I'm saying - it's a basic function so should be IMO. It's in no way safe to flick through options at motorway speeds.

Tweet I saw today by an 'Author, Blogger, Influencer, YouTuber, Engineer etc etc; 5 Star EuroNACP Valuation Requires Physical Buttons EuroNCAP announced that from 2026, real physical buttons and switches will be mandatory for certain functions in the car in order to receive the highest rating. The alliance of various European transport ministries, automobile clubs and insurance associations based in Brussels has rolled out its new agenda. "This decision marks a significant shift in the automotive industry and highlights the importance of traditional controls, which have been increasingly displaced by digital touchscreens and voice-activated systems in recent years." The safety specialists are targeting developments at Tesla and the VW Group. At least for the five most important functions, real switches, levers or buttons will be required from 2026 in order for cars to receive the five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. From 2026, suitable switches must therefore remain in the car for the turn signal, hazard warning lights, windscreen wipers, horn and SOS emergency call functions if the full 5-star result is to be achieved. Vehicle manufacturers will also be encouraged to use separate physical controls for other basic functions such as seat and mirror adjustment or ventilation. OMG to argue that physical buttons are safer than using a display or voice commands shows that its not about safety at all but that lobby groups have suceeded and thats sad. Its all about revenue, influence and profits but not about safety. Starting in 2026 we best ignore EuroNCAP if we talk vehicle safety and I hope Tesla won't change is strategy to build the safest vehicles in the world without physical buttons! The Bomer [sic] generation strikes back. https://twitter.com/alex_avoigt/status/1775875232932192269 Sorry but who wants to go through multile menus just to turn the heat up a little at 70mph?

With those new found freedoms maybe the UK could, after consulting the results of the petition, demand that auto makers sell them only cars with UK specific type approved non glarey headlights. The downside is the added cost of making HMG compliant 'freedom headlights'™ 😉

As @AGFalco said the headlights are higher up on SUVs. Isn't that because there's far fewer SUVs in France because they have such a high purchase tax in them?

Tyre fitters front wheels should have been set towards the barrier 😉

I was convinced the MkII's with BXE, CAYC and CFCH diesels had DPFs but I admit my knowledge of the Octavia range is limited. Maybe those engines were in the FL range.

I'm saying the 'poor people' you were worried about could have a cheap nineteen year old petrol car and be ULEZ compliant.

I wouldn't be driving to the UK and if I did and entered the ULEZ, where would they send the fine I've only ever driven into central London and what now constitutes the ULEZ once. I've always found it's far easier to travel to somewhere just outside the M25 and get the tube in.

Apparently not then, Graham.

Any evidence for that? Or, it could also be rich anti ULEZ people who refuse to get rid of their Chelsea tractors. Do I have any evidence of that? Nope. TBH I wouldn't be surprised if the same people moaning about ULEZ are the same ones who moaned about red zones back in the 90s. How old would the most modern non ULEZ diesel or petrol car be now anyway? The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few 🖖

I doubt bats will be taking up residence on main roads tbh Quick look inside with a cam, box empty? Rip it off and job done. something like 95% of Londoners cars are ULEZ compliant now so it's only an minority of a minority whining about it. There was a hilarious story in the Daily Fail about a bridal shop owner moaning about all her customers have gone since ULEZ. Complete bowlocks of course but funny.

That reminds me. Whatever happened to that (Nissan?) 1.5l two cylinder 400hp engine? I seem to remember it only weighing something like a sack of flour. Edit 3 cylinder. Did it go into full production? https://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/01/20140127-nissan.html

Renowned polling expert Sir John Curtice has Labour at 99% to form the next Government. The tories should stand aside after the inevitible hammer blow coming in the local elections in May. I think their idea though is a scorched earth policy and raid what they can until Autumn. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/27/rishi-sunaks-triple-lock-pension-conservatives-labour-angela-rayner-uk-politics-live?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-6603f7fc8f0891b675f7695a

Now deleted tory Mayoral election campaign ad attacking ULEZ. They've lost the plot https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1772297063469883777.html https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/25/tories-sadiq-khan-attack-ad-new-york-london?CMP=share_btn_url Tories delete ad saying London on 'brink of chaos' after it shows footage of New York.mp4

Not surprised his first wife ditched him tbh

Maybe some here - sadly Photobucket, which was what people used back in the day when it was free, has added large watermarks. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/213596-skoda-museum-factory-visit-mlada-boleslav/ And maybe here https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/169801-pragueskoda-museum-car-pics/

IIRC there was a Briskoda road trip there years ago - pre 2010 when I joined the site. I think @cheezemonkhai went on it?

A lot of people use them in Astrophotogaphy to keep their star trackers aligned properly and to stack their images on but they use a main PC for the final stacking and editing so I'm guessing their capabilities are quite limited.

I take it from that that it's a PITA to modify vehicles in France? Here it's possible but they modifications have to meet strict criteria and insurance can get very expensive. Come the bi-annual TuV (MoT) if the testers aren't happy they'll certainly let you know and you could find yourself walking home.

Forgive me if I've mistaken you but I was of the belief that your next car would be a Skoda Roomster. Have you changed your mind? There's a lot of retro EV conversion places popping up but I've never seen an EV Roomster. Maybe you could lead the way.

All the more reason I will never use AliExpress or places like Temu There's a lot of evidence they use 'dropshippers' who disappear when orders have been placed.