Electric cars: have you got one?

Listing to a debate on the radio the other day there seems to some concerns about the EV second hand car market down the line. The argument is that the batteries will at some point start to fail and will need to be replaced. The concern is the aftermarket structure is not that good in relation to sourcing new batteries and disposing of old ones.

 

That's certainly a concern, but I am not sure we have seen too many vehicles that age yet as the real boom started only 3-5 years ago. I would also expect the cost for replacement batteries to come down very considerably, compared to what they cost when the vehicle was manufactured.

For example, based on the below (different numbers are available, the trend is always the same) when my ID.3 was manufactured mid-2021 cell cost was about USD100/kWh, or about USD8,200 for the battery plus integration cost (and in fact Volkswagen would probably have contracted the cell purchase at more than that due to lead times). By August last year that was down to USD78/kWh or USD6,400 plus integration cost.



All the best

Andreas

 

I have noticed the T brand comes up a lot in leasing and cheaper.
As Jim stated the high end market will not be good for resale but then if they can afford the Jag /Porsche etc in the first place money isn't an issue.


Did the T brand progress with the battery stop swap out.

Then we have all the rare earth minerals and the poor people who mine them.
Although I assume my hearse will be petrol driven.

 

Yes, this is a big, big problem.
We need to switch from Lithium to Sodium a.s.a.p.
Also need to reduce the liquid & develop the solid state battery (semi-solid state is imminent)

 

Wow! that's way beyond my range.

I have a bladder control valve® which restricts me to 2 hours max
...then I have to connect up to a discharge station for 20 minutes!

 

T is struggling to shift vehicles ATM, so they are being aggressive on price. Something to do with their owner's politics and those of your typical EV buyer not aligning WDIK. But they never went for battery swaps, that's a Chinese company, Nio. TLR, they ain't doing so well.

The human rights issue of cobalt mining is real, but also a narrative strongly driven by vested interest. It's not like oil exploration and production is a hippy paradise of Kumbaya and love thy neighbour, after all. it's just we have gotten used to it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiwa_v._Royal_Dutch_Shell_Co.

How Does Fracking Affect the Environment?

The best way to deal with human rights violations and cobalt mining is standards and enforcing them.

All the best

Andreas

 

Remember watching this when it first came out (only 3 years ago).

Battery swap? I was waiting for a Thunderbird 2 pod to come up on that lift!

Norway to the fore again, good on 'em for recognising that infrastructure, the right sort of infrastructure, is the key to this "industry" being a viable runner.

I liked this episode, but then again, I always liked Norway.

Kind regards, "Virgil, Virgil! The Mole, The Mole, not damn pod 4!", always,

Jim.

 

By the by, there is a version of the old RAC Rally called the "Roger Albert Clark Rally" which will take place from 20th November up north and west:

"The ceremonial start will be in Carmarthen on Wednesday 19th at 18:00 hrs
The event starts in Carmarthen on Thursday 20th at 08:00 hrs and returns for the
overnight halt at 19:30 hrs.
Friday 21st restarts from Carmarthen at 07:30 hrs and finishes in Welshpool with the
anticipated first car finishing around 20:00 hrs
Saturday 22nd restarts from Carlisle at 12 noon and returns to Carlisle at 22:00 hrs
Sunday 23rd restarts from Carlisle at 08:00 hrs and returns to Carlisle at 20:30 hrs
Monday 24th restarts from Carlisle at 07:30 hrs and Finishes at 17:30 hrs"

The website is "insecure" according to Apple. As one might expect, lots of Ford Escorts and Mini Coopers but the winner has been a Vauxhall Corsa from the 1990's.

I have met, briefly, the owner and electrical engineer of this car:

https://www.diyelectriccar.com/threads/electric-clan-crusader.202659/

Since I have an "old" car I might consider converting it, especially since mice may be eating the original electrical wiring loom. . .but the Clan Crusader was converted by an electrical engineer, which I am not. . . I can change a fuse.

 

EV makes me think

 

If only there was some way to fully refuel a vehicle in three or four minutes. Hmmmmm.

 

From memory I think a Roller (or Bentley), and maybe, just maybe, a Sunbeam Super Snipe.

Ahhhhh, the smell of electric motors approaching complete burn out as younger brothers thraped this to bits.

Thank goodness I was too old for that and preferred sniffing the meths from The Mamod.

My departed Irish grandfather had a lot to answer for toy wise. Those young brothers only had to roll their eyes at him and they were on an away day to the toy shop

Kind regards, thrash those electric motors boys, always,

Jim.

 

Ah thanks, that completely passed me by.

All the best

Andreas

 

over here lorries already go with Hydro and laws sometimes change with government changes - Good luck to all of us.
Stefan.

 

On the subject of battery replacement (but not as an alternative means of avoiding re-charge) #1 son's battery suddenly failed in his Tesla a couple of months ago.

The tech-team soon arrived, pressed the levitate button, and replaced the battery in no time...



...in fact in less time than on Christmas morning, when you have to open all the Christmas crackers to find that funny little cross-head screw driver which is the only one in the world that fits the funny little cross-headed screw that you need to take out so you can change the batteries on that funny little monster-robot that you wish you hadn't bought for your funny little grandson because it walks around the kitchen floor firing death rays at you and shouting "You're gonna die! ...You're gonna die!"

I know I am lofty, just hoping it wont be today!

 

Laws of physics tend to be unimpressed by government laws.

The trucks are highly subsidised through EU funds, and what’s worse will have to continue to be subsidised. My contacts in the haulage industry are of the view that it is game over for H2 before they even start playing, and batteries will corner that market.

The fact that we get a lot of BEV trucks operating commercially in the UK, but no H2 trucks, indicates that without the EU subsidies there wouldn’t be any of these trucks in the EU either.

The story is similar in China, arguably the most advanced in terms of H2 trucking.

E-Truck Revolution in China: 25% Market Share in First Half of 2025 – EnergyComment



https://theicct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ID-247-–-China-ZEMHDVs_spotlight_final-1.pdf

All the best

Andreas

 

Here are my views on the matter from 2021. Still happy with that, as I think reality conformed to my expectations.

https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/the-role-of-green-hydrogen-in-achieving-a-climate-compatible-future-is-there-one-/

All the best

Andreas

 

On your very content Adam, and contemplated thought-out thinking, my dear daughter No.1 recently decided upon (and has since taken delivery of) a Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid, and up to now she is very pleased with it (especially the infrequency with which she is having to put petrol in the fuel tank!).

Dear daughter seriously contemplated going EV, but ultimately decided (as per many of the issues that you raised above) that now was not a good time for complete and only battery powered vehicle. And of course, she is a much younger generation than me

She had a good look, after viewing and driving decided to steer well clear of "soft/mild" hybrids as termed. Thought they were a pile of pants compared with a full hybrid, and placed them well behind (even behind full EVs) in terms of cost, functionality, desirability, and of course running costs by comparison.

I think, as individuals, we can all make a choice to suit, and only time tells if it ultimately proves to be good choice.

Kind regards, sticking with the Mamod, always,

Jim.

 

Big challenge out in California after the wildfires last year.