Boxbrownie wrote:

john doddy wrote:

i cannot see how we can ever go completely electric . How will people in their flats charge them up ; how will people in terrace houses (who cannot park outside their own home) charge them up

Induction charging in car parks, same for on road or lamp post charging as an interim, low power is the now lighting changed from SV lamps to LED in most places.

It’s the same old problem as we have now with charger installations though, getting the power suppliers, the charger companies and the councils to work together.

Although I do not have any experience of modern car architecture, I do hope that as JLR (and other manufactures) take this opportunity of designing into their new chassis the ability to test and change electronic units easily.

Surely there is no reason that the design needs anyone to hang upside down in the passenger footwell to change a fuse, or to have to take out half the interior (and trim) to swap the complete fusebox over.

Likewise why are the various main controlling units scattered around the car rather than in a rack, say under an easily removable panel in the (boot?) floor.

Likewise the receiver/servo and transmitter/sensor units which need to be around the car could be behind easily removable trim panels. (say in doors, floors, dashboard, etc)

And then, perhaps this is to much to ask, a built in easily read, self test system, checking electronics/electro-mechanics and suggesting changes at first-line, unit level. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

The whole object of placing various items about the car in awkward places is money, having sold the car spares and servicing are the next money spinner, if everything was in easy access with instant fault readout no one would go to garages or dealers for servicing.
Some one needs to pay for the glass palaces and coffee machines, at about £100/hr labour and mechanics on £25 -£40/hr that's a good mark up and the harder it is to access the more time and more profit, your right they don't have to be hidden or difficult to access but that's where the profit is especially if bits break getting access, " they always break sir, that's why they are always in stock"  my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

£100/h when did you last pay for work at a dealership? £150 more like.
If I remember correctly magnetic effect is proportional to the square of the distance- 6 inches is a huge gap that creates unforgivable losses.
Huge magnetic fields and pacemaker anyone?

Could be worse you could have drivers who are too lazy to dip the rear view mirror or operate the wipers.
Then again cars could even self park in the future Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Technicians on £25-£40hr! Even with bonus (which normally means that corners are cut during a service to make the repair times) you will get nowhere near that amount! If you could then I would still be in the trade!

I know I am rambling but at least I find this funny.

Just had one of the nurses come to me panicking. The handbrake on her 66 plate X-trail was stuck on and she couldn't get to work. Went out, put key in center consul as the display was complaining about the lack of key "it often does that !", selected gear and operated the electric handbrake - no problem.
"What did you do" I just pushed this little lever that operates the handbrake, "oh, I didn't know you could do that I thought it was all automatic", not when it can't see the key.
For some autonomous cars can't come soon enough.

To give Bernie, her due, the car was bought by/for her husband - a petrol head that I have known for 50 years, he passed away (far too soon) last year, a victim of Covid.
We get 2-3 nurse visits a week, Chemo, blood tests, and anything else they can do to keep Gill comfortable and active - thank god for the NHS. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I haven't seen a main dealer since I received my car back from the dealers with an A service checked when it should have been a B and the mileage on the service sheet and invoice was higher than odometer reading when it was delivered back to me, I wondered whose car was serviced, when queried the service manager assured me the correct service was completed, at that point I cancelled my service contract and went elsewhere. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

IanMetro wrote:

Boxbrownie wrote:

john doddy wrote:

i cannot see how we can ever go completely electric . How will people in their flats charge them up ; how will people in terrace houses (who cannot park outside their own home) charge them up

Induction charging in car parks, same for on road or lamp post charging as an interim, low power is the now lighting changed from SV lamps to LED in most places.

It’s the same old problem as we have now with charger installations though, getting the power suppliers, the charger companies and the councils to work together.

From what I can remember from my 'Transformer Theory' training, admittedly some 60+ years ago, unless you have idea conditions (very near and electronically secure).

As you say 60+ years ago

Buses are already using induction “top up” charging at stops, admittedly the buses do “kneel down” at the stops for disabled access and this reduces any induction gaps I guess, but the prototype induction charging plates I saw a long time ago actually lowered beneath the vehicle, this was very early BEV theory and practice testing, but I am sure if needed the limitations could be designed out. Regards

David

Lovely i6 has now gone, but not me......

Please let me know if anything in my post offends you, as I may wish to offend you again......

David
Thanks, I have 'Goggled' using your hint, and there are systems for buses, working at about 6" or so clearance and in theory working up to 93% efficiency.

https://ipt-technology.com/case-opportunity-charging-madrid/

I still feel that, for ordinary motorists, most of the commercial charging points will be near major roads and routes and will be relatively expensive, high rate, plug in charging points.

Cheap electric (before it attracts additional tax) will mainly be from your home supply. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

Ian,
Yes you won’t (our shouldn’t) find the system we were testing that’s for sure

I know, it’s obvious really.....stupid, stupid people.....we should have seen this coming

Click image to enlarge

That’s wonderful Box Brownie , I’m old enough to remember the conductors on Bradford trolley bus routes using a long wooden pole ( carried under the chassis ) to re connect the electric arm to the overhead wire if contact was lost . Wonderful future job opportunity on the crawler lane of the trans Pennines motorway for someone ! 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

David
I think that you have found the ideal solution.
Combine the overhead wires to a dedicated motorway lane for ALL the autonomous vehicles to run in.
Now that you have hit the Jackpot, have you patented it, and can I have a job of standing at one of the motorway junctions with a long wooden pole.
PS Or has MartynB already beaten me to the job. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

MartynB wrote:

That’s wonderful Box Brownie , I’m old enough to remember the conductors on Bradford trolley bus routes using a long wooden pole ( carried under the chassis ) to re connect the electric arm to the overhead wire if contact was lost . Wonderful future job opportunity on the crawler lane of the trans Pennines motorway for someone !

IanMetro wrote:

David
I think that you have found the ideal solution.
Combine the overhead wires to a dedicated motorway lane for ALL the autonomous vehicles to run in.
Now that you have hit the Jackpot, have you patented it, and can I have a job of standing at one of the motorway junctions with a long wooden pole.
PS Or has MartynB already beaten me to the job.

Considering the failure of overhead train lines I really don't want to be in the area when one comes adrift on a motorway.
With reference to EV buses, our local bus company purchased or leased 2, but after less than 6 months returned them because of high running costs unreliability and basically they were unsuitable for rural routes despite the marketing. The operator who as personal transport has always owned LR products said that EV PSV's were at least 5 years down the line and more without subsidies. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.