revtothelimit - motorbike forum

ZRX61 wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 8:28 pm I couldn't tell you with 100% certainty where there are any public chargers where I live. I know there's a handful at the local college, but you have to be registered as a student there to get a parking permit.
I know there a bunch (maybe 2 dozen) at Northridge Mall, but that's 60 miles away.

Google tells me there are 63 charging points here, 6 are at the local hospital. Population is about 200,000.

We have complaints about sales exceeding infrastructure here, so I could never see EVs working in the states as anything other than city cars for some time to come. Plus, Americans do starship mileages compared to us Brits, again making EVs less suitable for over there.

Taipan wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:47 am We have complaints about sales exceeding infrastructure here, so I could never see EVs working in the states as anything other than city cars for some time to come. Plus, Americans do starship mileages compared to us Brits, again making EVs less suitable for over there.

Freightliner just released specs on their EV big rig. It has a range of less than 300 miles. A diesel big rig has a range of 900-2000 miles on full tanks.

ZRX61 wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:10 pm

Taipan wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 11:47 am We have complaints about sales exceeding infrastructure here, so I could never see EVs working in the states as anything other than city cars for some time to come. Plus, Americans do starship mileages compared to us Brits, again making EVs less suitable for over there.

Freightliner just released specs on their EV big rig. It has a range of less than 300 miles. A diesel big rig has a range of 900-2000 miles on full tanks.

Lolz! I imagine the charge times are interesting too! Freight would have to be on a swappable battery to be viable I think.

Taipan wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:17 pm Freight would have to be on a swappable battery to be viable I think.

Or doing lots of small/medium journeys involving lots of stopping and starting, like, I dunno, delivering from a central warehouse to shops.

Far more people in the US live in/near a big city than do out on an Interstate with eighty squillion straight miles.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:28 pm

Taipan wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:17 pm Freight would have to be on a swappable battery to be viable I think.

Or doing lots of small/medium journeys involving lots of stopping and starting, like, I dunno, delivering from a central warehouse to shops.

Far more people in the US live in/near a big city than do out on an Interstate with eighty squillion straight miles.

Shifting bulk stuff umpteen miles by road is pretty anyway. Don't they have railways in the USA?

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

Enormously more fuel efficient than any kinda road transport too.

I bet someone even does a standard sized box which is easy to ship from Boat to Train to Lorry!

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:41 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

Enormously more fuel efficient than any kinda road transport too.

I bet someone even does a standard sized box which is easy to ship from Boat to Train to Lorry!

It does seem strange that a country that was built by the railroads is so dependent on moving bulk stuff around by lorry. But then, how much freight gets shifted by rail here? We used to even have mail trains, now they seem to fly it about from the mail hub at East Midlands airport. I guess it's all down to the 'But I want it now...or, at the latest tomorrow!' expectations people have.

Gerrit on the canal! They already go to the major cities

Isn't the major problem in the UK the fact train lines run nearly at 100% capacity just with people? That is/was the major benefit of HS2 wasn't it? Getting people off the lines.

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Using trucks in the UK may also be something to do with the fact that BR was very good at losing stuff.

ChrisW wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:43 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

It looks like some states think that humans on trains are the devil's work! It's astonishing really. A place that size was made by and is ideal for railways, but nope, let's all drive, use a U-haul or take a Greyhound.

ChrisW wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:43 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? AFAIK the US has the most miles of railway of any country, but basically no real passenger service.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:58 pm

ChrisW wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:43 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? AFAIK the US has the most miles of railway of any country, but basically no real passenger service.

Remember talking to someone when I did some work on the railway in the USA, something like only 10% coverage out there.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:58 pm

ChrisW wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:43 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:31 pm Don't they have railways in the USA?

No entirely on-topic but this reminded me of a map of all passenger rail lines in the US that I found quite interesting.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? AFAIK the US has the most miles of railway of any country, but basically no real passenger service.

Now was the passenger railway service in the US artificially nobbled, or was it a triumph of free market enterprise and everyone chose personal transportation (i.e the car)?

So, I've started considering the move to electric, albeit into a used one. My current car is a Jaguar XFS 3.0 supercharged petrol which does under 30mpg on average. Most of my journeys are round trips of 20 odd miles to work and home. I'm probably the ideal electric candidate.

I don't want to spend a lot £20k'ish so looking for something under 4 yrs old and low miles. This is where I hit my issue. My car is a lovely place to be, it's not a rolls royce, but it's luxury and really goes when i want it too.

I'd be looking at a Kia Niro or Hyundai Kona for this price, now some of the specs are pretty good but not really at the jag levels. I'd be sacrificing pretty much everything in order to go electric and save some money on fuel. Being a bit of a car snob, I suppose I see it as a huge downgrade.

Maybe a mind reset on my behalf is required to make the jump?

Nordboy wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 6:20 am This is where I hit my issue. My car is a lovely place to be, it's not a rolls royce, but it's luxury and really goes when i want it too.

I'd be looking at a Kia Niro or Hyundai Kona for this price, now some of the specs are pretty good but not really at the jag levels. I'd be sacrificing pretty much everything in order to go electric and save some money on fuel. Being a bit of a car snob, I suppose I see it as a huge downgrade.

Maybe a mind reset on my behalf is required to make the jump?

It's a bit of a step change and could be a bit reversing it if it doesn't work out. In an ideal world I'd keep the Jag for high days and holidays and buy the commuter for day to day but that's the cost of buying a second car + fixed costs on top.

Maybe rent an electric (Hertz do them but I haven't checked what models they do) for a week and see how you feel about it commuting etc? It wouldn't be 4 years old though.

PS Maybe look at a bit more luxe hybrids too?

Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

ZRX61 wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:18 pm Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

Software (autopilot ) to be updated remotely so you won't need to worry about avoiding the queues at the dealers.

Count Steer wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:59 pm

ZRX61 wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:18 pm Tesla just announced a recall of 2M cars to fix the auto-crasher software

Software (autopilot ) to be updated remotely so you won't need to worry about avoiding the queues at the dealers.

The local dealer (in Van Nuys) is just a warehouse next to the airport.