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EV Discussion thread
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So, I received a marketing e-mail from VW for a new model of car - TAIGO.
It looks nice enough but is only available as ICE.
Why is any manufacturer launching new models of car that are not available as EV?3 -
I am surprised that there are not more EV specific models. Shoe horning electric motors and batteries into existing models seems a bit DIY to me. Are there any BEV models where the exterior could only be possible with an electric drivetrain?1
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2nd_time_buyer said:I am surprised that there are not more EV specific models. Shoe horning electric motors and batteries into existing models seems a bit DIY to me. Are there any BEV models where the exterior could only be possible with an electric drivetrain?
So, start with the nose of the car, and the need for enough space between the bonnet and any significantly large and hard object, to minimise head injuries. Perfectly sensible rules, I have no issue with them.
But, this means that bonnets have gotten higher. This leads on to a higher waistline for cars, and also larger wheel/tyre combinations, otherwise the easethetics don't work. Further leading to taller cars like SUV's, or slimmer glass sections to prevent the height getting out of control (based on that higher waistline).
So, hence the end of the really low nosed cars.
But with BEV's, you have a much smaller/compact motor, v's an engine with the overhead valves, and the oil pan underneath, possibly gearbox too. Also motors are more easily installed in the rear. So it's possible to build cars with lower noses, waists etc again.
One small caveat, I can't quite remember what the best nose is for hitting pedestrians (so to speak ;-) ). I think ideally, you want to buckle legs so they fall onto the bonnet. Too low and they may be swept into the hard windscreen, and too tall, they get torso injuries and are fired forward, rather than 'collected'.
Of course I may have all of this completely wrong, but it was a fun ponder. Also you did say 'only' possible with an electric powertrain, and it is possible with mid/rear engined ICEV's too, but not typical for cost effective mass sales, where a small front engined ICE wins out.Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.
For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.3 -
You could potentially have something very smooth without the need for air intakes, a box for the engine, or a bonnet. Along these lines but maybe more so:
Looking at that. It reminds me of every concept car from the last 20 years, that never made it into production. But perhaps they are now possible(?)2 -
2nd_time_buyer said:You could potentially have something very smoothSo the pedestrian goes over the top?..I had no intention of getting a new car when my ZS went in for a service, but part of the reason I _did_ change (not just the PX offer) was getting my hands on the purely EV MG4.3
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It seems to me that manufacturers don't want to be too radical too quickly in their designs. The Ioniq 5 is a good example. The front doesn't need to be as big as it is so has additional storage. Unless they really couldn't design in the safety features Martyn referred to in an other way? And this is a car which is at the more radical end of current BEV designs. The interior however is more of a rethink in using space. Many modern cars have pushed boundaries in the their designs (Sportage and Tucson spring to mind) but BEVs are certainly not leading the way yet. Maybe that will change as consumers get more used to different concepts in car design?Install 28th Nov 15, 3.3kW, (11x300LG), SolarEdge, SW. W Yorks.
Install 2: Sept 19, 600W SSE
Solax 6.3kWh battery2 -
The Fiat Multipla reinvented the medium hatch packaging - how did that land? (and I can get away with mentioning it on here as it was originally supposed to have a PHEV option with I guess NiMh batteries, I think 20kwh but in the end they only built about a dozen that ran as demonstrators, the interweb doesn't seem to know what happened to them)I think....1
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michaels said:The Fiat Multipla reinvented the medium hatch packaging - how did that land?The original Multipla was, perhaps, the ugliest vehicle on the road at the time. According to Wikipedia it won awards for its ugliness:
N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!3 -
QrizB said:michaels said:The Fiat Multipla reinvented the medium hatch packaging - how did that land?The original Multipla was, perhaps, the ugliest vehicle on the road at the time. According to Wikipedia it won awards for its ugliness:0
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Fiat Multipla @ CarsfromItaly
Multipla Hybrid This model uses a 1581cc 16V gasoline engine (103bhp) in parallel with an asynchronous three-phase AC motor (30kW). A total of fifteen 14.4V nickel-metal hydride batteries are fitted (positioned below the floor), weighing 280kg. The drive is combined at the transmission, which is a Selespeed style robotised manual unit. Three driving modes are available: 'Electric' which uses only the electric motor and second gear (range 70km, max speed 80km/h); 'Electric with recharging' when the vehicle is driven by the electric motor only and the gasoline unit charges the batteries. The performance is the same as in 'Electric' mode, but the range is increased; 'Hybrid' The drive is provided by both electric motor and gasoline engine with a computer controlling the changeover. The electric motor is used for standing starts, when its instant torque is beneficial, and as the speed increases the gasoline engine gradually takes over.
I think....5
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