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The phase out of ice engines..
- Thread starter Coaster
- Start date
They're a relatively new technology, it's hardly surprising. 100-odd years ago, we had way more blacksmiths and carriage builders than ICE mechanics. Some mechanics will choose to upskill and will be in demand in the future. Others will stick with what they know and either retire or pursue some other career. Part of the problem, is that with so few parts to go wrong, it is anticipated that EVs will need less maintenance than ICEs in any case, so the proliferation of YouTube "how to" videos is likely to be less.
I see the eastern manufacturers are now planning on eject able batteries that can be fired out the side of the car if they set on fire.
Yes, I saw that. It's only a concept and to be honest, I don't think it's practicable. You wouldn't want to be a pedestrian walking along the pavement if it ejects a burning battery into your ankles at high speed! Similarly, you wouldn't want to be driving past if it ejected it on the other side!
EV battery fires (despite what some would have you believe
) are very rare, and those that involve "explosion" are even rarer. The technology exists to reduce that chance to about "zero". The Chinese already have a "no-fire-no-explosion" battery standard and products like CATL's "Quilin" battery already comply.CATL launches CTP 3.0 battery “Qilin,” achieves the highest integration level in the world
On June 23, CATL launched Qilin, the third generation of its CTP (cell-to-pack) technology. With a record-breaking volume utilization efficiency of 72% and an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg, it achieves the highest integration level worldwide so far, capable of delivering a range of over...
www.catl.com
I saw a video the other day, replacing a timing chain / belt on a 2 litre diesel merc.
The mechanic was very complimentary regarding the level of engineering.
But, the sheer amount of stuff that an ICE engine comprises
No wonder a decent mechanic is like gold.
But, apart from the gunge that the mechanic pulled out of the low-mileage engine (which will be carcinogenic, btw), the thing that stuck with me was the agricultural noise it made when he ran it afterwards.
"Like a tractor, which is not far off what it is!"
And that's a modern, highly-engineered, premium marque diesel.
I saw a video the other day, replacing a timing chain / belt on a 2 litre diesel merc.
The mechanic was very complimentary regarding the level of engineering.
But, the sheer amount of stuff that an ICE engine comprises
No wonder a decent mechanic is like gold.
But, apart from the gunge that the mechanic pulled out of the low-mileage engine (which will be carcinogenic, btw), the thing that stuck with me was the agricultural noise it made when he ran it afterwards.
"Like a tractor, which is not far off what it is!"
And that's a modern, highly-engineered, premium marque diesel.
Yes, I think ICE cars have gone about as far as they can now. And if you think they're complex today, wait until the "Euro 7" emissions regulations kick-in!
Tractor
A century of refinement got us here........
Some large V diesels are quite quiet and have a pleasing rhythm. However if you want listening pleasure you definitely want a big petrol V8. Infinitely better than the virtuous milk float whine of an EV. Or the preposterous "oooooooooohhhhhhh" noise a Tesla makes when reversing.
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Above about 12 MPH, mine doesn't really sound of anything at all, to be honest. Certainly no whine. It's so quiet, I can hear the anti-EV boomers whining as I overtake them though...
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my wife's car is very refined, very quiet, problem is with all this refinement is that it highlights any little irritating rattle from something, something going ching ching in the shopping bag, a zip on a coat with a high pitch rattle, its just annoying - never comfortable in it
Where as, my old van, there is that much noise it doesn’t matter - I'm much happier and comfrtable... window open Mony Mony at full blast on the cassette - thats the way to travel
wouldn't fancy an EV with the fire alarm about to go off at any second, they can be quite deafening
When i was a jobbing grafter doing 40k+ p.a. in me little van, I took to wearing earplugs.
Made the whole thing less wearisome.
He'd love my dad's old Freelander that I'm currently trying to weld back up for an MOT! There's only about a 1200 RPM window in its whole, sorry rev range from tickover to redline, where something isn't vibrating, rattling, buzzing, squeaking, or threatening to fall off!
I have heard lots of people who have moved over to EVs absolutely love them and never want to go back
I do read though that parts can be very hard to get hold of and wait times are long, sometimes months as well as expensive
but then there are plenty of stories of ICE cars and vans just a couple of years old and the engine going bang.
I was looking at updating my car and it seems that ICE cars made in last say 6 years are far less reliable, and loads of them have wet belts fitted
I do read though that parts can be very hard to get hold of and wait times are long, sometimes months as well as expensive
but then there are plenty of stories of ICE cars and vans just a couple of years old and the engine going bang.
I was looking at updating my car and it seems that ICE cars made in last say 6 years are far less reliable, and loads of them have wet belts fitted
I think those are all fair observations (although the wet belt is isolated to only certain particular manufacturers). Without doubt, EV spares (and the technicians to fit them) are in short supply - particularly the Chinese ones. This is widely recognised round the industry and big efforts are being made to catch-up, but we're not where we need to be. On the plus side, I've put 50,000 (faultless) miles on one EV and the other is already coming up to 30,000.
I think it's fair to say that if you get an EV, the chances of it letting you down are pretty small, but if it does, the chances of getting it fixed correctly and promptly, are not great. It will come, as we build up more experience of them and technicians are trained up, but I think we're a couple of years off that at present.
