EV Discussion thread

JKenH

shinytop said:

Magnitio said:

JKenH said:

Sad news today. He will be sorely missed both within and outside the EV community.

Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lpww7pw72o

I met Quentin once in the late 90's. He asked me what I drove and I told him that because of my job I had a diesel Passat, which I actually liked a lot. He told me that diesel was a nasty, smelly fuel that only belonged in trucks. It took me a few years to agree with him.

Late 90s diesels were brilliant cars; fast, reliable, economical.  These were the days. 

I had a succession of diesel company cars in the 90s. I did 96,000 miles in two years in a Citroen Xantia and it never missed a beat. The problem was because of the BIK rules some people were getting them and just doing a few miles in town which was not so good. It’s the reverse with EVs. Ideal for short journeys around town but if like me you had to drive 500+ miles to Edinburgh or Dorset in a day, which I did, a modern diesel is still a sensible option. It is a shame when government policy pushes people in to the wrong cars as it did, and still does, by penalising you for having the car that does the job best and most economically. Just occasionally, (and only occasionally, because people who are forced into EVs by their employers aren’t the sort who would want to be on an EV forum) you do see drivers who can’t wait to get rid, (particularly van drivers). 

It should be horses for courses. Could you imagine the (very justifiable negative) reaction if the government decided to penalise people out of their EVs and back into diesels? I’m not saying they should, but some people are happy to see others penalised and pushed around as long as the policies suit them. 

My wife’s  Picanto which does 3k miles a year is the perfect choice for her and hardly a disaster for the environment. A bit of common sense wouldn’t bog amiss sometimes. 

JKenH

QrizB said:

I was at a fireworks show on Friday night. A small primary school event, like dozens that must've been taking place up and down the country that evening.

Usually they bring portable generators onto site to run lighting etc. but this year they were using V2L from one of the PTA member's MG 5. Much quieter and fewer diesel smells around the burger stand!

I think V2L  (and V2G) is great. Such a shame all EVs don’t do it. 

I was tickled, though, by the irony of using it to save emissions at a fireworks night. 

Magnitio

JKenH said:

shinytop said:

Magnitio said:

JKenH said:

Sad news today. He will be sorely missed both within and outside the EV community.

Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lpww7pw72o

I met Quentin once in the late 90's. He asked me what I drove and I told him that because of my job I had a diesel Passat, which I actually liked a lot. He told me that diesel was a nasty, smelly fuel that only belonged in trucks. It took me a few years to agree with him.

Late 90s diesels were brilliant cars; fast, reliable, economical.  These were the days. 

I had a succession of diesel company cars in the 90s. I did 96,000 miles in two years in a Citroen Xantia and it never missed a beat. The problem was because of the BIK rules some people were getting them and just doing a few miles in town which was not so good. It’s the reverse with EVs. Ideal for short journeys around town but if like me you had to drive 500+ miles to Edinburgh or Dorset in a day, which I did, a modern diesel is still a sensible option. It is a shame when government policy pushes people in to the wrong cars as it did, and still does, by penalising you for having the car that does the job best and most economically. Just occasionally, (and only occasionally, because people who are forced into EVs by their employers aren’t the sort who would want to be on an EV forum) you do see drivers who can’t wait to get rid, (particularly van drivers). 

It should be horses for courses. Could you imagine the (very justifiable negative) reaction if the government decided to penalise people out of their EVs and back into diesels? I’m not saying they should, but some people are happy to see others penalised and pushed around as long as the policies suit them. 

My wife’s  Picanto which does 3k miles a year is the perfect choice for her and hardly a disaster for the environment. A bit of common sense wouldn’t bog amiss sometimes. 

I wish that EV's had been available when I was doing long distance driving for work. The Passat diesel might have been nice to drive, but it certainly wasn't quiet. It also needed servicing 3 or 4 times a year and a visit to the smelly, sticky black pump every week. During my time with the car it also needed a new cam belt, water pump and discs/pads. Life is so much easier with a decent EV.

Martyn1981

Magnitio said:

JKenH said:

Sad news today. He will be sorely missed both within and outside the EV community.

Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson dies aged 68

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lpww7pw72o

I met Quentin once in the late 90's. He asked me what I drove and I told him that because of my job I had a diesel Passat, which I actually liked a lot. He told me that diesel was a nasty, smelly fuel that only belonged in trucks. It took me a few years to agree with him.

That takes me back. Remember when you had to pull up at the single pump out on its own, on the side and not under the canopy, so the trucks could fit. Then you had to stand there and wave at the attendant because they didn't want to activate the pump, or they'd keep announcing 'that's diesel' whilst you waved and gave a thumbs up.

I loved the torque feeling, only beaten by the V8 in the Firebird I owned ........ until I got a BEV, and entered torque heaven. Felt quite bad for all the diesel miles I'd driven after we learnt 15 or so years ago how bad it really is.

The thought of having to drive one now, for a long distance, v's cruising along in a BEV, funny how times change.

JKenH

It seems like Tesla is giving up on automotive with the Model X and S discontinued. Who would have thought it would end like this?

“Tesla’s Q4 2025 earnings call made one thing painfully clear: the company is no longer interested in being an automaker.

In a single call, Tesla announced it’s killing the Model S and Model X, has no plans for new mass-market models, and is pivoting entirely to “transportation as a service.”

What Tesla is left with

Let’s count Tesla’s current vehicle lineup:

• Model 3 — Successful (but in decline)
• Model Y — Successful (but in decline)
• Model S — Being killed
• Model X — Being killed
• Cybertruck — Commercial failure, selling ~20-25k/year against 250k capacity
• Tesla Semi — Still not in volume production after years of delays

That leaves Tesla with exactly two successful vehicle models. Two. And there are both in decline.”

Tesla is committing automotive suicide
https://electrek.co/2026/01/29/tesla-committing-automotive-suicide/

BTW: Is anyone else having problems posting links and using the “quote” function?

Grumpy_chap

Model S and Model X are both old models and had been discontinued, effectively, in the UK quite a while back as the RHD models ended but still available in LHD if you really wanted one.

When launched, Model S was the only kid in town as a premium-priced EV. It no longer enjoys that exclusive opening as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche all have premium competitors even where the same legacy auto manufacturers are not doing so well making inroads to the more affordable EV market.

It was inevitable that these models would either end or be replaced with new replacements, in the same was that the Cortina was replaced with the Mondeo which eventually got killed off. Such model changes and terminations are not new or exceptional in the automotive market and nor do they necessarily indicate a fundamental issue at the manufacturer.

As for quotes. Yes, there are issues reported, amongst others, for the new editor. You may wish to visit the site feedback area of the forum.

JKenH

Thanks. I have had a look at the Rich Editor instructions in the Feedback section now but, maybe because I use an iPad, I don’t see the options listed under Links and embeds. To me the instructions in the Rich Editor - Help Guide seem like computer jargon, written by computer types for computer types. For instance, while I know what a URL is, I haven’t a clue about buttons, rich links and cards. Maybe things will improve with time.

Back to Tesla. A lot was made five years ago of their tech advantage over the rest of the market - Weren’t they suppose to be five years ahead? What happened - and before anyone says it is Trump politics, sales were already stagnating, the CyberTruck was not selling. Tesla just got to the market first then squandered that first mover advantage. I suppose it is like any tech revolution, the initial market leaders seem invincible then virtually disappear like Yahoo, Nokia, Friends Reunited, BlackBerry etc.

I agree that models are always evolving/being replaced but where are the replacements for the S and X and shouldn’t we be seeing Model 3 and Y replacements by now? Tesla have nothing in the conventional automotive pipeline, just the promise of the ever elusive Robo Taxi. What is keeping the share price up?

noitsnotme

A lot was made five years ago of their tech advantage over the rest of the market - Weren’t they suppose to be five years ahead?

I have a Tesla Y that is coming to the end of its 3 year lease soon. I’ve started looking at possible alternatives. Nothing wrong with the Tesla, I would happily have another, but I’m not tied to it fanboy fashion.

I so far can’t find anything at the same price point that fits the bill. Everything else I’ve looked into so far is either littered with bugs/issues, has worse/less tech and/or less features.

Maybe Tesla aren’t as far ahead as they once were but some of the other offerings still have some maturing to do. I suspect some of these newer brands will not survive long.

JKenH

I don’t have any first hand knowledge of Tesla or their competitors but from what I have seen the 3 and Y probably are still the best cars in their sectors so maybe other manufacturers are just offering too many incentives get people into their inferior products. Most OEMs do, I believe, sell EVs at a loss and the Chinese offerings are state subsidised so is it just down to pricing?

michaels

A couple of years ago Musk said he couldn't see the value in Tesla as being an auto manufacturer and I think he was right, Tesla can not compete with the Chinese on cost and other manufacturers can get to Tesla level in EVs so they become just one of many brands and so can't command a price premium/cost advantage in the long term.

Musk's play was to bet the company on automation and robotics. Currently that doesn't look like it will be a winning bet either but probably just means a quicker rather than slower decline?