Author Topic: Electric cars  (Read 695211 times)

sparky Paul

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1320 on: October 24, 2019, 07:03:44 PM »
I don't really fancy a Chinese made car

I would have thought the same, but it's too late now!

richardfrost

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1321 on: October 25, 2019, 02:16:59 PM »
One of my oldest friends is a Professor at the University of Warwick, specialising in power electronics. For some years now he has been working across the motor industry on the power systems required by electric vehicles.

A while back I asked him why you couldn't put electric motors in the wheels and then retrofit these to existing vehicles and replace the engine and gearbox with a battery array. He told me that was already being worked on.

Well here we go... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49958457

So now we have a vehicle with vastly improved battery storage, advanced power electronics and in wheel motors. It needs no drive shafts so the wheels can rotate around a pivot and the car can drive sideways or rotate on the spot.

It is this 'perfect storm' of technological advances that needs to be matched by similarly creative thinking in ownership models, charging point availability, autonomous capability and taxation.

culzean

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1322 on: October 25, 2019, 04:34:11 PM »
I don't really fancy a Chinese made car

I would have thought the same, but it's too late now!

Their cars may be OK but their human rights, trouble making around the globe, and their attitude to Taiwan kinda put me off Chinese stuff.. If I see 'Made in PRC' or 'made in China' on the packaging it goes back on the shelf.  but sometimes it is printed so small as to be almost invisible - and very often the name on the packaging is a well known UK or global company.
Some people will only consider you an expert if they agree with your point of view or advice,  when you give them advice they don't like they consider you an idiot

John Ratsey

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1323 on: October 25, 2019, 05:10:32 PM »
A while back I asked him why you couldn't put electric motors in the wheels and then retrofit these to existing vehicles and replace the engine and gearbox with a battery array. He told me that was already being worked on.
I've often wondered why hybrids and EVs don't have low power motors as a traction aid in the two wheels which aren't normally driven. Even 2HP per wheel would help get / keep a vehicle moving in mud/snow/ice but avoids creating a lot of extra unsprung weight which impairs the ride quality.
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Jocko

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1324 on: October 25, 2019, 05:24:25 PM »
In-wheel motors are exceptionally expensive at present but that will soon change as the technology and manufacturing improvements bring the price down.

sparky Paul

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1325 on: October 25, 2019, 05:46:14 PM »
I don't really fancy a Chinese made car

I would have thought the same, but it's too late now!

Their cars may be OK but their human rights, trouble making around the globe, and their attitude to Taiwan kinda put me off Chinese stuff.

I was a bit surprised to see "Honda Motor China" on the VIN plate, to be fair. I never bought a Chinese car on purpose.

richardfrost

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1326 on: October 26, 2019, 03:12:25 AM »
In-wheel motors are exceptionally expensive at present but that will soon change as the technology and manufacturing improvements bring the price down.
I guess the BBC could have just written this instead of the whole article I linked to 😉🤔👍

richardfrost

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1327 on: October 26, 2019, 03:14:41 AM »
A while back I asked him why you couldn't put electric motors in the wheels and then retrofit these to existing vehicles and replace the engine and gearbox with a battery array. He told me that was already being worked on.
I've often wondered why hybrids and EVs don't have low power motors as a traction aid in the two wheels which aren't normally driven. Even 2HP per wheel would help get / keep a vehicle moving in mud/snow/ice but avoids creating a lot of extra unsprung weight which impairs the ride quality.

My RAV4 Hybrid has almost exactly that. As well as the high power motor on the front axle, a lower power electric motor drives just the rear wheels as and when needed, making it All Wheel Drive.

John Ratsey

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1328 on: October 26, 2019, 04:28:08 PM »
My RAV4 Hybrid has almost exactly that. As well as the high power motor on the front axle, a lower power electric motor drives just the rear wheels as and when needed, making it All Wheel Drive.
I'm suggesting going one step further and replace the central motor and the shaft linking linking it to the wheels by an even smaller motor in each hub. That should free up more space for people, baggage and, maybe, batteries.
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richardfrost

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1329 on: October 26, 2019, 04:53:44 PM »
My RAV4 Hybrid has almost exactly that. As well as the high power motor on the front axle, a lower power electric motor drives just the rear wheels as and when needed, making it All Wheel Drive.
I'm suggesting going one step further and replace the central motor and the shaft linking linking it to the wheels by an even smaller motor in each hub. That should free up more space for people, baggage and, maybe, batteries.
Ah, well in that case you should read the BBC news story I linked to earlier, which describes exactly that.

Jocko

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1330 on: November 01, 2019, 04:50:39 PM »
An Edinburgh firm has just taken delivery of the UK's first electric mobile crane.



It is a hybrid, but can be driven into a city under electric power, then run off the mains. Great idea.

https://www.spieringscranes.com/en/kranen/sk487-at3/

Jocko

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1331 on: November 01, 2019, 08:11:33 PM »
Brilliant video.


It has an 85 kWh battery which gives a 30 km range at 50 kph
It has greater power and torque driven off the battery than by its John Deere diesel engine.

123Drive!

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1332 on: November 01, 2019, 10:11:28 PM »
China is so committed to EVs and EV production that I am sure they will become the dominant manufacturing base for the future. I don't really fancy a Chinese made car, but 40 years ago I wouldn't have considered a Japanese made car.
And lets face it, Dacia cars sell well here!

My sister just brought the MG ZS EV. Great value. Let's hope the Chinese can bring the price down for EV. It's always nice to see another country bringing in something good value to keep prices intact. Japanese did it in the 80's, Korean in the 90's and Romanian in 2010. China makes many goods now so I think they can make cars alright.

Jocko

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1333 on: November 01, 2019, 11:35:23 PM »
I am sure they will if they put their minds to it.

Jocko

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Re: Electric cars
« Reply #1334 on: November 18, 2019, 04:17:28 PM »
Ford have announced their all electric car, the Mustang Mach E (more than a passing resemblance to the Tesla Model 3).

Ford


Tesla


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50460241

https://www.ford.co.uk/cars/mustang-mach-e


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