Thread: EV general discussion

Originally Posted by Old Farang

News to me:

EV drivers warned of number plate detail attracting $257 fine


EV drivers warned of number plate detail attracting $257 fine (yahoo.com)

As electric vehicle uptake soars across the country, drivers are being reminded of their safety requirements.


A small but critical detail subtly inserted on the number plates of electric vehicles plays a crucial role should they be involved in an accident, and Aussie drivers caught without one could be slapped with a hefty fine.
That's the messaging from authorities around the country who are this week reminding motorists of the skyrocketing death toll on our roads, urging Australians to remain vigilant and adhere to vehicle safety standards in a desperate bid to drive fatalities down.
Under these safety standards, all electric vehicles registered in Australia are required to sport an "EV label" which lets emergency crews know when a car is electric, should it be involved in an accident, allowing them to respond accordingly.

The warning tag is compulsory for all EVs on Aussie roads manufactured after January 1, 2019, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, full electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Western Australia is the only state not to enforce the mandate, with all other jurisdictions handing down fines for those caught without a label.

It was only yesterday that I noticed a Rav4 Hybrid with an EV tag on its rear number plate. I'd never noticed one before this.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

Just stop for a minute. You appear to think I'm attacking. I'm just laying out facts.



it is a 3 second google search to verify these batteries are at least $20,000 to replace.

Google 18650 cells. your capacity even it doesn't completely die by 8 years, will probably be about 30% of the original capacity. How long will that 30% last ? Will that even get you to the local supermarket and back

Here is some real world data, from the cars themselves:

Tesla Vehicle Batteries Degrade Under 65% of Rated Range After Only Three Years

A battery car is a throw away item. We are still running an old poogoe 407 here as the family car. my wife has done 250,000kms in it over the last 12 years. Its now 17years old. If we had purchased a battery car, that would be $40,000 -> $60,000 in batteries it would have needed ot continue to be a functional, usable car. It still will do over 1000kms from a tank while sipping fuel at about 7L/100. It will probably continue to do so for easily another decade with minimal upkeep.

See what I mean by electric cars just being nuts ? They are transport for the wealthy, and I'm betting 95% of them never purchase a 2nd electric car after being burnt by the first one (even if its just the horndous ... non existant resale of it.... in the scenario they are one of the few that can live iwth its limitations).

Please don't read this as anti-electric car. I reckon that are fascinating things. The problem is they are also just ridiculous, an environmental travesty due to their toxic battery and horrendously tiny life span. The only way you will get high milage out of an electric car ... is expensive battery replacements. or huge milage while the battery is very young ... eg Taxi work.

Didn't take offense. reflecting on my Disco service/Maintenace costs now gives me the shivers! I loved the first one honestly despite not looking at some of the costs.

I fully understand and agree with the limitations of current battery technology. I am keenly watching and waiting for proof of the Next Gen for towing and back to 4wding fun I really enjoyed. Make it solid. Proven and cheap will make me drive and fish with it

Originally Posted by Tins

Surprising they don't all make sure they have their little "virtue signal" prominently displayed. Along with the "Baby on Board" placard.

I guess they'll come up with a Diesel placard of shame soon. ☠️ perhaps. Only with the colours reversed.

Oh boy, last time we used labels they went way overboard... not sure if this is a good idea

Originally Posted by Tins

Surprising they don't all make sure they have their little "virtue signal" prominently displayed. Along with the "Baby on Board" placard.

I guess they'll come up with a Diesel placard of shame soon. ☠️ perhaps. Only with the colours reversed.

I had never noticed this. Its extraordinarily important first res-ponders know they are dealing with a possible battery fire. An LPG tank is quite safe in the event of a vehicle fire and they are also labelled. An electric car is extraordinarily dangerous. I'm quite staggered they even allow such a large lithium battery to be carted around the roads due to there incredible fire risk.

electric cars are far less likely than ICE cars to burn. The thing is an ICE vehicle fire is just a fire .... anyone can handle that. An electric car is nothing to do with the car, its a battery fire .... "thermal runaway" .... It burns hot enough to melt concrete, cannot be put out, even if you push the car into the ocean it'll continue to burn under water. The smoke is extremely toxic, the water runoff is toxic and must be contained. You cannot put the fire out, it must be allowed to burn out. Just be thankful they are very rare! an electric car fire can (and does) destroy parking structures ... sinks cargo ships ....

seeya,
Shane L

Originally Posted by Saitch

It was only yesterday that I noticed a Rav4 Hybrid with an EV tag on its rear number plate. I'd never noticed one before this.

LPG and dual fuel vehicles have had little diamond stickers on the numberplates forever. I saw EV stickers on electric vehicles when they first became available. In Queensland and presumably elsewhere, it is the office, issuing the numberplates, responsibility to attach the sticker. Individuals are not allowed to attach anything to the face of a numberplate. The numberplates are and always remain the property of the state.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

LPG and dual fuel vehicles have had little diamond stickers on the numberplates forever. I saw EV stickers on electric vehicles when they first became available. In Queensland and presumably elsewhere, it is the office, issuing the numberplates, responsibility to attach the sticker. Individuals are not allowed to attach anything to the face of a numberplate. The numberplates are and always remain the property of the state.

In Vic I had to go out and search for some red diamonds for replacement original number plates.

Then off to the hardware store coz I'd run out of pop rivets.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by Tins

To be fair, those early Japanese cars, Toyota KE10/11 Corollas, RT40 Coronas, MS45 Crowns, Datsun 1000/1200 etc didn't require repairs for ages after their purchase, other than collision ones. The Japanese "Big Three" ( Mitsubishi was represented by the Colt ) very quickly ramped up supply to the foreign to them markets. And Toyota's commitment to resolving engineering problems, particularly on LandCruisers on the Snowy, was legendary. When Daihatsu entered the small car fray with the 3 cyl Charade all parts were in the inventory prior to release. We got parts before the first car arrived. Other than service parts and panels, we never needed them.

Biggest issue with crashed EVs seems to be that nobody wants the things anywhere near their premises, or other vehicles, due to the astonishing risk of severe, catastrophic fires. In the UK it appears that only the Govt's desire to put a shining face on the things prevents them from becoming even more uninsurable than a Range Rover, for totally different reasons. Can't begin to imagine what the insurers there think of an all electric Rangie. Fire and theft has a whole new connotation.

The truth is out there .. maybe not in here so much. The reality is they probably aren't much different to other premium vehicles. The other reality is there aren't teslas bursting into flames in repair shops all across the country. Yes Lithium battery fires are a problem, but at this point it's cheap e-bikes and scooters that are torching houses.

I don't worry about charging the Tesla - but I won't even connect the battery in the Lotus without a fire extinguisher handy.

Flying yesterday- IFLY Its indoor fun. Kids and cousins Christmas presents from 3 years ago finally put to use.



Drove the crew there and back and then chased a load of surf grommets all the way to Phillip Island. MG was looking a bit light on power with 60km to get home. Charging options are so much easier now.

The four chargefox high speed ones I found via Plugshare. It is integrated via my phone in the car. very easy to use now options are plentiful

The four chargefoxchargers are in a car park on top of a shopping centre. Plugges in I walked away down into then out of the shopping centre which was almost closed.

Walking back all the doors of shopping centre were locked Walked up a car only ramp to get to my car was rather funny I thought It is much easier than to first 50,000km with so many options now. It is Easier - just a bit DisJoiNted at times still