Electric vehicles in oz

 

The debate rages on between those who love petrol cars and those liking full electric with the fence-sitters option for hybrid. But, do we need the argue?

I follow the electric Viking on YouTube but he is ev keen - very good summary of batteries nevs china big batteries etc 

Also ran across this list of Chinese cars https://www.made-in-china.com/quality-china-product/electric_car_price-zQnJEAxCimnY-1.html?pageSize=40&cateCode=&minOrder=&minProdPrice=&maxProdPrice=&auditedFlag=&order=mini_order_asc&businessType=&certification=&prop=

If you want to convert a classic car to electric check out this place in Logan https://ozelectricvehicles.com.au/

My view is re split by jurisdiction and transort sector.

Sector summay

Very large vehcles, buses, trucks and mning equipment: Now, a few examples of large batteries like Ford F150 lightning but these are expensive and heavy. In the USA seems sales of these are failing, so I expect makers of large EV's to retreat to ICE and hybrids. I thnnk hydrogen and biofule could be a future option.

In australia we have seen a few cement companies convert to ev but I believe one exploded. The explsions are more to do with the older NMC battery type than the size of battery. See my later comments about this under Batteries and EV realists

Some farm machinery companies (JCB) have small 4 hour battery diggers but say 24/7 vehicles ued in mining must remain diesel for now with hydrogen or bayyertswap being a future option. i saw a ming compny with underground digging equipment with a bug battry - they had installed a water port on the machine to allow large amounts of water inti the battery in case of a thermal runaway (see battery section below). 

The dream of all our trucks on large batteries is a bit of a fantasy in Astralia. Maybe Elon will pull it off in the USA. The issue with large trucks an bateries is twofold: first range is liimited; 2nd batteries are v heavy. For trucks, especially those going from railhead to port (special name or last mile) the charging times are too long, range can be an isue. this means that transport costs will increase markedly with drivers chargign2 or 3 times  day (plenty of time wtchng videos when the boss would want them working).For short-haul and large local delivery trucks, it could work ok but still extra time lost charging but may work with schedule. For long-gaul truck drivers, range will be an issue until salt batteries come in. Also especially in australia, charging infrstructure will holdthis back. Simpy need thosands of large chargers across the main east coast transport routes. Compnaies like Shell "may" do this but not much at the moment. Even harder is for battery IMMEIATE swap - being done by one Ausssie copmany (name?).

I thin the small vehicle sector has a clerarer path especially if you ust buzz arond the city. Many small EVs like Byd Seal, dolhin MG3 etc will be coming in 2024. The pragmatic might choose a smll EV and have the Prado/SUV petrol or hybrid  for longer trips. we can see the price for thi category is about $38K on road and includes cars like future Telsa model 2 (the one I want), Byd seal/dolphin, MG4/5 and ithers coming very soon with a flood of chinese EV's on the way (subject to Australia introducing tarrifs to protect our native car industry 0  oh, wait, w dont have one!!

India migt surprise too with cheap small cars

Mid size  cars is  bit unclear  as price is now on-par with ICE vehicales. Examples include Telsa model 3, kia EV6 and Hyundai Kona and Ionic.

SUV categor 

Tesla Model Y is very well priced compared to offerings from BMW, Audi, Toyota?, Ford and GM (F150 lighting?). Model Y and BYD atto3 and BYD seal will d well in tis category.

Sports cars - category of own limited runs lot of $'s

lux cars tesla X nd S maybe good purchase if price declines asa overengineered and will really last

and heavy vehicle  comanies 

Batteries

NMC bad and old - blow up  salt coming CATL blade byd good

thermal runaway

tpes and emerging tyes from CATLand BYD

EV realists

John cadogan

EV mguy

ITEMS YOU DO NOT NEED

I packed up all my possessions after being divorced and had a fantasy list item called CANONICAL POSSESSIONS FOR TRAVEL. If you did a bit of maths at Uni, you know this is the optimal smallest lots of "stuff" that covers the essential requirements. So, you have bamboo underwear (these are great) and don't need too much attention - i.e. you can wear them a few times just like when you were a boy and your mum kept checking if you had fresh ones every day, but you just found the least smelly pair from the clothes basket (sorry Mum).

Anyway, I'm getting RID of useless stuff to hopefully come back to Brisbane and restart my life after my grand return-to-glory-days-in-London-plans were dashed by the Corona virus.

Number 1: Cheap copy of GoPro camera. Even GoPro might be not that good to be honest except if you want to film your bike rides or jumoping out of a plane. I've seen them mounted on car dashes in taxis (ok, one taxi).

WHY NO GOOD: No basic tripod attachment. There was a yellow float attachment for when you're floating in the water. You get a good bike attachment but that it is it. Also, when I used the camera it cut out after continuous filming with a white screen so probably limited battery life.

NUMBER 2: ALiexpress cheap projector

WHY NO GOOD: First the resolution is like VGA but the box says handles 4K. Well, it ACCEPTS 4k inputs and displays them as crap SVGA quality from 10 years ago. Also, it has a battery but the switch fell off when i set it to this mode. I complained to Ali and they said "ok, just keep it" and refunded me. Many of these devices were seconds and NEVER WORKED.


Number 3: Android box



WHY NO GOOD: They run android but can only handle usb thumb drives of limited size, so do no expect to attach a 3TB drive and start playing all your movies. Better to stream off a NAS or similar.

DUH - The Corona Virus

Some actual good advice imho - please read the whole article 

This is actually worth a read on all things virus.

From a young researcher who had been transferred from Shenzhen to Wuhan to collaborate with the task force that is fighting the coronavirus epidemic, we receive and willingly transmit to all of this clear, simple and accessible information, which describe exactly what it is.  the virus, how it transfers from one person to another and how it can be neutralized in everyday life.

Corona virus infection does not cause a cold with a dripping nose or catarrhal cough, but a dry and dry cough: this is the easiest thing to know.

The virus does not resist heat and dies if exposed to temperatures of 26-27 degrees: therefore often consume hot drinks such as tea, herbal tea and broth during the day, or simply hot water: hot liquids neutralize the virus and it is not difficult to drink them.  Avoid drinking ice water or eating ice cubes or snow for those in the mountains (children)!

For those who can do it, expose yourself to the sun!
1. The virus crown is quite large (diameter about 400-500 nanometers), therefore any type of mask can stop it: in normal life, special masks are not needed.

On the other hand, the situation is different for doctors and health professionals who are exposed to heavy virus loads and have to use special equipment.

If an infected person sneezes in front of you, three meters away they will drop the virus on the ground and prevent it from landing on you.
2. When the virus is found on metal surfaces, it survives for about 12 hours.  So when you touch metal surfaces such as handles, doors, appliances, supports on trams, etc., wash your hands well and disinfect them carefully.

3. The virus can live nested in clothes and fabrics for about 6/12 hours: normal detergents can kill it.  For clothes that cannot be washed every day, if you can expose them to the sun and the virus will die.
How it manifests itself:

1. The virus first installs itself in the throat, causing inflammation and a dry throat sensation: this symptom can last for 3/4 days.

2. the virus travels through the humidity present in the airways, descends into the trachea and installs in the lung, causing pneumonia.  This step takes about 5/6 days.

3. Pneumonia occurs with high fever and difficulty breathing, it is not accompanied by the classic cold.  But you may have the feeling of drowning.  In this case, contact your doctor immediately.

How can you avoid it:
1. Virus transmission occurs mostly by direct contact, touching tissues or materials on which the virus is present: washing hands frequently is essential.
The virus only survives on your hands for about ten minutes, but in ten minutes many things can happen: rub your eyes or scratch your nose for example, and allow the virus to enter your throat ...

So, for your own good and for the good of others, wash your hands very often and disinfect them!
2. You can gargle with a disinfectant solution that eliminates or minimizes the amount of virus that could enter your throat: in doing so, you eliminate it before it goes down into the trachea and then into the lungs.

3. disinfect the PC keyboard and mobile phones

The new coronavirus NCP * may not show signs of infection for many days, * before which it cannot be known if a person is infected.  But by the time you have a fever and / or cough and go to the hospital, your lungs are usually already in 50% fibrosis and it's too late!
Taiwanese experts suggest doing a simple check that we can do on our own every morning:

Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds.  If you successfully complete it without coughing, without discomfort, a sense of oppression, etc., this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating essentially no infection.
In such critical times, do this check every morning in a clean air environment!
These are serious and excellent advice from Japanese doctors who treat COVID-19 cases.  Everyone should make sure that their mouth and throat are moist, never DRY.  Drink a few sips of water at least every 15 minutes.  WHY?  Even if the virus gets into your mouth ... water or other liquids will sweep it away through the esophagus and into the stomach.  Once in the belly ... Gastric acid in the stomach will kill all the virus.  If you don't drink enough water more regularly ... the virus can get into your trumpets and lungs.  It is very dangerous.

Regards,

BEST PLACES IN BRISBANE (IMHO)

OMG - BRISBANE GETS Trendy and people from all over the world coming here to join the scene ... hard to believe but true.

Here are some places I go to. Bear in mind, I've not been that active in the last few years, But, here we go in no order:

1. Cloudland in the Valley (never been there but **LOOKS GREAT**) https://www.cloudland.tv/
2. Miss Demeanour bar Rowe's lane. Seems to be a legal hangout but $5 beers/sparkling wine and kick-arse chips with aioli $9 does it for me https://www.discoverbne.com.au/home/food-drink/miss-demeanour-brisbane-rowes-lane
3. Darra CementoCo bowls club after 5pm Friday. This one is for the guys as they have a topless raffle. Membership is $2; beer $4.50; spirits $4.70 ( yes, it seems that asking nicely gets you a better price,).  Food is very good and same or better than the local hotels like Jindalee and monier road. Steak, parmy $14.95 and cooked to perfection . You can even do barefoot bowls if you really want to - it's a great business function or team builder event.
4. BEST CHINESE / MALAYSIAN - this is a tie between Stir-fry Cafe (behind the pool in loranah Street jindalee) and Good Taste Chinese (in shops next to 7-11). Stir fry has cheap lunch menu but dinner getting expensive as large Chinese groups love it. Goof taste is very close - we could walk there but usually get take away. Usually no issues eating in and same price as takeaway.
5. Fish & chips - next to stir fry Cafe jindalee or next to good taste Chinese.
6. Vietnamese - lunch has to be Than Than in inala. Dinner has to be ky Young in Darra opposite QR car park.
7. YIM THAI wins easily for classic Thai food in Middle Park.
8. 
   

Qld Driving in 2019

Drivers in Brisbane are appalling. 

There are some possible causes like interstate and overseas drivers being more aggressive or too casual as in their own states or countries; bad road design; insufficient expenditure on key transport/growth roads (like the WESTERN CORRIDOR en route to the gas fields near Roma); aggressive P platers especially ladies; mobile phone use while driving (also puttting makeup on and eating/talking on the way to work). All mean less concentration on a task that DEMANDS FULL ATTENTION.

Here are my ideas for what we need do NOW:

1. NOT do another study or report
2. bring back 90km limiters to:
1. all trucks
2. all 4WD vehicles (tradies are probably the worst drivers we have) 
3. all delivery and courier vans
4. have this mandated across the country to avoid registered a truck in VIC with no 90km limit then driving it in Qld).
3. Ask what the Heavy Vehicle Authority does. Like most of our regulators they hopeless in enforcing anything. Truckies still have enormous time pressure on them which drives their bad behaviour to ordinary motorists. Having the technology to track trucks was supposed to allow reasonable times (say 16 hours from Brisbane to Sydney with regulated breaks) to be followed but seems to have worsened the time-is-money and drive-like-a-maniac culture. Many truckies die every year due to this.
4. Ask what RACQ actually does in terms of lobbying for change and road safety. Again, seems like a poorly run organisation that can deliver petrol, replace your battery and get you going but not much in the road safety space.
5. REQUIRE car manufacturers to have their role in safety by:
1. not just make faster and faster cars
2. design Bluetooth-blocking devices so mobile phones can only be used in a cradle. Even talking on a headset or speakerphone means much less than 100% attention.
6. Have the government install cameras to capture people using mobile phones and hit them with a $500 standard driver find and a $5,000 commercial driver.
7. Have the government DESIGN better roads with:
1. adequate # of lanes based on revenue the road brings in (road to Roman is a disgrace and much underfunded
2. make roundabouts a decent size like the UK
3. make merge kanes more than 10 metres
4. install signs of an approriate size and distance from exit to help flow and safety
5. STOP DESIGNING MERGE-MERGE-MERGE FREEWAYS LIKE WESTERN
6. STOP DESIGNING **DANGEROUS** CRISS-CROSS ROADS - MANY PLACES LIKE CENTENARY HIGHWAY INBOUND NEAR SUMNER ROAD.
7. STOP "DESIGNING MORE AND MORE ENCLOSED AND SMALLER ROADABOUT DESIGNS WHICH ARE LIKE THAT TO SUPPORT TINY BIKE LANES AND OTHER MYSTERY REQUIRMENTS 
8. look at what the USA had 30 years ago and ask themselves some serious DESIGN questions.
8. look at how Japan and Germany design roads PROPERLY
9. think outside the 3 year election cycle.

losing weight

1. DO thisto lose weight and (maybe) recover from Type 2 Diabetes and other chronic conditions

• last food at 9pm

• first meal at 12 noon NEXT DAY (coffee and tea allowed).

• eat low carb

• eat HIGH fat - olive oil, coconut oil, fat cheese mosarella,

• eat LOTS of veges especially leavy green like kale and crucerous like coliflaower and brocolli

• spoon of peanut butter if needed

Australia is a follower

Australia is a follower 

I just don't think we are smart enough as a nation. We had a concept that we would become the design house of APAC and all the high-value work would flow to us leaving the scraps to Asia. But, guess what, the Asian countries can design and build stuff better than us now. We are  more followers than leaders.

Japan was I initially poor at making products after 1945 but they caught on fast and they now sell their japan-designed products to the world. China will likely have the same path and countries like Australia, Argentina will be left behind. 

Germany, Israel etc will rule - just my opinion