Steve

Into the future

In this final article in the series, I would like to cover future technology and its influence on personal transport.

Solar Power V2H. Currently, if you have photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof, you can install a home battery to store excess energy generated during the day and use it at night.

In the future, it will be possible to connect your electric vehicle directly to your home’s PV system, using the car’s battery to store surplus energy and power your house when needed.

This setup is known as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H). The main advantage is that an EV typically has a much larger battery capacity than a standard home storage system. With the right settings, you can ensure that enough charge remains in the car, so it stays fully usable for driving.

Electric Car Leasing. At the time of writing, the French government is reopening its subsidised electric car ‘social leasing’ programme on 30 September. Eligible households with a taxable income below €16,300 per part can lease certain EVs for 3–5 years, with a subsidy of over €7,000, thus lowering costs.

Monthly payments will range from €95–€200, slightly higher than for the 2024 scheme. Applicants must meet additional criteria (e.g. commuting more than or equal to 15 km, professional use, no prior bonus écologiquegrant). The scheme is funded via certificats d’économie d’énergie rather than the state budget. Applications will be submitted through an official online portal, and dossiers can be prepared in advance.

Off Peak Electricity. From November, electricity off-peak hours will shift from evening to afternoon, affecting when households can access cheaper rates. This impacts cost-saving habits like EV charging. Electricity account holders will be notified in advance so they can adjust their usage.

Local Public Charging. Since I started to write these articles the local electricity company Séolis-Alterbase has modernised its electric vehicle charging accounts. They no longer cover only Deux-Sèvres, but now all of France and Europe. They now have a mobile phone app rather than having to do everything via the website and you are charged once a month rather than the amounts deducted from a pre-pay account. You may have seen their updated chargers as well as chargers in new locations.

Electric Vehicle Availability. For years, the common complaint you will read is that electric cars are too expensive. What people don’t take into account is that the running costs of an EV are much lower than a petrol or diesel car. Over a 5 to10 year span (depending on your annual usage) the cost balances out in the favour of electric vehicles.

However, as manufacturers have been reducing the production of their petrol and diesel cars and increasing the number of hybrid and pure electric vehicles, difference in price is narrowing fast.

I recently saw that with the grant here in France, the EV model of a particular small car was the same price as the petrol model. Percentage-wise, the price difference now isn’t that large, as the price of petrol or petrol-hybrid cars has been increasing in recent years.

Smaller, more family suited electric vehicles are coming onto the market, replacing their petrol equivalents that will soon cease to be produced.

Sadly, I don’t have an up-to-date crystal ball to know when the right time is to buy. You will need to weigh up all the factors depending on your personal circumstances and make that decision yourself.

Hydrogen Fuelled Cars: This might be the fuel of the future. However, the cost of refuelling and the scarcity of refuelling stations will be the factor that holds you back at present.

The cost of refuelling is currently about €15 per kg and 1kg is enough for about 100km (using various manufacturers’ figures).

In our part of France, one refuelling station is south of Tours, the other in La Roche-sur-Yon. Further afield, there are some in the Paris region, but none near the costal ports. In the UK, one can be found in West London and the other in Birmingham.

If range anxiety concerns you about EVs, I think you would be even more nervous about running a hydrogen car (at the moment at least). Therefore, our grandchildren or great grandchildren might be the ones to be driving hydrogen fuelled vehicles, if owning a car is still permitted or even current in 40-50 years’ time.

Thank you for your interest and support through this series. Don’t forget to check out our EV owners group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dsevowners/

Time

It is that time of year again when our clocks change, where I live the clocks will go back one hour on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Whilst a lot of things around the house will automatically adjust their time without any intervention. I still have a list of things that need to be changed manually. Some are easier than others. I’m looking at you Mr Microwave….

Having a check list in my Filofax has certainly helped me avoid missing one or two items.

I cheat in the sense that rather than waiting for Sunday morning to go through the whole list I will do some of them in advance, leaving only the ‘visible’ clocks to be changed on Sunday morning.

To get back to photography, it’s a good opportunity to reset the time on my cameras. Oddly my three Canon DSLR’s seem to gain time, about 3 minutes or more in about 6 months since the last clock change, were as my Nikon D300 was correct to within a few seconds.

Personally I hate clocks that aren’t on the correct time! But that’s just me.

Are there any digital cameras that automatically set the correct local time?

HEV vs PHEV vs EV vs ICE

Hybrid, Full EV or Other?

When buying a new—or new-to-you—car today, the choice of power unit can feel overwhelming, with a growing mix of acronyms and technologies. Here’s a breakdown of the main options.

Petrol and Diesel

The most familiar engines are still petrol and diesel.

- Petrol cars are straightforward to service and widely accepted in cities. They are less fuel-efficient than diesels but currently face fewer restrictions than diesels in urban areas.
- Diesel cars offer better fuel economy but are subject to low-emission zone restrictions in cities such as London. Only the newest models are exempt from daily charges.

Both options come with manual or automatic gearboxes, but as governments plan to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicle sales within the next decade, manufacturers are focusing more on hybrids and EVs. Worth noting that some hybrids carry higher servicing costs compared with pure EVs.

Hybrid (HEV)

Hybrids, or ‘self-charging hybrids’, combine a traditional fossil fuel engine with a small battery and electric motor. The battery recharges through regenerative braking or from the engine during cruising. The electric motor mainly assists during acceleration, but has limited ability to run in electric-only mode.

Hybrids improve fuel efficiency—petrol hybrids often match diesel economy—and servicing costs are similar to petrol cars.

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)

PHEVs use larger batteries that can be recharged from the mains electricity supply. They allow for short electric-only trips (typically up to 50 km), after which they run like standard petrol or diesel vehicles.

The purchase price is higher than hybrids or petrol/diesel cars due to the additional technology, but servicing costs remain similar to equivalent petrol or diesel models.

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

BEVs are fully electric, with no combustion engine. This eliminates fuel stops and reduces servicing, since there are fewer moving parts—only essentials like tyres, brakes, coolant, and wipers remain. With zero emissions, they are also far better for the environment.

BEVs use large battery packs powering one or more electric motors. Charging can be done at home or at public points and ranges continue to improve with new battery technology. Though the upfront cost is higher, lifetime running costs are significantly lower, particularly in countries like France where charging is much cheaper than in the UK.

Other Options

- Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are technically EVs that generate power from hydrogen to charge a battery. However, high refuelling costs and a lack of filling stations make them less than practical. Many see them as the “Betamax” of the car world—innovative but unlikely to dominate.
- Range Extender EVs (REX) use a small petrol engine solely to recharge the battery while driving. The petrol engine never powers the wheels directly, which makes running the vehicle efficient but limited. The range is still restricted, especially when extra energy is needed for heating or lighting in winter.

Conclusion

The landscape of car powertrains is evolving rapidly. Petrol and diesel remain familiar but face phase-outs and increasing restrictions. Hybrids offer a good middle ground while plug-in hybrids add more electric-only flexibility (at a higher cost). Pure EVs deliver the best long-term savings and environmental benefits, although their higher purchase price can be a hurdle. Hydrogen and range-extender options exist but are unlikely to become mainstream.

For most buyers, the decision comes down to balancing upfront cost, driving habits and requirements, and long-term running expenses in a world moving steadily toward electric mobility.

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?