Are EVs suitable for low usage?

gzoom

Oh forgot to mention one of the best features of EVs as we start to see single digit temps here in the UK....No more windscreen scrapping or having to get into a cold car ever!!

Not all EVs have an app to preheat though, MG am sure wouldnt and not even sure the Kona has, but Leaf + Zoe does .

coffeehound

Thanks for the further infoz, it's all good education.

DrEskimo wrote: »

... but as above, it's not efficient nor necessarily safe to use a 3-pin charger for continually charging a car. A dedicated EV charger is definitely better for a magnitude of reasons, including speed, safety, efficiency and the longevity of the EV battery.

Can I ask, why is the slow charger worse for the battery health? I'd been assuming that low current would be best for the battery life expectancy? Though that information was based on an edition of Top Gear from about 2005 . .

I get the electrical safety aspect, so one would want to check the socket + wiring is all bright metal and done up tight.

Goudy wrote: »

Worried about unintended acceleration? Make sure is comes with some sort of city brake control (standard on the Yaris)

That's reassuring, as I undertand unintentional acceleration syndrome tends to be more common in elderly drivers.

.

AdrianC

coffeehound wrote: »

That's reassuring, as I undertand unintentional acceleration syndrome tends to be more common in elderly drivers.

Let's just put that into perspective.

What you're calling "unintentional acceleration syndrome" is the driver hitting the wrong pedal, the throttle instead of the brake.

No more, no less.

If somebody is going to do that in a car with two pedals, they're going to do it in a car with two pedals, no matter what power source the pedals are connected to. If your parents are at risk of doing that, they shouldn't be driving. Full stop.

"City brake" is common on many modern cars, regardless of power source, and is simply a radar that'll automatically hit the brake at low speeds if it thinks that the driver isn't going to. It's not infallible. And it won't protect against the myriad of other ways in which a driver can cause damage and/or injury if they simply aren't competent to drive any more.

Did you hear this on R4 the other day?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002z8b

coffeehound

AdrianC wrote: »

Let's just put that into perspective.

What you're calling "unintentional acceleration syndrome" is the driver hitting the wrong pedal, the throttle instead of the brake.

No more, no less.

It's not my phrase

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/6514354/Honest-John-Unintentional-Acceleration-Syndrome.html

There seems to be more to it than just hitting the wrong pedal; it's as though some people can't remove their foot and put it on the brake for some reason.

AdrianC wrote: »

If somebody is going to do that in a car with two pedals, they're going to do it in a car with two pedals, no matter what power source the pedals are connected to. If your parents are at risk of doing that, they shouldn't be driving. Full stop.

It's about reducing risk. If older folks are more at risk of UAS then I'd feel better if there is something there to help avoid it. It doesn't mean they are an imminent risk of causing accidents.

AdrianC

coffeehound wrote: »

It's not my phrase

No, I know. It's a great way to try and pass the buck...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/6514354/Honest-John-Unintentional-Acceleration-Syndrome.html

HJ's long-term monomania around using the left foot to brake in an auto is just odd, and is simply going to cause more confusion in anybody who isn't an exclusively-automatic driver.
Automatics don't simply accelerate by themselves. It doesn't happen. The term comes from two big legal cases which led to massive recalls - Audi in the US in the 80s, and Toyota globally about a decade ago. Both were ultimately found to be almost entirely due to external factors (wrong footwork or loose mats/trim) that would have happened in a manual, too - but the issues mostly happened in the States, where manuals are near-as-dammit unknown.

There seems to be more to it than just hitting the wrong pedal; it's as though some people can't remove their foot and put it on the brake for some reason.

It's a very simple reason. They don't realise they're on the wrong pedal.

It's about reducing risk. If older folks are more at risk of UAS then I'd feel better if there is something there to help avoid it. It doesn't mean they are an imminent risk of causing accidents.

Hitting the wrong pedal and then not realising is exactly what causes collisions... Having a bit of electrickery to try and catch some of the consequences doesn't address the cause.

DrEskimo

coffeehound wrote: »

Can I ask, why is the slow charger worse for the battery health? I'd been assuming that low current would be best for the battery life expectancy? Though that information was based on an edition of Top Gear from about 2005 . .

I get the electrical safety aspect, so one would want to check the socket + wiring is all bright metal and done up tight.

Sorry scrap that...I only ever half read this debate and I've picked up the wrong conclusion from it...!

There is nothing to worry about from the EV battery POV with slow charging.

As you say, it's the electrical safety aspect. Getting someone in to check the supply and the quality of the wiring, etc., it would probably end up costing just as much as getting a dedicated EV charger installed with the OLEV grant...?

Then they can also take advantage of restricted off-peak charging rates, like Octopus GO that charge £0.05/kWh between 00:30-04:30. 4hours of charge at 7kW would give a good 100mi+ back, whereas 3.2kW would be ~only 50miles...probably less as it's not as efficient IIRC.

Goudy

coffeehound wrote: »

It's about reducing risk. If older folks are more at risk of UAS then I'd feel better if there is something there to help avoid it. It doesn't mean they are an imminent risk of causing accidents.

Perhaps this is where to start in your search for a car.
I know people will say you shouldn't be driving if you need these systems etc, etc but people are people and things do happen.
We wear seat belts, but no one really plans on using them.

The Mrs has a Vitara and that has a pretty good radar system that works at all speeds and it is adjustable for distance.
If it detects something in your way it works out what to do.
If it's not moving and you're closing in fast, it alarms and starts to brake.
If you are closing in a little too fast it will alarm and preset the abs ready for you to perform an emergency stop.
(I'm not sure what would happen if you ignored the alarm, the car is all still in one piece so I presume she either brakes or it will hit the brakes for her!)

It also works as adaptive cruise control, so slows and speeds up depending on the gap in front, the gap is even adjustable, far, middle and near.

But it does miss active lane assist, if it had that it would almost drive it's self.

gzoom

coffeehound wrote: »

That's reassuring, as I undertand unintentional acceleration syndrome tends to be more common in elderly drivers.

.

One particular EV brand already have software built into the car to avoid such issues....

Though not all EVs are created equal, so if you want one with a good App, good battery management, constant software updates with features like below, you only really have one choice:).

gzoom

Oh and there is whole list of other crash avoidance features, with the latest software update the car can now 'see' traffic passing in the opposite lane. So in theory in future there could be software put in place to stop people driving against the flow of traffic which sadly causes many death.

almillar

My concern about these vehicles is that they are inaudible and a danger to cats. A cat sitting under one of these vehicles would be totally unaware it was turned on and about to roll over them.

Incorrect for most EVs. The only one that I know of that DOESN'T have a pedestrian warning system fitted as standard, is the old i3. It's standard on them now. Any EV will make a noise whilst moving up to, let's say 20mph. On the cars I've been in, the noise can be switched off, but it's on by default every time you start up. Do you have any stats on cat deaths due to EVs?!! Also, there's no nice warm engine for the cat to be attracted to so maybe the primary problem will go away?