Straight line stability

[Weeble]

Good thinking, heavy battery, low centre of gravity, more stability.

Ah! But genuine question from 11 YO grandson a few days ago.
"Grandad..... when you fill up a petrol tank the car gets heavier. So, does the car get heavier when you fill up the battery?"
I hate smartarse kids. Any scientists out there?

 

[MG Clive]

Ah! But genuine question from 11 YO grandson a few days ago.
"Grandad..... when you fill up a petrol tank the car gets heavier. So, does the car get heavier when you fill up the battery?"
I hate smartarse kids. Any scientists out there?

Google says:

Yes, technically an electric car gets slightly heavier when charged due to stored energy, but the increase is minuscule (around 4 micrograms for a full charge), so it's practically immeasurable and unnoticeable

So technically, yes, but practically, no.

 

[LenEV2016]

Just checked one of the reviews. It claims the issue is related to the weight distribution (more rear, less front).
With head wind, indeed more weight at the front will result in more stability. But it's opposite to side winds, I'm reading on various forums. Yet the reviewer claims the distribution causes the instability (wind sensitivity seems to fit better) with both head and side wind....
Maybe I should check it myself when the winds pick up again.

Depends what they have jumped out off before they got into the S5 as has been said it's an SUV so rides a bit higher, they may have jumped out a saloon car or hatchback and made a comparison, which wouldn't exactly be like for like but it doesn't stop reviewers.

 

[anth5864]

I used to drive a Volvo C30 and it was very easily unsettled with a gust of wind, sometimes not really even that powerful, I even had it back to Volvo at one point but all checked out. I've had a little bit with the S5 but no more than expected - high wind turbulence type of stuff. Just what you get with SUVs being taller, did a trip to the lakes a couple of weeks ago and it was really gusty, held firm, felt great to drive!

 

[NLMGSAN]

Yes. Generally i

Depends what they have jumped out off before they got into the S5 as has been said it's an SUV so rides a bit higher, they may have jumped out a saloon car or hatchback and made a comparison, which wouldn't exactly be like for like but it doesn't stop reviewers.

At least one of them compared it to the MG4. And he wasn't pleased about that one either.

 

[nem]

I find it behaves pretty much like a Nissan Qashqai (drove one for a few years). I wouldn't say it's problematic, but it does require some attention when driving in strong side wind (20m/s +).

 

[Ian Key]

It's difficult to comment about the exact point the reviewer is making about the stability in windy conditions without seeing it in context. Was it an exceptionally windy day, were the tyre pressures correct, had they just been driving a Ferrari?

To counteract that reviewer here's the review from The Car Expert website:
The ride is mostly good, although it can get a bit bouncy when the road surface is uneven. At urban speeds, it’s generally very well composed. When speed picks up to motorway pace, it feels stable and un-flustered by crosswinds, so longer trips should be fairly relaxing.