hmm, nope. From 35 000km, I can say it's not unsafe at all. You use the mechanical brake at least 1-2 times a week, for different reasons, so the reflex really never goes away.
Single pedal driving is really a good experience. it's the future. Or should I say, the present.
hmm, nope. From 35 000km, I can say it's not unsafe at all. You use the mechanical brake at least 1-2 times a week, for different reasons, so the reflex really never goes away.
Single pedal driving is really a good experience. it's the future. Or should I say, the present.
The glaring exception is Tesla where regenerative braking is controlled with the accelerator pedal alone. It’s unsafe to train drivers to rarely use the brake pedal. It’s unsafe to have unpredictable braking force due to the condition of the battery. But since Tesla is the market leader, other EV makers are copying this control scheme. Hopefully, none of them are crazy enough to remove the Prius-style brake pedal.
There will be drivers that prefer "free wheeling" gas pedals, and others that prefer it to provide engine braking (or its electrical equivalent). Why not make it configurable?
QuoteThere will be drivers that prefer "free wheeling" gas pedals, and others that prefer it to provide engine braking (or its electrical equivalent). Why not make it configurable?
Many EVs and hybrids provide this with a "B" setting vs. a "D" setting. Certainly the Prius, Leaf, Golf GTE and e-Golf offer coast vs regen modes on the pedal. The only thing that annoys me about this is on my car, it always starts in 'D' mode, but I've learned to press the gearstick down twice when I start driving to put it in 'B' mode. I pretty much always drive in 'B' mode, only using 'D' occasionally on the motorway to improve efficiency.
It was configurable in 1960's Saabs... the driver pulled a little lever, and it engaged or disengaged a freewheeling clutch... unique feature, never seen it in any other car... but very cool!
QuoteThere will be drivers that prefer "free wheeling" gas pedals, and others that prefer it to provide engine braking (or its electrical equivalent). Why not make it configurable?
Many EVs and hybrids provide this with a "B" setting vs. a "D" setting. Certainly the Prius, Leaf, Golf GTE and e-Golf offer coast vs regen modes on the pedal. The only thing that annoys me about this is on my car, it always starts in 'D' mode, but I've learned to press the gearstick down twice when I start driving to put it in 'B' mode. I pretty much always drive in 'B' mode, only using 'D' occasionally on the motorway to improve efficiency.
Have you actually measured the difference in fuel economy? All my attempts to measure showed a small advantage to the free-wheeling mode (combined with never using the brakes)!
It was configurable in 1960's Saabs... the driver pulled a little lever, and it engaged or disengaged a freewheeling clutch... unique feature, never seen it in any other car... but very cool!
No, freewheel capability was integral to all cars fitted with optional overdrive units (extra selectable intermediate ratio epicyclic gear after the manual gearbox) back in those days - many Fords among others. They were made by Borg Warner, first developed in the 1930s and last used in a 1972 Ford model. They had a switch to enable the overdrive ratio and a mechanical lever to engage the unit (so that you could reverse!). I remember the one on my Dad's Ford Zodiac.
It was configurable in 1960's Saabs... the driver pulled a little lever, and it engaged or disengaged a freewheeling clutch... unique feature, never seen it in any other car... but very cool!
No, freewheel capability was integral to all cars fitted with optional overdrive units (extra selectable intermediate ratio epicyclic gear after the manual gearbox) back in those days - many Fords among others. They were made by Borg Warner, first developed in the 1930s and last used in a 1972 Ford model. They had a switch to enable the overdrive ratio and a mechanical lever to engage the unit (so that you could reverse!). I remember the one on my Dad's Ford Zodiac.
Saab had a special thing going on, with a freewheeling clutch. I've had the pleasure of driving one, it is really rather unique.
"An unusual feature of the Saab drivetrain was a 'freewheel' (overrunning clutch). This allowed the transmission to run faster than the engine, such as when decelerating, or descending a long hill."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_96
If I remember correctly, the 2 stroke models had it permanently enabled, but the V4 4-stroke models definitely had it configurable with a small T-shaped handle down by the floor...
You can hear it in use in this video clip:
[...]
Such devices were "all the go" in the 1930s, but they were mostly ditched for conventional systems, due to poor reliability & concern about lack of "engine braking".
That decade was one of great automotive innovation, much of which came to nothing.
One of the 1930s Singer cars had a transmission you could use in no fewer than three modes,------ as a conventional manual, a manual with automatic clutch, & a preselector.
It also had "Startex" ignition--------if your engine stalled, it would automatically re-start.
All this, without a microprocesser in sight! (unless you were a time traveller).
Ah the good old days of gross polluting winning would of a 2-stroke engine. I think there’s a reason we moved on from that technology.
Ah the good old days of gross polluting winning would of a 2-stroke engine. I think there’s a reason we moved on from that technology.
Yep, but you can't beat the sound effects!
Two strokes are still used in some applications - chain saws, leaf blowers, strimmers, etc. - it's going to be hard to dislodge them from that last stronghold, nothing beats their power-to-weight ratio!
Electric chain saws work very well until you accidentally cut the power cord. I have one for use around my property. Prefer it over the gas one. Electric and battery chain saws will never replace electric. I can’t see someone 100 feet up a tree with a 100 foot extension cord. Or your 100 feet up a tree when the battery on your chain saw dies. Other issue with electric chain saws is I just can’t seem to find an outlet in the wooded part of my property.
Issue with a broom is the just don’t work as well or as quickly as a leaf blower. I have an electric leaf blower and in 5 minutes I can clean an area that would take 45 minutes to sweep. While I’m not a fan of the noisy gas powered ones, I do understand there usefulness.
Electric chain saws work very well until you accidentally cut the power cord. I have one for use around my property. Prefer it over the gas one. Electric and battery chain saws will never replace electric. I can’t see someone 100 feet up a tree with a 100 foot extension cord. Or your 100 feet up a tree when the battery on your chain saw dies. Other issue with electric chain saws is I just can’t seem to find an outlet in the wooded part of my property.
Issue with a broom is the just don’t work as well or as quickly as a leaf blower. I have an electric leaf blower and in 5 minutes I can clean an area that would take 45 minutes to sweep. While I’m not a fan of the noisy gas powered ones, I do understand there usefulness.There are some really excellent battery powered garden tools these days, although the good ones aren't cheap. I used a battery powered hedge trimmer some time ago, that was pretty hopeless when it met a thick branch. Recently I used my neighbour's new Stihl battery powered hedge trimmers to trim some shared hedging. They just keep going when they encounter a really thick branch, just like a gas or mains powered one would. The battery seems to last a long time, too. I was trimming for about 40 or 50 minutes, without flattening the battery. I was very impressed by everything except the price.
Electric chain saws work very well until you accidentally cut the power cord. I have one for use around my property. Prefer it over the gas one. Electric and battery chain saws will never replace electric. I can’t see someone 100 feet up a tree with a 100 foot extension cord. Or your 100 feet up a tree when the battery on your chain saw dies. Other issue with electric chain saws is I just can’t seem to find an outlet in the wooded part of my property.
Issue with a broom is the just don’t work as well or as quickly as a leaf blower. I have an electric leaf blower and in 5 minutes I can clean an area that would take 45 minutes to sweep. While I’m not a fan of the noisy gas powered ones, I do understand there usefulness.
Ah the good old days of gross polluting winning would of a 2-stroke engine. I think there’s a reason we moved on from that technology.
Yep, but you can't beat the sound effects!
Two strokes are still used in some applications - chain saws, leaf blowers, strimmers, etc. - it's going to be hard to dislodge them from that last stronghold, nothing beats their power-to-weight ratio!Larger diesel engines (as found on ships) are also 2 stroke. But yes, chains saws and strimmer should be electrified. Leaf blowers are the worst invention ever. What about the good old broom?
But there’s a difference between home owners cutting tree branches/hedges ever so often vs. someone who does it for 8 hour every day. I can’t see someone who cuts trees professionally using a battery chainsaw.
But there’s a difference between home owners cutting tree branches/hedges ever so often vs. someone who does it for 8 hour every day. I can’t see someone who cuts trees professionally using a battery chainsaw.Certainly not for clear felling or skid duties but the tree climbing arborists are embracing battery powered saws.
New brushless motors with their lightweight and efficiencies are opening up a whole list of new use cases.
No air filters, no fuel filters, no recoil starter, fuel and/or contamination issues, spark ignition/plug problems and low noise.
What's not to like ?