Forum Topic

What happens if..

When we are all driving electric cars and some of us are stuck in a huge traffic jam for 3 hrs and it's freezing and we have to have the car heater on? I may be missing something, but how would that scenario work out?

Keith Iddon ● 2381d20 Comments

That would be exactly the same as it would be if you'd left home in a petrol car with very little petrol in it. Journey planning applies now as well.

Mark Gormley ● 2381d

Your range will diminish.

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

But with a petrol or diesel car you can have a gallon or two in a can in the boot.

Keith Iddon ● 2381d

You cannot tow an electric car either. You need a flat bed truck. Also if you allow the batteries to discharge below 10% this can damage the batteries. So as you say Keith a can of petrol much easier.

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

Hmmmm, seems a bit improbable to me, do you have sources for these assertions?

Christopher Gillie ● 2381d

Easy enough to find out for youtself.

Keith Iddon ● 2381d

I read that you can tow some electric cars - or one electric car - but can't remember now where I read it.

Philippa Bond ● 2381d

Find out more:https://www.drivingelectric.comhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f7xzhttps://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/01/why-electric-car-owners-are-the-happiest/

Philippa Bond ● 2381d

Very few can be towed. Renault claims that the Zoe can be towed if you follow a disconnection protocol.
However, Kia, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and Nissan all claim that their 100% electric vehicles must be 'towed' without the front and rear wheels touching the ground. That isn't towing, that's a recovery truck!

N V Brooks ● 2381d

Yes just read instructions of what do you do if go flat. The NEW Nissan Leaf can be towed to a garage if the front wheels are off of the ground. The problem is the traction motors are part of the regenerative braking system. Also I read somewhere there have been serious incidents on motorways because of this problem.

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

It was the new Nissan Leaf but front wheels must be raised from ground.

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

Also the goverment has addmitted that electric cars are a hazard on motorways due to the fact they stop suddenly and surprise surprise cannot be towed. Also when looking at the range read the small print. I read one leading model was 240 miles in the summer and then in brackets it said expect 140 miles in the winter.

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

IMO I do not feel electric cars are the be all and end all, at least not until many things are sorted. Charging the vehicle up and maintaining that charge to power it, lights, heater etc.  Also there's a lack of charging points especially for people unable to home charge.  Short visits by delivery vans are probably the first thing to be made compulsory.  Also local buses.  The weight and production problems of manufacturing lithium batteries costs the environment I understand.Science has to provide the answers, maybe by improved fuels.

Jennifer Selig ● 2381d

E10 petrol will be available next year. Of course a lot of other countries already use it. We lag behind!

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

I saw a programme on Paris Hydrogen taxis. The drivers loved them. Takes about 20 seconds longers than a petrol car to fill. Every 600 miles when you stop you press a button to drain the water. One huge complaint PRICE.

Nicholas Beard ● 2381d

I have seen a few Toyota Mirai Hydrogen vehicles up and down the M4.
I guess as there are hydrogen 'stations' in London and Swindon then they can refuel easily.
Get off that route though and the refilling sites are rarer than blue rocking horse poo.
Couple that with the fact that the Mirai costs £750 per month to hire (you can't buy one) and they are not that attractive.

N V Brooks ● 2381d

For now I'm hanging onto my ancient unleaded petrol Skoda.  I'd only get junk metal value for it so can't afford an electric car,  If I could, I'm unable to charge it from my home!  What's an OAP Blue Badger to do if she wants to keep being independent?  Only useful comments please - so no suggestions about a bike!

Jennifer Selig ● 2380d

Aixam car. This is a small French car that is suitable for you. 14 year olds can drive them in France without a licence. So if you lose you licence in France you can by one of these and carry on driving.

Nicholas Beard ● 2380d

I would not put my worst enemy in an Aiaxam quadricycle (they are not a car).
They have an NCAP safety rating of...ONE (out of five). While they are not inherently dangerous they offer little, if any, protection in a collision.
There is the official video of the NCAP crash test on the link below. Watch the driver hit the steering wheel (no air bag is triggered as they are not mandatory on quadricycles) — don't watch if easily shocked.
https://www.euroncap.com/en/ratings-rewards/quadricycle-ratings/

N V Brooks ● 2380d

Did not know they were not a car.

Nicholas Beard ● 2380d