The future of convertibles in the electric era?

MEM62

Ectophile said:

MEM62 said:

They will come but it will be a while.  Batteries are heavy and take up a lot of space so, until the technology has improved, electric convertibles are not practical.  

If the vehicle was designed from scratch as an EV, then the batteries are all under the floor.  So there's no reason they can't saw the roof off and make a convertable.

At the moment, most manufacturers are fixated on selling "crossover" or "SUV" type vehicles (mostly without the four wheel drive).  Only when that market is totally saturated will they start to move on to the more niche vehicles.

You wouldn't let batteries under the floor of my MX5 - it sits too low.

Car_54

MEM62 said:

Ectophile said:

MEM62 said:

They will come but it will be a while.  Batteries are heavy and take up a lot of space so, until the technology has improved, electric convertibles are not practical.  

If the vehicle was designed from scratch as an EV, then the batteries are all under the floor.  So there's no reason they can't saw the roof off and make a convertable.

At the moment, most manufacturers are fixated on selling "crossover" or "SUV" type vehicles (mostly without the four wheel drive).  Only when that market is totally saturated will they start to move on to the more niche vehicles.

You wouldn't let batteries under the floor of my MX5 - it sits too low.

Was your MX5 "designed from scratch as an EV", which is what Ectophile said?

northwalesd

There was an EV conversion of a Mk2 MX-5 on Fifth Gear Recharged this week. Not cheap, but eminently do-able.

motorguy

northwalesd said:

There was an EV conversion of a Mk2 MX-5 on Fifth Gear Recharged this week. Not cheap, but eminently do-able.

Its going to come down to range isnt it?

They're not going to be able to build one with enough batteries for 300+ miles of range, but i'd have thought one with 100 miles ranges was easily doable.

I've a weekend two seater and rarely do more that 50 miles at a time in it (though very happy its a 3 litre straight six petrol)

I guess as a exercise in "can we?" then yes, its useful, but in reality someone would be safer sticking with a ICE MX5 for the forseeable.  Probably greener too, compared to the energy and resources used to build and supply a new one.

scrappy_returns

Sea_Shell said:

Just having a quick look on Auto Trader's website, and it appears that the only options for "wind in your hair" EV motoring are either a Smart Fortwo or Fiat 500!!

Where are the "normal" size ones...are we ever going to get them?

Golf, A3 types.

Are any manufacturers planning any mid-size convertible EVs?

What about "premium" larger ones, like Mercedes & BMW?

Is Summer crusing with the top down going to be a thing of the past ☹️

Or estates, the mg and the genesis don't count, one doesn't work as an estate and the others a shooting brake.

Herzlos

scrappy_returns said:

Or estates, the mg and the genesis don't count, one doesn't work as an estate and the others a shooting brake.

In what way does the MG5 not work as an estate?

NBLondon

Herzlos said:

scrappy_returns said:

Or estates, the mg and the genesis don't count, one doesn't work as an estate and the others a shooting brake.

In what way does the MG5 not work as an estate?

I guess scrappy means the MGZS which is an SUV.  I just Googled the MG5 and it looks comparable to a Focus/Astra/Golf estate.  There's no electric option if you like a traditional full-size estate with high roof line - but that's a declining sector anyway.

Sea_Shell

Also what about towing?

I'm guessing even if an EV has the power to tow a caravan, it's range would be substantially reduced.

Local caravan holidays only!! 😉

Sandtree

Sea_Shell said:
How does the insurance aspect work?

As a motoring society we seem wedded to our no claims bonuses.

Would need a shift in mindset and flexibility of insurance rules to make P2P motoring work.

That all depends on what aspect of "insurance" you are talking?

On a P2P basis you'd hope/assume that in a UK market type insurance setup the P2P company has a policy that covers the non-owner... there are other policies you can get that layer ontop of an existing policy eg for learner drivers

Automation raises more interesting questions given vehicles in fully autonomous mode shouldnt have a fault accident and whilst at the moment car manufacturers are saying they'll cover claims it'll be different when you get to the point of mass use of the technology, people skipping services, replacing parts/software with non-OEM items etc

Sea_Shell

I'd hope that insurance could be arranged wholely independent of one's own car insurance, so that any incidents involving your car, whilst on hire, would not reflect on you or your claims history, or NCD.

They should not even be notifiable incidents.

Do other counties (Australia?) do insurance differently?  Like insure the driver (in anything) rather than the car?