Bentley Electric

[Christopher Carnley]

The electric Bentley XP12Speed6e.

How much electricity and Diesel oil goes into making an "eco car"? B.S.



Bob Burrell the builder of DOC9 and his electric Edison.
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[Stephen Blakey]

Not a lot of progress for a century of human endeavour. It's got a bit lower and a lot more powerful, and uses far more non-renewables in its construction and use. However that's not my main concern regarding electric cars.

For reasons that I won't bore you with, I don't normally allow myself the luxury of gloom, however on this occasion I'm prepared to make an exception.

The big problem with electric cars is going to be creating and recycling the battery packs. It's not that long ago that 250 discharge cycles was considered good going then the battery had had it. The manufacturers are quite coy about where they've got to now.

If we just concern ourselves with the vehicle fleet on our own tiny island; 32 million cars, and assume a battery weight of a third of a tonne that's 10 million tonnes of mostly toxic heavy metal whizzing about that will need reprocessing every couple of years by the company that gives the cheapest quote for doing it. That means, over a two year period all ten million tonnes will get shipped to Africa (which is already the go-to destination for toxic metal reprocessing), and millions of tonnes of toxic waste are going to end up in the sea.

Do they think we're all stupid?

Rant over. Positive head back on

[Christopher Carnley]

We know we know! Did,nt you see the two letters at the end of sentence 2, above?
Have you any plans for resolving the gross pollution from urban and other Diesel oil fueled vehicles?

[Stephen Blakey]

Yes, move into a national park. I've already done it.

[John Robison]

I had the same concern re the batteries. But here in the USA we've had cars like the Toyota Prius on the road for a long time. Many examples are at 150-200k miles and they have obviously seen thousands of charge discharge cycles and they remain functional. So the batteries last longer than anyone thought.

I share your concern about recycling thought and wonder about the energy it takes to manufacture the batteries in the first place. They say the same about solar cells for roofs of buildings

[Roger Brotton]

Chris, it isn't an ''eco'' car. It's all hype. It's B.S. baffles brains again. Technically brilliant, yes. You only have to read any forum anywhere, of any modern car to understand the entire system is flawed from start to finish. When any major electronic faults appear...it's cheaper to scrap the car than fix it. That, even on a good day does not make economic sense anywhere. Perfect, mechanically good cars are being scrapped by the thousands every day, all because of modern day electronics. They are only fit for purpose for a couple of years, if you are lucky. After that, it's downhill all the way. Just take a look at our forums on the later cars. ''A brake-light bulb goes out, and takes out the cruise-control with it''. Spare me from it !

[Paul Spencer]

Yes, but the XP10speed6e (the convertible version), based on pictures alone, is the first modern Bentley that I would actually consider buying if I wanted to spend that much on a car. If they make it of course.

My tablet wanted to change car to caravan. Makes a change from from my lorry I suppose.

[John Robins]

When my wife's little automatic car coughed its last I thought of buying an electric car for a runabout vehicle for use on short local trips. Nobody seemed willing to tell me how far it would go on a cold winter's night with the heater, lights, wipers etc. switched on so the thought remains just that. It does seem to be that these things are being hyped up by people with no knowledge of the actual facts of physics, and that the real answer may lie in technology to clean the nitrogen oxides and particulates from diesel exhaust.

The BBC seems to think that internal combustion is evil and electric propulsion answers all questions, the Radio 4 Today programme being particularly guilty in this respect. Since most of their participants live in central London, and equate diesel with clapped out Austin FX4s and Routemaster buses it seems this mindset will stay with us.

As for the politicians, who knows? Electric broughams for them, Shanks's pony for the electorate.

Does the electric Bentley have its motors in those wheels?

[Paul Spencer]

I also looked when my wife last changed her car, and also rejected the idea. The best solution for me would be a car with a petrol engine that would sustain reasonable speeds with electric assistance just for acceleration. I reckon 1200cc petrol would do the job with an electric boost to make the output equivalent to, say, 300bhp when I want it. Then I want a smart charger that will use electricity from my solar panels when possible, but contrariwise, always have the battery full when I want it. This should be more fuel efficient than just a petrol engine. Although again, who knows in terms of lifetime energy costs. The requirements of city dwellers are different. The more traditional plug-in hybrid makes some sense there. Mind you, pollution levels here in Chipping Norton are illegally high. The official response is to wait for less polluting vehicles to be developed.

The Bentley has two motors - one for the front wheels, one for the back.

[Stephen Blakey]

When my wife's little automatic car coughed its last I thought of buying an electric car for a runabout vehicle for use on short local trips. Nobody seemed willing to tell me how far it would go on a cold winter's night with the heater, lights, wipers etc. switched on so the thought remains just that. It does seem to be that these things are being hyped up by people with no knowledge of the actual facts of physics, and that the real answer may lie in technology to clean the nitrogen oxides and particulates from diesel exhaust.

The BBC seems to think that internal combustion is evil and electric propulsion answers all questions, the Radio 4 Today programme being particularly guilty in this respect. Since most of their participants live in central London, and equate diesel with clapped out Austin FX4s and Routemaster buses it seems this mindset will stay with us.

As for the politicians, who knows? Electric broughams for them, Shanks's pony for the electorate.

Does the electric Bentley have its motors in those wheels?

What a fabulous post! I agree with all of it. I've got to the age now where I have to switch the radio off sometimes and calm down. Don't you just love it when the abbreviate "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island" to "London"?

One of my old Ford Product Development colleagues now lives in Oslo and, despite being a lifelong petrol head and speed merchant, loves his Nissan Leaf. The fact that he is allowed to drive it in the bus lanes probably helps. He's a good sort so if you'd like to ask him about real-world experience, I can put you in touch.

Come to think of it, I had a neighbour with a Leaf a few years back. I nearly got run over by it on a couple of occasions because you don't hear them coming.

Best wishes,

Stephen

[Christopher Carnley]

A Diesel oil engined old Citroen in the Peak District National Park!

[John Robins]

Thank you Stephen, for your kind remark.

The requirement for a dodgem car has now gone away as my wife has some health problems which have caused her to give up her driving licence. It would seem that the if the Leaf it can be used in Oslo there must be enough energy stored in its battery to suffice for winters in Stafford.

On the more global outlook, it does still seem that the debt owed to the planet for personal mobility would not be reduced enough to justify the use of these cars when the total needs of chemical extraction, purification and subsequent disposal are added to the additional power generation and distribution infrastructure that would be needed. There is also danger that the scribblers and "opinion formers" are unable to spot the difference between the effects of concentrated pollution in city traffic, overloading the atmosphere with carbon dioxide, and too much consumption of non renewables, not just for fuel, but for the actual guts of the batteries, motors and associated electronic devices. It's not just the petroleum that might run out, but the copper, the germanium or the lithium.

The few million quid pledged by the Chancellor yesterday won't even scratch the surface of the need for research into much more efficient electrical energy storage, recovery and distribution.

Enough, enough! Where's my bike?

[Charles R Simmers]

It all comes down to combustion.
External Combustion - Steam
Internal Combustion - Gas/Diesel
Remote Combustion - Electric
Something has to burn somewhere.

[Christopher Carnley]

I watched a very interesting US programme on TV last year,concerning the progress and degree of recycling, interrupted by an annoying woman giving a very pointed critique of the whole matter.
Her explanation is that is it as just a sop to overproduction and over consumption, to which I have to agree.
See the number of car plants and supermarkets closing and the reduction in oil prices.

A small part of the Pacific Ocean garbage patch.