Quentin Wilson was on the lunchtime TV today,  doing "A word from my sponsor slot" in which he attempted  to demonstrate how easy electric cars are to use.

 

He started by relating to the interviewer, that one of the main obstacles to the widespread adoption of electric cars was the public perception that they are somehow difficult to use.

 

So, to show that was not difficult to do, he parked-up, obviously in a major city or town,  alongside one the kerbside electric car charging points (Looked a bit like a black parking meter) and then took out a freestanding cable from the cars backseat and plugged-it in to the roadside appliance. When the charging was done he then unplugged the free length of cable and chucked it on the backseat.

 

Duh ! Haven't the electric car designers heard of self-stowing and furling electric cables - certainly the middle class mums who will probably be the first scale purchasers (After the enthusiasts have had their go) have and they won't relate at all to a hamfisted implementation requiring  electric cable connection to be made at both ends i.e. car and road side appliance.

 

Also, what's happened to under road surface induction, as a technology for use in supermarket car parking spaces.

 

Please tell me that this must have been a spoiler "Promotion".

 

Nick

Edited 23 January, 20179 yr by Clunkclick

Purely demonstrating that TV presenters are generally just clueless mouthpieces.

New car salespersons are often clueless also when it comes to their own technology........but they now have more of an excuse.

 

With our Auto-Lib cars in Paris (5,000 and counting) and more in other cities, Bordeaux, Lyon, London, Indianapolis and more cities to follow.

 

The cables are easy to use and done so my petite French ladies and the incentive is their hire stops when the car is reconnected so they are keen. 

 

https://www.autolib.eu/en/how-does-it-work/service/

 

I'm not sure auto-retracting cable reels are as good as you'd like to think. Consider how awkward a vacuum cleaner becomes after a few years? Still, I'd agree that something better than a loose cable is needed in the longer term. One of the major hazards with cables is the driver forgetting it's there and driving off while it's attached. I know emergency vehicles that have shorelines have an auto-eject feature, and I'd hope that electric vehicles do something similar.

 

Inductive charging is the way to go from a user perspective but it requires additional investment on the infrastructure and vehicle, and a cost that is then likely to be passed on to the consumer.

Quote

 

 The wicked continentals are better organised and marketed than us !

 

So what's new ?

 

Same old story.

 

This sceptred isle, this offshore resource of  under invested, under-skilled, under-traiined, under-paid, exploitationally disposed, intellectually deficient, BT TV addicted numpties . . . . . this England.

 

Nick

If car manufacturers can no have an Immobiliser Enabled when a Power Supply is working there really is a problem.

 

The New VW ID's will have no issues they will have Bosch design a Defeat Device the ensures nobody is silly enough to drive off with a tail dragging.

VW & Bosch are good with Software.

4 minutes ago, chimaera said:

I'm not sure auto-retracting cable reels are as good as you'd like to think. Consider how awkward a vacuum cleaner becomes after a few years? Still, I'd agree that something better than a loose cable is needed in the longer term. One of the major hazards with cables is the driver forgetting it's there and driving off while it's attached. I know emergency vehicles that have shorelines have an auto-eject feature, and I'd hope that electric vehicles do something similar.

 

Inductive charging is the way to go from a user perspective but it requires additional investment on the infrastructure and vehicle, and a cost that is then likely to be passed on to the consumer.

Magnetically actuated "Rising pillar" which makes contact with an area on the sump ?

 

i.e. something Sheldon Cooper did in his garden shed, aged 11 <Cough>.

 

N

It still requires installing the hardware in the parking space, plus having the hardware on the vehicle to take the charge. This all assumes that someone has already developed a standard for inductive vehicle charging. It's achievable, but it's not the low-effort solution you think it is.

Betamax or VHS

Same old thing all over again.

 The UK Manufacturers or those importing EV's into the UK need to get their act together with the guidance of the UK Government / DfT / DVSA

& then think about MOT's etc and maintenance and if allowing EU Type Approval vehicles to be imported in 4 years time for sale in the UK 

they also need UK Type Approval.  Easy bulb / LED changing etc.

I suspect the UK will continue to adopt UN ECE type approval standards even if it leaves the EU. Not doing so will just make life harder and more expensive for everyone involved.

Which 'everyones,  does that include the hard working / tax paying UK citizens. the ones that pay VAT and Tax & Duties on Servicing & Maintenance to keep Warranties Valid

and get over priced products?

Time that transport was affordable and economically viable for those that want it even those on minimum incomes.

Watched this video from the BBC this morning;

 

33 minutes ago, DeanVRS20VT said:

Watched this video from the BBC this morning

 

Good little ditty. £40K to a fast charge stand, ouch.  Suppose it could be getting the Three Phase power to the charge point.

 

 

Edited 24 January, 20179 yr by lol-lol

43 minutes ago, Offski said:

Which 'everyones,  does that include the hard working / tax paying UK citizens. the ones that pay VAT and Tax & Duties on Servicing & Maintenance to keep Warranties Valid

and get over priced products?

Time that transport was affordable and economically viable for those that want it even those on minimum incomes.

It's a simple enough thought experiment.

 

If the UK opts out of UN ECE type approval and goes its own way then manufacturers have to develop an additional variation of the model lines to sell to the UK, meeting the UK's distinct requirements. These are going to be more expensive given the additional R&D work required. Given the relatively small size of the UK new car market on its own, manufacturers may decide to only develop a limited range for that market. Ultimately you end up with a smaller selection of more expensive vehicles, with unique parts, which will end up costing more to buy and run.

 

For all that, UN ECE is a far broader standard than just EU, so I doubt the UK will opt out of it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Forum_for_Harmonization_of_Vehicle_Regulations

 

 

Stick with that,

the Road Traffic legislation is not universal across Europe, not even all driving on the same side of the road, 

lights, rear lights being different on Continental Europe & RoW countries,

So have the UN ECE type approval as agreed and then impose on Top that UK & World Manufacturers vehicle meet British Standards if Built in or Imported into the UK.

Stricter on the road with Emissions at full revenue weight emissions tested on the UK Roads.

 

I doubt they will as well, but then the UK public are paying deer now for the pollution and past corruption between the EU Government and vehicle manufacturers.

BREXIT Britain can impose British Standards if they wish and if they exceed EU standards then UK vehicle visiting the EU countries should have no Type Approval issues.

Opportunity for Manufacturers in the UK to produce greener vehicles and other Nations Manufacturers and they have until Euro 7 emission introduction to do it.

Maybe rather than costing more it will cost Tax Payers / NHS etc less.

 

There will be enough vehicle choice as sometimes there are just too many 'Extras' and not enough necessaries.

Edited 24 January, 20179 yr by Offski

39 minutes ago, Offski said:

......UK public are paying deer now for the pollution and past corruption between the EU Government and vehicle manufacturers.......

 

 

Paying Deer?   Are they some anti-pollution measure?

 

Can one use other Cervidae such as Elks or Reindeer and what is the conversion rate?  

 

Edited 24 January, 20179 yr by lol-lol

Spelling was OK with auto correct on first posting then wrong after and edit and i gave up.

A bit like with Car Software and features, still a work in progress and maybe not suitable for those with fat fingers or too stupid to read the owners manual.

Analogue generation in a digital world.

23 minutes ago, Offski said:

Spelling was OK with auto correct on first posting then wrong after and edit and i gave up.

A bit like with Car Software and features, still a work in progress and maybe not suitable for those with fat fingers or too stupid to read the owners manual.

Analogue generation in a digital world.

Reading the owners manual is an admission that i cannot work something out from first principals or deductive reasoning and therefore i refuse to do it unless as a last resort.

I used to be like that with vehicles but then it can get very expensive and with EV's i think it could really mean a 'fail'.

Been instructed on how to charge  EV's by salespeople that had obviously never done it themselves away from their workplace.

Edited 24 January, 20179 yr by Offski

Someday, all re-fuelling will be done this way . . . 

 

 

 

Oh, the USP !

 

N

Fashions come around like tearing brand new jeans or even stone wash,

in a generation or 3 some smart people will decide there is lots of oil under the ground & how easy it used to be to run vehicles & 

revive the old ways.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LtHKn_jDy00