Electric Vehicles: What have you spotted?

[Mandrake]

Gawd! You're all babies yet I remember starting handles being a regular necessity.

Well my GS did have a crank handle (the wheel brace!) that could be inserted into the front to start it if the battery was too low to run the starter - which I did use a few times...

[RichardW]

I always found my R4s would start under any conditions with care but not my R5 - that one could be difficult sometimes...

Did you ever have anything with a 1.6 XU lump with 'auto' choke? They were once they were a bit older. Touch the accelerator and they wouldn't start; and ours inevitably stalled about 2 miles down the road - although it usually restarted!

[CitroJim]

Gawd! You're all babies yet I remember starting handles being a regular necessity.

I remember those well Gibbo... And I've used them - on both cars and other engines... Large gensets particularly and diesels too with decompressors

My R4s had starting handles and at times they were invaluable. I'm trying to recall the last car to have a starting handle but it escapes me...

I believe the 2CV did but what about the GS/A?

One of those or the R4 must be in the running for the honour of being the last one?

[Mandrake]

My R4s had starting handles and at times they were invaluable. I'm trying to recall the last car to have a starting handle but it escapes me...

I believe the 2CV did but what about the GS/A?

See my post above Jim. GS and GSA's both let you crank start them through an opening at the front - with the wheel brace doubling as a removable crank handle.

If the weather was warm it was surprisingly easy to start them this way too - pull the choke out a bit, pump the throttle once and it would usually catch on the 2nd try...

In the cold if the car hadn't run for a few days you'd be there for a while though - it would be like trying to start a stubborn lawn mower...

[harryp]

Gawd! You're all babies yet I remember starting handles being a regular necessity.

Oh Gawd yes .
My Moggie had one, also my Imp! As an experiment, tried starting the Imp on a stand by rotating the wheel (in gear obviously)! Instantaneous; VERY surprised

[myglaren]

Gawd! You're all babies yet I remember starting handles being a regular necessity.

Well my GS did have a crank handle (the wheel brace!) that could be inserted into the front to start it if the battery was too low to run the starter - which I did use a few times...

Same here and I think my Minx.

[MikeT]

Read this http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1 ... ng_them_/ today and it sent me off to look at this car leasing club http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/ they're using.

This, I suspect, is the future of private/personal tranport - hire/leasing of pre-approved vehicles within restricted zones which will become more and more prevelant. When driverless vehicle technology matures, we will no longer have the need for driving licenses either.

[CitroJim]

This, I suspect, is the future of private/personal tranport - hire/leasing of pre-approved vehicles within restricted zones which will become more and more prevelant. When driverless vehicle technology matures, we will no longer have the need for driving licenses either.

I suspect you are right Mike

If cars were not a passion of mine then I'd now be looking to hire a car on the occasions I really need one and when buses and taxis cannot do the necessary..

I'll bet it would work out no more expensive overall then running a small car and likely cheaper...

[NewcastleFalcon]

...and North East Electric car spotters get a few points if they spot a Zoe in da club! (Tynemouth Pier to the left South Shields Pier to the right)

Yes I can see that sort of arrangement expanding, although personally I am always a touch sceptical about the fine print of rental and hire agreements, damage assessments, and potentially giving a third party carte blanc to remove funds from your bank account when you sign up to the detailed terms and conditions.

Seems far too simple on the web site! Maybe it is....

Regards Neil

[myglaren]

Where was that taken Neil? I'm guessing North Shields/Tynemouth but could be way out - only been there a couple of times and that was years ago.

[jgra1]

I managed to somehow bring my current work home with me tonight!
I cant take a pic as its dark as..

i cant drive it at all except back to work tomorrow..
will take a pic in the morning

[NewcastleFalcon]

Where was that taken Neil? I'm guessing North Shields/Tynemouth but could be way out - only been there a couple of times and that was years ago.

Steve, looks very much like it was taken from the Spanish Battery at Tynemouth.

Regards Neil

[myglaren]

Ah - I thought that you must have taken it.
Was fairly close anyway

[white exec]

Well, kind of "spotted". . . . Honda's 2017 concept for Urban EV for 2019 . . . .

I thought this looked refreshingly attractive and individual, even with the obvious hints of Mini and Yeti.
13 more pictures here:
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/19994/honda-u ... pictures#0
Some car designs just make me smile; this is one such.

[jgra1]

not likely to be repeated

sitting outside the converted stable block, where i rent a room.. i dread to think how many years of rent the car is worth!