Hot! BEV Technology

[Matski]

This is right. But If you live in a apartment building like most people in Switzerland, you need the permission of the real estate manager.

I've come to the conclusion most EV advocates on the site have no comprehension of what it's like to not have a parking space directly attached to their own property, let alone having to negotiate with freeholders and other leaseholders to do pretty much anything.

 

[Swissbob]

I've come to the conclusion most EV advocates on the site have no comprehension of what it's like to not have a parking space directly attached to their own property, let alone having to negotiate with freeholders and other leaseholders to do pretty much anything.

This is exactly the elefant in the room. You nailed it.

If you live in a one family house with your own parking space or your garage in the house, it’s absolutely no problem. But it costs a few bucks, and your main power connection must be strong enough.

But If you buy a house in a superstructure with a underground garage, you’re already in hot water.

 

[Swissbob]

BTW I changed my electrical cabinet (in my own home) half a year before I even thought about an EV( my electricity provider approved the stronger main power connection), after I decided to get my e-tron, all I had to do, was to order the Wallbox, and install it.

I already prepared a 5x10mm2 cable from the electrical cabinet to the place of the future Wallbox.
I bought the Mennekes flagship with 3x 16A ( however I could always change the fuses in the electrical cabinet to 32A If I change the Wallbox), the 10mm2 cable supports even that.

 

[Sunny]

Obviously, a "partisan divide" anchored in ideological indoctrination plays a significant role. The "hate" is often not necessarily directed at the technology per se. But rather strong aversions towards excessively vocal, didactic agendas promoted on both sides of the fence. Often having less to do with automobiles than "attitude".

Why I think mandates are actually counter productive. Almost everyone I know who buy an EV are not doing so for ideological, political or even environmental reasons but because they are just better at what they need a car for.

But politicians being politicians, will never miss a chance of making any issue political and divisive and there are plenty of idiots who fall for it.

 

[Sunny]

I've come to the conclusion most EV advocates on the site have no comprehension of what it's like to not have a parking space directly attached to their own property, let alone having to negotiate with freeholders and other leaseholders to do pretty much anything.

I know quite a few people who live in SF in apartments and park on the street with EVs. I myself went without a home charger for almost a year after I got my EV. For average usage, it is a 20 - 40 min of stop over at a fast charger once a week. It is not that hard.

 

[Swissbob]

Why I think mandates are actually counter productive. Almost everyone I know who buy an EV are not doing so for ideological, political or even environmental reasons but because they are just better at what they need a car for.

But politicians being politicians, will never miss a chance of making any issue political and divisive and there are plenty of idiots who fall for it.

I agree with you in all points



However one thing, is a little bit different in my bubble.
What annoys me, is that a few People I know start to feel superior after getting an EV, in the next step they become vegan, and every time they meet a friend or family who drives a ICE car and who eats meat and cheese, they start to argue with him.

It sometimes becomes a crazy cult.

I tell my friends (although I am a passionate petrolhead)If an EV is the right car for your purpose, go for it there’s nothing wrong with it.

 

[Design FIRST]

However one thing, is a little bit different in my bubble.
What annoys me, is that a few People I know start to feel superior after getting an EV, in the next step they become vegan, and every time they meet a friend or family who drives a ICE car and who eats meat and cheese, they start to argue with him.

It sometimes becomes a crazy cult.

Yes, the BEV topic has fallen prey to sociopolitical "pro and con agendas", the purveyors of which often fervent ideological fundamantalists positioned on diametrically opposed sides of the debate. Both sides often flippantly ignoring what technologies actually encompass and the potentials of such. Here in the German-language part of Europe, the range spans from Letzte Generation "Klimakleber" environmental radicals to the staunchest Weltwoche and NIUS critics and "Trumpistas". Interesting is that both sides are, in essence, reactionary and hardly "open" to innovative technological efficiencies.

 

[klier]

Yes, the BEV topic has fallen prey to sociopolitical "pro and con agendas", the purveyors of which often fervent ideological fundamantalists positioned on diametrically opposed sides of the debate. Both sides often flippantly ignoring what technologies actually encompass and the potentials of such. Here in the German-language part of Europe, the range spans from Letzte Generation "Klimakleber" environmental radicals to the staunchest Weltwoche and NIUS critics and "Trumpistas". Interesting is that both sides are, in essence, reactionary and hardly "open" to innovative technological efficiencies.

And with that said, the vast majority doesn't give a f#ck about all this and just want a good, cheap car.

And that's exactly why everybody will be driving EV in not too long. Cheaper, easier, more luxurious for average Joe, more spacious, less maintenance, less noise, etc. etc.

What annoys me, is that a few People I know start to feel superior after getting an EV, in the next step they become vegan, and every time they meet a friend or family who drives a ICE car and who eats meat and cheese, they start to argue with him.

Wonder who those people are, and how you might just have to think about changing friend groups then.

But then again, it's not even that strange. The average EV simply is superior for the most part.
Just like how an Apple Watch is orders of magnitude more useful compared to a Swiss timepiece.

 

[Design FIRST]

And with that said, the vast majority doesn't give a f#ck about all this and just want a good, cheap car.

And that's exactly why everybody will be driving EV in not too long. Cheaper, easier, more luxurious for average Joe, more spacious, less maintenance, less noise, etc. etc.

That appears to be the ever growing perception in my particular region. It enjoys the benefit of an already good and increasingly expanding e-mobility infrastructure. Hence, home charging is not an absolute must. Now...if we could only benefit from more reasonable electricity charges. Germany's rank among the 5 most expensive in the EU. That resolved, and it could really get that BEV ball rolling.

 

[kiki voinea]

That appears to be the ever growing perception in my particular region. It enjoys the benefit of an already good and increasingly expanding e-mobility infrastructure. Hence, home charging is not an absolute must. Now...if we could only benefit from more reasonable electricity charges. Germany's rank among the 5 most expensive in the EU. That resolved, and it could really get that BEV ball rolling.

Let the infrastructure grow more and more.

Competition means better prices . I , already see better prices at charging stations (and great charging stations ; 350 kW )

Home charging will not be "a must" in the near future , because range is getting better and better with each cycle of new generation models.

Just yesterday I saw with a friend that has an ID7 . In winter time , cold conditions , he get's 13kWh/100km. That is absolutely fantastic.

 

[Swissbob]

And with that said, the vast majority doesn't give a f#ck about all this and just want a good, cheap car.

And that's exactly why everybody will be driving EV in not too long. Cheaper, easier, more luxurious for average Joe, more spacious, less maintenance, less noise, etc. etc.



Wonder who those people are, and how you might just have to think about changing friend groups then.

But then again, it's not even that strange. The average EV simply is superior for the most part.
Just like how an Apple Watch is orders of magnitude more useful compared to a Swiss timepiece.

I agree, but because of the mess with 10 different cards and 20 different prices ( depending on which subscription you booked ) some people are overwhelmed.

If they have a Wallbox at home, it doesn’t matter, but If not, they’d rather buy a ICE because of this.

Teslas idea with their superchargers was indeed very good.

You register your credit card in the car, plug the car in and charge.

They only annoying thing is the wait, especially if the battery is cold because of the winter.

Even a V12 isn’t as smooth as a EV If you compare the engines/motor, but it’s way cheaper to produce.

That’s why Chinese EVs are becoming more luxurious and cheaper in the same time.

If they sort this out, EVs will have a big part of the cake, at least in countries with good infrastructure and high taxes for ICEs.

In my case it’s family, you can’t change this so easy.

The watch comparison nails it, it’s exactly what I’m telling my mates for a couple of years.

Yes the Apple Watch is incredibly useful, but a proper Swiss watch with a perpetual calendar is a piece of art.

The Apple Watch is the EV, the Swiss watch is the V8 or V12 engined car.

 

[klier]

I know quite a few people who live in SF in apartments and park on the street with EVs. I myself went without a home charger for almost a year after I got my EV. For average usage, it is a 20 - 40 min of stop over at a fast charger once a week. It is not that hard.

Over here we have public chargers where you would normally park for the night. No need to even have a private home charge box, these things are everywhere in every street:

 

[bmwz4coupe]

I agree, but because of the mess with 10 different cards and 20 different prices ( depending on which subscription you booked ) some people are overwhelmed.

If they have a Wallbox at home, it doesn’t matter, but If not, they’d rather buy a ICE because of this.

Teslas idea with their superchargers was indeed very good.

You register your credit card in the car, plug the car in and charge.

They only annoying thing is the wait, especially if the battery is cold because of the winter.

Even a V12 isn’t as smooth as a EV If you compare the engines/motor, but it’s way cheaper to produce.

That’s why Chinese EVs are becoming more luxurious and cheaper in the same time.

If they sort this out, EVs will have a big part of the cake, at least in countries with good infrastructure and high taxes for ICEs.

In my case it’s family, you can’t change this so easy.

The watch comparison nails it, it’s exactly what I’m telling my mates for a couple of years.

Yes the Apple Watch is incredibly useful, but a proper Swiss watch with a perpetual calendar is a piece of art.

The Apple Watch is the EV, the Swiss watch is the V8 or V12 engined car.

Yes, a V8 or V12 can be a piece of art. But 90 % of the engines, the 4-sylinder, not so much.

 

[Matski]

Over here we have public chargers where you would normally park for the night. No need to even have a private home charge box, these things are everywhere in every street:

In the town of ~15,000 cars where I live, there are 17 total public charging units, <1% of public car parking spaces. There is on average ONE in each car park. There are zero curbside/on street chargers, there are zero dedicated charging stations, and none of the petrol station locations have any hook-ups.

.. but yeah, apparently if you can't charge at home, you just plug-in when you go out... lol.

 

[Swissbob]

We have in my part 60000 inhabitants (42000 Cars) and about 30 chargers, 16 of them are CCS.

The Price without subscription is 61 pence/kWh.

Petrol is 1.43£/L Diesel 1.63£/L at current exchange rates.

Those are es numbers.

 

[Sunny]

In the town of ~15,000 cars where I live, there are 17 total public charging units, <1% of public car parking spaces. There is on average ONE in each car park. There are zero curbside/on street chargers, there are zero dedicated charging stations, and none of the petrol station locations have any hook-ups.

.. but yeah, apparently if you can't charge at home, you just plug-in when you go out... lol.

But out of the 15000 cars, how many are EVs? No one here is proposing to impound all the ICEVs and replacing it with EVs overnight. As there are more EVs in due course, when there is a business case for more chargers, there will be more chargers. The two goes in hand in hand.

The city I live in is estimated to have ~70000 cars and has 98 public chargers. That is ~700 cars/charger. So not very different from your town (900/charger). Yet, I have had no trouble finding a free charger whenever I have gone in for charging.

 

[Matski]

So your town has ~900 vehicles/charger. The city I live in is estimated to have ~70000 vehicles (~12000 BEVs) and has 98 public chargers ). That is ~700 vehicles/charger. So not very different from your town. Yet, I have had no trouble finding a free charger whenever I have gone in for charging over the last year.

I can't contest what you experience, if it works for you - that's good.

Also, out of the 15000 cars, how many are EVs? No one here is proposing to impound all the ICEV and replacing it with EVs overnight. As there are more EVs in due course, there is a business case for more chargers, there will be more chargers. The two goes in hand in hand.

5% national stock of EVs so... call it 750 cars. Today I walked to every charger* and 10 out of 17 were occupied**... do with that information what you will.

*Yup. There's much arguing on the town council about free versus paid parking - I needed some numbers.
** Weather warnings for snow and ice meant the roads were pretty quiet.

As far as the business case goes... How many cents does your local charging point make from a 20-40 min fast charge?

I also don't get your this tendency to ridicule anyone with a different take on the topic of EVs. From your posts, I am guessing you have not lived with an EV, if so, why not just say "I can't see how an EV is practical for me for reasons x, y, z" with out the snarkiness?

You are correct, I haven't lived with an EV.

In the last page or so you suggested that anyone that didn't come to the same conclusion as you on what kind of car they should drive, is Stupid...

I apologise if my snarkiness offends, but if people with no experience or knowledge of my day to day life think they can contest my experience, I might not be entirely receptive.

 

[Swissbob]

Between summer 2020 and fall 2025 I had my e-tron sitting next to my Range Rover, TBH I mostly took the Range Rover.

A few days ago I reviewed the usage of my cars in the past 12 months.

After I added my G in Fall 2024, I used my e-tron really rarely.

EVs work for me personally, but I personally still prefer ICE cars.

This is my personal conclusion.

 

[Sunny]

In the last page or so you suggested that anyone that didn't come to the same conclusion as you on what kind of car they should drive, is Stupid...

FWIW, when I said they are stupid, I include myself. Cause I still like and shop for ICE cars, cause I consider myself petrolhead/enthusiast, but that is still an euphemism for being stupid. And I truly believe that given all the caveats I put in the sentence, if someone still chooses an ICEV, it is a stupid decision. One that I have made and will probably make in the future.

 

[Design FIRST]

And I truly believe that given all the caveats I put in the sentence, if someone still chooses an ICEV, it is a stupid decision.

Unless, of course, it is a classic vehicle .

Should one have the resources at disposal, there's nothing wrong with owning a classic with an ICE. Just for fun. But otherwise, I suspect that BEVs will eventually become the sole avenue to take when looking for day-to-day vehicles. In some countries far sooner than others.