Electric Vehicles

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by snizzle

We don't need electronic doors/handles just as we don't need to surf the touchscreen to move the air vents. Don't overthink this stuff.

Just a bit of "history" on this. Didja ever notice that dating back to the '70s practically every concept vehicle displayed had no door handles and many had cameras instead of mirrors? That is because automakers liked to brag about how aerodynamic their concept vehicles were, even though they knew they could never get vehicles into production without door handles and mirrors. Turns out door handles and mirrors add significant drag for the vehicle.

Then we started getting more clever ways of integrating the door handles. Corvette is a great example. Since C6 you actually reach into a pocket to activate the door handles and open the vehicle. Other companies put them on the B-pillar and/or C-pillar. And they started focusing on design of mirror covers to minimize drag effects. Corvette is another excellent example. The passenger side mirror is actually placed further away from the car than the driver's side mirror, purely to reduce drag.

Now, add EVs to the mix. Since most EVs have a single gear transmission, the single biggest impact to range is aerodynamics. And, front end design aside, the biggest contributor to drag is the door handles. So making them flush while the car is moving is a big deal. It also happens to contribute to a clean styling look, but the real reason is aero.

Not defending, just explaining "why".

[Capricio]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

The difference between the first generation of EREVs and the upcoming second generation of EREVs (Ram 1500 REV, Scout, Ford's upcoming Lightning replacement) is that the new generation will be engineered to maintain battery state of charge (SOC) in an optimal range. When EV batteries get low on SOC they also have reduced capability (system hp, towing / hauling capability). So by engineering the ICE generator to turn on when they approach the optimal breakpoint, the vehicle can maintain optimal towing capability and/or acceleration capability for much longer. In my personal opinion, this is a killer app for towing.

https://www.autoblog.com/news/scout-...-could-drop-50

Not sure if this counts as a "second gen " EREV or not. Pretty much relegated to "lifestyle vehicle" status if they can't tow more than this.

Electric pickup and SUV maker Scout Motors recently drew the ire of potential customers with the announcement that its pickup truck’s advertised tow rating could drop by 50 percent when equipped with a gasoline-powered range-extender. While this system increases overall range from 350 to 500 miles, the announcement that the Scout Terra pickup’s tow rating could drop from 10,000 lbs to about 5,000 lbs has not gone down well with prospective buyers, especially those with hauling or towing requirement

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by Capricio

https://www.autoblog.com/news/scout-...-could-drop-50

Not sure if this counts as a "second gen " EREV or not. Pretty much relegated to "lifestyle vehicle" status if they can't tow more than this.

That's pretty weird. It does seem as though they are working to correct this, but I wonder why they would release it that way to begin with. Maybe the range extender requires too much fuel to maintain 10,000 lbs for any duration. That's my only guess.

[Capricio]

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/...d-ev-models-us

Honda announced a $15.7 billion writedown of its electric vehicle (EV) business last week as the company shifts its U.S. strategy to account for weak consumer demand for EVs.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/...xpensive-hobby

Winkelmann told The Sunday Times the "acceptance curve" for EVs in Lamborghini's target market was "close to zero" and flattening amid a lack of interest from the luxury automaker's clientele.

He added in the interview that EV development poses a risk of becoming an "expensive hobby" for Lamborghini and that the automaker plans to make traditional internal combustion engine vehicles "for as long as possible."

So, is ICE in its final gasping death throws? Or, is EV domination not as inevitable when policy isn't forcing it on consumers?

Meanwhile...

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2026/03...i-slop-report/

[bishopts]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Just a bit of "history" on this. Didja ever notice that dating back to the '70s practically every concept vehicle displayed had no door handles and many had cameras instead of mirrors? That is because automakers liked to brag about how aerodynamic their concept vehicles were, even though they knew they could never get vehicles into production without door handles and mirrors. Turns out door handles and mirrors add significant drag for the vehicle.

Then we started getting more clever ways of integrating the door handles. Corvette is a great example. Since C6 you actually reach into a pocket to activate the door handles and open the vehicle. Other companies put them on the B-pillar and/or C-pillar. And they started focusing on design of mirror covers to minimize drag effects. Corvette is another excellent example. The passenger side mirror is actually placed further away from the car than the driver's side mirror, purely to reduce drag.

Now, add EVs to the mix. Since most EVs have a single gear transmission, the single biggest impact to range is aerodynamics. And, front end design aside, the biggest contributor to drag is the door handles. So making them flush while the car is moving is a big deal. It also happens to contribute to a clean styling look, but the real reason is aero.

Not defending, just explaining "why".

I like the part where the electronic handles fail while the car is on fire.

[Malbjey]

Will be interesting to see the demand (or not) for electric cars with rising gas prices and World War III brewing.

[olrocker]

Originally Posted by Malbjey

Will be interesting to see the demand (or not) for electric cars with rising gas prices and World War III brewing.

I’ll gladly pay $10/ gal to rid the world of annoying regimes.

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by Malbjey

Will be interesting to see the demand (or not) for electric cars with rising gas prices and World War III brewing.

In times of conflict, power plants are priority targets. You can get gas without power, you can't charge ev's without it.

[docwra]

Originally Posted by Capricio

So, is ICE in its final gasping death throws? Or, is EV domination not as inevitable when policy isn't forcing it on consumers?

24% of all cars sold in UK last year were EV, in the EU it was 20%.

1 our of every 5 new cars doesnt sound like death throes TBH.

[Malbjey]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

In times of conflict, power plants are priority targets. You can get gas without power, you can't charge ev's without it.

Gas pumps work without electricity? Genuinely asking since I never tried to get gas during a power outage.


My concern is rising gas prices themselves. If our infrastructure is being targeted (via hacked/bombed/whatever) that's a whole other issue.

[Capricio]

Originally Posted by docwra

24% of all cars sold in UK last year were EV, in the EU it was 20%.

1 our of every 5 new cars doesnt sound like death throes TBH.

Rhetorically... what would happen if the UK subsidies and regulations were rolled back? In europe we'll probably never know, but evidence in the US suggests a pretty rapid rollback to ICE.

There's no evidence to suggest that fuel prices will remain high for the foreseeable future, or that our energy infrastructure is under any more threat than it always has been. Doomsayers may be right, but, I'm taking a more optimistic view until events actually unfold at home.

Still waiting for EV batteries have some the promised efficiency breakthroughs and first year depreciation to become tolerable to a new owner.

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by Malbjey

Gas pumps work without electricity? Genuinely asking since I never tried to get gas during a power outage.

The pumps won't work but gas companies have ways to get gas out of the inground storage tanks without electricity.

When Helene hit in Oct of 2024 and there was no power for over a month, gas stations had tankers and they poured your gas out of the tanker. Took awhile to get through the line but getting gas was never an issue. Mean while people that owned EV's eventually got stranded because there was no where close to charge. Afterwards, all of the dealers close by had lots of used EV's people was suddenly trading in.

[90503]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

The pumps won't work but gas companies have ways to get gas out of the inground storage tanks without electricity.

When Helene hit in Oct of 2024 and there was no power for over a month, gas stations had tankers and they poured your gas out of the tanker. Took awhile to get through the line but getting gas was never an issue. Mean while people that owned EV's eventually got stranded because there was no where close to charge. Afterwards, all of the dealers close by had lots of used EV's people was suddenly trading in.

Found this...Of course anything above ground can be manually dispensed. Underground tanks at gas stations are more problematic. However its relatively easy with a simple generator to dispense fuel at a gas station during a power outage.
https://www.nbc26.com/simplemost/how...ut-electricity

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by 90503

Found this...Of course anything above ground can be manually dispensed. Underground tanks at gas stations are more problematic. However its relatively easy with a simple generator to dispense fuel at a gas station during a power outage.
https://www.nbc26.com/simplemost/how...ut-electricity

If you are in an area that is prone to extended power outages, yea they will have generators to keep operating. The vast majority of the US isn't use to having to deal with outages that last weeks or months.