Is it time to add an electric vehicles section ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 05:38:36 pm
content: With increasing interest in EVs of all shapes and sizes, and not much technical content I've found on existing EV forums, is it maybe time to add one here ?

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 05:51:36 pm
content: I think we should give some time to the topics that have just been added before we start adding more. EVs might not be a bad idea for this forum, but that might also be a bit close to automotive as a general topic.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 07:26:45 pm
content: No... just no.What else do you want to add? Hydroelectric power plants? Steam turbine generators?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 07:38:20 pm
content: I think a general automotive topic would be more interesting. I think the driver assistance systems now going into millions of cars, even quite low end ones, offers a much richer set of interesting topics for discussion than the electrification of the drive train.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 08:35:08 pm
content: I don't expect Tesla to last too long at the rate it's going. We'll be back to internal combustion engines in no time ;-)

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 08:52:38 pm
content: The issue of lack of technical content with all automotive electronics even for ice's IMO is the lack of availability of datasheets and other technical content for such devices.So topics will be speculative guesswork topics unless some insider is going to share their secrets and violate their NDA's, that is not going to happen.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 10:29:49 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on June 12, 2019, 08:35:08 pmYou wouldn't know it from the number of Tesla's on the road around here. On my daily 55 mile commute, I typically see around 75 Tesla's.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 10:50:42 pm
content: Power topic already exists , no ?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 10:58:28 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on June 12, 2019, 10:50:42 pmAnd it has nothing to do with cars.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:13:09 pm
content: Quote from: Sal Ammoniac on June 12, 2019, 10:29:49 pmI base my comment on the progress/performance of the company. I've only ever seen maybe 5-10 Tesla drivers around Sydney. They're fine for short trips but the problem in Sydney is that it's such a huge area. Increasingly people are commuting 50+ KM each way just to get to work. My round trip is 160 KM/day (and a lot of that is mountainous driving). I'm not sure that it would have the range, particularly in Sydney traffic.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:15:48 pm
content: I'm not a big fan of Tesla, but I see them regularly here in Auckland. No longer a novelty anyway.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:28:31 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on June 12, 2019, 11:13:09 pm160 km is nothing even for most basic configurations. Mountains are not a big issue for range as long as you drive up and then down. City traffic is the best for them, on the other hand they loose a lot of range when driving at very high speeds on Autobahn. Just leave it charging every night, and she'll be fine. BTW over 50% of new car sales in Norway are electric.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:31:53 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on June 12, 2019, 11:13:09 pmMy Tesla has a range of 370 KM, and you can get models with ranges up to 600 KM. Unless your mountainous commute is uphill both ways, regen will help out when you're going downhill.Sydney traffic won't be a problem: unlike cars with internal combustion engines, electric vehicles get maximum range at slow speeds, such as stop-and-go traffic common in big cities. Range decreases at high speeds, and that's almost entirely due to wind resistance.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:43:06 pm
content: Maybe an #autoelectronics hashtag similar to what was discussed over in the microcontrollers section recently.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:50:50 pm
content: I think it is a splendid idea if it can keep away the stupid questions form first time posters that just want a quick answer to their immediate problem; a title that covers all aspects of vehicle electrics and electronics from all electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and basically anything that relates to vehicular electrical systems. There are a lot of aspects to vehicular systems that are somewhat unique to vehicles but can be inspirational to many other avenues of electronics.How about this: electric vehicles; “Hybrid Vehicles; Vehicle electronics and electrical system engineering.” Maybe a sticky with rules for posting and a unique moderator like Mike to delete bad posts before they are published.But what the world really needs is a way to magically disappear all of the ugly rental electric scooters that are strewn helter-skelter about the landscape. I have a feeling that they may disappear by attrition and poor business plans, but not soon enough!

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 01:13:10 am
content: Yes. There are valid and interesting design challenges around EV's that should be up for discussion. There are still plenty of those resistant to change to EVs and a rational place for discussion may help calm their fears.EEVBlog #338 showed an electric bicycle someone was building and I seem to recall the same guy made an electric ute. How's that going if it still is.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 01:21:22 am
content: Quote from: Gregg on June 12, 2019, 11:50:50 pmThe C5 similarly disappeared but I still would be interested if Dave ever dusted the one he has off and revived it. If the vehicle is electric and needs an engineered control system it should be valid.Not so keen on unique moderators (I'll bet Mike isn't either) because I think it will take us from consistently good/poor to inconsistently good/poor moderation.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 01:44:04 am
content: Even though there are some quite good EV forums, I think it'd still be quite relevant / beneficial in having a separate EV section. There are a lot of newdevelopments happening, and we still get a lot of interest from people wanting to do conversions. At least here, they can get quite "technical" information /help. Also pass on ideas etc. It's pointless / waste of time on basing decisions on things thatcango wrong. They'll sort themselves out :-)

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 02:29:52 am
content: Quote from: digsys on June 13, 2019, 01:44:04 amWithout going overboard, I like the idea of having a broad spectrum of topics and discussions in the one place as it helps to broaden peoples knowledge on subjects they may not be otherwise versed in. It also saves people from having to sign up elsewhere just to make a single enquiry or ask a simple question about something. Pehaps the OP should add a poll so we can put it to a vote.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 04:27:41 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on June 13, 2019, 02:29:52 amThose polls are very self selecting. I'd rather just trust Mike's judgement and do it. His recent video since acquiring an EV himself was one I found quite informative. If the EV board can expand on that then so much to the better.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 08:07:08 am
content: Quote from: coppice on June 12, 2019, 07:38:20 pmThat's a good point - plenty of electronics in conventional cars to play with. Maybe something like "Automotive and other mobility" to include electric scooters, bikes, skateboards etc.And Tesla option hacking of course... If that brings as much traffic as scope hacking it will give Dave's ad revenue a boost!

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 03:29:12 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on June 12, 2019, 10:58:28 pmread it ...Power & Renewable EnergyPower related discussions, Renewable Energy, energy storage,Electric Vehiclesetc.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 04:33:04 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on June 13, 2019, 03:29:12 pmOK, it's there. But it does not work in practice as most of EV threads go in other sections. Not a surprise, because EV do not fit that section well. Also vehicles are much more than just power.

author: SparkyFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 04:56:37 pm
content: As free electron pointed out, there is a section that covers it.My opinion on this is: you don´t know how some enthusiasts tend to discuss these topics. As if amplifiers did grow wheels and fell into an audiophools hand.In other words, even if you are pro electric vehicles it is hard to talk with some of these people, as basic knowledge is missing and replaced with point of view and a shipload of tangents. Of course there are interesting discussions and topics in there, on the other hand there is not much of a used market for them yet, requiring people to repair the technology (and therefore understand it). So subjects usually stay rather superficial, defects are covered under warranty or only by replacement of parts (e.g. YT Channel Rich Rebuilds).Not that i didn´t like the recent video on EVSE, i found it new and informative, if all discussions were that solid it would be a nice place.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 05:12:32 pm
content: It was a while before I realised that "EEVBlog" was not "Electric Vehicle Blog".

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 05:46:32 pm
content: Mike, We are looking forwards to you slowly dissecting your lime green machine.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 05:47:18 pm
content: Do we actuallywantto encourage more discussion of electric vehicles?Those threads always end up somewhere in the rambling / heated / off-the-rails spectrum, in my experience...

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 06:35:38 pm
content: I'd say it's not always a good idea to add new sections that are too specific, but if it was to be done I would probably just make a "vehicle" section. Make it so it can be cars, trains, planes, etc... It would be generalized enough that way. Naturally, discussion of EVs would go in there too.

author: SparkyFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 07:20:26 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on June 15, 2019, 05:47:18 pmWhich they wouldn´t if it was about that battery application with a widely varying load spectrum and energy recovery, where everyone involved kind of knows the limitations of battery current and switching.Too much abstraction leads to people interpreting things their way, applying their context. Thats not a bad approach from the side of the application, but strange when it is about the actual technical implementation.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 11:16:33 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on June 15, 2019, 05:47:18 pmThat sort of discussion doesn't depend on the topic. Which is exactly why it exists and is frequently off-topic.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2019, 05:25:01 am
content: Perhaps there could be a sticky thread in the proposed personal transport section for important recalls and warnings, most people probably wouldn't know about these problems until it's either too late or broadcast on television.https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/glowworm-bicycles-ezee-battery-19ah-36v-lg-vertical-battery-pack-for-ezee-bicycles

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2019, 06:51:43 am
content: At this point, I'm not "for" nor "against" the idea - but I do feel this is a very good suggestion:Quote from: Red Squirrel on June 15, 2019, 06:35:38 pmI'd be interested in subjects from things such as avionics to OBD2 and CANBUS electronics; challenges and solutions for marine electronics, fish finders, sonar and radar - even up to azipod systems on cruise ships. Yeah, and probably EV too.The question I have is this: How well are such subjects categorised here at the moment?