Thread: EV general discussion

Originally Posted by Arapiles

My wife's currently proceeding on the assumption that our next new car will be electric, and I'll want something that can do interstate, dirt road and light off-road comfortably. Maybe a petrol D4 .... My around-town retirement vehicle will be the following:
Fcar.jpg

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Originally Posted by Saitch

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But it's not electric. And it doesn't have suspension.

I kinda have an EV (so does wife). Just needs human energy in it also!

Originally Posted by Arapiles

My wife's currently proceeding on the assumption that our next new car will be electric, and I'll want something that can do interstate, dirt road and light off-road comfortably. Maybe a petrol D4 .... My around-town retirement vehicle will be the following:

Now we're talking. There are some great electric cargo bikes these days but they can be eye wateringly expensive. I reckon it's a volume thing. Were I live (Brisbane North) there is "Kedron Brook Bikeway". On that bikeway - there are 2 major shopping centres (used to be 3 until Toombull was destroyed in the flood). Chermside is also ok with some back streets. Plus a bunnings. Most things that people would need. Unfortunately the last k home is up a cliff face so the electric versions are a must.

Our family electric bike is at over 15k now .. all little trips here and there.

Originally Posted by Tombie

I kinda have an EV (so does wife). Just needs human energy in it also!

Nice. If you employed a marketing team you'd call that a Human-Electric Hybrid.

Originally Posted by DiscoDB

No doubt about that Captain. It is the obsession with maximum range that is driving this. But there is a market for EV’s that - how can I put this - don’t look like an EV.

This is why the F-150 Lightning is successful at getting pick-up truck owners into an EV. It looks like a truck.

For city use, mostly under 60kph, unless stuck on the freeway where you are more likely doing anything from 40-80kph - at least where I am, then weight is more important and the Avenger is a very small compact SUV that looks like an SUV.

The claimed WLTP is around 400km, so based on my “WLTP / 2” theory gives an optimised range of 200km.

So ticks all the boxes for a city runabout that at a most might be called upon to do a Melbourne to Geelong return trip.

It is cheaper than a Hyundai Kona in the UK - but I will bet it gets a big price mark up if it comes here.

You are right. The first question everyone asks is "What's the range?". Maybe as we get more accustomed to EV's we won't be so obsessed about this. People will understand that if you're just driving around the city range is of no concern as you'll rarely do 500k of shopping trips in a day. Unlike ICE cars EV's typically go further in the city than on the highway. So as you say, buying a car with a big battery is probably pointless.

I can see people being more interested in the WH/Km figure which is an indication of how efficient a car is - and therefore how much power a car will need to be fed. And it varies wildly. I find this site very helpful.

Tesla Model Y (2022-2023) price and specifications - EV Database

Originally Posted by Tombie

I kinda have an EV (so does wife). Just needs human energy in it also!

…and so the EV bug bites again.

I converted my wife’s bike to electric about 10yrs ago. Was good for 40kph, had about a 20-30km range depending on how much the human assisted. Was effectively 2 wheel drive - pedals drove the back wheel and electric motor was mounted to the front hub.

But used lead batteries and was very heavy. Had to upgrade the tyres to something that could handle the weight and grip better. About 3yrs ago I converted the batteries to lithium. Lighter and better range but the batteries cost more than the bike.

Sadly it is out of service again as I try to source some replacement parts.

All good low cost fun. But gets you thinking about converting a car.

Your D2 Ute conversion project would be an excellent platform to convert to EV. A centre mounted Tesla large drive unit, change the gearing to 4.5:1 and add a Quaife ATB differential, a pair of Tesla Prop Shaft stumps matched to the Defender drive shaft joint, modified prop shafts, battery packs split between the engine bay and under the tray in the rear, and an after market controller and you would have a very capable electric 4x4. Just needs some electronic trickery to keep the BCU happy.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Even straight off the showroom, why people buy these ****boxes is beyond me.

Bugger me dead, & there is QPOL just ordered another 45 Cars for police work.

I read somewhere, that from the start they were supposed to be ratsch.

Corruption in QPOL & backhanders?