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Electric cars?

Would you buy an electric car?

  • Already own one

    Votes: 10 5.1%

  • Yes - would definitely buy

    Votes: 43 21.7%

  • Yes - preferred over petrol car if price/power/convenience similar

    Votes: 78 39.4%

  • Maybe - preference for neither, only concerned with costs etc

    Votes: 38 19.2%

  • No - prefer petrol car even if electric car has same price, power and convenience

    Votes: 25 12.6%

  • No - would never buy one

    Votes: 14 7.1%
  • Total voters
    198
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rederob said:
I realise there are mandatory rest breaks for all drivers, but whereas an HFCEV can utilise wholesale pricing at terminals, an EV would need to recharge/swapover at commercial rates in between.
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There would be nothing stopping a trucking company having longterm wholesale style pricing with certain charging providers, or even owning their own un-manned charging location somewhere between the capital cities.
 

I think the business model that Janus Electric is proposing could be quite compelling for long distance transport fleets. They have developed the IP to transform a current diesel truck into a fully functional electric vehicle for less than the cost of overhauling the motor. The new vehicle can then use the plug in battery banks and service centres that Janus electrics establishes.

An important part of the process is the easy capacity to upgrade the battery as improvements in battery technology come onto the market.

With this business model you don't have to commit the huge outlay for a whole new rig. When a unit needs a motor overhaul you just turn it electric and save a bundle on fuel as well as other maintenance costs. One also doesn't have to worry about the sunk cost of batteries as new developments reduce weight and increase power.

Janus Electric

www.januselectric.com.au
 
rederob said:
As large transport companies operate from discrete terminals the infrastructure at these sites, and at refilling hubs/nodes along major transport routes, would be easy and relatively cost effective to quickly put in place.
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There's an example of that already with LNG.

Can't buy it from the average service station but there are certainly heavy trucks running on it. Likewise some shipping, that which runs on set routes, is also using it.

Not that I'm advocating that as the long term solution, just pointing it out as an example of a different fuel that isn't widely available being put to use.
 
As you smurf and @rederob have been saying, Australia probably wont be a one size fits all, there are a lot of unique challenges in Australia.
 
I once drove Perth to Canberra in 40 hours way back in the 80s and slept for over 24 hours afterwards; learnt a big lesson about sleep deprivation!

Anyway, these many BEV stories continue to prove that if you are not in a hurry, then range anxiety is just a state of mind.
Have to admit that there being no DC charger at Albany came as a surprise. Bit of a shame my Atto 3 is so many months away as my mum in Perth turns 99 before its due arrival, so I will be flying over instead.
 
moXJO said:
I wonder if a vandalised charge point would ruin the trip. I often see "out of order" chargers.
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I don't know about over East, but here in W.A it is a major issue, when there can be 200klm between charge points and there is only one charge point anyway.
It is something I have mentioned, but as obviously most on the forum E.V owning members live on the East coast, where as usual it is well serviced, it falls under the heading of 'who gives a $hit'.
 
I don't live on the east coast.

All the chargers that I have come across usually have a minimum of two outlets.

There are a lot of business starting to install chargers in their carparks, as an incentive for more customers to visit and stay longer.

List of Successful EV Trips Round Australia

Tesla Owners Club of Australia
www.teslaowners.org.au
 
I'm sure it will improve, I live in W.A and the reason I'm buying an extended range E.V is due to the lack of infrastructure. The W.Astate government has committed to putting in more charging infrastructure, currently it is woefully inadequate and that is when there are very few E.V's on the road.
The article I posted about the guy in the BYD van actually made reference to it.
I guess I'm just under no illusion that charging when travelling in W.A will be an issue, whether I like it, or not.


Quote:
While planning my trip for the Electrikhana in Albany I realise I still haven’t recovered from the long drive from Sydney. I feel a bit irritated that I’m constrained by charger availability, so there’s not a lot of route options.

I estimate my charging needs to be a bit over two hours, but I just want to get to Albany as quick as I can on Friday so I can set myself up to do a good job on display.

I’ve booked Friday and Saturday nights at a caravan park to be sure I can leave Albany with a full battery (LFP batteries don’t mind getting full, I understand). Albany, despite its relatively larger size, doesn’t have any DC chargers, so everyone will take hours to charge unless they have the range to drive another couple of hundred (almost) km to the next DC charger.

Maybe Albany’s on the list for the next tranche of DC chargers the state govt has promised by the end of 2024.
 

Yes, I read the article that you posted. Very interesting, but remember that he purchased a delivery type van designed for urban use and as cheap as possible. It only has a 300km range, as well as not equipped for the super fast charging that the latest superchargers are capable of.

WA charging network is not too bad, especially compared to SA.



Charging - Electric Vehicle Council

A-Z of EV Charging Australian EV Charger Map Types of EV chargers Level 1 / Mode 2 Existing power point (10-15 Amp, single phase), used in combination with a specialised cable which is typically supplied with the vehicle.Typically used in standalone domestic homes.This method will add between 10...
electricvehiclecouncil.com.au
 
The point is there are no super fast chargers down there, that is what the guy mentioned, anyway as I said it is what it is.
I will manage on the Kalgoorlie road even though there is heaps of traffic, very few will be E.V's, until the infrastructure gets put in IMO.
It's very interesting with S.A, considering they are at the forefront of installing renewable generation, a bit weird really.




 
So has anyone on ASF seen the document which proves how electric cars, Li Ion batteries and solar cella are ruining the earth ?
Missed the story but caught up with the analysis.

A cut-and-paste attack on electric vehicle batteries and renewables is spanning the globe. But is it right?​

Graham Readfearn

Unattributed extracts from an essay decrying renewables and electric vehicles are being used to undermine their environmental credentials

A cut-and-paste attack on electric vehicle batteries and renewables is spanning the globe. But is it right? | Temperature Check

Despite a boost from former resources minister Matt Canavan, a well-shared text essay decrying renewables contains only partial truths
www.theguardian.com
 
Lotus have an EV. How many know of the Lotus and Tesla connection?


On July 11, 2005, Tesla and British sports car maker Lotus entered an agreement about products and services based on the Lotus Elise, where Lotus provided advice on designing and developing a vehicle as well as producing partly assembled vehicles,[51] and amended in 2009,[52] helped with basic chassis development.

 
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The Chinese bought out Lotus, didn't they? Not that it means much these days, the Chinese same as the South Koreans, are making some very good gear these days.
A bit like the motorcycle I bought, Royal Enfield India, bought out Harris Racing in the U.K and developed the Interceptor 650 and I love it.
So as I say these days, it is becoming less relevant where something is made or who owns the company, there are a lot of quality manufacturers around the World.
Triumph motorcycles are really well made and manufactured in Thailand, Range Rover and Land Rover are still thought highly of, despite being owned by Tata.
Tesla sharing development with Lotus, makes sense, Tesla are miles ahead on E.V development, getting a chassis, suspension developer onboard makes perfect sense.
That is the efficiency that needs to be adapted, it no longer should be about every manufacturer re inventing the wheel, that was understandable 100 years ago and 6billion fewer people ago.
Now we have to adopt the most efficient way of using resources, be that intellectual, or physical, wastage has to be reduced dramatically on all fronts IMO.
By the way apologies for the post re starting, using the phone as a hotspot, so that I can use the laptop, but it keeps dropping out. ?
 
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That would explain "It’s fair to say Colin Chapman would struggle to come to terms with the Lotus Eletre. ‘Simplify, and add lightness’ was the Lotus founder’s mantra.
The Eletre is neither simple, nor light. Nevertheless, this electric-powered SUV is perhaps the most significant Lotus in the history of the British sports car manufacturer.
 
A Tesla /Lotus development would really be something. In 5 years time, put me down for one of their cars IMO.
Why develop a Tesla SUV, when you could put Tesla running gear, under that car you posted up @JohnDe ? Probably the best of both worlds and imagine the savings in development and tooling costs.
 
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