The EV fact thread

[Bellow]

.

Disengaging the motors 'electrically' will no doubt permit freewheeling but in the towed behind a motorhome scenario where any EV that has a top speed higher than the motorhome is going to be far too heavy to tow. A lighter one - eg, Citroen Ami - would risk over-speeding its motors when towed at a speed faster than its own top speed. Only a mechanical disengagement would work there. Unless the motor has sufficient rpm headroom - dubious.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

A friend I visit in the States tells me that Demonstrators have now started setting fire to Tesla EV charging stands.

I’ve personally used this one at Littleton when booze and food shopping.

Unlikely to spread here, perhaps. Or perhaps not.

 

[SmartAmg]

A friend I visit in the States tells me that Demonstrators have now started setting fire to Tesla EV charging stands.

I’ve personally used this one at Littleton when booze and food shopping.

Unlikely to spread here, perhaps. Or perhaps not.

View attachment 168485

As much of a TiT as Musk is. That's bl00dy Pathetic!

 

[markjay]

Just checked, and the IONIQ 5 can be shift into Nuetral then towed or pushed by hand. Phew!

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Not sure why other EV manufacturers don't fit this option to their cars?

 

[SmartAmg]

Just checked, and the IONIQ 5 can be shift into Nuetral then towed or pushed by hand. Phew!

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Not sure why other EV manufacturers don't fit this option to their cars?

Handy if it won't start in a multi-storey, then.

 

[markjay]

Handy if it won't start in a multi-storey, then.

The question is, if it's so simple, why don't other manufacturers do it?

 

[Dryce]

The question is, if it's so simple, why don't other manufacturers do it?

It may not be that simple. But good on Hyundai (and presumably Kia too) for making it straightforward.

Is it not the case that there are variations on the drivetrains in EVs that make it less straightforward for some manufacturers.

And even without EVs in the mix we have variations in automatic transmissions types and four wheel drive systems with different differential setups.

I think in the UK traditionally we have been used to the idea that a majority of cars are two wheel drive and have manual transmissions. Stick a front wheel drive car up on a towing frame and make sure the parking brake is off - and basically job done for the majority - but the rest?

 

[poormansporsche]

It may not be that simple. But good on Hyundai (and presumably Kia too) for making it straightforward.

Is it not the case that there are variations on the drivetrains in EVs that make it less straightforward for some manufacturers.

And even without EVs in the mix we have variations in automatic transmissions types and four wheel drive systems with different differential setups.

I think in the UK traditionally we have been used to the idea that a majority of cars are two wheel drive and have manual transmissions. Stick a front wheel drive car up on a towing frame and make sure the parking brake is off - and basically job done for the majority - but the rest?

Even in the good ole days. Every time my battered old van (frequently) broke down, the recovery people would have the prop shaft disconnected in seconds and the job was a goodun. Nowadays not so much.

I broke down in one of the work sprinters a few weeks ago blocking a ladies drive way. Dead as a door nail. Couldn't get the 9g box to do anything so couldn't even roll back 6 foot to allow her access. Awkward.

 

[markjay]

Even in the good ole days. Every time my battered old van (frequently) broke down, the recovery people would have the prop shaft disconnected in seconds and the job was a goodun. Nowadays not so much.

I broke down in one of the work sprinters a few weeks ago blocking a ladies drive way. Dead as a door nail. Couldn't get the 9g box to do anything so couldn't even roll back 6 foot to allow her access. Awkward.

There are all sorts of faults that can render a vehicle immobile, granted. In such circumstances, only a crane will do.

But in normal circumstances, the basic ability to put it in Nuetral and push it a few yards should be mandatory, no?

I am not asking that every car can be towed. I fully accept that some type of vehicle (not just EVs) may require a flat bed.

But to be able push it by hand, or to winch it onto the tow-truck, seems elementary?

Even a car with an automatic transmission can be moved without power for a short distance.

 

[Dryce]

But in normal circumstances, the basic ability to put it in Nuetral and push it a few yards should be mandatory, no?

Yes.

But we have 4WDs with centre differentials that mean dollies have to be used. And we have more sophisticated automatic transmissions that may be difficult to disengage if there is a problem..

So this is not a new problem - in principal.

With EVs it just becomes more common as the population of vehicles grows and if the manufacturers don't have some sort of neutral/free wheeling setup. Maybe on that basis it should be mandated - but that would likely also be problematic for a proportion of non-EVs. (Maybe a law or regulation that mandated it would require that if you cannot get a neutral or free wheel configuration that you have to carry dollies!).

 

[ALFAitalia]

Even in the good ole days. Every time my battered old van (frequently) broke down, the recovery people would have the prop shaft disconnected in seconds and the job was a goodun. Nowadays not so much.

I broke down in one of the work sprinters a few weeks ago blocking a ladies drive way. Dead as a door nail. Couldn't get the 9g box to do anything so couldn't even roll back 6 foot to allow her access. Awkward.

Out of interest why could you not put the trans into neutral and push it? My 212 has the electric column change version....I bet that would not be fun to move if it broke down in gear....but I believe part of the aux batteries job is to ensure there is always power to work the selector .

 

[markjay]

Again, I agree that some types of fault may render a vehicle - any vehicle - immobile. And I don't think that it should be mandatory for cars to carry any equipment to deal with these particular situations.

But not to have the simple ability to move the car forward or backwards a few yards without power, seems illogical. Even with 4WD cars, a short push or pull when in N will cause no harm.

 

[poormansporsche]

Out of interest why could you not put the trans into neutral and push it? My 212 has the electric column change version....I bet that would not be fun to move if it broke down in gear....but I believe part of the aux batteries job is to ensure there is always power to work the selector .

Dunno, in this situation it was absolutely dead so despite bashing the column shifter up and down whilst repeatedly bashing the starter button I just couldn't get it out of park.

But on a side note, our work vans are all £hagged plenty of times I've had to bash the column shifter into drive whist attempting to start in a weird sort of DIY bump start.

 

[SmartAmg]

Dunno, in this situation it was absolutely dead so despite bashing the column shifter up and down whilst repeatedly bashing the starter button I just couldn't get it out of park.

Should've tried hitting it with a large, Branch.

 

[poormansporsche]

Should've tried hitting it with a large, Branch.

We definitely DO not have a large metal pole shaped hook placed directly behind our heads in the cab. I definitely did NOT smack the steel encased after market immobiliser, the dashboard, the column shifter, the starter motor and the top of the engine, repeatedly, with the pole hook thingy. Definitely didn't do that whilst waiting 2 hours for recovery to turn up

 

[ALFAitalia]

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[poormansporsche]

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Oi ! If you were filming me you could have at least helped.....

 

[markjay]

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[Will]

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/it-a-saloon-it-a-fastback-no-its-new-ps70k-volvo-es90-electric-car

Volvo reckons this ES90 can cover up to 435 miles of range. Find a fast enough charger – one that hasn’t got a battered old diesel V60 parked in front of it – and it’ll go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in around 20 minutes.


That’s with a 350kW hose. Heck, Volvo reckons it’ll add 186 miles of range – 300km – in just 10 minutes. That’s an entire small EV’s range, in one coffee break.

 

[baxlin]

Question: why do most, of not all, EV charging point have a little kerb a couple of feet in front of them? Other parking spaces, and petrol pumps, don’t have this. The only reason I can think of is the danger of fire if one is clouted. Scary.