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Seldom Bucket

Seldom Bucket

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When batteries become bombs: carmakers in hot water over electric car fires
SEOUL - Hyundai is being sued over a string of battery fires in its electric vehicles, just as General Motors recalls nearly 70 000 EVs with batteries from the same maker, LG Chem.

The owner of a Hyundai Kona EV, a South Korean civil servant who asked to be identified only by his surname Kim, is among some 200 people who lodged a class-action lawsuit against Hyundai last week, seeking compensation for what they say is the reduced value of their EVs and other losses, Kim and two lawyers representing them told Reuters. The court filing is not a public record.

Kim had initiated a petition drive to sue the Seoul-based carmaker after the same brand of EV caught fire in his neighbourhood, forcing about 20 residents to evacuate their homes.

One of the lawyers said they were initially seeking 8 million won (R110 880) per plaintiff but they could increase demand as the trial proceeds.

The plaintiffs want Hyundai to replace the entire battery pack - the most expensive part of the vehicle - of their Kona EVs, not just update the software, as the company's recall provides.


EV sales are climbing globally as the technology holds out the promise of cleaner transportation, with costs falling and driving ranges increasing. But the emerging risk of fire from overheated batteries could set back the entire industry.

This also comes as Hyundai is planning to expand its electric vehicle portfolio through a new sub-brand called Ioniq.
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www.iol.co.za

When batteries become bombs: carmakers in hot water over electric car fires

A battery that is not safe is like a bomb, battery expert warns as Hyundai and other carmakers face a backlash over recent electric car fires.
www.iol.co.za www.iol.co.za
 
satanboy

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Electric vehicles are supremely cool but one of the downsides is having to stop and charge the things, a problem that Aptera is trying to solve with its latest vehicle. After their previous three-wheeled EV didn’t secure the funding it needed to go into development, the company is trying again but this time it’s using solar panels. The inclusion of these panels means that the car will never have to be manually charged or at least, that’s what Aptera wants to be the case. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen.

The panels will reportedly deliver roughly 45 miles (or 72km) per day to the two seater vehicle. So if you’re planning of simply driving within that range for a day, you should be sorted. Yet Aptera has claimed that the EV can do 1,000 miles on a charge which seems… unlikely to say the least.

Preorders for the vehicle are now open and Aptera is looking at shipping the vehicles in the early parts of 2021. Of course, something like this is going to cost you a decent chunk of cash as the price will range from anywhere between $25,900 and $46,000 (R394, 366 to R700, 419).

Source: The Verge
 
biometrics

biometrics

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satanboy said:
View attachment 9384
Electric vehicles are supremely cool but one of the downsides is having to stop and charge the things, a problem that Aptera is trying to solve with its latest vehicle. After their previous three-wheeled EV didn’t secure the funding it needed to go into development, the company is trying again but this time it’s using solar panels. The inclusion of these panels means that the car will never have to be manually charged or at least, that’s what Aptera wants to be the case. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen.

The panels will reportedly deliver roughly 45 miles (or 72km) per day to the two seater vehicle. So if you’re planning of simply driving within that range for a day, you should be sorted. Yet Aptera has claimed that the EV can do 1,000 miles on a charge which seems… unlikely to say the least.

Preorders for the vehicle are now open and Aptera is looking at shipping the vehicles in the early parts of 2021. Of course, something like this is going to cost you a decent chunk of cash as the price will range from anywhere between $25,900 and $46,000 (R394, 366 to R700, 419).

Source: The Verge
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Parking in the sun becomes popular...
 
biometrics

biometrics

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Mad_Dog said:
Or you could do this thing where you have metal things moving inside other metal things. Then you fill it with a liquid from underground and when that liquid runs out you stop for more and continue going
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Free energy is the dream.
 
Düber

Düber

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Mad_Dog said:
Or you could do this thing where you have metal things moving inside other metal things. Then you fill it with a liquid from underground and when that liquid runs out you stop for more and continue going
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Don't be ridiculous, such a thing would never work.
 
Düber

Düber

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biometrics said:
Why would you go elsewhere when it's under warranty? Surely you'll pay for the repair rather than it being free?
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The "service" part of the purchase price is going to be unbundled from the "cost" of the car, so things will be more transparent and give you more choice as to where you want to service your car and what you want to pay for that service, without affecting your warranty anymore.
No doubt you could still purchase the service plan should you so choose.

The big takeaway is that your car can be serviced at an independent workshop without it voiding the warranty (hopefully saving you some money .)
 
biometrics

biometrics

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Düber said:
The "service" part of the purchase price is going to be unbundled from the "cost" of the car, so things will be more transparent and give you more choice as to where you want to service your car and what you want to pay for that service, without affecting your warranty anymore.
No doubt you could still purchase the service plan should you so choose.

The big takeaway is that your car can be serviced at an independent workshop without it voiding the warranty (hopefully saving you some money .)
Click to expand...
I see. Ok that wasn't clear.

Then again my "free" service plan last years longer than my "free" warranty. So does it matter?
 
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