Fully Charged pilot episode 001

The first episode of a new series both here and on iTunes soon

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Robert
• Llewellyn
• Fully
• Charged
• electric
• cars

[spinycrayfish]

I don't know who did the research for this episode but it's full of nonsense. The well to wheel "information" seems to suggest a coal powered car produces less than 1/10 the emissions of petrol. However the 40g claimed for coal is out by a factor of about 4, and the claim that 3/4 of the emission from petrol come before the engine is upside down, 3/4 comes from burning the fuel. Correct there two mistakes and the only real advantage is the ability to switch to green electricity.

[fullychargedshow]

@spinycrayfish The figures I quoted in this episode came from the Royal Academy of Engineering report of 2008, there have been many other reports which come up with many different figures. Interestingly the most commonly quoted reports are from organisations directly funded by oil corporations. It is now widely accepted that to refine one gallon of gasoline requires 9 kWh of electricity, some argue this is 'total energy cost' but others dispute this. The figures are not in any way 'nonsense.'

[andygriff1987]

I thought that although they did poke fun at the Tesla, that was to highlight its obsolescence in comparison to fuel cell cars which are looking rather more exciting (in a petrolhead's eyes). One thing that does concern me is the battery replacement, and also the cost of just a normal car. There is no way in hell I could afford a Tesla... What about a decent average car such as a Mondeo equivalent?

[fullychargedshow]

@andygriff1987 Can I suggest you look at another ep of Fully Charged featuring the Honda FCX Clarity, a hydrogen Fuel Cell car. Current cost over $2 million, so the silly expensive battery electric verses the cheap, sensible fuel cell is a bit of a myth. It's possible your grandchildren may be able to drive hydrogen cars, but it's a minimum of 50 years away and we kind of need an alternative about now. Also check the Nissan Leaf review, quarter the cost of a Tesla and available now.

[Nealosaurus]

Speaking of propaganda, I wonder how much Tesla pays you...

[fullychargedshow]

@Nealosaurus I am very happy to inform you that Tesla pays me nothing, they never have and they never would. They loaned me the car for 4 days, so if that counts as corrupt bribery then I am guilty. I don't need Tesla to pay me anything for me to admire what they have done, and for me to hold the strident opinions I do about the feasibility, superiority and economic sense of ditching internal combustion in favour of electric propulsion.

[FreePizza007]

You forgot to mention. Tesla roadster does not come with Power Steering, Radio or CD (i think not sure of this), No ABS, No Cruise Control, No Optional GPS. Still a good idea though.

[TheSaltyAdmiral]

Awesome show as always, keep up the good work! Don't mind the less intelligent haters, they just don't know better.

[GovnaBuckingham]

take that globalists 

[zogworth]

@lcw1980 I am so confused. I mentioned none of these things. I was commenting on the process for refuelling a car. But you pull a straw man argument out of thin air to insult me, I think it is you sir that is the ding bat.

[paulski1966]

@lcw1980 - whilst true about the less moving parts running out of energy in a EV is more of a pain. This was the only bit of the video that was a let down for me "if you run out of fuel, if you are in the middle of nowhere, if you are 20 miles away from a petrol station". Just admit that its more of a pain in an EV. If you are going to produce a balanced review then do it - or point to extended range electric cars that have a backup motor, as i believe these will catch on first.

[paulski1966]

@ToneSpectra A lot of th e concerns around mining for metals for the batteries and the environmental impact it has relates to nickel based batteries. Most electric cars are now using lithium batteries which are much kinder to the environment.

[Aleque]

people who whine about electric cars should be castrated without sedative

[bored1980]

spinycrayfish got pwned.

[lupzter78]

@ToneSpectra According to a LowCVP (UK) study, manufacturing an electric car produces 8.8 tons of CO2, while gasoline car "only" 5.6 tons. The battery manufacturing accounts to 43% of the emissions of an electric car. So about 3.7 tons per car. Sounds much? Now take a look at the tail-pipe emissions of a gas car for 150 000km. That's more than 22 tons. And that's even before the fact that we SHOULD take the emissions from oil production into account (which would at least triple this figure).

[ToneSpectra]

@fullychargedshow (Also, aren't fossil-fuel powered machines and vehicles required to do the job of mining, processing and transporting these battery materials?)