Post by Owen Y on Jan 25, 2017 12:33:26 GMT 12
Did someone mention Electric Vehicles? A wee pic for those interested in the topic..... more chat when I have more time....
|
Post by michaelw on Jan 25, 2017 14:08:19 GMT 12
nismo time !
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 25, 2017 14:15:50 GMT 12
|
Post by michaelw on Jan 25, 2017 15:02:39 GMT 12
i'd give arnie a race in a real g-wagen
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 15:04:24 GMT 12
Yup. When they start putting petrol engines into electric cars - then I'll get interested...
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 18:18:12 GMT 12
The Nissan Leaf is the most popular EV worldwide - 250,000 units produced, almost half of those are in USA. This is ours, a 2013 Jap. import: (The body side mouldings are not standard - added by me.)
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 18:21:44 GMT 12
Motor and battery layout: (The motor is front wheel drive, the battery under the floor.)
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 18:38:53 GMT 12
Motor (AC synchronous), charger-inverter under the bonnet. There is no conventional 'gearbox', just a 1:8 reduction gearing, no gear-changing. The motor runs to 10,390rpm max. host pictures online
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 19:35:34 GMT 12
This is why a gearbox is unnecessary in an EV..... The Leaf is not esp. powerful (80kW/107-hp & 254Nm torque - less than 1/3rd of a Tesla's) but the torque curve is flat & almost instant from stationary - also no engine/clutch/transmission lag/losses.
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 29, 2017 19:58:40 GMT 12
That's enough EV raving from me today... any interest, Qs or thoughts?
|
Post by michaelw on Jan 29, 2017 21:12:34 GMT 12
|
Post by Owen Y on Jan 30, 2017 10:06:34 GMT 12
Hmmm impressive. However I always wonder about the concept of dragging around both a battery + electric motor, in addition to ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) + fuel tank. I may be able to tell you a bit more in a week or so - I have to go down to Tirau for a wedding next weekend - checking out the Charging network now! Driving an EV is a different way of motoring than in the past. It's almost totally silent, just wind noise & tyre noise. The oddball headlights were reportedly designed to divert airflow around the wing mirrors to reduce wind noise. And to reduce drag, the underside of the car is almost completely covered smooth, with little air-diverters even, around the tyres. Serene, stress-free motoring. The Leaf is not light, at around 1,450kg - with the battery pack under the floor, Centre of Gravity is real low, so theoretically should handle OK, but there's a bit of body roll. It seems to benefit from some increase in tyre pressures. Jury still out on this. Have you ever used TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System)? The Leaf has this capability, the OBD outputs TPMS readings, but my wheels do not have the sensors installed. In theory a great idea.
|
Post by michaelw on Jan 30, 2017 13:26:39 GMT 12
|
Post by Owen Y on Feb 4, 2017 17:35:32 GMT 12
|
Post by michaelw on Feb 4, 2017 19:56:15 GMT 12
|
Post by Owen Y on Feb 6, 2017 19:38:19 GMT 12
Ah yes... looks like they add a small electric motor to vary the stroke length, via a bunch of addit. linkages. One of the reasons we decided to go EV is the increasing complexity & servicing cost of ICE cars - servicing bills that were becoming disproportionate to the value of the vehicle. As time moves on cars become more complex - a small example - the traditional throttle is now commonly replaced by a fly-by-wire electronic Throttle Positioning Sensor - this failed on both our VW Polo & our Nissan Micra. The thing is, EV motors have about 12 moving parts, ICE vehicles have 200-300 - and as time goes by, they get mpore complex - moving decks on the Titanic it seems. The peaking power/torque characteristic of an ICE means that you need a gearbox....which means that you need a clutch....and so on. An EV has neither. Enough raving....
|
Post by michaelw on Feb 6, 2017 22:52:48 GMT 12
increasing complexity in cars is akin to a remastered record, the life is sucked out of the music/driving. does the leaf have a "ludicrous" mode ?
|
Post by Owen Y on Feb 7, 2017 11:34:54 GMT 12
does the leaf have a "ludicrous" mode ? 99% of the time I use 'ECO' mode, which slows/tapers responsiveness of the accelerator - consumes less power. ECO mode can be switched if you need to leave Commodores & Audis at the lights (The Leaf's power & top speed is v average, but the 280Nm torque is avail from stationary. )
|
Post by Owen Y on Feb 8, 2017 19:06:04 GMT 12
On the weekend, we did a 180km trip, Akld to Epworth Retreat on Lake Karapiro to a wedding. Topped up car at Waikato Electricity's free fast-charger at Te Kauwhata both ways. Epworth let us charge on their caravan plug for free. Total 360kms return trip for zero $$ fuel
|
Post by Owen Y on Feb 8, 2017 19:24:29 GMT 12
And trying out Vector's free chargers downtown Hobson St, Akld.
|
Post by guitardude on Mar 9, 2017 10:36:33 GMT 12
Hey Owen,
Slowly getting to grips with this. Are you DC or AC charging ? I see there's a heap of different connectors about, so nothing standardised at all ? Do you need to carry a lead with you ? If parking somewhere do you use your lead or is one attached to the pump ?
|
Post by Owen Y on Mar 9, 2017 13:39:14 GMT 12
guitardude - good to hear that you are looking into it. Charge connectors - amazingly, the Japanese/Americans & the Europeans have adopted their own different standards. And, Tesla have their own Tesla connectors! Yes, you carry a 'EVSE' (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) cable/'charger' in the boot, like this: The car (Nissan Leaf in my case) has 2 charging ports: The RH one is for regular AC 'home' charging (up to 15A or 30A/230v capable, depending on model, in the case of the Leaf), the LH one for DC 'fast charging' on public chargers (400vdc). For home charging, you either use the car EVSE cable, or some folks have a permanently wired EVSE unit on their Garage or house wall. At public chargers, a cable is part of the charger unit (like a petrol pump, as in the above post). Home charging takes 4 to 8 hrs for 100% charge. Fast Charging takes 20-40mins. Ask any Qs!
|
Post by michaelw on Mar 12, 2017 13:17:02 GMT 12
i saw a red tesla in wellington on friday on the new kapiti expressway
looks a bit meh tbh.
|
Post by Owen Y on Mar 13, 2017 11:02:24 GMT 12
For well-heeled EVangelists
|
Post by guitardude on Mar 13, 2017 14:41:01 GMT 12
Yep i'd like one, meh or not.
|
Post by Owen Y on Mar 16, 2017 9:54:56 GMT 12
|
Post by michaelw on Mar 16, 2017 10:14:10 GMT 12
|
Post by Owen Y on Mar 16, 2017 10:49:58 GMT 12
|
Pundit
Post by rocl on Mar 16, 2017 11:00:07 GMT 12
does this qualify? actually it is not a vehicle, because i go where vehicles aren't allowed. but is a great little machine and gets me to a lot of places. the golf did less than 2000kms in the past year.
|
An EV thread Mar 16, 2017 11:17:56 GMT 12
via mobile - Edited Mar 16, 2017 11:19:22 GMT 12 by Deleted
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2017 11:17:56 GMT 12
does this qualify? actually it is not a vehicle, because i go where vehicles aren't allowed. but is a great little machine and gets me to a lot of places. the golf did less than 2000kms in the past year. Ick. I bet there's a hi-viz vest in there somewhere... And there's a self driving Tesla out there somewhere just waiting to mow you down, hippy!?
|