Let's talk about cars
#7531
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Let's talk about cars
One 'show stopper' for me would be air conditioning controls. I am a bit of a 'tweaker' when it comes to AC temperature and fan speed. I like dedicated, physical buttons on the dash that I can reach out to and press. Having to navigate through levels of on-screen menus for these things is unacceptable to me. My current Lexus RX350 has dedicated temperature and fan speed buttons, but to turn the AC off, you have to navigate deep down some menus - they really assume you never want to turn off the AC.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Sep 23rd 2020 at 7:14 pm.
#7532
Re: Let's talk about cars
California to ban gas only cars by 2035. This also appears to ban standard hybrids, but not plugin hybrids. Presumably this will result in litigation from the climate change deniers of the Trump Administration:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics...n-15591347.php
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics...n-15591347.php
#7533
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Let's talk about cars
If we haven't pulled our fingers out by then and already have made significant changes I don't suppose that order will do anything more than trigger the deniers. I am going to play devil's advocate and say that I think we've already past the tipping point, we might not have had the technology or the will but this should have been seriously addressed during the 80's. It's now a moot point as to whether this is caused by man or natural events, we are like the live frog being brought to the boil whichever view we take.
#7534
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Let's talk about cars
California to ban gas only cars by 2035. This also appears to ban standard hybrids, but not plugin hybrids. Presumably this will result in litigation from the climate change deniers of the Trump Administration:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics...n-15591347.php
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics...n-15591347.php
BC is similiar with the ZEVA legislation passed last year. By 2025 10% of all vehicle sales must be what is deemed zero emissions, and by 2040 100% of all car and truck sales must be zero emission.
Zero emission vehicles to include battery electric, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell models.
There are loopholes though, so time will tell if it goes into full effect.
Right now eclectic cars tend to cost more upfront and most people the upfront cost is the big one, I can average the operating costs over time, but I can't come up with 30k+ upfront to get a car, which is why we have a gas powered, there was no electric cars in the sub 20k range used at that time.
I'd rather not even have a car, but its essential in these parts since the density to support transit doesn't exist.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Sep 23rd 2020 at 7:59 pm.
#7535
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,060
Re: Let's talk about cars
Secondly - and this is bugging the hell out of me - I have no idea how to change the volume of audio directions on either Google or Apple maps. Neither the phone's audio controls or the audio volume on the car change it. I can mute though. Again, I don't know whether this is a Honda or CarPlay issue.
#7536
Re: Let's talk about cars
It supports both although as we have iPhones I haven't tried it with an Android. There are some limitations I don't like and one really frustrating thing. Firstly, you don't seem to be able to choose which applications appear on CarPlay. For example, I subscribe to The Economist and they have an audio feature for the whole magazine. It's great. But... I have no idea how to get it in CarPlay. I suspect this is a CarPlay as opposed to Honda limitation. ...
I agree with you completely. The Honda buttons allow you to select temperature, fan speed, auto temperature, on/off, recirculation but not A/C! To switch A/C on and off you have to press the climate button and then A/C on and off on a menu. So a two-step process where it should be one. Also, there's no visual indication as to whether A/C is on or off. Annoying, but I can live with it.
#7538
Re: Let's talk about cars
BC is similiar with the ZEVA legislation passed last year. By 2025 10% of all vehicle sales must be what is deemed zero emissions, and by 2040 100% of all car and truck sales must be zero emission.
Zero emission vehicles to include battery electric, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell models.
There are loopholes though, so time will tell if it goes into full effect.
Right now eclectic cars tend to cost more upfront and most people the upfront cost is the big one, I can average the operating costs over time, but I can't come up with 30k+ upfront to get a car, which is why we have a gas powered, there was no electric cars in the sub 20k range used at that time.
I'd rather not even have a car, but its essential in these parts since the density to support transit doesn't exist.
Zero emission vehicles to include battery electric, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell models.
There are loopholes though, so time will tell if it goes into full effect.
Right now eclectic cars tend to cost more upfront and most people the upfront cost is the big one, I can average the operating costs over time, but I can't come up with 30k+ upfront to get a car, which is why we have a gas powered, there was no electric cars in the sub 20k range used at that time.
I'd rather not even have a car, but its essential in these parts since the density to support transit doesn't exist.
Edit to add - I mentioned upthread that there are some proposals that batteries become removable, swappable commodities that are not owned by the car owner. You drive into a 'power station' (like a gas station), slide out dead battery, slide in newly charged battery, and drive off. You get credit for any residual charge on the battery you 'turn in'. The 'power station' owner/operator is responsible for QC'ing the batteries, making sure they are charged, safe, working, etc. This would remove the need for everyone to have a charging station at home.
Last edited by Steerpike; Sep 24th 2020 at 2:06 am.
#7539
#7540
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Let's talk about cars
I am in the boonies and noticed a couple of chargers being put in in the local town, I have nothing against electric, can see many advantages, and some disadvantages, however they certainly will have little impact on saving the planet.
#7541
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
#7542
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Let's talk about cars
That depends on how the electricity is generated. If you live in a state like Colorado with its dirty coal-fired power stations, then certainly there's little advantage. Other states and countries are more advanced in terms of cleaner generation.
#7543
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Let's talk about cars
#7544
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Let's talk about cars
Do you have a dedicated parking space in your building? The issue of locating a charger is a possible challenge, although it could be addressed in time. Not sure about places like the UK, though, were 'on street' parking is absolutely the norm for many.
Edit to add - I mentioned upthread that there are some proposals that batteries become removable, swappable commodities that are not owned by the car owner. You drive into a 'power station' (like a gas station), slide out dead battery, slide in newly charged battery, and drive off. You get credit for any residual charge on the battery you 'turn in'. The 'power station' owner/operator is responsible for QC'ing the batteries, making sure they are charged, safe, working, etc. This would remove the need for everyone to have a charging station at home.
Edit to add - I mentioned upthread that there are some proposals that batteries become removable, swappable commodities that are not owned by the car owner. You drive into a 'power station' (like a gas station), slide out dead battery, slide in newly charged battery, and drive off. You get credit for any residual charge on the battery you 'turn in'. The 'power station' owner/operator is responsible for QC'ing the batteries, making sure they are charged, safe, working, etc. This would remove the need for everyone to have a charging station at home.
We currently do have a parking space yes, and I would assume eventually building owners will be forced to install electric chargers but we are not yet to a point where enough have electric cars so building owners feel no pressure to install chargers.
New builds in Vancouver have to have certain amount of chargers though now, but older buildings lack them.
I think the battery swapping thing you mention might be a better option, especially in city's where a higher percentage of the population live in condos and apartments.
Gas stations in Vancouver are slowly disappearing, nobody is building new ones, Chevron especially has been very active the last few years selling their stations, for what some of the lots have sold for, they said would take decades of selling gas.
The lots do sit empty for a few years usually though, and eventually condos will go up on them.
#7545
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Let's talk about cars
Even at only 75-80 degrees sitting in traffic in summer in Vancouver without air con is very uncomfortable.
On my weekly commute when living in Vancouver and working at the airport, my average speed for the week was 30km/h (about 18 miles per hour) so windows not really all that effective at those speeds. Plus the noise with the windows down isn't fun, the semi trucks and buses especially very noisy.