Economists and reporters have been saying that electric cars could actually kill the oil industry for a little while now, but it hasn’t made a lot of real-world impact so far. But now Fitch, an enormously influential financial ratings agency, is issuing dire warnings over electric cars.
Tesla Model S on charge (Image: Tesla)
It actually seems impossible at this point to overstate just how screwed the oil industry as we know it appears to be by electric vehicles. “Resoundingly negative,” “serious threat,” and “investor death spiral” were all actual terms used by Fitch Ratings in a report detailing the future of oil in a world of electricity, the Financial Times says:
“An acceleration of the electrification of transport infrastructure would be resoundingly negative for the oil sector’s credit profile,” says the Fitch report.
“In an extreme scenario where electric cars gained a 50 per cent market share over 10 years about a quarter of European gasoline demand could disappear.”
The “death spiral” scenario entails a situation in which nervous investors start selling all of their assets attached to oil companies, the Fitch report says, making loans more expensive, which depresses the companies’ value further, which makes investors more nervous, which makes them sell, which makes loans more expensive, which depresses the oil companies’ value further, and on and on.
The electric car could completely eliminate the oil industry, and it won’t even take a complete lack of gasoline-powered cars to do it.
Tesla may be the catalyst driving electric cars. But just about every car maker in the world is developing either an all-electric car or a hybrid vehicle that runs on both electricity and petroleum. That’s good news for the environment, especially as such vehicles approach price parity with traditional ones.
Red Tesla Model S (Image: T. Larkum)
As electric cars continue to improve, so do the efficiencies — or the ability to input a unit of energy and to realize more output. In fact, traditional cars running on an internal combustion engine have a 30 percent efficiency rate. The rest is lost to heat, sound and energy. Just refining a gallon of gasoline takes 7 kilowatts-hours per gallon, says Thor Hinckley, an electric vehicle and renewable energy expert with CLEAResult, a consulting specializing in energy efficiency.
But vehicles that run on electricity have an 80 percent efficiency rate, or they convert 80 percent of those Btus to energy, he explains. The efficiencies are greater because of the superiority of the electric motor over that of the internal combustion engine — not because one unit of energy is better than another.
“With an efficiency difference that great, anything will be cleaner than burning gasoline,” says Hinckley. Obviously, burning a Btu of wind, solar or hydro is cleaner than burning the same unit of coal. But even if coal is used to generate the electricity to drive the car, he says that emissions are 20-30 percent less than a comparable vehicle running on petroleum. That’s huge.
This is a quick introduction to using the Hyundai Ioniq Electric. It is intended to give just the basic information required for a test drive, use of an Ioniq Electric from a hire/rental company, or to get your Ioniq Electric home the day you buy it.
Doors
The Ioniq is a four door car (with pull handles) with a button release tailgate.
Helpful hint: Each time you open the tailgate wipe clean the lens of the rear camera.
Ioniq uses keyless entry, i.e. it opens electronically via a key fob rather than with a physical key. There are two methods of entry:
Unlock and lock the doors using the second button on the key fob.
Press the small black button in either of the front door handles and then pull the handle.
Driving
To start the car:
The key fob must be somewhere inside the car.
Press and hold the brake pedal and press the Start/Stop button to the left of the steering wheel.
Start/Stop Button (Image: T. Heale)
The electronic controls activate with a melodic jingle and the Ioniq lights up the dashboard in a colourful manner as it checks that all is well.
Dashboard at Startup (Image: T. Heale)
A green car graphic (left of the speedometer) shows you are ready to select drive and move off.
Dashboard, Ready to Drive (Image: T. Heale)
To select Drive press the D button on the centre console with foot still on brake. The ‘Handbrake’ will release automatically.
Gear Selector (Image: T. Heale)
Note that the Ioniq has been programmed with ‘creep’, i.e. it will move forward like an automatic even when the accelerator is not pressed.
The Ioniq has both conventional and electronic brakes. The physical brakes (discs & pads) only operate at low speeds. At all faster speeds pressing the brake pedal will cause the electric motor (engine) to become a generator and this ‘regeneration’ creates a significant braking force as it puts power back into the battery.
Helpful hint: Because the physical brakes are used so little they can accumulate debris/rust and make scratching/squeeking noises when the car first drives off. It’s nothing to be concerned about and usually stops after the first couple of uses.
The car generates sound at low speed to warn pedestrians of your presence (up to about 20mph). Helpful hint: VESS (Virtual Engine Sound System) can be switched off but it is switched on by default each time the car is activated.
Once in Drive mode you can accelerate up to maximum speed (about 105mph) without changing gear.
You can come to a complete stop in Drive. Whilst still on the brake, press P during short stops (traffic, etc). To drive again brake and D.
If you are stopping for any length of time you should then engage the handbrake. Lift the control at the rear of the centre console. Lift for on and lift again for off (you may hear a whirring sound each time).
Parking Brake (Image: T. Heale)
To turn off completely use the Start/Stop button.
Helpful hint: If the keys were placed in the car remember to pick them up when leaving.
The car will auto lock after a short while once the key is out of range (1.5m) but for security just press the first button on the fob.
Charging
Ensure the car is in Park mode, the handbrake is engaged and the motor is off.
Release the charging port door using the button to the right of the steering wheel.
Charging Port Door Release (Image: T. Heale)
Ensure the charge point is powered up and ready (the Morrisons Supermarket free charge point, below, shows a green light). Remove the dust cover from the cable connector and plug it in.
Morrisons Charge Point (Image: T. Heale)
The charging port door is located over the rear nearside (left) wheel. Remove the dust covers from both the cable connector and socket. Plug in the cable. The connector displays a white light when it is properly seated. The cable is now locked in place and cannot be pulled free.
Charge Port Door (Image: T. Heale)
If charging from a public charge point, at this point you need to initiate a charge (the method will depend on the charge point model).
The IONIQ dashboard shows blue lights when it is charging.
Blue Charging Lights (Image: T. Heale)
The car should be locked if unattended, but operating the locks and doors has no effect on the charge operation.
Release the charge cable connector using the second button on the key fob (two clicks on the unlock button) and withdraw the connector.
Replace the dust covers on the cable and the car socket. Close the charging port door; charging is complete.
[Thanks to Trevor Larkum for his Zoe Primer post this is based on.]
After launching the Model X, Tesla introduced a new seat developed in-house featuring an ‘Ultra White synthetic leather’, which served as a vegan faux-leather option for Tesla buyers. It was only available for the Model X for a limited time, and earlier this year it made its way to the top of the line Model S P100D.
Vegan Interior Option (Image: Tesla)
Now it is finally available for all models, and Tesla discontinued all but one option using its original seats.
The seats of the Model X were actually one of the main reasons why the volume production of the vehicle was delayed. CEO Elon Musk wanted to make it a “sculptural work of art” since they are front and center when the Falcon Wing doors are opened.
In what has become a habit for Tesla, the company has in-sourced the design and production of its seats – something fairly rare in the automotive industry, which has a tendency to outsource almost everything but the engines and assembly.
Musk said in a conference call ahead of the unveiling of the Model X in September 2015:
“We have substantially in-sourced the seats at this point. Tesla is producing its own seats.”
…
During Tesla’s 2015 shareholder meeting, two proposals were brought forward to offer vegan animal-free options for Tesla’s vehicles. Tesla’s board of directors recommended that shareholders vote against the proposals and they were struck down, but the company went ahead with vegan anyway.
Musk listened to a PETA representative during the meeting and said he would look into the alternatives she was proposing.
After that, Tesla quickly introduced the Ultra White synthetic leather option for the Model X, and now it’s finally available for all trims of the Model S.
The number of electric vehicle (EV) users in Milton Keynes has tripled over the summer.
Electric charge point CMK (Image: One MK)
In January 2016, Milton Keynes Council was awarded Go Ultra Low City status which through funding support from central government for infrastructure is designed to increase the use of EVs in the city. The number has now increased from 220 in July to 661 by the end of September.
Milton Keynes has more than 170 standard and 56 rapid charging points, with more being installed in the near future.
July saw the launch of the new ‘Green Parking Permit’ for ultra-low EVs which allows them to park for free in purple bays, the red/black employee spaces (Mon-Fri) and in the specified EV spaces. To date, the council has issued 157 permits.
The Green Permit is free if your vehicle fits the criteria of producing 75g/km or less of CO².
Chargemaster, who run the vehicle charging points across MK, has recorded a four-fold increase in their usage.
These latest figures indicate that EVs are becoming more popular in MK and less of a niche choice by motorists.
Cllr Liz Gifford, cabinet member for transport said
“These latest stats are very encouraging and show that people are turning more and more to electric vehicles.”
“It’s important to us to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible and these ultra-low vehicles are the way to do just that.”
David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster PLC, the operators of the Milton Keynes charging network commented:
“The policies of Milton Keynes Council encouraging electric vehicles are clearly working. By having a high quality network of charging points, low cost electric charging and with free parking in many areas Milton Keynes is a great place to own an EV.
“In addition, the new initiatives under the Milton Keynes Go Ultra Low plans will keep this momentum going helped by many new electric models coming along from key manufacturers like VW, BMW, Jaguar and Audi. This all bodes well for a high proportion of electric vehicles in Milton Keynes over the next decade which will keep emissions low and air quality at a high level.”
Funding committed to low emission taxis and motorbikes, plus more chargepoints for workplaces and residential streets.
Workplace charging (Image: J. Kalb/Plug In America)
A major £35 million package to boost the uptake of ultra-low emission cars and scooters was unveiled by Transport Minister John Hayes today (13 October 2016).
The fresh funding commitment will see thousands more electric vehicle chargepoints installed on streets and at workplaces across the UK – after the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered rose by 250% in just 2 years.
The government is also buying 2 brand new Nissan LEAF electric cars for the Government Car Service – on top of 4 that are already in use.
The vehicles are built at the Nissan motor manufacturing plant in Sunderland – a symbol of our world-leading automotive industry which the government is committed to supporting.
No matter what mode of transport you need – a scooter to get to work, a car or a van to run your business – we are here to help you do it with zero emissions.
The number of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads are at record levels and new registrations have risen by 250% in just over 2 years.
We are committing £35 million to help install new chargepoints and offer new grants as we aim for nearly all cars and vans on our roads to be zero emission by 2050.
The funding announced today includes:
next steps of a £20 million competition that will help councils roll out chargepoints for ultra-low emission taxis
up to £10 million funding for chargepoints outside workplaces and homes where there is no off-street parking
launch of an initial £3.75 million scheme to encourage uptake of zero emission motorcycles and scooters
£2 million awarded to public and private sector organisations to deploy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
Car manufacturers welcome plans by the EU to boost the convenience of electric cars by increasing recharging facilities
Every new or refurbished house in Europe will need to be equipped with an electric vehicle recharging point, under a draft EU directive expected to come into effect by 2019.
In a further boost to prospects for the electric car market in Europe, the regulations due to be published before the end of the year state that by 2023, 10% of parking spaces in new buildings in the EU zone will also need recharging facilities.
The EU initiative is intended to lay the infrastructure for the sort of electric car boom envisaged by Norway and the Netherlands, which both plan to completely phase out vehicles with diesel engines by 2025.
As well as extending the driving range and convenience of electric cars, the mushrooming number of recharge stations would allow vehicles to feed their electricity back into the grid.
That in turn would open the door to a futuristic world in which cars supply energy to Europe’s power network at all times of the day and night, balancing shortfalls from intermittent renewable energies when the sun is not shining and the wind not blowing.
“This kind of market stimulus is not just positive, it is mandatory if we want to see a massive rollout of electric vehicles in the near future,”
said Guillaume Berthier, sales and marketing director for electric vehicles at Renault, which recently unveiled an electric vehicle with a 250-mile range.
“The question of how you recharge your car when you live in an apartment within a city is a very important one.”
The modern internal combustion engine first came from Germany and now Germany wants to put a nail in its coffin. The Bundesrat has passed a resolution to ban the ICE beginning in 2030.
BMW i3 94Ah
[10/8/16] Germany’s Spiegel Magazin reported this morning that the country’s top legislative body was able to reach a bi-partisan agreement that hopes to allow only zero-emission vehicles on EU roads in 14 years. For the resolution to be instituted across Europe, it will have to be approved by the EU. But according to Forbes, “German regulations traditionally have shaped EU and UNECE regulations.”
Greens party lawmaker Oliver Krischer told Spiegel,
“If the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions is to be taken seriously, no new combustion engine cars should be allowed on roads after 2030.”
The resolution calls on EU automakers to “review the current practices of taxation and dues with regard to a stimulation of emission-free mobility.” Creating a tougher tax burden could encourage manufacturers to push electric vehicles into production sooner, rather than later.
While larger approvals will still need to go through the legislative process, the fact that the country with the fourth-largest auto industry in the world is spearheading such sweeping change is a big sign of where we’re headed. It’s a road paved with slow-moving politicians making incremental changes and hoping the industry will warm up to the idea of not killing us all.
Where were we? Ah yes. I have my Ecotricity* Android App and my Chargemaster Polar RFID card. I’m ready for the big leagues. Rapid high current charging here I come. “Gather yourself woman!” I said. “We’re off into the countryside”.
An hour out from Milton Keynes, we’re tootling down the M40 on a misty Saturday afternoon and the Memsahib challenges Satnag to guide us home. Duly programmed Satnag does its thing and Ioniq interrupts proceedings with a message of gloom and disaster.
“You will never see your destination. Doom! Doom again! Woe betide the fool that tries to… ”.
Well that’s what it felt like and now I know what Range Anxiety (RA) can do to a fella. It’s not nice.
The actual message? “You have insufficient charge to reach your destination”. And then as an afterthought “Would you like to know the nearest defibrillator?” or did it say “charge point”? You get how I’m feeling.
Five miles later we arrive at Moto Cherwell Valley. Some semblance of cognition kicks in as I remember that electric charge points aren’t located near the liquid fuels and we play hunt the charge point in the car park.
Look, as evidenced in this image… We won 🙂
Charging at Cherwell (Image: T. Heale)
We didn’t know yet but something was wrong. Not the process, no, that was fine. Introductions went well:
Phone, App – Say hello to – Charge point.
Charge point – Phone App.
Electronic handshaking takes place. This is so much easier than I expected. “Do you accept the cost?”. I accepted. Grudgingly. I don’t have my free charges yet but £6 is still a bargain.
Found the AC connector. It looked exactly like the one at home (some of you are jumping ahead) and Click! The blue charging lights coming on the App assures me I’ll be told when to come back.
RA sorted, I notice that my back teeth are floating and the cold isn’t helping. Time to get in out of the cold and find the toilets.
Just consider that a moment. Find the toilets.
Why would I have to try to find the toilets? More to the point why would any public place hide the ^%$%ing toilets? I have visited facilities in many service stations. They’ve always been near the entrance and clearly labelled. Moto Cherwell Valley believe otherwise**. Plan accordingly if you stop there.
Mind, body and spirit at ease we look dotingly out of the window at eMotor suckling at the Ecotricity teat. All is well with the world. You know it isn’t but we don’t. Yet.
Let me offer you some simple advice for these times. Bring a book or magazine or something. If it’s going to be a flask and some sandwiches stay in the car so as to avoid being turfed out for not buying anything.
Forty minutes later, I’m feeling concerned. There has been no word from App. We go back to eMotor and the charge lights are off. I’m not concerned any more. We can be on our way and I’ll take App to task later.
In five minutes time I will be talking to a helpful young man (Victor) at ecotricity.
Pre-launch checks show we now have sixteen more miles than what we came in with.
What? Sixteen? One six? Not six zero? Grrrrr at all things electric!
“Breathe” She says. I breathe.
“That cost me six quid!” I breathe again.
“Where’s my phone?” I breathe again.
There’s a number on the charge point if you have any problem.
Turns out that there were two charge points and I parked at the wrong one. You live and learn.
This is for slow charges (Image: T. Heale)This is for rapid charges (Image: T. Heale)
BTW – The Ioniq eMotor? It is a fantastic machine. Pure pleasure to drive.
Bye for now. I’ll be in touch.
*Yes their logo is ecotricity but I believe in Capitalization for proper nouns.
** Enter building***. Fight through crowd. Pass the hot drinks turn right. Fight through crowd armed with hot drinks and food. Look into the distance on the left side there is a small sign about two thirds of the way down. Small sign with even smaller logos representing the genders.
***If you exit the building to the outdoor seated area the doors open automatically so you can look at you eMotor unobstructed. When you walk back in mind your nose (or other protuberance), the doors do not open of their own accord.
One week into the new and exciting world of my new eMotor and I’m looking to venture further afield.
Trevor Heale at home in his new Ioniq Electric (Image: T. Larkum)
Home charging is easy, if a little long with a 13amp plug and I eagerly await my 32 amp POD Point to take advantage of cheap night rate electricity. It’s still called Economy 7 you know, just like it used to be way back when.
I mentioned in my previous post I was tackling range anxiety. Doing so within the confines of Milton Keynes (MK) seemed sensible. It was fun using sport mode to drain the battery 🙂
At eighteen miles range remaining all the appropriate warning lights went off (came on?) and…
I continued driving!
Yup. I continued. I’m that kind of chap.
Brave huh? Yes, for a given value of brave. Eco mode made me feel a little more secure.
After a couple of miles of tormenting lights, prudence reared her head and I agreed with her. It was time for me to tackle my first rapid charge.
Dear reader please forgive me as I wave my ignorance at you in the following.
I pulled over, stopped and pressed lots of buttons* (no manual yet). Within moments I had a map of Milton Keynes and dozens of choices to hoover up some power. Ooh how happy and clever I felt.
It didn’t last.
Broughton is a newer area in MK so I chose to explore it and fill up there. Yes, since you ask, it happened to be the nearest point. Remember, I’m working on my range anxiety.
If I’d known the area I would’ve stayed on the main road and seen the chargers by the local shops. I didn’t. Satnag** said turn right into Cavan Way and I did. The location of the charger and the satnav were at odds by approximately one road and two hundred yards. I’ll remember that in future searches.
I parked (reversing cameras are great) and tackled the Monolith. Which cable/connector to use? Easy I know my plug options. Now, where do I pay? Ok. Sigh. I’ll read the instructions. Bu**er!
One of the many Polar rapid charge points around Milton Keynes, this one is in Central MK (Image: T. Larkum)
Yeah, I knew somewhere in the back of my mind you needed a card but surely I can just buy some electric? Just a little bit for cash? Eh? Hole in the wall technology right? Wrong. Holes in the wall are mostly for getting money out not for putting it in.
I closed my recharging flap (that’s not a euphemism) and did the walk of ignorance and shame back to my comfy leather seat. It felt further than the three paces. The heated seat and steering wheel cheered me until I was back at home with my three pin plug.
So take heed brave new adventurers, preparation is required to charge away from home.
I have now joined the Chargemaster Polar Network and Ecotricity (for the motorway free charges). Currently the Polar network has a six month offer free of standing charge. I’ll review my use of their service in May 🙂
One other thing. eMotors are eligible for free parking in MK once you have a green permit. Apply on line at the MK Council website.
BTW – The Ioniq eMotor? It is a fantastic machine. Pure pleasure to drive.
Bye for now. I’ll be in touch.
* The next day I noticed a horrible whining noise. My shock and disappointment convinced me a motor bearing was on the way out. Hang on what’s that light? Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) active. Not now it isn’t.
