Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[beans-on-toast]

The first Nissan Leaf had a range of 75 miles. The 2019 will have a range of 225 .

They have a long way to go. Certainly every time I buy a new car, gas efficiency and power goes up in the new model but I tend to hold on to cars way too long.

I wonder how much it costs to replace the batteries every five years or so.

Toyota is rolling out hydrogen fuel cell cars at dealerships. That will be interesting. Not sure where you'd fuel up. They have electric charging stations along the road, no hydrogen gas stations.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

They have a long way to go. Certainly every time I buy a new car, gas efficiency and power goes up in the new model but I tend to hold on to cars way too long.

I wonder how much it costs to replace the batteries every five years or so.

I know some people in town with electric cars. They're older than five years old and haven't changed the batteries. I think the big oil companies had a field day spreading that rumor. There are two Toyota electric cabs in town running 24 hours a day. They've been running for years. They haven't changed their batteries. Why do I know? Last year, when we were looking at new cars, we kicked around electrics. So we asked a half dozen locals who owned electrics and hybrids. Now, after buying a Subaru Impreza, I really wish I had bought a hybrid or electric instead. I could have lived with 25o miles a day.

 

[Al Kraft]

I have coworkers and neighbors who love their Toyota Prius cars (yeah I know it's a hybrid) and not one person has ever had a single problem with batteries, electrical motors, or anything else. I would think a purely electric vehicle would be even more reliable. I think the all electric vehicles are especially great for folks who hate spending time and money on periodic maintenance like oil and filter changes, coolant flushes, gearbox/transmission/differential oil changes, air filter and ignition system component replacement, induction system service, etc.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I know some people in town with electric cars. They're older than five years old and haven't changed the batteries. I think the big oil companies had a field day spreading that rumor. There are two Toyota electric cabs in town running 24 hours a day. They've been running for years. They haven't changed their batteries. Why do I know? Last year, when we were looking at new cars, we kicked around electrics. So we asked a half dozen locals who owned electrics and hybrids. Now, after buying a Subaru Impreza, I really wish I had bought a hybrid or electric instead. I could have lived with 25o miles a day.

You would think that in your cold climate, it would be harder on batteries. Although they may have heaters wrapped around them to improve efficiency. My car batteries tend to last about 5 years.

There are free electric charging stations where I park indoors and there are some out in the street. Nice to get free power. I saw someone getting a parking ticket at one, they limit the amount of time you can park at the "free" station and you still have to pay to park. At some point they will have to pay.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I see a lot of electric scooters around town in the summer. They are quiet and zip around. People ride them on the street and on bike paths.

 

[RoadRanger]

I wonder how much it costs to replace the batteries every five years or so.

Good for ten years these days .

 

[Al Kraft]

You would think that in your cold climate, it would be harder on batteries

Studies I have seen show a loss in range in winter due to the need to heat the batteries and the passengers, and the effect of colder temperatures on battery performance. I would think you might pick up a touch of efficiency from the motors and wiring remaining cooler, but the net result is a loss in range, albeit not show stopping.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I would't get into one of those self driving cars. I don't think that they are ready for prime time yet.

Interestingly enough, passenger planes can do the final landing on autopilot. Pilots need to steer them around on approach following directions from the tower. That has more to do with traffic that isn't programmed into the computer.

Imagine if they had a working autopilot for carrier landings.

 

[RoadRanger]

I see a lot of electric scooters around town in the summer. They are quiet and zip around. People ride them on the street and on bike paths.

I have one due Tuesday - 25 mile range and 20 mph top speed but I'm only a mile or so from downtown. Comes with crap lead acid batteries that should last 2-3 years but a decent LiOn battery pack will cost as much a I paid for the whole scooter - would give me more miles, speed, and a much longer life though. I'll decide on that when the stock batteries crap out - should be cheaper by then . They have a couple free car charging stations downtown - wonder if I can "adapt" them to charge this ?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Imagine if they had a working autopilot for carrier landings.

Well they are sorta.... rolling those out....

Imagine unmanned aircraft fighters. We won't lose valuable pilots anymore, no falling behind enemy lines. They get blown up-- no loss of human life.

 

[Al Kraft]

I would't get into one of self driving cars. I don't think that they are ready for prime time yet.

Interestingly enough, passenger planes can do the final landing on autopilot. Pilots need to steer them around on approach following directions from the tower.

Assuming both autopilots are operational (which is normal) and fully functional airport ILS (G/S and Loc) is available at the airport, an Airbus A320 can land, stay on the runway, and stop with relatively minimal pilot inputs. In fact I would say that with a bit of pilot coaching someone who has never flown but has enough cockpit familiarity and a pilot to talk them through tasks like programming the flight computer could likely make the necessary inputs to achieve a safe landing - FWIW I would not say that they are actually flying and landing the aircraft.

For the record, this takes nothing away from the skill and expertise required of a pilot/flight crew to operate an aircraft safely, but is simply an example to represent how far we've come in system capability. Of course there are many decisions to make and tasks to perform even when an aircraft is on autopilot and everything is operating perfectly. One little issue or problem along the way and you're going to be glad folks like Chesley Sullenberger chose the career they did even if the situation doesn't ultimately require landing in a river.

 

[agedhorse]

I have one due Tuesday - 25 mile range and 20 mph top speed but I'm only a mile or so from downtown. Comes with crap lead acid batteries that should last 2-3 years but a decent LiOn battery pack will cost as much a I paid for the whole scooter - would give me more miles, speed, and a much longer life though. I'll decide on that when the stock batteries crap out - should be cheaper by then . They have a couple free car charging stations downtown - wonder if I can "adapt" them to charge this ?

I've got a rolling electric trike chassis that I stripped to turn into a "rat rod" of sorts, but work is getting in the way big time.

 

[Al Kraft]

I've got a rolling electric trike chassis that I stripped to turn into a "rat rod" of sorts, but work is getting in the way big time.

Priorities man, priorities!!

 

[Al Kraft]

Imagine if they had a working autopilot for carrier landings.

Imagination not required! We've had systems for quite a while that can do that, albeit not reliably 100% of the time. JPALS changes that: Invalid Link Removed . Unfortunately carrier landings are something that a pilot must constantly practice to stay current, so these type of systems are only used in the most extreme circumstances or with the new generation of unmanned aircraft.

 

[Al Kraft]

Well they are sorta.... rolling those out....

View attachment 3064114

Imagine unmanned aircraft fighters. We won't lose valuable pilots anymore, no falling behind enemy lines. They get blown up-- no loss of human life.

UASs/UAVs are definitely the future and we've been designing for that future for decades. However, there will still be situations where we need people on-board platforms for mission accomplishment and to operate within the specified ROE (rules of engagement). Using these autonomous systems and long range stand-off weapons like cruise missiles have absolutely reduced the incidence of loss in military engagements. The foreseeable future though will be mixed manned and unmanned operations.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Speaking of karaoke, this is a lot of fun to watch.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I've got a rolling electric trike chassis that I stripped to turn into a "rat rod" of sorts, but work is getting in the way big time.

If the power runs low you can always hitch it up to a pony.

 

[Ken Morgan]

An electric car in the oil patch would be like wearing a “Kick Me” sign in junior hi...that said, the VAST majority of driving I do is 80-85 MPH for trips over 50 miles...so such a vehicle would be absolutely worthless..

 

[beans-on-toast]

An electric car in the oil patch would be like wearing a “Kick Me” sign in junior hi...that said, the VAST majority of driving I do is 80-85 MPH for trips over 50 miles...so such a vehicle would be absolutely worthless..

That's true, I have family in Texas, it's either horse or pickup truck. An electric car wouldn't cut it.

Whenever I go out in the car, a typical day is 250 miles on the highway round trip. I couldn't go electric at this point.

 

[beans-on-toast]

One little issue or problem along the way and you're going to be glad folks like Chesley Sullenberger chose the career they did even if the situation doesn't ultimately require landing in a river.

I had the opportunity to meet Bob Pearson, the captain of the Gimli Glider (Gimli Glider - Wikipedia). He used a side slip glider technique to help land a new 767 in an emergency when it ran out of fuel. What he did was apparently never attempted with a large commercial aircraft. Other flight crews that subsequently tried to simulate the landing were not as successful. The right pilot in the right place saved a lot of lives. What he did has become standard training at airlines.

Bob's retired from flying and lives on a farm. He recently said that Hollywood has plans for a major release. Can't wait.