Off Topic Electric cars - Hybrids

Did you notice that they used a cordless drill to take the screws out?

 

They didn't want to short the battery.

 

I had a good, long think about my next car. We have a baby girl due in August and a two year old, so I wanted something safe to protect the young tiger cubs.

So my wife and I have agreed to buy a pick up truck with a covered flat bed at the back. Probably a Hilux. Just got to find the right one now, which is proving difficult because people don't seem keen to part with them...

 

I would not buy a pick up truck for domestic use. I had a long hard look at what vehicle to buy in 2019 as I need to be able to carry loads as well as travel in some degree of comfort.
The load beds of pick up trucks are too high for daily use. Once you drop the tailgate it is really hard to get to anything in the back. Lifting shopping out for instance can be a struggle. They are impractical, expensive and noisy.
I ended up with a Mercedes Vito 119 CDi Sport with 5 seats.
Pro's - It is a great drive. 7 speed automatic, cruise control etc. Comfortable. Reasonably fuel consumption. Fantastic for my scuba diving trips.
Con's - It is a little too noisy. Too easy to get a speeding ticket (60 limit on dual carriageways)

I would get a Skoda Kodiaq or Ford Kuga

 

I'd stay away from pick ups if possible especially for a family car, if I was buying a car now for a family and safety etc it would almost certainly be the Volvo XC60 or XC90 depending on actual size needed. I was absolutely blown away when I had them on extended test drive. The only reason I didn't get one was the fact the hybrid version was just out of the price range I had for a company car

 

Already happens in China. You rent your battery pack for your car for a fixed fee per month and can change it when required. Takes a few minutes

 

I've got the Lancashire model. It's never been used and is in mint condition, still in its wrapper. It's not electric though. Should I upgrade it?

 

Hmm, that's good advice, thanks.

 

Thanks, we're looking to move to the Yorkshire Dales in the near future so something 4WD would be very useful.

 

No probs, I would have never even looked at Volvo's. But a customer couldn't speak highly enough and went to take a look, absolutely fantastic service at the dealers, 24hr test drives in both cars and was highly impressed with both. If I could have pushed work to up my budget to get a hybrid, then I'd be driving one of them now. The deals I've seen for them recently are really attractive as well.

Good luck with the search

 

Not sure this will happen for domestic vehicles. Massive infrastructure needed to build the 'swap' stations, either all manufacturers agree to standardise on battery tech (never in a million years imo) or the swap stations carry stocks of all different types of battery and then what's the likelihood of the battery you want being in stock at your chosen swap station. In the meantime battery charging technology is improving all the time. Rapid chargers offering an 80% charge in 30 minutes? Just enough time to go for a pee and get some coffee.

I believe it could happen for commercial vehicles though, big lorries etc.

 

Replace all white lines with metal rails. Make the UK a massive Scalextric track. Anyone daft enough to stand on them tough ****.

 

No young Tigger, take it out of it's wrapping and let it run free, run wild.

 

Already happens for domestic cars in China. It’s only one brand currently as far as I am aware.

 

It has happened before and car manufactures already work to international standards and many chassis are built to the same design, right across the range. Just look at how many cars use the Ford and BMW platforms. Actually the most obvious standardisation is seen in vans, loads of them are badged by different companies.
The infrastructure is virtually in place already. We have fuel forecourts everywhere and they will be virtually be redundant if petrol cars are no longer in production.

From Autocar
"Nio’s cars are designed with removable battery packs and the firm has already established a network of 143 rapid battery-swapping stations in China. The new scheme will make use of those facilities. By the end of next year, Nio plans to have increased its network to almost 500 operational stations.

Selling a vehicle without batteries reduces the starting price of a Nio car by 70,000 yuan (approximately £7700), which, Nio hopes, will encourage more take-up from customers put off by the initial higher costs of an EV over a combustion-engined car.

The batteries for Nio’s leasing service will be supplied by a company established by Chinese battery makers, of which the most prominent is the battery manufacturer and technology company Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL)."

 

Yes and that's probably why it works, because it's just the one brand. Can you imagine even just people on this board agreeing to all have the same brand of car? It'd be hilarious! Thousand pages in no time at all!

Have a read of this.

 

Yes, I can see how it could happen, I just don't think it will in the domestic market and certainly not in 5 years. You say yourself that vans are becoming more or less identical, I reckon big trucks could too and that's where I see battery swapping is more likely to happen. TWT

 

Have a look at Mazda CX-5. I’ve just got one and I love it. Comes in 4WD too for a bit extra.

Agree about pickups, impractical for day to day use. Too big for most car park spaces, for instance.

 

Big flaw in that plan.
20 minutes down the road after that coffee you need another damn pee stop.

 

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