Summary
It appears the older we are, the more reluctant we are to consider EVs (Electric Vehicles) as an alternative to ICEs (Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles, pronounced ices). Attitudes like this are common for most new revolutionary technologies. This blog discusses why these fears should diminish in the next few years.
There are many reasons not to buy an EV yet, but it is predicted a tsunami of EVs will appear on our roads in the next few years as the reasons for our concerns, e.g. range fear, high cost, battery safety, etc., rapidly disappear.
Any new technology will unlikely be perfect at first. Fear not, there are small armies of very bright, mainly young people solving these initial problems quickly. It took 100 years to perfect ICEs and they are now remarkably good and reliable but the long term advantages of EVs in terms of simplicity, running costs, maintenance, pollution, etc. are enormous.
The problems are listed below with possible solutions.
First though, the huge uptake and development of EVs in China – see video below.
Range Fear
The main concern is ‘range fear’, because of inadequate battery capacity and inadequate charging points. This is being quickly fixed. For instance, Toyota after years of scepticism has developed a solid state battery that is safe (no fire risk). It takes 10 minutes to charge, has a range of 1500 Km and is 40% cheaper than Lithium Ion. As demand grows, so will charging infrastructure.
Cost
The cost of EVs is coming down. As economies of scale kick in and battery technology improves, EVs are expected to be cheaper than ICEs within the next five years.
Simplicity
An EV has fewer moving parts, e.g., no gears, so they have less maintenance costs. There are about 20 moving parts in an EV, compared to nearly 2,000 in an ICE.
Running Costs
According to Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council, powering an EV is around 70 per cent cheaper compared to an ICE powered by petrol or diesel, saving EV drivers, on average, $1600 in fuel costs each year.
The Electric Vehicle Council estimates that the average cost of fuel for an ICE vehicle is $1.50 per litre, compared to electric cars, which cost the equivalent of 0.33c per litre.
With the average Australian driving 15,000km per year, this equates to a cost of $0.14 per km for petrol cars and 0.04c per km for EVs or a cost per 100km of $4.
For those with solar panels at home who are able to store their own electricity, the real cost of powering an EV is effectively zero.
Servicing
This what the Australia’s NRMA says:
“An annual routine inspection of all components (such as brakes, suspension and steering, air conditioning, lights and wipers, battery terminals, instrument warning lights and gauges, safety systems, tyres (including tyre rotation), a diagnostic system check, recall check and lubing of hinges) could cost between $200 and $400 depending on the manufacturer or service centre. “
Safety
As solid state batteries are introduced, this problem diminishes.
There have been a few instances of Lithium Ion batteries bursting into flames, usually as a result of an accident. However solid state batteries are not inflammable.
References
Campbell
The bigger problem is heavy transport, ships, trains, agricultural and mining machinery. Add armeoured vehicles to taste.
Any ideas apart from absurd hydrogen claims to replace diesel in Australia and Canada.
For information diesel is a combustible, hydrogen is an explosive
regards
Don
Campbell
The bigger problem is heavy transport, ships, trains, agricultural and mining machinery. Add armeoured vehicles to taste.
Any ideas apart from absurd hydrogen claims to replace diesel in Australia and Canada.
For information diesel is a combustible, hydrogen is an explosive
regards
Don
Don, good to hear from you.
There are a few large EV trucks around. Tesla has one with a 30 minute charge time and 500 mile range, see https://www.drive.com.au/news/first-tesla-semi-truck-delivered. All EVs including large trucks have better torque than ICEs (no gears). See my detailed reply to John Foulsham.
Yes, hydrogen is an unknown as far as I can see, no one has done a lot of work on it yet. Twiggy is risking heaps!
Having just purchased a Tesla Model 3 I am in love again! This is technology at its best, such an exhilarating drive and a very user friendly computer screen. The minimalistic cabin works well and the emission control feature is fun.
I am already looking forward to buying my next updated EV.
John
Great to hear from you and so pleased you are in love again. Let’s get together for at least a coffee. I will give you a call.
Thanks Cammy,. I must say that Age now becomes a factor now as I will be too old to make it worthwhile to buy an EV when all the problems are solved. Anyway, it is good luck to the next generation. Enjoy!!
Michael
A young fella like you will be here to see it, if not to enjoy it
Just contemplating the move currently so thank you for the input.
How’s the length of the grass at Barnwell😁
Murray
Always good to year from you, Vic man. No long grass at Barnwall only tufts, but preferred lies fixes it!
This is interesting Campbell.
As you know BG and I have the need to travel long distances so this for us makes a current EV problematic whereas a hybrid would be what I would currently buy if I was in the market for a new vehicle
That said if I could get an EV with a solid state battery that would take us 1500 kms with a 10 minute charging time then this would be a game changer
I personally am not wedded to a vehicle with a combustion engine. The desire for a Porsche was cured recently when I drove one in traffic. Forget it!
Stu
Stuart
Thanks for commenting.
I have since read that the Toyota battery is not yet commercially available, but obviously when it is it would be a game changer as you say.
Campbell
Another interesting blog and can’t disagree with your thinking over the longer term as I’m sure EV’s will develop to be able to do all that the ICE currently does. Personally and if I’m still driving I would have no probably buying an EV once it can do 1200km in a day, and or be able to recharge conveniently in a period that it takes to fill an ICE and most importantly have sufficient torque to tow min 1.5 tons. I suspect that the early ones that meet this criteria and are not the size of a Kenworth will be expensive. I understand the trucking industry is trialling E-trucks where to save charging time the batteries are just replaced at various truck stops. Vehicles might do the same a bit like swapping your gas bottle at the servo. The battery size and the logistics is a real challenge. As time passes the economics will need to change with electricity generation and rare earth materials being able to meet demand and be commercially viable. I’m sure it will happen, not sure if I’ll still be behind the wheel.
Cheers
John,
As always thanks for the comment.
I asked Bard the questions you raised and here is the answer. Lengthy! In summary EVs have better torque than ICEs (no gears) and as you suggest prices are coming down for EVs, but how soon is obviously not known. The only way charge time would equal bowser times would be by exchange but if the range is twice that of a petrol fill, that should be taken into consideration. Prices are in $AU. Sorry about the formatting.
“Torque Comparison
Electric vehicles (EVs) generally have higher torque than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, both for family cars and large trucks. This is because electric motors can deliver their maximum torque from a standstill, while ICEs need to rev up to reach their peak torque. This gives EVs a significant advantage in terms of acceleration and pulling power.
Here’s a comparison of torque figures for a popular EVs and ICE vehicle:
Vehicle Torque (lb-ft)
Tesla Model S Plaid 1,050
Ford F-150 Lightning 775
As you can see, the EV has significantly higher torque than the ICE vehicles. This is one of the reasons why EVs are becoming increasingly popular for both family cars and large trucks.
Price Comparison
The price of EVs is still higher than the price of ICE vehicles, but the gap is closing. The cost of batteries, which is the most expensive component of an EV, is coming down rapidly. As a result, the price of EVs is expected to become cheaper than the price of ICE vehicles for family cars in the next few years. For large trucks, the price of EVs is expected to become cheaper than the price of ICE vehicles in the next decade.
Here’s a comparison of the starting prices for some popular EVs and ICE vehicles:
Vehicle Starting Price
Tesla Model 3 $46,990
Chevrolet Bolt EV $31,000
Nissan LEAF $27,400
Toyota Camry $25,295
Honda Accord $26,120
Ford F-150 Lightning $39,974
Chevrolet Silverado EV $39,900
Toyota Tacoma $26,700
Ford F-150 $29,990
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 $33,800
As you can see, the EVs are still more expensive than the ICE vehicles, but the gap is not as large as it once was. And as battery prices continue to decline, the price of EVs is expected to become even more competitive in the years to come.
In conclusion, EVs have a number of advantages over ICE vehicles, including higher torque, lower emissions, and lower operating costs.
“Yes, there are a growing number of large truck EVs available or in development. Some of the most notable examples include:
* **Tesla Semi:** The Tesla Semi is a battery-electric semi-truck that was unveiled in 2017. It has a range of 500 miles on a single charge and can be charged in as little as 30 minutes using Tesla’s Megachargers. The Semi is expected to begin production in 2023.
[Image of Tesla Semi large truck EV]
* **Freightliner eCascadia:** The Freightliner eCascadia is a battery-electric semi-truck that is being developed by Daimler Trucks North America. It has a range of 250 miles on a single charge and can be charged in as little as 2 hours using a DC fast charger. The eCascadia is expected to begin production in 2022.
* **Volvo VNR Electric:** The Volvo VNR Electric is a battery-electric semi-truck that is being developed by Volvo Trucks North America. It has a range of 275 miles on a single charge and can be charged in as little as 6 hours using a Level 2 charger. The VNR Electric is expected to begin production in 2022.
* **Peterbilt 579EV:** The Peterbilt 579EV is a battery-electric semi-truck that is being developed by Peterbilt Motors Company. It has a range of 300 miles on a single charge and can be charged in as little as 3 hours using a DC fast charger. The 579EV is expected to begin production in 2023.
* **Mack LR Electric:** The Mack LR Electric is a battery-electric semi-truck that is being developed by Mack Trucks. It has a range of 100 miles on a single charge and can be charged in as little as 2 hours using a DC fast charger. The LR Electric is expected to begin production in 2021.
These are just a few of the many large truck EVs that are available or in development. As the technology matures, we can expect to see more and more large truck EVs on the road.
The Australian government is offering a number of incentives to encourage the purchase of EVs, including:
A $15,000 rebate on the purchase of an EV
A $2,000 rebate on the purchase of a used EV
A number of state-based incentives, such as stamp duty exemptions and free registration
Despite the higher prices, EVs are becoming increasingly popular in Australia. The number of EVs on Australian roads has increased by more than 200% in the past year.
This is great work – consice and to the point. Well done CK!!
Good to hear from you, old mate.
Hey Cam.
Good luck with the site.
We have 4 EV’s in the immediate families and adding 2 more this year.
Jaguar I pace, Volvo XC40 x 2, Tesla M3, Volvo C40 and Fiat 500e.
Comfort, speed, quietness, cheap to run, reliability, easy service, ease to use don’t begin to cut it, range whilst an immediate concern has NOT been a compromise, we do 99% of charging at home or work and during the daytime where solar “essentially” makes charging free.
Longer trips demand a little more planning but a recent trip by my son to Sydney for a wedding was an adventure and without any problems.
Now would I drive around Australia in an EV – that would require some planning given the present infrastructure, but if you limited daily drives to 300- 400Km with over night at facilities with 20 – 32 amp availability a portable 7Kw charger does the trick adding 30Km / hour.
Standard 20 amp chargers give ~ 10km per hour so over night that’s only 120km but maybe enough to find a 50-100Kw charger.
Negatives, cost of entry is a little higher of course, otherwise not too many, but the only current issue seems to be market changes and depreciation.
Andrew
Really appreciate your comments and contribution.
Wow, 4 EVs and 2 more coming! In our fam, only Angus has a Tesla Y with extended range. I have often thought a portable charger would be the answer to range fear. Will check that out.
Hi Cambell
thanks for your bloggs – all very interesting.
I watched the Boyer lecture this week and I am sure the speaker Prof Michelle Simmons, talking on nanotechnology, mentioned she had seen atoms.
She was discussing nano computers and was wondering if you knew how she could see atoms and electrons?
cheers
Kim. perhaps a blog!
Good question Kim. will check it out.
Sorry Campbell but think you underestimate the Boomers. Australians have always been quick to adopt new thinking e.g Quantum Computing in which we lead the world. However when we have fools posturing as politicians setting deadlines for conversion to EV without any facilities for implementation you can’t blame them for being cynical!! N Z should be a lesson .!
Keep it coming Regards John Shand
John
Thanks as always for your many comments. Appreciated.
What I am saying is that as we get old we seem to be more reluctant to dive into new technology use. I agree that younger Australians are inventive.