Electric car thread

[Marty_d]

6 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Yeah. You can't trust those Bikies. Lock up your grandmothers when THEY come to town. I've Never been able to afford Leathers. Are they any good against Timber trucks? Nev

Well, when I say "leathers" I'm only talking about jacket, boots and gloves - I would like some leather pants at some point but it's jeans at the moment. 

Not sure that I would want to take on a log truck regardless of outfit, or vehicle for that matter.

Grandma is safe.

[onetrack]

It's only Grandpa's that go for Grandma's. 😄

 

[octave]

On 28/06/2025 at 10:41 PM, onetrack said:

This is what is wrong with EV's, and what is still putting people off. They're essentially toasters, you scrap them when the battery is RS. Watch the video right through, the bloke is not anti-EV.

 

Even just doing any repair work on them generally starts to become horrendously costly within a very short time. Mind you, a lot of IC-engined cars of recent design are no better.

 

Thus, my argument remains that the only way to make EV's fully superior to IC-engined vehicles, is to build them with swappable batteries. It is idiocy to keep building EV's with batteries that are essentially part of the chassis and body.

 

 

 

 

Turns out that this vehicle is back on the road.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 05:12 AM by octave

[red750]

New neighbours two doors up (Asians) are renovating the house ready to move in. They have the latest Tesla Model Y, photo below. The 4th Tesla in the street.

 

[facthunter]

Shocking. Is nothing sacred?  You won't even be able to hear them come and go and they will never have the bonnet up. Nev

Edited Monday at 06:12 AM by facthunter

[onetrack]

The new Chinese Tesla copy, the Xiaomi YU7, manufactured by China's Xiaomi phone manufacturer, sold 300,000 cars of this new model, in just one hour after its release.

 

The Xiaomi YU7 undercuts the Tesla model Y by around 4% in retail price. Elon is going to have to really apply himself now, on how to beat the Chinese EV onslaught.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-30/china-electric-vehicle-xiaomi-sells-289-000-suvs-tesla-model-y/105476084

 

Edited Monday at 06:27 AM by onetrack

[old man emu]

If there is one EV manufacturer who is likely to fail, it's TESLA. Too over-the-top for the general population. You don't see a Ferrari or Rolls in every garage in the suburbs. People simply want an inexpensive, reliable passenger vehicle. That's the market that the Chinese seem to be aiming for.

[spacesailor]

If we in Aus only want a cheap commuter vehicle. 

 ' Use public transport ' .

It has everything you desire. 

I fancied a mercedes electric,  but they are way out of my reach. 

Next BMW i4 electric.  Still too dear . My dear .

Oh dear. Back to Tesla . Missed out on an immaculate model  S 85 d .

So still looking for that one in a million car to stire my enthusiasm. 

A couple of cheap 'Renault Kangoo e z electric ' vans .

on " Grays " auctions. 

spacesailor

Edited Monday at 11:54 AM by spacesailor
A I changed a word ' commuter/ computer '

[kgwilson]

Xaiomi is now the 2nd largest phone manufacturer in the world after Samsung. They produce all sorts of electronics, appliances etc and their new EV is one of the best available. So good that the President of Ford in the US drives one. I chose an Xaiomi phone to replace my old 2017 LG G6 flagship model over everything else. iPhones have become boring and look the same from the iPhone 11 up to the iPhone 16. The Xaiomi has features never seen on any iPhone with better cameras etc at 1/3 the cost (purchased direct)

[Siso]

10 hours ago, spacesailor said:

If we in Aus only want a cheap commuter vehicle. 

 ' Use public transport ' .

It has everything you desire. 

I fancied a mercedes electric,  but they are way out of my reach. 

Next BMW i4 electric.  Still too dear . My dear .

Oh dear. Back to Tesla . Missed out on an immaculate model  S 85 d .

So still looking for that one in a million car to stire my enthusiasm. 

A couple of cheap 'Renault Kangoo e z electric ' vans .

on " Grays " auctions. 

spacesailor

Except we need to drive 80km to use public transport in my case. Have  been in rural Europe a couple of times in the last few years, pretty well public transport on any sealed road, even in the back blocks. Trains as well between city's for very reasonable prices. A$58 Warsaw to Berlin. Makes the whole comparing the price of petrol between Europe and Australia like comparing apples and oranges. Same with CO2 emissions when it comes to transport.

Edited Monday at 10:19 PM by Siso

[nomadpete]

11 hours ago, kgwilson said:

Xaiomi is now the 2nd largest phone manufacturer in the world after Samsung

Digressing for a moment (it's about time someone hijacked the thread)......

 

I think it won't be long before mr musky is toppled from his billionaire pedestal - by the chinese EV industry. Followed by the collapse of Apple.

 

What will this change of billionaire influence do to USA politics?

[red750]

Kia Sorento hybrid 2025 gives over 630 mile range (Yes, it's an American report). That's over 1013 km.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/shopping/this-hybrid-suv-offers-over-630-miles-of-driving-range-here-s-why-it-s-perfect-for-road-trips/ar-AA1HjipH?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=4a28c72d8f6f47bcae15e72385d0ee3c&ei=60

[red750]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/electric-cars-have-80-more-issues-than-gasoline-cars/ar-AA1HiDt2?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=4a28c72d8f6f47bcae15e72385d0ee3c&ei=79

[octave]

The problem with reliability surveys is that there are often vested interests at play ON BOTH SIDES.

 

A new study conducted by Europe’s largest automobile association has found that electric vehicles (EVs) are less prone to breaking down than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles of the same age, which can suffer two and a half times as many breakdowns as electric cars.

 

EVs more reliable than ICE vehicles, with the best and worst electric cars identified  (April 2025)

 

 I think the language in the 80% story is interesting.  In one iteration of this story it says 80% more "issues" and in another 80% more problems I would love to see the raw data.   The closest the article comes to data is;

"The most common issues for electric cars include faulty charging systems and poor assembly, such as misaligned body panels and loose interior fittings."

Only one of these issues relates the the car being an EV. I know early Teslas had alignment issues but I understand this has been mostly fixed. There is absolutely no reason why, for example, an MG4 EV should have any more body panel issues than its IC counterpart.

 

Another issue is that many EVs have software that reports even minor issues automatically.   It is a common story in the media that Tesla is recalling a million vehicles for a fault. When you track down the story, the recall actually means an over-the-air update.

 

It is important to look at the data dispassionately, whether you favour EVs or IC and to realise that on both sides there are vested interests as well as unconscious bias, again on both sides. 

 

 

 

 

 

[octave]

Just to add to the studies regarding EVs.  One study suggests that EVs have 80% more "issues" and a German study shows EVs have a lower breakdown rate.

 

Germany’s Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) published an analysis of breakdowns attended by its “Yellow Angel” service responders. The breakdown rate for combustion engines was 9.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles in 2024, compared to just 3.8 for electric cars.

 

Study shows EVs suffer fewer breakdowns than ICE vehicles

 

Here is a transcript for Unbiased Straight Facts website

 

 

A NEW STUDY INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES HAS FOUND THEY BREAK DOWN FAR LESS OFTEN THAN GAS-POWERED CARS.

BUT, DIFFERENT RECENTLY RELEASED DATA FROM A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION IS CLAIMING EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

RESEARCH BY THE GERMAN AUTOMOBILE CLUB INDICATES EVS MANUFACTURED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER BREAKDOWN RATES THAN THEIR GAS AND DIESEL COUNTERPARTS.

THEIR STATISTICS SHOW EVS BUILT BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022 HAD AN AVERAGE BREAKDOWN RATE OF 4.2 PER 1,000 VEHICLES-

LESS THAN HALF THE 10.4 PER 1,000 RATE OBSERVED AMONG COMBUSTION ENGINE CARS.

HOWEVER, THE UK’S AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION HAS CAUTIONED AGAINST ASSUMING ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE MORE RELIABLE.

THEY SAY EVS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATE OF BREAKDOWNS, POINTING TO CHALLENGES UNIQUE TO ELECTRIC MODELS—SUCH AS JAMMED CHARGING CABLES AND TECHNICAL GLITCHES.

ALTHOUGH, THE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION’S FINDINGS DID ALSO CLAIM THAT MOST EV ISSUES ARE FIXABLE ON THE ROADSIDE-

WITH 90% OF BREAKDOWNS BEING RESOLVED WITHOUT A TOW—COMPARED TO 86% FOR GAS AND DIESEL VEHICLES.

IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO CONFLICTING DATA SETS-

IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT INTERESTS THE PROVIDERS OF THIS INFORMATION MAY BE TRYING TO PROMOTE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE GERMAN AUTOMOBILE CLUB’S PRO-ELECTRIC VEHICLE REPORT COMES AS THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A NETWORK OF EV CHARGERS ACROSS GERMANY-

AND HAS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE ELECTRIC MOBILITY.

MEANWHILE, ONE OF THE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION’S OWNERS, CVC CAPITAL PARTNERS, HAS INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MULTIPLE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[red750]

https://www.ibtimes.com/ford-recalls-300000-mustang-mach-e-models-your-variant-included-3776322#:~:text=In a major move%2C Ford announced a global,an immediate stop-sale order on 20 June 2025.

[nomadpete]

As a simple nonexpert observation,  

 

1.  I don't see many broken down cars by the wayside.

All cars have become unbelievably reliable over the past 30 yrs.

 

2. I have NEVER seen an EV stranded by the roadside. 

 

This leads me to unscientifically conclude that the the published stats about 'failure rates' of EV's must include trivial 'faults' such as failed cupholders.

 

Basically BS to be filtered out.

 

There is obviously less to fail mechanically in an EV than a comparable old style vehicle.

 

Hence obviously, the reliability, and whole of life cost will be lower for the EV.

Edited Tuesday at 08:48 AM by nomadpete
FFS corrections

[spacesailor]

You're forgetting! .

No spare tyre .

Evey puncture counts as a ' breakdown ' & as such needs a " lift tow truck '' .

To reach a tyre repair shop .

Tesla's have their own " carry that spare wheel " vehicles,  to change the ' flat-tyre ' .

( not always an electric vehical  ( my neighbour has a model3 Tesla )) .

spacesailor

 

[kgwilson]

Most new ICE cars don't have a spare wheel these days. Usually it is large 4WD & SUVs that still have a spare. Also most spares if they are supplied are smaller in diameter as well as quite thin & are called space saver tyres. My EV does not come with a spare. It has a tyre pump & a can of goo. If that doesn't work, included in the 10 year warranty is a free breakdown service Australia wide.

 

I don't know what models have poor fitting panels etc. The build quality of my MG4 is the best of any new car I've owned. So far 27,000 km and not a single rattle. Everything fits together without gaps etc. The Japanese originally raised the bar when it came to build quality but the Chinese have now surpassed them. Robots virtually build the entire car without human intervention & do it better.

 

All I can say about reliability is that my MG4 has not had any problems at all.

Edited Tuesday at 12:30 PM by kgwilson

[Marty_d]

ICE cars certainly aren't exempt from panel problems.  Our 2015 Santa Fe has one of the plastic lower door panels peeling off and just lost a plastic under-body panel in front of the passenger side front wheel.

Mind you we do live up a dirt road.

Fords used to be notorious for door and window problems, my old XE Falcon only had one fully working door handle and unfortunately it wasn't the drivers one.

[spacesailor]

That ' poor build ' was the first Tesla's . They were fixed under warranty,  but gave the maker a bad time .

The marvellous dood handles    as well as the sunroof mechanism ,  & along with window winder's wore-out quickly, 

spacesailor

 

 

[spacesailor]

Holden's were just as bad .

A work colleague bought a brand new H Q Kingswood .

At the dealer's , he slammed the door shut and both the window winder & door handle fell onto his lap !. The dealer had to open the driver door to let him catch a taxi, at their expense .

My 'old ' Holden had " reciprocating ball bearings" in the steering box ! .

That left a ' lot of play ' in the steering wheel. 

And those five stud wheels had four studs to hold the wheel to the hub assembly. 

spacesailor

[Litespeed]

Holden- just holding together to get of the dealers lot.

My friend's dad was a Chrysler dealer and cars came with rust as new and had to be repaired before sale plus replace the dumbshit email carb for a Holley. The factory always screwed the dealer, that's why they failed and went bankrupt.

Even modern ice cars have problems in silly areas, everytime I see a white Mitsubishi car or ute from 2000-2015, they have paint peeling off and leaving bare steel.

I don't know if it's salt air but they all seem to peel off- only plain white ones. 

The locals add big stickers where it peels to hold on the paint.

 

Absolute shit house paint jobs esp for a plain white, not all panels are gal dipped, pathetic for a expensive mega bucks ute. 

 

 

My partner's Lancer looks like it's got skin falling off.

 

All the shit they gave Alfa for rust and the Japs rust and peel but the Italian is unheard of to rust for a modern one.

 

It's rare to see a modern jap box over 10 years old without the clear coat stuffed for metallics. Not bloody good enough.

 

Meanwhile this southerly low is very rocky on the boat.

[red750]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/why-electric-cars-make-so-many-passengers-feel-sick/ar-AA1HAFEi?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=fbc70d7c517d43c391a6324c08424e44&ei=127

[facthunter]

What a crock of BS that article is. Nev