General EV Discussion

[jb747]

Just back from NZ, where we hired a hybrid Toyota Yaris Cross for three weeks. Whist a very basic car, with the most terrible engine note, it did drive quite well, and would make an excellent city vehicle. Overall, its performance was much better than expected, and the EV side of things was very smooth, especially at low speeds. Seats, on the other hand.... The take up of EVs and hybrids seemed very healthy overall in NZ.

 

[moa999]

hired a hybrid Toyota Yaris Cross for three weeks

Note most wouldn't refer to a Toyota mild hybrid (or self charging hybrid) as an EV.
It's basically a petrol car with a small battery bank to enable it to save fuel in some situations, not much different to stop-start tech or turbos.

Even full PHEVs (like the new BYD Ute) are somewhat dubious depending on how people drive/fuel them (early studies on PHEVs in Europe showed the majority just petrol fuel them), and from a maintenance perspective you have two systems to look after.

But NZ generally is pretty good for EV charging with the ChargeNet network and Tesla having pretty good coverage. Certainly shouldn't be an issue on most tourist routes.

 

[TomVexille]

Note most wouldn't refer to a Toyota mild hybrid (or self charging hybrid) as an EV.
It's basically a petrol car with a small battery bank to enable it to save fuel in some situations, not much different to stop-start tech or turbos.

Even full PHEVs (like the new BYD Ute) are somewhat dubious depending on how people drive/fuel them (early studies on PHEVs in Europe showed the majority just petrol fuel them), and from a maintenance perspective you have two systems to look after.

But NZ generally is pretty good for EV charging with the ChargeNet network and Tesla having pretty good coverage. Certainly shouldn't be an issue on most tourist routes.

On the other hand I recently spoke to someone who had purchased a BYD Sealion 6, and they said that in the first 3 months of owning it they had yet to put petrol in. And it only gets charged from a standard 240v wall socket.

 

[markis10]

I can see why the RAV4 Hybrid is a popular car, great consumption at 5l/100km and not that much different load wise to a Prado when you filling the back with gear. Took both to Adelaide last year as a comparison.

Just planning another trip to Bendigo then FNQ early next month, hopefully I will get an ATTO3 that’s been fixed re Tesla charging so I have more options. I like the Vehicle to load capability of the ATTO when camping, easily powers a heater which might be needed next month.

 

[pauly7]

Don’t suppose anyone has test driven a Polestar 4 yet?

 

[Seat0B]

I had my first rides in an EV over Easter and I got violently motion sick. I do not have motion sickness in a ICE vehicle. Made little difference turning the regenerative braking right down. Made no difference sitting in front or back. I felt too sick to even think of driving. I googled it and apparently it’s a real thing. Unless that can be improved it will be no EVs in the Seat household.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I had my first rides in an EV over Easter and I got violently motion sick. I do not have motion sickness in a ICE vehicle. Made little difference turning the regenerative braking right down. Made no difference sitting in front or back. I felt too sick to even think of driving. I googled it and apparently it’s a real thing. Unless that can be improved it will be no EVs in the Seat household.

Seems very strange.

 

[Seat0B]

Seems very strange.

Yep. But the interwebs says it’s a thing.
For example:

'It's a real thing': Drivers and passengers report motion sickness in EVs

Some EVs have an eco mode that's set up to make the throttle less sensitive.

abcnews.go.com

How electric and automated cars are aggravating motion sickness

Smoother and quieter, the car of the future comes with one nauseating hitch.

theconversation.com

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yep. But the interwebs says it’s a thing.
For example:

'It's a real thing': Drivers and passengers report motion sickness in EVs

Some EVs have an eco mode that's set up to make the throttle less sensitive.

abcnews.go.com

How electric and automated cars are aggravating motion sickness

Smoother and quieter, the car of the future comes with one nauseating hitch.

theconversation.com

Hmm. Sounds like wind farm sickness.

 

[MikeG]

Note most wouldn't refer to a Toyota mild hybrid (or self charging hybrid) as an EV.
It's basically a petrol car with a small battery bank to enable it to save fuel in some situations, not much different to stop-start tech or turbos.

Even full PHEVs (like the new BYD Ute) are somewhat dubious depending on how people drive/fuel them (early studies on PHEVs in Europe showed the majority just petrol fuel them), and from a maintenance perspective you have two systems to look after.

But NZ generally is pretty good for EV charging with the ChargeNet network and Tesla having pretty good coverage. Certainly shouldn't be an issue on most tourist routes.

Last time I was over there, I hired a Mercedes EQS EV, and I found that a staggering amount of chargers were either not working or not listed in Plugshare. That said that was a couple of years ago.

I suspect ABRP, if up to date for NZ, would be a great improvement over the on-board Mercedes charger search facility.

M

 

[MikeG]

On the other hand I recently spoke to someone who had purchased a BYD Sealion 6, and they said that in the first 3 months of owning it they had yet to put petrol in. And it only gets charged from a standard 240v wall socket.

Depends how its driven. When I lived in Canberra, I had a BMW 330e, which has a tiny battery, capable of around 42km if you're lucky, but 90% of my driving was ~20km to work and 20km home again, so I could get away with using EV only most of the time.
The car was a disaster software wise, so that was why I quickly moved onto a Chinese EV, which is both more luxurious and has more reliable software.

 

[MikeG]

Yep. But the interwebs says it’s a thing.
For example:

'It's a real thing': Drivers and passengers report motion sickness in EVs

Some EVs have an eco mode that's set up to make the throttle less sensitive.

abcnews.go.com

How electric and automated cars are aggravating motion sickness

Smoother and quieter, the car of the future comes with one nauseating hitch.

theconversation.com

I guess if you drive the car like a grown up, then motion sickness is less of a thing. I used to race around for the first month or so, but now I drive the car sedately trying to eek every last km out of a charge

 

[Quickstatus]

It's basically a petrol car with a small battery bank to enable it to save fuel in some situations, not much different to stop-start tech or turbos.

Better fuel economy than stop start and turbos
For many people it is a better option than a battery only EV.

Don’t suppose anyone has test driven a Polestar 4 yet?

Not with the UI/software issues of previous PS
Put an o in between PS and you get my opinion.

 

[markis10]

I wonder what the polestar is like sans rear window? Sure it’s got a camera replacement, one wonders how it handles reversing in a tropical downpour?

 

[Seat0B]

I guess if you drive the car like a grown up, then motion sickness is less of a thing. I used to race around for the first month or so, but now I drive the car sedately trying to eek every last km out of a charge

It was the same experience with 3 different drivers, one of whom is definitely in the staid nanna style of driving.

 

[TomVexille]

It was the same experience with 3 different drivers, one of whom is definitely in the staid nanna style of driving.

I wonder if it's the lack of engine noise/other cues that the body uses to regulate motion sickness?

 

[Seat0B]

I wonder if it's the lack of engine noise/other cues that the body uses to regulate motion sickness?

Thanks @TomVexille - the articles I found suggest this is very likely. Apparently some manufacturers are already trying to address this. Soon I hope!