Where Shall we Meet for Coffee on Sunday?

[Steve G.]

Since we were discussing electric vehicles this morning.


Comments from State Troopers

From an anonymous State Trooper in Wisconsin.

I’m not a fan of all electric vehicles. Too many variables affecting battery consumption. Definitely not suited for cold climates. The following experience just cements my distaste for EV’s, especially Tesla.

I get sent to a motorist assist the other day, at the start of our snow storm. Tesla on the side of the interstate, dead battery. So I arrive on scene and the occupants have the right-front door open. They tell me that they can’t open any other doors, because the battery is dead. Sure enough. Can’t open the doors from inside or outside.
The driver also can’t get her license out of the glove box where she put it during their trip. Because the glovebox opens electronically… and the battery is dead. You actually have to use the computer in the center of the dash to open the glovebox.
They said they had 10% battery left, should’ve been plenty to get from that location to the charging station nearby. Then all of a sudden the whole car shut off and they coasted to the shoulder.
So now I have to find them a tow. No one wants to tow EV’s. Finally found one company to do it. 8 mile trip to the charging station in Tomah. $1,000! Normal vehicle on the flatbed would’ve been $150.
So now we’re at the Tesla superchargers. Guess what. Can’t open the f’n charging port because the battery is dead!!! The ports open, you guessed it, electronically!!!

And we also can’t open the doors now (had to close the one open door when it was loaded onto the wrecker). The owners manual is in the on board computer, but the battery is dead.
I got the occupants to a store where they’d be warm while calling the rental company to figure out how to charge this POS, so I’m not sure of the outcome.
I had to leave for a crash report.
I’ll stick with my dinosaur burner.

  Working on cars for a living, in the twilight of my 51 yr career in all glass, I’m Thankful I shall not have to deal with these electrified cars, and most notably, these electrified customers.  
  Special procedures are needed on several makes,,,,,simply in the overnight parking process!!!!
   Teslas must not be parked outside below -20c, as the electric latch is inoperable, can’t open the doors. In these temperatures, Teslas lose 1.5% battery storage every 24 hrs.

  Hyundai and Kia offer strong suggestion to park vehicles outside as spontaneity of battery raw materials has been recorded.

  No hard requests from any other makes as yet.

  My 50 yr old slightly incontinent Norton has spent every night of its existence inside. No worries mate.

  Rant over. Full stop.

[Steve G.]

  Coffee??

[Galactica]

I’ll head to the Fort.

[Steve G.]

See you there.

  I’ll bring the dust control
Device.

[Galactica]

Steve,

Not to worry about the lexan, the smoked wind spoiler I have is just fine.  And in the 200 km I’ve ridden since my last fill-up, I got just under 6lt/100km (47mpg).  I know that on the highway, travelling at 100kph or less, I can get around 5lt/100km (56mpg).

[Steve G.]

 No problem Ross. If you change your mind, I've got a large sheet of 5mm clear lexan if it bothers you. The great thing about the Wunderlich wind deflector is that it has a small undistracting main body, and has the ability to fold flat, all the way to opposite flat.   

[Galactica]

No problem Ross. If you change your mind, I've got a large sheet of 5mm clear lexan if it bothers you. The great thing about the Wunderlich wind deflector is that it has a small undistracting main body, and has the ability to fold flat, all the way to opposite flat.   

Let me play around with the deflector for a while and I’ll get back to you about the lexan.  Thanks very much.

[Galactica]

Have the mosquitoes come out in Ft. Langley yet?

[Steve G.]

  I was riding around Glen Valley yesterday afternoon, checking on fraser river levels, no skeeters at all.

[GuzziMalc]

My front field is flooded and no mossies - YET!  So the Fort would be fine if that is the choice.

[Steve G.]

  Be there!!

[Galactica]

Gonna give coffee a miss today.  Strained my back somehow. 

As far as mosquitoes, I reckon they’ll be out once the river levels begin to recede a bit.  New hatches will emerge each time the water level falls a bit.

[Steve G.]

   How's your back Ross?

[Bucko]

Assume coffee is at the fort tomorrow?  If so, does anyone have a couple of unmolested (that should give you a clue as to why I need them) M6x20 Socket head screws they could bring for me - I'll replace them at some point in the future.

[Tytan]

Stainless OK ?

I'll bring them with me tomorrow.