Electric Vehicles & Infrastructure - Positive & Negative

[myglaren]

Sounds typical.

[bobins]

I wonder if..... 'enticements' were offered or sought from one party or the other to have that charging station installed ? After all.... it is in Russia

[bobins]

In a move that will surprise no one.......

EU waters down plans to end new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035

"The European Union (EU) has watered down its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.
Current rules state that new vehicles sold from that date should be "zero emission", but carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions.
Under the European Commission's new plan, 90% of new cars sold from 2035 would have to be zero-emission, rather than 100%.
According to the European carmakers association, ACEA, market demand for electric cars is currently too low, and without a change to the rules, manufacturers would risk "multi-billion euro" penalties.
The remaining 10% could be made up of conventional petrol or diesel cars, along with hybrids."

More at the Beeb..... and no doubt other sources depending on your viewpoint

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crk78y7k8ezo

[Gibbo2286]

I wonder how long it will be before watchers of videos like this one , especially those with some electronics skills and even the 'back yard bodgers' will be fixing EVs.

[mickthemaverick]

[myglaren]

Hard to listen to Mick. They drag it out as much as they possibly can.
I had heard of the tax increases and wonder what mine will be next month.
I would far rather be able to read about it than have someone blethering on like that.

Fortunately looks as though it will still be twenty quid.

[myglaren]

[myglaren]

[myglaren]

I saw this a couple of days ago:-



And watched a tiny bit of it then backed out, far too shouty and excitable. Left a comment to that end.
Another member on that site commented:-

That's a great use case for today's LLM's!

Copy/paste a YouTube link into Gemini, and you can get a one page summary!

Quote:
In this video, Hank Green discusses common mistakes and misconceptions held by electric vehicle (EV) owners and prospective buyers. He highlights how changing these behaviors can lead to a cheaper and smoother ownership experience.
Buying and Range
Avoid Buying New: Hank argues that buying a new EV is often a mistake because the technology evolves so rapidly that they lose value quickly [00:25]. He recommends leasing to stay up to date with tech or buying used to take advantage of the steep depreciation and available tax credits [00:36].
The Battery Myth: He clarifies that modern EV batteries are not like cell phone batteries; they are designed to last well beyond 100,000 miles, making used EVs a reliable choice [01:29].
Don't Overbuy Range: Many people buy massive, expensive battery packs for a road trip they only take once every few years [01:46]. Carrying that extra weight reduces efficiency and consumes more minerals [02:07].
Charging Habits
Home Charging is Sufficient: You do not necessarily need an expensive Level 2 (220V) charger at home. Hank uses a standard 110V outlet, which provides enough range for typical daily driving (about 35 miles over 12 hours) [03:01].
Avoid Fast Chargers for Daily Use: Fast charging is significantly more expensive than home charging and should generally be reserved for road trips [04:18].
The 80% Rule: To preserve battery health, it is better to keep the charge between 30% and 80% for daily use, rather than constantly charging to 100% [04:46].
Fast Charging Etiquette: Do not charge to 100% at a public fast charger if people are waiting [08:05]. The last 20% takes much longer to charge due to physics; it’s more efficient to leave once you have enough range to reach your destination or the next charger [08:17].
Maintenance and Efficiency
Don't Ignore Maintenance: Even though EVs don't need oil changes, they still require tire rotations and brake checks [05:23].
Navigation and Speed: He recommends using apps like A Better Route Planner (ABRP) instead of built-in car navigation for more efficient trip planning [06:01]. If you are worried about range, slowing down (staying around 60–65 mph) is the most effective way to increase efficiency [06:53].
Efficiency Still Matters: A car’s efficiency (miles per kilowatt-hour) determines how much you pay per mile and how long you have to sit at a charger. Large, inefficient EVs (like the Cybertruck) take much longer to "fill up" because they consume more energy per mile [09:44].
Reliability Rating: 10/10 (This summary accurately reflects the factual advice and personal opinions presented by the creator in the video.)

Which certainly makes it more palatable but I still have little trust in AI.

[myglaren]

Doesn't appear to have been reported on the news sites that I read.

[mickthemaverick]

That's just another smokescreen!!

[bobins]

Who'd have thunk it, eh ?

UK electric car sales target set to be weakened

"The UK government is set to water down its target for how many new cars that are sold need to be electric vehicles (EVs).
Under the current rules, 80% of all new cars sold in the UK need to be EVs by 2030, but car makers and trade unions have been lobbying government for years to reduce the target because of concerns over costs and jobs.
Meanwhile, sustainability groups say any weakening of the target will threaten the UK's long-term electrification and climate goals.
The government will hold a consultation on what the new 2030 target should be, meaning it could take months before it is decided, but numbers ranging from 50% to 70% are under consideration.
The policy on EV sales has changed a lot over the years.
A ban on sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 was first announced by former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2020 and pushed back to 2035 by Rishi Sunak when he was prime minister, external.
Alongside this change, Sunak introduced phased targets for EV sales in the UK, known as the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) mandate.
Under the ZEV mandate, the percentage of new car sales that need to be EVs increases each year. The target was 28% for 2025, 33% for 2026, and so on until it reaches 80% by 2030.
Labour has pledged in its manifesto to bring the petrol and diesel ban back to 2030. Meanwhile, a policy review on the separate ZEV mandate had been expected early next year but the industry has pushed for it to happen sooner."

More at the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dmwmj4dmo