Electric Cars:what's available?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Lexie Alford, known online as LexieLimitless,

Yes I've never heard of this young lady before, nor seen any of her content, but Ford invested in this 21-year old and not some beardy bloke journalist to drive their new Ford Explorer EV around the world....yes there are sea bits but apparently 18,000 miles across the at least 5 continents counts as around the world.

Can't imagine anyone on the French Car Forum has heard of her, or realised that's this journey actually happened, or indeed is the slightest bit interested in her content. She is quite a remarkable young lady. At 21 years of age, Lexie Limitless shattered the world record for the Youngest Person to Travel to Every Country by traveling to all 196 countries.



Neil

[Gibbo2286]

My neighbour emailed that Harry video, I find him to be a 'petrol head' who digs out all the negatives about EVs and probably life in general, couldn't help feeling his bias in that video but one thing that really hit home was his comment about Aston Martin.
He'd obviously missed this: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3979 ... t-ev-2025/

[bobins]

I think things might have moved on since that 2+ year old article was published, Gibbo.

Although Harry has a strong motoring background, I see him more as a realist rather than an idealist or petrol head. Just because you might not like what he says, doesn't mean he's wrong.
Ask yourself - what will win in the end : idealism or realism ? Human nature or a good idea ?

[Gibbo2286]

I didn't realise it was two years old Bobins, it was in my inbox this morning from my neighbour so I guess it must be a re-run, the rest I suppose is a case of 'wait and see.'

[NewcastleFalcon]

So what's the latest on Aston Martin's Electrification Plans.

Aston Martin are perhaps in the totally irrelevant category of global electrification, and unlikely to trouble the scorers with sales to the FCF membership, but they are dipping their toes in the water. Rumour has it that their first EV will be an SUV.

Aston Martin Press Release
Aston Martin electrification programme awarded £9million funding from the advanced propulsion centre

https://media.astonmartin.com/aston-mar ... MC4wLjAuMA..

Some may not be aware but Chinese Automaker Geely as of May 2023 upped its existing Stake in Aston Martin to 17% Probably behind a paywall but as reported by the FT here

FT
Geely doubles stake in Aston Martin to 17%
https://www.ft.com/content/c02a9658-106 ... 1b7ec935a3

Autocar
How Aston Martin will work with Geely on new electric cars
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/busi ... ctric-cars

Neil

[Gibbo2286]

This popped up today, I'm told it's a bit dated but I hadn't seen it before.

[CitroJim]

The very essence of advertising, sell us crap we really don't need but think we do.

Very nicely put Steve and totally accurate!

[bobins]

............get your EV's into enough films and we will all want one, Audi do it brilliantly as do BMW, you watch sny action film they will drive an Audi (S8/6 or 4 as they sound really throaty) or a BM.
........... like I said slip them into films so we don't feel you are selling it to us and you capture us even more.

<Tongue in cheek : ON>
I'm trying to think what your average stereotypical James Bond car chase would be like with an EV
And before you scoff - think on.
A classic James Bond chase sequence sees our man being pursued by - or pursuing - the bad guy. The drama is increased by the sound of the engine roaring away and James using his superior skill to change up the gears and ratchet up the tension - change up a gear and bury the throttle <music soars, tension increases>. 14 gear upshifts later and they're nailing the excitement All classic stuff.
How do you match that with a gearless EV with an electric motor ? I'm absolutely sure it can be done.... but just done differently. There'll undoubtedly be focus group meetings on how to tackle it - as these things are important
<Tongue in cheek - OFF>

[mickthemaverick]

I would envisage the camera concentrating on the charge level meter as it dives into the depths of oblivion while the girlie (who owns the car) is screaming "No No stop it stop it, or my battery will fry"!

[bobins]

You jest, Mick, but that could actually be an entirely usable scenario to ratchet up the tension - our man James uses his superior driving skills to (yet again) overcome the issue and win the day.

[CitroJim]

How do you match that with a gearless EV with an electric motor ? I'm absolutely sure it can be done.... but just done differently. There'll undoubtedly be focus group meetings on how to tackle it - as these things are important

The car will hum with attitude

Tenuous perhaps but I find the humming of an EV most unpleasant... Reminds me of my washing machine getting into its spin-cycle...

But then I suppose we should expect such sounds emanating from what is, after all, nothing but automotive white goods...

[NewcastleFalcon]

But then I suppose we should expect such sounds emanating from what is, after all, nothing but automotive white goods...

I hesitate to add more to your harsh summary of the greatest change to motoring since the horse was put out to grass by the ford model T, and quite exciting that it is happening now. No tears shed for the exhaust pipe or the noise it makes or the air pollution it emits at Chez Falcon.

...but your mention of white goods was quite prophetic. I took this gorgeous picture of a MG4 in white, not in the usual bright orange or bright blue (plus points again for that SAIC) against a brooding sky with its angular face. I know what you think of MG, I don't share it of course, old MG was going nowhere, good luck to those making a go of it, and it is undoubtedly an excellent value brand now, and a common sight on the roads of the UK.

With a little help from Whatcar? for the prose

Neil

[myglaren]

Looks like something from "Transformers".

What does one suppose it might transform into?

[bobins]

With a lot of work and a fair amount of CGI - something pretty, perhaps ?

[CitroJim]

With a lot of work and a fair amount of CGI - something pretty, perhaps ?

It'll need quite a transformation to achieve that