Thread: EV general discussion

FYI. Take it as you like.... I still don't want one

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Unfortunately you have to log in to see anything other than the thumbnail. I will live in the knowledge that it was a stupid idea.

There is a YT channel called "redriven". They review used cars and have a mechanic speak about the issues with them. It's a constant theme of plastic parts getting brittle and failing as they age. Most cars seem to have lots now. Apparenttly plastic sumps is also a thing. which means it's impossible to jack under them for engine removal/adjusting things.

I remain convinced that the service life of modern cars is 10 years. If you get longer than that you're on bonus time.

off topic again ... but this paints a sad story.

thrust_bearing.jpg

I was wrong ... it was metal. This is the thow-out bearing. How does this happen when the car has only done 89,000km from new.... and you can't abuse the clutch, can't get it red hot and melt all the grease out (because the computer/actuators do the clutch activation and gearchange). Apparently not uncommon when I asked someone "in the know". I can only guess they had a bad batch of thrust bearings back then .... 20years ago.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

off topic again ... but this paints a sad story.

thrust_bearing.jpg

I was wrong ... it was metal. This is the thow-out bearing. How does this happen when the car has only done 89,000km from new.... and you can't abuse the clutch, can't get it red hot and melt all the grease out (because the computer/actuators do the clutch activation and gearchange). Apparently not uncommon when I asked someone "in the know". I can only guess they had a bad batch of thrust bearings back then .... 20years ago.

Funny how things break, Tire on boat trailer drama reminded me of that

How secure is your electrical supply for Navigation


"Waymo robotaxis stop in the streets during San Francisco power outage

" Waymo robotaxis stop in the streets during San Francisco power outage

This was NOT the reason yet I wonder if it could

CleanPowerSF:

• Role: A city-run program (Community Choice Aggregation) that purchases electricity on behalf of residents and businesse
  Status: Most residents are automatically enrolled in this. It focuses on higher renewable content (solar/wind) than standard PG&E power

The reason was "a massive fire at a PG&E substation (8th and Mission streets) knocked out power to approximately 130,000 customers (roughly 30% of the city)"

On the bright side

""While the Waymo Driver is designed to treat non-functional signals as four-way stops, the sheer scale of the outage led to instances where vehicles remained stationary longer than usual to confirm the state of the affected intersections," a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement provided to the BBC.
That "contributed to traffic friction during the height of the congestion," they added.

But, the majority of Waymo's active trips were completed before vehicles were returned to depots or pulled over, the spokesperson said."

Waymo robotaxis stop in the streets during San Francisco power outage

Originally Posted by Tins

FYI. Take it as you like.... I still don't want one

No CFA clearly

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Funny how things break, Tire on boat trailer drama reminded me of that

How secure is your electrical supply for Navigation


"Waymo robotaxis stop in the streets during San Francisco power outage

" Waymo robotaxis stop in the streets during San Francisco power outage

This was NOT the reason yet I wonder if it could

CleanPowerSF:

• Role: A city-run program (Community Choice Aggregation) that purchases electricity on behalf of residents and businesse
  Status: Most residents are automatically enrolled in this. It focuses on higher renewable content (solar/wind) than standard PG&E power

The reason was "a massive fire at a PG&E substation (8th and Mission streets) knocked out power to approximately 130,000 customers (roughly 30% of the city)"

On the bright side

""While the Waymo Driver is designed to treat non-functional signals as four-way stops, the sheer scale of the outage led to instances where vehicles remained stationary longer than usual to confirm the state of the affected intersections," a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement provided to the BBC.
That "contributed to traffic friction during the height of the congestion," they added.

But, the majority of Waymo's active trips were completed before vehicles were returned to depots or pulled over, the spokesperson said."

Waymo robotaxis stop in the streets during San Francisco power outage

Recently, I had to undertake a mission, which involved driving in heavy traffic, through several urban areas. This was after a severe storm, which had affected about 90% of traffic lights in the region. A lot of drivers - no, let us call them 'Motorists' - really struggled with their situation awareness. Not so much as in dangerous, but as pathetically inept. There was a bloke who pulled out in front of me, from the left, on a single lane road and wanted to cross the major, arterial road I was on. As he started to cross my bow, he realised his error and propped. I just managed to pull the Tojo 'tilly up, about a foot off his driver's door. The poor, old Woolie's truck driver in the lane beside me, must have offered up several prayers to Krishna, going by the look on his face.
The offending driver then wound down his window and shouted, "Sorry, mate. The lights are out!" I replied, "Yours nearly were, too!"

Friend of mine is roadtripping his tesla to Cairns with the family. He expects to be able to do the whole trip on the tesla charging network with just a standard RWD car.

He sent me a message from Carmilla.. which is a new supercharging station. "Motel let me plug in.. woke up to 100% charge. Now at Carmilla.. Hit 150kwh.. now holding at 125kwh. Only 35c per Kwh which is lease than home on peak!". That means they will only be stopped for 20 minutes or so.

If you only ever look for problems that's all you'll find. Meanwhile the world marches on.

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Friend of mine is roadtripping his tesla to Cairns with the family. He expects to be able to do the whole trip on the tesla charging network with just a standard RWD car.

He sent me a message from Carmilla.. which is a new supercharging station. "Motel let me plug in.. woke up to 100% charge. Now at Carmilla.. Hit 150kwh.. now holding at 125kwh. Only 35c per Kwh which is lease than home on peak!". That means they will only be stopped for 20 minutes or so.

If you only ever look for problems that's all you'll find. Meanwhile the world marches on.

And this is how crazy the ev stuff in. Lets cheer in excitiment. An ev can do a road trip. A trip my 75 year old car could easily do .... but that is nothing. The 75 year old ****box shrugs its shoulder and goes "you guys even have sealed roads these day ... who cares".

But here's a 100 year old citroen that says "wow ... so exciting your ev can drive on a highway ... I did it without roads 100 years ago"

Citroen tourer | National Museum of Australia


These throw-away cars are just such incredible advancement over the 100year old motor vehicle it just stuns the universe.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

And this is how crazy the ev stuff in. Lets cheer in excitiment. An ev can do a road trip. A trip my 75 year old car could easily do .... but that is nothing. The 75 year old ****box shrugs its shoulder and goes "you guys even have sealed roads these day ... who cares".

But here's a 100 year old citroen that says "wow ... so exciting your ev can drive on a highway ... I did it without roads 100 years ago"

Citroen tourer | National Museum of Australia


These throw-away cars are just such incredible advancement over the 100year old motor vehicle it just stuns the universe.

Another side effect is Silver Up over 100% this year and over 42% in a month!

Some of this might be conspiracy stuff yet I enjoyed it - NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE

Eric Sprott's SHOCKING Portfolio - 2025 Yearly Wrap-Up | Sprott Money Ltd.

India

• Massive Imports: Sprott notes that India imported 55 million ounces of silver in a single month.
  
• Impact: He emphasizes that if this buying rate were annualized, India alone would consume nearly the entire global mine supply (which is approximately 800 million ounces per year).

China

• Hoarding via Export Restrictions: rather than just importing, China is effectively removing silver from the global market by stopping exports. Sprott mentions new regulations starting January 1, 2026, that will restrict silver exports. He estimates this keeps 50 to 100 million ounces within China that would have otherwise entered the global market.
  
  
• Consumption: He describes China as the "largest consumer of silver" and notes their dominance in solid-state battery production. He warns that if their new battery tech captures just 20% of the EV market, it could eventually consume "all of the silver produced in a year."