Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 15, 2018 23:26:03 GMT
I'm not sure this should be in the motoring thread. Semi-hypothetical question.
You are told to leave your home to get to safety because a natural disaster (e.g. fire, flood) is heading your way. Do you take the electric car or the ICE car?
I know which I'd take assuming the tank was full. The more expensive (potentially) electric one is claimable on insurance I'd hope.
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Post by lygonos on Nov 16, 2018 0:24:31 GMT
This should help you choose:
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 16, 2018 0:30:39 GMT
I actually asked the question because I know someone in California that wondered if they should flee in one car or both. One is a Tesla. Assuming it's fully charged the range might be a few hundred km but then what happens in a disaster scenario.
I was not thinking speed I was thinking range and 'refuelling' the range.
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Post by lygonos on Nov 16, 2018 0:32:22 GMT
Tesla has the 'bioweapon' HEPA filter system - fires aren't just about flames.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 16, 2018 0:34:09 GMT
Good point - but in real life would you opt for range that is quickly topped up or electric. Hypothetical for us I know. We're not confronted by huge fires like they have in California at the moment.
I wonder what vehicles have been used in the last week or so.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 16, 2018 0:36:20 GMT
And if you had only a Leaf... I think you'd take a fully fuelled 13 year old Mercedes??
My original question was not about maximum acceleration!
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Post by lygonos on Nov 16, 2018 0:36:58 GMT
A test of Bioweapon defence mode.....
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 16, 2018 0:41:35 GMT
Thinking about my original question it is a bit like a colleague who got a LWB Landrover because his preferred route to our office was over the Pennines and bad weather could be a problem.
He found that whilst his LR could traverse the roads in bad weather the other cars could not. And he was stuck behind the other cars.
Back to CA and fires... fast cars only useful if roads are clear.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2018 6:58:25 GMT
It's not only petrol that burns. A lot of the other materials in a car cause noxious smoke which will kill you more quickly than fire. Lithium batteries are also interesting in a fire.
I'd take a diesel engined car if I had one. Otherwise any ICE car.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2018 8:54:21 GMT
And if you had only a Leaf... I think you'd take a fully fuelled 13 year old Mercedes?? My original question was not about maximum acceleration! Oh yeah, out of the Leaf and the old Merc I'd take the old Merc.
Of course, there's not much danger of damp old Reading catching fire *looks mournfully out of window at dreich day*.
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Post by lygonos on Nov 16, 2018 15:41:41 GMT
I wouldn't have a LEAF in California anyway. The lack of active battery thermal management can seriously speed up degradation rates. Li-ion likes being 20-40ºC as I understand it. And anyhoos I would dig out my scuba gear and stick it out in my swimming pool. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15887502 |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2018 15:49:41 GMT
Point taken, but I was reading recently of a Leafist in California who has refurbished his batteries for about $2000. Not much different to a tranny rebuild or such like on a gas guzzler, and he'll have saved plenty on fuel over the years as well as having his green halo shining brightly.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Nov 16, 2018 16:38:18 GMT
What a fatuous question! If you’ve ever seen news pictures of traffic fleeing a natural (or man-made) disaster, you’ll know that the performance of the vehicle is the least important factor determining your chances. The answer is ‘a vehicle with as many people in it as will fit’, thus consuming the minimum of road space and creating the least possible congestion. Anything else could cost lives — probably did in California. See also people taking their bags with them when they evacuate a burning airliner.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 16, 2018 18:32:07 GMT
Not at all. I know someone who has asked this very question in the last week: Should they and their partner flee in one car or both if necessary. And one car is a Tesla. Real people living in northern California. Last fires missed them and this is not near them.
My thoughts (not relayed to them yet) is leave the Tesla and take the ICE. But take only one car because if everyone takes two then roads will get clocked up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2018 8:59:17 GMT
You know there are some questions about life in some parts of the world that simply could not be asked in Britain.
We have a stable governmental system, a head of state that does not change every 5 or 7 years, and a natural environment that generally does not cause man-made or act of God crises. We do have some flooding which causes the odd death but we are remarkably safe in the UK from disasters which is possibly why at one point we ruled the world.
Life in the USA or Australia does sound very tempting but the range of possible causes of sudden death make me very glad I'm currently living in Manchester.
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