Electronics in cars

John Murch · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 6:06 pm Post subject: Electronics in cars

I am increasingly concerned about the potential life of cars with amazingly complex electronics.
We don’t expect our laptops, phones, ipads etc., to survive for ten to fifteen years, in cars the electronics get a far harder environment and life. I’m not sure of the solution, perhaps a design life of say ten years at which point the whole car could be recycled?

Nicholas Simons · Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 7:33 pm Post subject:

John
When people talk of the carbon footprint of a car they always forget the carbon footprint of the car's manufacture and disposal or recycling. The use of complex electronics makes the life expectancy of a modern car quite short, certainly a lot less than the life expectancy of the mechanical parts that make it go. Taking all this into account makes the modern car probably the least green car ever built. If I am asked to justify the use of my 10 mpg 1926 RR Phantom in today's 'climate emergency' world I tell them that it has a lower lifetime carbon footprint than their modern electric car, given that it has outlived at least half a dozen or more normal cars and therefore saved the planet the carbon footprint of all that manufacture and scrappage.
Alongside the short life expectancy of modern cars there is the additional danger of driving a car where the driver is continually distracted by gizmos, making the process more dangerous for all.
And while I'm ranting about modern technology that is supposed to make life better for all, what about condensing boilers? It is now illegal to install any boiler that does not incorporate a condensing cycle. This adds to the complexity with the result that they will need replacement parts every few years. The overall cost will end up greater than if one hadn't got the condensing cycle and just used a bit more gas, so nobody wins, apart from the plumber.
And don't get me started on this mad idea to ban the use of gas for heating homes. Where is all the electricity going to come from, and do people realise how much more expensive electricity is per unit of heat?
Sorry. Rant over.

Paul Spencer · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 11:05 am Post subject:

Eliminating the distraction has to be the next stage in car evolution. My wife's Fiesta has voice control for the infotainment, but is still complicated and you have to look at a screen to make sure you use exactly the right command. A decent Alexa-style AI system would fix that, so the technology is there.

DavidThompson · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 4:17 pm Post subject:

I could eliminate the distraction by switching off the wife's voice control, but haven't discovered how to do that yet.

DavidThompson · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 4:18 pm Post subject:

I could eliminate the distraction by switching off the wife's voice control, but haven't discovered how to do that yet.

Philip Edginton · Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 10:37 am Post subject:

I often feel like recycling my car when the ancient electrics play up.I always wonder why there is no updated service kit to bring this part of the vehicle up to date.My present annoyance is the over complicated headlamp/lighting on my SZ model. But do not get me started on the central locking/alarms.

Ewan Gallie · Joined: 29 Oct 1997 Posts: 184 Location: Italy

I would suggest that our modern technologically advanced motor cars, once they have been manufactured in ‘clean?’ factories, will need more and more electricity to keep them running. We are transferring the pollution source from single modes of transport to one big collective power station, to keep the batteries charged. How do we keep our power stations producing more clean energy for our homes and methods of transport?
In the not too distant future, the roads will be so congested anyway, even getting to the local shops will be a time-consuming exercise.
Ciao,
Ewan

John Robins · Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:40 pm Post subject:

Possibly the biggest risk these days in terms of using one’s non computerised 10 mpg antique motor car is the likelihood of an ill informed non believer from extinction rebellion gluing themself to your coachwork. Explanations made on the lines of the above post from Nicholas would probably have little leverage, each rebellionist seen on tv seems, so far, to have a very closed mind.

In respect of electronic longevity, my 30 plus year old Technics gramophone still works fine, the only problem being a failed dashpot on a tape drive, but that’s mechanical.

(I use the word “gramophone” - hi-fi it certainly never was!)

Cheers and Happy New Year.

John

Nicholas Simons · Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2019 9:23 am Post subject:

John
I can beat you with home entertainment longevity. My 'hi-fi' is the one I bought when I left university and is still going strong 45 years later, although the turntable is on its third drive belt. My piano is over 100 years old that that plays itself if I am feeling lazy.

John Murch · Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2019 10:49 am Post subject:

Charles Skinner · Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 12:35 pm Post subject:

Oh so very right you and others are Nicholas. As I have argued before, lobbying by vested interests has over at least the past thirty years become a major influence on Westminster and Whitehall. Lobbying of course is nothing new and is by no means unique to the UK. Nor is it inherently bad, especially in a free market capitalist economy, but regulation is woefully inadequate. Philosophically, I am not a fan of regulation but unfortunately it is necessary. Inefficient, in whole life terms, technology abounds from windfarms through condensing boilers to limited life modern cars. There are many others which are heavily subsidised by we taxpayers and the lobbyists are paid most generously. Sorry to be somewhat serious on New Year's Day but when oh when will the white elephant that is in my view the UN really wake up to the problem that lies squarely at the root of most of the Earth's pain - over population. In spite of that, A happy, healthy and prosperous 2020 to all. Charles

Philip Edginton · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 9:28 pm Post subject:

where should I start my rant, well first I find that the electronics on computers do not fail as such, it is the human side who wishes to change or upgrade rather than keep for more than 5/7 years, afraid of being left behind.
I have decided that my Brooklands is having fun with me. I have the left side main beam not working, plus often the headlamps will not work and I have to rely on the first light switch settings, on headlamps when switched all the way they flicker as though loose.Now the fuel flap will not operate from the dash, but coming home last night the headlamps worked even including the dip/main beam.Just don't ask me about the central locking, key only.
However it is a pleasure to cruise the highways and crawl around town.The engine is a delight after having the gaskets done.
I am looking into modernising the electronics and cabling and rather than going over old info, has anyone been along this route.