Driving an Electric Car

In the driving seat

Driving an electric car (EV) can be a unique and enjoyable experience. Here’s what you might notice:

Quiet Ride

One of the first things you’ll notice is the silence. EVs are much quieter than traditional internal combustion engine cars, creating a serene driving environment. This lack of engine noise makes the ride more relaxing and less stressful. At low speeds (less than 20 kph), all EVs have to generate some form of artificial ‘engine noise’ to make pedestrians aware of their presence. You can often select the type of ‘engine noise’ your EV uses.

Instant Torque

Electric motors provide instant torque, which means acceleration is smooth and quick. You’ll feel the car respond immediately when you press the accelerator, making for a more dynamic and enjoyable driving experience.

Most EVs intentionally limit their maximum top speed to just over the normal legal limit, but they do not lack performance (acceleration) below the speed limits. Usually, EVs offer different driving ‘modes’ such as Normal, Sport and Eco. These let you tailor the power delivery to the road conditions. You may find they limit the power used during acceleration and possibly the air conditioning/heating available a little, especially in Eco mode.

Regenerative Braking

EVs usually come with regenerative braking systems, which capture energy normally lost during braking and use it to recharge the battery. Braking can feel different from in a traditional internal combustion engine car, as EVs slow down more rapidly when you lift your foot off the accelerator.

Standard braking (friction brakes) –  In traditional vehicles, pressing the brake pedal uses friction to slow down the wheels. This friction converts the vehicle’s kinetic energy into heat, which is lost to the environment.

Regenerative braking – When the driver applies the brakes or lifts their foot off the accelerator in an EV, the electric motor works in reverse. Instead of using power to drive the wheels, the motor acts as a generator, using the motion of the wheels to produce electricity. This electricity is then sent back to the battery to be stored and reused later for acceleration.

Benefits of regenerative braking:

        • Energy efficiency – Captures energy that would otherwise be wasted.
        • Extended range – Helps electric vehicles go farther on a single charge.
        • Reduced brake wear – Less reliance on traditional friction brakes leads to lower maintenance costs.
        • More effective in urban driving where there are junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts than on long steady journeys on motorways

Limitations:

        • Less effective at low speeds – Regenerative braking is more efficient at higher speeds.
        • Battery limits – If the battery is full or near capacity, it may not be able to accept more energy.

Blended braking systems – Most vehicles still use a combination of regenerative and friction braking for consistent performance.

Smooth and linear power delivery

EVs provide a smooth and consistent power delivery without the need for gear shifts. This creates a more seamless and uninterrupted driving experience.

Lower centre of gravity

With batteries typically mounted low in the chassis, EVs often have a lower centre of gravity. This improves handling and stability, making the car feel more planted on the road.

No Emissions

This is one of the biggest differences between an EV and an internal combustion engine car. Driving an EV means producing no tailpipe emissions, which is much better for the environment and gives you a sense of contributing to a cleaner future with a less polluted environment.

Charging Convenience

Instead of needing to find and often queue at a service station, you will most probably be charging your EV at home or at a public charging station. These can be found at supermarkets, retail parks and public spaces. No more standing by smelly fuel pumps!

Advanced Technology

Many EVs come equipped with the latest technology, including advanced infotainment systems, connectivity features, and driver-assistance systems.

The overall driving experience of an EV can be incredibly satisfying, combining the thrill of instant acceleration with the tranquillity of a quieter cabin. Plus, knowing you’re driving a vehicle that’s better for the planet in the long term is a great bonus!

Next Month: I’ll be looking at hybrid vs. plug-in hybrid vs. full EV to discuss which might be best for you…

Mobile phone camera compared to DSLR

We all carry them every day, almost every waking hour of our day we have an iPhone or an Android phone of some sort in our pockets or our bags.

Ready to hand for that notification or to take a quick photo. If you have a mobile phone from say the last 5 years or less then the camera built in to it is very good?

I was of this opinion too. I have taken hundreds of photos with my iPhone and they look just great. That is in most situations.

However, how do they compare to the output of a DSLR. OK in this test I’m using a Nikon D300 not your latest all singing all dancing mirrorless $5000 (including taxes!) camera. But I thought you would be interested to see the comparison.

The scene is an unrestored chateau here in France. The images were taken at the same time on the same day. The cloud formation confirms that… clouds are like fingerprints!

First image is the Nikon D300 unedited:

As you will see the horizontals aren’t quite horizontal, typical of a lot of my images! And very little detail in the shadows.

Now the same scene taken with an iPhone 15 Pro:

Notice how it has boosted up the shadow detail and the whole image looks much brighter, may be too bright.

I then did a small amount of editing in Apple Photos to the Nikon image and came up with this:

I’m no editing expert, I don’t pay my monthly/annual Adobe Tax for Lightroom or Photoshop, I only use Apple Photos.

The edited photo above to my eyes is a reasonable compromise as to what the scene looked like on the day. I’m still not sure it’s truly vertical/horizontal, but nothing in my world ever is even when checked with a spirit level!

I could have also edited the iPhone image, but for this ‘test’ I’ve left it unedited. I suspect most of the images we see on social media don’t get edited, may be cropped but not a major dive in to tweak everything possible!

Have you ever done a similar comparison?

What to look out for when buying a used electric car

Buying a second-hand electric car can be a smart financial decision, but it’s essential to be thorough in your evaluation to avoid hidden problems.

Many of the following checks are the usual ones you should do when buying any sort of car before parting with your money.
First steps
Research the model’s reputation and read reviews from other owners. This can give you insights into common issues and reliability.  Search on YouTube for other owners’ reviews on the model you are considering.
Documentation & ownership
  • Carte grise: Ensure the seller is the legal owner
  • Insurance claim history (useful for accident history)
  • Service book/history: Proof of regular maintenance – sometimes digital
  • Crit-Air Certificate: Still mandatory in many regions
  • Loan Status: Make sure there’s no outstanding loan or lease on the car
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Check the VIN on the chassis, engine, and documents match
Car’s physical condition
Exterior:
  • Scratches, dents, rust, uneven paint may indicate previous accident damage/repair
  • Condition of tyres – uneven wear may indicate alignment issues
  • Windscreen & lights – cracks or fogging
Interior:
  • Seats, upholstery and roof lining condition
  • Functionality of AC, heater, infotainment system
  • Dashboard warning lights
  • Window, lock and mirror controls
On the test drive
  • Steering alignment and play
  • Smooth drive engagement
  • Brake responsiveness and noises
  • Suspension comfort
  • Acceleration and pickup
Mileage (kilometrage) & odometer
  • Cross-check the kilometrage with the car’s age and service records
  • Be cautious of tampered odometers
Accident or Flood Damage
  • Look for mismatched paint and welding marks
  • Rust in odd places like under carpet or seats
  • Musty smells or water lines inside
Vehicle History
Optional but wise
  • Mechanic inspection: Have a trusted mechanic evaluate the car
  • Check recall history: Ensure all recalls have been addressed
  • Spare key & tools: Ask about duplicate keys, original tools and spare tyre
Special points for electrical vehicles (EVs)
Battery Health: This is the most critical aspect of an electric car. EV batteries degrade over time, losing capacity and range. Ask for a detailed battery health report and check the battery’s condition from the car’s onboard computer.
Usage: Higher kilometrage can indicate more wear and tear. Check the car’s history and previous usage patterns (from the car’s onboard computer). Frequent rapid charging can also affect battery health.
Service history and updates: Ensure the car has been regularly serviced and maintained and look for records of battery health checks, software updates and any repairs. Some EVs require periodic software updates to maintain optimal performance and safety features
Charging System: Check the condition of the charging port and type and condition of cables supplied.  Ensure the car can be easily charged at home or at public charging stations
Warranty: Verify if the car is still under warranty, especially for the battery and electric components.
Range and Efficiency: Check the car’s range and percentage charge.  Compare it with the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure it meets your needs.
Insurance: Get an estimate for insurance costs from your insurer.
Battery Rental: Be aware that some models, particularly the Renault Zoe, launched with the battery rented for a monthly fee. This made the original purchase cost cheaper, and subsequent pre-owned price cheaper, but the new buyer will still have to pay the monthly rental costs  Look for ‘Achat intégral’ on any sales information to avoid this and which will mean the purchase is outright and doesn’t contain this battery rental element.
Buying a used EV can be a smart move, but it’s essential to do your homework and take the time to find the right one for you.

The camera you carry.

The year is 2006, the place is Royal Tunbridge Wells in England.

I have gone in to town to do some shopping. It was a lovely sunny August day.

My DSLR at the time was my Canon EOS20D (8.3 Megapixels), but it was at home.

I only had my mobile phone with me. It was a Nokia 6230i it has a camera, all of 1.3 Megapixels. It was my first mobile phone with a camera. It’s tiny and easily fits in my jeans pocket. The battery lasts for days….and the phone still works in 2025!

On the way in to the car park I came across an unusual sight, lots of bricks covering the road, the area is taped off, but I managed to get past it.

I made my way up to the top floor as I know there were always spaces up there.

Before going shopping I walked to a vantage point on the top floor of the car park. I was surprised to see it gave me a clear view of the partially collapsed wall of a supermarket on the opposite side of the road.

Only having my mobile phone I took a few photos, just to show my wife. However, when I got home I decided to email them to the local paper. Mainly to alert them, so that they could get one of their own photographers there. I didn’t think my photos would be worthy of being published.

Imagine my surprise when they actually published my photo and credited me (top right corner of the picture in the paper).

Even more surprising when they highlighted the photo again 19 years later on their Facebook page under the headline ‘Do you remember……’

The vantage point you can see from Street View! the corner of the car park on the 4th floor.

It doesn’t matter what camera you have, being in the right place at the right time is what matters! Even with a very retro (now) 1.3 Megapixel phone camera!!

As a footnote, the wall was only exterior ‘decoration’ the internal wall was the load bearing wall, the building didn’t collapse and the exterior wall was quickly repaired. Why it collapsed I don’t know. Water ingress may be.

British Post Office Tool Case No. 3

Let me introduce you to the British Post Office Tool Case No. 3.

These tool cases have been around I’m told for over 50 years, I have two of them, one of them is about 40 years old, the other celebrates its 30th birthday this year! Whilst I didn’t work for the ‘Post Office’ or British Telecom as it would now be or BT for short, I did work for a government organisation with close ties to the GPO, PO, BT etc.

So here are the two cases I have.

The older one is the one on the left and it’s had a hard life! The only main differences between them is the ID pocket on the outside of the older one and the saddles on the handle strap are sewn to the case on the older one, where as they are riveted on the ‘newer’ one on the right.

Looking at the older one now in some more detail.

As you can see the leather is very soft and supple on this one. It’s currently empty waiting for me to renew the zip on it. A job I did about 28 years ago as well as redoing some of the stitching. The leather hasn’t had any special treatment since it was issued to me.

So opened out you can see the running loops running across the case for tools to slot in to, these can be varied in size and they tend to stay at the same tension all the time, no elastic is used, just leather.

The big pocket on the left is for small items and it is held shut with big press studs.

And moving on to the ‘newer’ one.

As you can see from the stitching the design is the same with only a few minor differences. Not quite a supple as the older one, but it is gradually getting there I guess, may be another 20 years and it will be as good.  It still has the original zip on this one, but the tag fell off some years ago and a cable tie has been serving that duty since!

And here is it fully populated with tools, some of the tools are the same age as the older case, still giving good service, no need to replace them. The side cutters are new though, these do become blunt or damaged with use. It didn’t come with all of the tools you see, I added to it over the years, hence doubling up on the loops!

And again inside the pocket are some additional hand tools, bits and bobs etc.

 

The remarkable thing about these tool cases is that you can still buy them, not cheap I give you that, but as you can see they will last a life time! They are available from this company Canford in UK sizing details are in their own PDF file.