Author Topic: The moaning old git thread (Read 534300 times)

nigel s · « **Reply #3920 on:** July 10, 2024, 17:55:33 »

Hell No.......leave me out of it........When it comes to a well constructed moan I am a mere amateur.
True genius should be recognised for what it is.

Ho Hum

2112 · « **Reply #3921 on:** July 12, 2024, 10:35:12 »

EV charger operators - why do you have to be so crap ???

Our recnt trip around Scotland highlighted the fact that most EV chargers either don't work, work on low power (about as much use as something that's not much use), need an app' to operate them but there is no phone signal, or need a dedicated RFID card (EV charge card) to operate them. Why can't you just work on a bank card or credit card ? Chargeplace Scotland (who operate a large network of EV chargers across the country) used to be quite good, but have declined massively since our last visit. No one answers the helpline, app's don't work often enough (I'm still charging the car in Ballater apparently) and most are just not working.

A bit like bikers EV drivers are in general a frinedly enough bunch and are usually very happy to have a chat. Everyone we spoke to had the same issues as us and some were really struggling, especially the overseas drivers (mostly Dutch). If the government want's to hit any viable environmental targets this needs to improve double-quick. I spole to one Dutch driver who was going back to diesel as he was so fed up.

The only chargers (and there were very few of them in Scotland) that regularly worked were the BP Pulse and Shell Recharge. Obviously & predictably, these were also the most expensive at 85p per kWh (or about £10 for 50 miles, hardly a bargain but worth every penny when the battery is getting low...).

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #3922 on:** July 12, 2024, 11:28:33 »

Jeepers - £10 for 50miles!!! #yorkshirebattlecry

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #3923 on:** July 12, 2024, 12:20:08 »

We're on BP Pulse at work. Rather unreliable.

StromGeeza · « **Reply #3924 on:** July 12, 2024, 14:34:09 »

Part of this will be due to the remoteness of much of Scotland, to be fair there are probably not that many filling stations in many parts too. Unfortunately charge points that were installed by public bodies have suffered like everything else, as councils have been so starved of funding for years, they haven't been maintained properly.
Anything that needs an app fills me with dread as it's just another potential failure point. Contactless is the way to go.
FWIW, as a counterpoint my cost for 50 miles is less then £1 in summer, charging at home on solar and overnight cheap rate, maybe doubling to £2 over winter when solar output is obviously way less.
A rare expensive public charge doesn't shift the dial that much.

2112 · « **Reply #3925 on:** July 12, 2024, 16:27:47 »

Predictably, my Chargeplace Scotland RFID card arrived today. Three weeks late....

Brockett · « **Reply #3926 on:** July 12, 2024, 22:47:17 »

In a local shopping area the carparking spaces outside Argos, an inconvenience to the maximum number of shoppers, to have been chained off and Charge stations are being erected. In the Chelmsford area is a shopping area half the parking spaces are being converted to charging stations. Given the expense of the works, the people investing is these things must be expecting a huge return.

NeilM · « **Reply #3927 on:** July 13, 2024, 07:14:28 »

2112: There is a youtube channel called Marc Travels. He's a German bloke riding around the world on an electric bike.

He did a lap of the UK, as did Teapot One, around two years ago and found exactly the same issues and Wales was worse than Scotland.

The business model all these EV companies have adopted is all wrong. They have focussed on fleet use instead of point of sale.

It's unsurprising to hear of people considering a return to ICE vehicles.

2112 · « **Reply #3928 on:** July 13, 2024, 07:16:40 »

Yes, I've watched the Teapot one video. It's a sorry state and no mistake, no doubt it will be a top priority for our new leaders to address...

Upt North · « **Reply #3929 on:** July 13, 2024, 10:06:16 »

NeilM, folks aren't considering moving back to ICE cars, they are returning to ICE in droves. Manufacturers have concentrated on high end EV's which are about as much use as a choccy tea pot when it comes to driving them to somewhere more distant than your local McD's.
Still yes, I'm sure the new government will have new free charging stations on every street corner by a week on Monday.
Some manufacturers have finally decided to build commuter EV's at a reasonable cost to the consumer, and good on em, as for £50k EV's with 0 to 60 times of three seconds and a 200 mile range who does that really cater for?
I would say folks with more money than sense with a few exceptions.
Although these folks too will have a depreciation shock when they trade em in.
Check out Autotrader for EV prices, they're dropping quicker than a tarts knickers.
Upt.

Brockett · « **Reply #3930 on:** July 13, 2024, 13:33:15 »

As the day for banning the sale of ICE vehicles gets nearer, what will any government wishing to ever be re-elected do. ( this is the UK where "if" is no longer applicable due to NIMBYISM and political and Civil Service incompetence and the word "when" must be used) When the charging facilities remain inadequate, when electric cars are too expensive, and when battery chemicals are in short supply. People will be reduced to living as they did in 1890. Of course mototcycles will be the first to suffer a sales ban because "they can" and we don't matter. If that doesn't lead to too many riots they'll not have to ban ICE vehicles but may increase the price of fuel to make it unaffordable or maybe introduce rationing or both. Very few people will be able to go to work, got to the shops, visit relatives etc. and the economy will collapse PDQ.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #3931 on:** July 13, 2024, 13:50:34 »

I'd bet we end up going down alternative/synthetic fuels rather than just electric as a means to replace ICE

2112 · « **Reply #3932 on:** July 13, 2024, 14:25:33 »

A few studies from the effects of burning hydrogen as fuel are showing a worrying effect on the upper atmosphere. As we know, burning/combusting hydrogen with oxygen produces water as a by product, all good. But, when you burn/combust hydrogen with air which is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen itself, nitrous oxide, xenon, ozone, iodine, carbon monoxide and some ammonia trace compounds it's not so simple. The problem is all sorts of weird oxides & nitrides are created which can do significant damage to the ozone layer. These vary under the conditions they are made such as tempreture & compression and they are very difficult to filter out of the exhaust gasses. Methanol looks the least damaging option and could be used by most diesel engines without much modification. It could be used by aviation too, but it's difficult to see when it's on fire...

Whatever happens, it's not going to be either easy or cheap.

Sir Trev · « **Reply #3933 on:** July 13, 2024, 15:25:44 »

I'm beginning to lose track of how many times I've been let down recently... SW Motech took my order for an accessory bar for the Strom last month and the next day sent me an email saying it was on backorder and would not be in stock for four weeks, despite taking my money straight away. The shop asked me to give a week or so as notice for my initial 800 mile service, but when I went to book in they can't see me for over three weeks. That means the days out on the bike I had planned for this month have been scrapped as it will put too many miles on it before the needed oil change. I'm supposed to be seeing my old uni mates in Leamington tomorrow but Chiltern are running rail replacement busses, so I'll have to drive instead and stay sober. And top it off, one of the said mates has admitted today to being ill all week with what he now knows is Covid, so the whole trip has been postponed. What else is going to go wrong?!

The Doctor 46 · « **Reply #3934 on:** July 13, 2024, 16:55:46 »

Why not order the accessory from AliExpress? You will still have to wait but it will probably cost a lot less. Change the oil and filter yourself so new oil on time, saving money and you don't have to wait to use your bike. As for your mate having covid, by the time he is well and you make a new date the trains will be running so you can get very very drunk. Sorted. Always look on the bright side of life.

Hugo Magnus · « **Reply #3935 on:** July 13, 2024, 17:55:47 »

Storm Geeza said " councils have been so starved of funding for years"
Councils have huge incomes, apart from dustbin collection every two weeks I have no idea where the money goes.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #3936 on:** July 13, 2024, 20:54:37 »

Schools, social care, mental health services, social housing, libraries, parks, road maintenance, street lighting, anti-social behaviour enforcement, traffic enforcement, police, fire services to name a few places their money goes...

don't buy into the idea they have massive incomes and there's waste to be cut. Cuts have been happening for years which is why everything is on its knees.

Moving back to moaning, I had to report a driver to the police last week as I was crossing the road with the kids at a pedestrian crossing and it started flashing so he drove straight at the kids. Having shouted at him to stop, he said it was our fault as the lights were flashing, before sticking his finger up and driving off. Not sure what the police will do, but at least they have a record of the behaviour.

Hugo Magnus · « **Reply #3937 on:** July 14, 2024, 08:21:21 »

I live in the countryside and don't (or rarely) benefit from:

"Schools, social care, mental health services, social housing, libraries, parks, road maintenance, street lighting, anti-social behaviour enforcement, traffic enforcement, police, fire services to name a few places their money goes... "
Council tax alone is a huge income plus what they get from central government. The tiers of bureaucracy you have to climb to get anything done are almost insurmountable. Then there is the waste, when they invest (gamble) badly and lose their pension fund, which then has to be replaced by upping the council tax. If these people were any good they'd have proper jobs.

StromGeeza · « **Reply #3938 on:** July 14, 2024, 11:23:43 »

Quote from: Hugo Magnus on July 13, 2024, 17:55:47

Storm Geeza said " councils have been so starved of funding for years"
Councils have huge incomes, apart from dustbin collection every two weeks I have no idea where the money goes.

You need to look at the whole balance sheet- what are their liabilities and outgoings- many of them legal requirements? If you've no idea where the money goes, why not do some research?
Was your birth registered? Did you ever visit a crematorium or cemetery, vote in an election, send your kids to school, go to school yourself, drive on a road, have the benefit of street lighting, visit a library or park, have a relative in social care or council housing? You get the idea... I don't think they spaff that much up against the wall!

Hugo Magnus · « **Reply #3939 on:** July 14, 2024, 12:02:13 »

My schooling was diabolical (so worthless) I'm not quite ready to visit the crematorium, there is no-one round here worth voting for, the roads are in a terrible state. There are no street lights or pavements. You need to drive or ride to get anywhere. Social housing is taken up by unmarried teenage girls with children. Have you got the idea?
Don't you come on this thread with nothing to moan about🤣😂🍺