Graham Butcher

@Ootohere To answer your questions, the very simple answer is err, no, I'm a very relaxed driver, not in the slightest bit aggressive, I never ever let the car coast up to the point where I almost come to a halt. I do most of driving in the ECO mode with lots of coasting, but I always apply brakes well before I'm anywhere near stopping. I do this because not only because it activates the brake lights for the benefit of others behind me, but it also disengages coast mode and brings the transmission back into play and thus engine braking also works, just as your regen does. Adaptive cruise control will also automatically switch on the brake lights and I have been told by family who have followed along a stretch of road that switches many times between 60 and 40mph that my brake lights are annoying from where I flick the speed settings between 60 and 40 as I know that plod will often site a mobile camera just past the 40mph signs to catch those that are not paying attention and have not already slowed to 40. Never use the gears to slow down, etc as you said to accelerate out of the corner, as the auto box does all of that for me, even when coasting or in manual mode, it will always select the correct gear to enable a smooth acceleration out of the corner / bend, that's the whole point of a automatic is it not? I have always kept the OEM standard type of tyre on cars all year round and have driven many hundreds of thousands miles with no loss of control, in adverse conditions / weather it the drivers responsibility to ensure that they are driving in the correct manner to reflect the prevailing conditions, not rely on snow tyres, etc to help them out. When was the last time you saw a bus driver or a chauffeur driven limousine like a Rolls Royce wear snow tyres, they are not needed if the correct attitude of the driver is in play, the professional driver just allows more time to do the trip in at a slower and safer pace, simples.

Yes that is exactly what I'm saying. Yes, I also do perfectly understand that some of EV's do not feature the ability to one pedal drive, but equally others do. Now it might also well be true that many drivers who are new to EV's might also disable regen and one pedal mode as they are simply not used to to that mode/style of driving and thus do not feel comfortable with it. Now this a thing, is it not also perfectly true that at the point where the cars lose traction / grip and ABS is unable to regain it, that even with full on regen, that is also totally ineffective as it requires the wheels to have rotation to work? Therefore making the heavier EV even more dangerous then its lighter ICE as a result of the increased mass carrying it even further before coming to rest. There is no need to actually drive an EV to fully understand the physics involved, once all grip has gone, its gone, full stop. The topic of the dangers of one pedal driving and the connection to brake lights not then being operational and thus a warning to approaching from behind drivers, that you are actually stopping/stopped has already been covered here.

Well, I watched that Channel 5 program and nothing in it altered my thoughts regarding the sheer complexity of a BEV or the fire hazards that can pose should the battery be the cause of the fire. Just because a BEV catches fire, it does not automatically mean that the battery is the cause, these cars still have all the other items in them that ICE cars have and if the battery is NOT involved in the fire then the car is just the same as any other car and can be quickly and safely extinguished in the same time as an ICE car. Once the traction battery is on fire, then its game over. I felt that that they under played the par about EV's in emergency braking, yes its true that regenerative braking will also add to the stopping power of a car, but what about incidents where the driver has disabled that or even reduced the amount of regen, as not everyone is happy with one pedal driving? I was glad that the quality issue of charging cables was mentioned, but disappointed however that they never made a single mention about not using standard 13A extension leads as these are a real minefield and the average person is completely clueless as to what constitutes a good safe lead as to cheap Poundland product which could result in a major fire. In short, it was a bit like the curates egg, good in parts and bad in others.

This is happening all the time, I know of some massive factory sites that are just retail areas. We exported loads of manufacturing oversea, mainly to China years ago, now we are paying the price for that.

Agree with having cars that can excessively exceed the speed limits is not always a good thing, but I think is far worse is the sheer insane acceleration that many of the EV's can provide, such as the MG4 X Power, watch it demolish these supercars.

Well it would still be applicable to EV, as they do report everything, but LR was doing the same because of all software updates etc on the more modern cars.

Yes, all appears to be good, icy cold again and the strange noises I heard have apparently gone as well, so all is good again. One thing he did point out to me is that he thought I had diesel knock and suggested that either get some or do it myself is to re torque the injectors as the copper washer does normally require a slight pinching up after a while as it compresses down. he thinks that should cure my slight diesel knock.

Yes folks, its the Taycan man again, sorry, but he has just discovered that EV cars since about 2010 have been fitted with a black box recorder that records every detail of what is / has been happening in your car. He has been banging on about the switch to EV cars is about control and the ability to remote control, disable your car etc and with the roll out of over the air updates etc he has a point.

OK, the mechanic has just left me after telling me that there was loads of error messages on the car when he did a scan before leaving yesterday, and I explained which I know he was aware of it, that it was perfectly normal for all kinds of error codes after disconnecting the battery 🙄. Perhaps he was setting the scene for something, I don't know, but once he realized that I was not a dumb clueless person, he agreed to take a look. Turned out that he had indeed trapped wire which was shorting to ground, so everything came off again to get at the wire and repair it, now A/C is once again ice cold. Noise also seems to be gone, but I'll find out for sure in a few minutes as I'm going for little spin to do yet more shopping, fingers crossed.

No, I have never used him before. Out of desperation after phoning many garages, including the Skoda one and got fed up being told they were fully booked as far as 11th July I turned to company called clickmechanic ltd who act as agents for many mobile mechanics. I just need a car, public transport just doesn't cut it, a total wast of time, even if free to me.

I have, just waiting for him to phone me back to sort it out.

Just been out to do a small shop as car not moved since Thursday and now there are very strange noises emanating from area of the car and no its not belt slip or squeal, its like a rumble / rubbing and sometimes a buzzing noise. very strange never heard anything like it before. Left the mechanic a voice mail, just have to wait for now.

When he handed to car back there was all kinds of error messages, cleared them all down apart from ones that were before, seat memory ones and a an air quality sensor for the rear passengers and the only new one was the one posted. Start/stop etc are all now working fine.

Thanks Pete, that was what I thought, there does not seem to be anyway through from the top, pulled the cover off and it is jammed full of pipe etc so it looks like the only way through is either from below or through wheel arch. I phoned the mechanic, so I'll have to wait for him to call me back, there is zero way that I could get down that low these days to do it myself.

The alternator on mine packed up last Thursday and I had arranged for a mobile mechanic to come and replace it me, which he did today. However since he fitted it and restored the charging again, I have zero A/C but prior to him fitting the alternator I was enjoying ice cold ai, so I'm guessing that the compressor is close to the alternator on the car and in fixing the alternator , I can now only get warm air and I get this report when scanning the ECU's. I assume the compressor and alternator are in the same location on the engine and that indicates, he has dislodged the electrical connector for the electric clutch?

So it would seem that the YouTuber is correct about the vibration and rattling at least and MG UK are denying it and trying gag him, probably on instructions from their Chinese HQ which also looks as if it backs up the story by JayEmm.

Its to do with the X Power model and vibration and rattles from the steering at approx 65 to 70mph. Do a Google Search for "xpower vibration" and it will appear for you, its all over the MG forums and is a known fault to MG and they said said that a damper fitted to the steering will cure it, but apparently not as it happens. They are doubling down legal moves on the poor owner who only wants it resolved. Also has issues with lane assist, sometimes steering the car out of the lane into another lane. Two videos attached tell the problem along with all the legal moves being pulled.

It seems that BYD is not alone, MG, here in the UK are also, along with their dealers trying to silence owners regarding issues with the cars which could even be dangerous. I have not posted any links, but could do so, or provide them by DM if requested. I really don't want to be constantly bashing EV's although no doubt some will think otherwise.

Has anyone watched this latest video by JayEmm on Cars, if so I wonder what your thoughts are about what he is claiming in it? At the very least it would appear that he has some sound ethics and is not willing to sell his soul, or at least that's my opinion, yours may vary and that is fine.

I came across this interesting video of a poor chap who was towing his caravan with his electric Kia when it broke down. He explains the painful experience he had with the RAC, something that I to have had with them before, twice before. I feel that we need to get this message spread as wide as is possible and the person is asking for others to share their experiences, good or bad with him. https://youtu.be/p28O9lpmdAI

The final report on the car carrier Felicity Ace fire and subsequent sinking of the ship in March 2022 has just been released and the blame for the event has been placed apparently on the Porsche Taycan high voltage battery as the fire was observed to have started from the battery compartment beneath an electric Taycan, who knew?? Now we have to wait for the same report on the cause of the fire on the Freemantle Highway which was also carrying loads of electric Porsche Taycans and leaked photos of the Taycans burnt out along with ICE cars, and the photos show most of the Taycans body has been consumed for the fire as opposed to the shell remains on the other cars. The photos also show just how much the top deck of the vessel has warped with intense heat of the fire. Preliminary reports suggested the fire was started by once again, a Porsche Taycan, time will reveal the truth. Panama-Felicity-Ace-Cargo-Fire-Sinking-March-2022.pdf

That's the sensible thing to do, but we all know that it is not always possible for loads of reasons. I'm sure if we are being honest that everyone has come across people taking massive risks with electricity daily.

That is very sensible, good cable size lowers losses and as you, acts as a heatsink, and using a commando plug/socket is the way to go.

This mini caught fire 2 days ago (petrol car) and even with the fire being as vicious as it was, once the fire brigade arrived on scene, 2 hoses deployed, the fire was effectively out in just 90 seconds. Allegedly according to the person in the video, they had a BBQ on the front seat of the mini, WTF?

Well you will know how people love to cut corners etc, eBay buyers etc, you will be amazed just how lapse we are in allowing dangerous goods into the country. The claims that are written into the packaging, none of which are true or even present. Look at these 3 videos by another electrical engineer on a extension sold by eBay sellers, where he puts it through tests to show how it could easily cause a fire and it has a claimed rating of 10A., enjoy. 👍👍