Cars you’ve smoked ?

[Cabansail]

In AUS the hybrid cars are selling better so full electric ( even though heaps of Chinese brands are flooding the market ) a lot of them are shying away from the full electric models because of the sales of hybrids over electric.

I know what you mean. Quite a few times I have told people I have got an EV. They ask if it's a Hybrid. When I tell then No, it's all electric, they have said "Brave move" or similar. I really do not see the point of Hybrids TBH. Carrying two sets of power components and then converting energy with inefficiencies. They could mostly get better fuel economy by ditching the Auto Box and learning how to drive economically. That is what I did with my recently departed Mazda and I could get over 80mpg from it on a trip and 55mpg around town.

Anyway back on topic, yesterday on my way home from college I had a Ford Ranger tailgating me. It had interstate plates. There was a speed camera ahead, so I was on ACC @ 80kph with it about 3m off my tail. As soon as I was past the speed camera I let the Xpower go. Very quickly I had a decent gap behind me. It sped up again so I again opened up. I know it's juvenile but I did smile.

 

[ilukey77]

A lot are curious about EVs; what scares people are the negative BS about them from main stream media.

The Chinese cars catching fire ( but do the maths: sell 10 to 20 million EV s which is what China does, then you're going to get some lemons).

Infrastructure, which is a double edge sword. Infrastructure needs people to buy EVs for it to grow: low sales, less infrastructure..

Range: which I get at the moment range is a huge thing in a big country like Australia. For reference you can fit the whole of England into the state of Victoria in Australia..

Also battery tech is still new. 5 years we will have 1000-2000km range per charge.

 

[Cabansail]

A lot are curious about EVs; what scares people are the negative BS about them from main stream media.

Very true @ilukey77
I must admit I did not know if driving an EV in the semi rural area where I live. Having read about them I thought it would be OK but when I had the chance to have a hire car I got an EV to use. I had it for about 8 weeks.
Was it different?, Yes it was.
The performance, in some regards, was at supercar levels.
The ride was very quiet.
The handling was OK on a single motor version but much better on the dual motor car.
Charging was not a major problem and took just a bit longer than filling up with diesel.
The costs to run the EV were much cheaper.

I did find the massive acceleration addictive, but do not use it often. The MG XP has it too but looks so "innocent".

 

[Tuareg]

Range: which I get at the moment range is a huge thing in a big country like Australia. For reference you can fit the whole of England into the state of Victoria in Australia..

How many Australians drive across Australia? In fact how many even drive out of yheir own state?

The average number of kms driven daily in Australia is around 40km, about the same as in the US. UK and Europe in general is around 35kms. Range is an absolute non-issue for almost everyone, it's just a subject always brought up by those (and the media) that have never driven an EV let alone owned one.

 

[decrep]

It's fine in the city. but here in WA most rural areas are poorly served by public chargers. Just not enough EV owners here yet, but it's increasing rapidly.

Driving out of this Sate, involves overnight stays, depending if you don't want to drive after dark, and hitting stray animals, and which direction you go, could be from 2 to 4. So yes not many people do it.

 

[Cabansail]

Two sides to this coin.
Statistically conventional ICE cars catch fire at a much higher proportion than EV’s.
How and ever, when a lithium battery goes into thermal runaway they are very difficult to extinguish. This is because they produce oxygen as part of the combustion.

 

[ilukey77]

How many Australians drive across Australia? In fact how many even drive out of yheir own state?

The average number of kms driven daily in Australia is around 40km, about the same as in the US. UK and Europe in general is around 35kms. Range is an absolute non-issue for almost everyone, it's just a subject always brought up by those (and the media) that have never driven an EV let alone owned one.

Hybrid and petrol cars are still better ..

This is what is stalling EV sales from going crazy..

It’s not about the I can travel from Victoria to Queensland on 1-2 charges it’s about the time taken to recharge and how many times ..

My Xpower no BS round trip best I’ve done in normal 250km 100% to 10% .

Yes up to mount baw baw in Victoria and back home ..

Far cry from the 400 km it’s claimed to have maybe close if it’s in eco which is pointless to have the X power ..

I need to charge my car about 3 to 4 times a week at a charging station if it’s the granny charger at home the car needs to be put on every night ..

100% cheaper than running my 6 cylinder turbo Volvo I had before but for that I need to charge 2 to 3 more times than just fill up..

Give me 800km to 1000km real world range out of an EV and I will buy it no doubt and alot more will to when the range actually starts to complete with an average petrol or hybrid car!

 

[decrep]

I think it's the long holidays we get, even city dwellers that would only go low distances normally, like to get away to distant holiday destinations. Our country roads get very busy at these times. If a large number of people had to stop half way to recharge at 1 or 2 charge points, there'd be very long queues and wait times.

 

[Cabansail]

My Xpower no BS round trip best I’ve done in normal 250km 100% to 10% .

Yes up to mount baw baw in Victoria and back home ..

Far cry from the 400 km it’s claimed to have maybe close if it’s in eco which is pointless to have the X power ..

What speed are you driving on this trip?

In my Mazda I could get over 1100km from a single 50l tank. This was an economy of under 4l/100km, which was far below the published economy of 4.7l/100km. I would achieve this by minimal use of brakes, no rapid acceleration and keeping the speed below 85kph.

The physics are the same no matter the power source. There is a big difference in drag between 85kph and 100kph or 110kph. The drag increases at the square of the velocity. So if you want range then drop a bit of speed.

 

[ilukey77]

What speed are you driving on this trip?

In my Mazda I could get over 1100km from a single 50l tank. This was an economy of under 4l/100km, which was far below the published economy of 4.7l/100km. I would achieve this by minimal use of brakes, no rapid acceleration and keeping the speed below 85kph.

The physics are the same no matter the power source. There is a big difference in drag between 85kph and 100kph or 110kph. The drag increases at the square of the velocity. So if you want range then drop a bit of speed.

Basically the speed limit ..

My gf usally kicks my butt when I speed or plant my foot

It’s not far off real world km..

Slap it into eco mode it basically cuts the front motor off ..

At that point why buy a X power if your going to 2wd everywhere..

I guess driving up a mountain didn’t help but still ..

Power is very relevant if I was to drop down to 180kw give or take from 320kw the range will increase no doubt ..

Like I said why buy a X power if your going to nerf it and I mean it REALLY nerfs the power

 

[Chrisdriving]

Front motor still kicks in in eco at times, anything but very gentle acceleration, especially around bends and some gradients, visible on the power usage screen, well it does on UK ones anyway.

 

[pjmmk]

I always have my XPower in Custom - sport for the power, heaviest setting for the steering which is still far too light and a standard setting for the brakes which are too grabby in sport (you only need to glance at the brake pedal and it stands the car on its nose). If I'd wanted range I wouldn't have bought an XPower.
Having said that, the eco mode is still better implemented than the chill mode on the Tesla. On the MG, if you're in eco and you need a sudden bit of extra ooomph, you just floor the throttle and it gives you all it has, chill mode on the Tesla just reduces power, basically turns it into a quick milk float and even full throttle is pretty pathetic.

 

[Chrisdriving]

Yes i agree, the chill mode on the Tesla was IMHO not as nice as eco on the X Power.
The whole Tesla driving experience was very clinical where as the MG has some feel and feedback to it, especially when pushed.
Had some Maserati in front of me the other day, loads of noise and high rev changes from him but i was stubbornly up his arse ( not too close) at 45% and having to lift to avoid getting too close.
If i was alongside him from the lights rather than behind deffo woulda had him.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

If I was you I'd check the front valence for evidence of bits of piston / valves being blown out the exhausts.

Yes i agree, the chill mode on the Tesla was IMHO not as nice as eco on the X Power.
The whole Tesla driving experience was very clinical where as the MG has some feel and feedback to it, especially when pushed.
Had some Maserati in front of me the other day, loads of noise and high rev changes from him but i was stubbornly up his arse ( not too close) at 45% and having to lift to avoid getting too close.
If i was alongside him from the lights rather than behind deffo woulda had him.