So while I am not convinced the infrastructure costs and so on are going to happen any time soon the physics of these in floor charge systems is quite well understood. They have a coil which only transmits any energy when there is a sympathetic resonance coil in the right place (a car). The electromagnic field will be tightly linked between them for all sorts of reasons not least efficiency and so not to make a mockery of EMC regulations (dodgy radio waves disrupting permitted equipment like a radio). In fact it will be those factors which make them so difficult to make. They won't be a hazard to a body of any kind. As an aside, phones are close to microwave (as in cooker) but still a country mile from causing heating resonance. Charging coils even further away.

Induction charging will never be practical for charging EVs. Any air cored transformer will be too lossy. The current mobile phone chargers are about the limits and they have a gap of around a milimeter (the case thickness), rather than the ground clearence of a car.
A more likely solution would be some kind of connector or bus bar in the kerb with an automated coupling device. This could be combined with an automatic parking system.

Robert G8RPI

irc said:

Wonder if it will lead to people with pacemakers taking up jogging. Unintentionally.

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Hundreds get into Prius Taxi's monthly without any ill effect.

The main issue with induction charging is its very inefficient, resulting in a fair bit of needless (imo) energy loss. I'd rather plug a lead in rather than spend more than necessary on charging.

On that note. At the 500 mile mark in the Soul EV so far, 9 days into ownership, and I've still not paid for a drop of electricity

portland_bill said:

My brother sent me this pic from Bristol.

Looks ripe for a 'trip' and a compensation claim.

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Actually rather trusting leaving a granny charger out like that - they're circa £300-£500 to replace if it get stolen

Not a fan of the GTE, if you want performance buy a GTI, if you want super electric economy buy a e-Golf.

The GTE manages to be the worse of both worlds.

And I’m supprised no more one has pinched his charging cable

AndyRKett said:

Not a fan of the GTE, if you want performance buy a GTI, if you want super electric economy buy a e-Golf.

The GTE manages to be the worse of both worlds.

And I’m supprised no more one has pinched his charging cable

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Doesn't the GTE achieve much better economy than the GTI? As for the electric Golf - range is still an issue for all electric cars.

JCarp16 said:

As for the electric Golf - range is still an issue for all electric cars.

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No it isn't - it's nothing more than in the head of the operator to be completely honest.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

No it isn't - it's nothing more than in the head of the operator to be completely honest.

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Anywhere in the country? So are you saying it's not necessary to even worry about where you will travel and how far because the infrastructure is now so good?

JCarp16 said:

Doesn't the GTE achieve much better economy than the GTI? As for the electric Golf - range is still an issue for all electric cars.

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The GTE performs much the same as a diesel golf both in economy and performance. The extra soot out the back of the diesel is off set by the orphan African children exploited to mine the rare earth metals for the battery.

Range is no issue current generation EVs can do 200 miles on a charge which is more than most people would need for most daily trips.

I live 30 miles from work and could easily get to work and back in most EVs available at the moment without having to charge it.

AndyRKett said:

The GTE performs much the same as a diesel golf both in economy and performance. The extra soot out the back of the diesel is off set by the orphan African children exploited to mine the rare earth metals for the battery.

Range is no issue current generation EVs can do 200 miles on a charge which is more than most people would need for most daily trips.

I live 30 miles from work and could easily get to work and back in most EVs available at the moment without having to charge it.

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It makes you wonder why manufacturers continue down the hybrid route. They must be more expensive and more complicated to produce than an EV unless they're one of those 'light hybrids' (like the systems that Suzuki use). Yet I have just read a review of a new top of the range hybrid Panamera. So they must see some point to them.

JCarp16 said:

Anywhere in the country? So are you saying it's not necessary to even worry about where you will travel and how far because the infrastructure is now so good?

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Now you mention it, the last time I drove the ICE to Scotland I did have to make sure that a petrol station would be open at 3am to be able to fill up :roll eyes:

And you're now changing what you said. Range isn't an issue unless you let it be - infrastructure is plenty good enough currently, and is improving week on week also

I'd hate the think of the massive mistake that every person who's purchased and runs and EV has made

Perhaps it's because the charging infrastructure still needs so much work?

JCarp16 said:

It makes you wonder why manufacturers continue down the hybrid route. They must be more expensive and more complicated to produce than an EV

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Nope, cheaper as they have a tiny 1-1.5kwh battery in comparison to 30-40+ kWh batteries in EV's.

The cost of an EV is mainly in its battery currently.

It's also what the market is seemingly wanting currently, and manufactures will always make what will sell with ease.

puntofan01 said:

Perhaps it's because the charging infrastructure still needs so much work?

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But it doesn't. Nearly every major motorway service station has a rapid charger now.

What more does one need on a long journey?

As EV's get longer ranges public chargers will be required less as people will be doing longer round trips on a single charge tbh.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Now you mention it, the last time I drove the ICE to Scotland I did have to make sure that a petrol station would be open at 3am to be able to fill up :roll eyes:

And you're now changing what you said. Range isn't an issue unless you let it be - infrastructure is plenty good enough currently, and is improving week on week also

I'd hate the think of the massive mistake that every person who's purchased and runs and EV has made

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I was genuinely interested in the point of view of someone who owns an EV and has experienced it first hand. So I'll overlook the unecessarily sarky remarks as you managed to include some useful information in your reply ?

JCarp16 said:

I was genuinely interested in the point of view of someone who owns an EV and has experienced it first hand. So I'll overlook the unecessarily sarky remarks as you managed to include some useful information in your reply ?

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Fair play.

Don't get me wrong, the infrastructure can always do with improvement, but its not all as bad as people make out - but again it can depend on where you live as to the availability of destination chargers to make the most of (what is currently) free charging.

Ask me in 6 weeks after I've done my planned Norwich to London to Chepstow and then back to Norwich run and we'll see if I'm still as enthusiastic

Most Easterly Pandas said:

But it doesn't. Nearly every major motorway service station has a rapid charger now.

What more does one need on a long journey?

As EV's get longer ranges public chargers will be required less as people will be doing longer round trips on a single charge tbh.

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Could the fast chargers be detrimental to battery health/life? I know they're everywhere now - but aren't they relatively recent technology?

Most Easterly Pandas said:

But it doesn't. Nearly every major motorway service station has a rapid charger now.

What more does one need on a long journey?

As EV's get longer ranges public chargers will be required less as people will be doing longer round trips on a single charge tbh.

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There's no charging points in my village, and there's hardly any in my nearest town. In the towns half an hour from me, 1 has a few electric car spaces, but i think the other 1 has none at all!

Also, a lot of people can't charge their car at home due to parking situations.

JCarp16 said:

Could the fast chargers be detrimental to battery health/life? I know they're everywhere now - but aren't they relatively recent technology?

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Originally there was this fear, but it's been proven not to be a major concern, by a taxi firm who's have got a number of leaf's on their books which are only ever rapid charged. After 3-4 years and 170k+ miles the batteries have no majorly noticeable loss of use.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2014/5/8/nissan-leaf-taxi-hits-150-000-miles/52361/

The company owner frequents one of the FB EV pages I'm on. They've only just sold one of their first leafs, mechanically still going very well, the interior was just starting to look a bit shabby.

puntofan01 said:

Also, a lot of people can't charge their car at home due to parking situations.

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But equally a lot can - so although that is valid for some, it isn't for the majority.

I wouldn't expect any in a village, but where is your nearest town?