WHAT THE FUCK???!!!!

[Lpgc]

Sorry to post three on the bounce but no one else is posting…….

Whilst curled up in my warm bed I put the deicer / heater on in my wife’s EV from the app on the phone as I needed to go out early.

I got into the car and it was warm inside and free of snow and ice, I felt rather smug and happy with our new toy.

This…
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To this…
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Then as I drove off the drive I noticed that my de icing feature had used 6 % of the battery, now I don’t know the cost for this but I think 6 % of the battery is approx 10 miles

Not feeling so smug now.

2 Of my E51's have the remote start feature and fob but I've never even tried to use them. Maybe I will try them now the weather has turned cold, then I could remote start the engine and have the car windows defrosted and it'd be nice and toasty inside ready for when I get in it.

The thought occurs that we could have the pre-heat facility with any car by sticking an electric heater inside and running an extension cable from the house to it.

Mind you starting the engine to pre warm the car would detract a few miles from its 1000 mile range, or running an extension cable out to it several evenings per week might be a pita but wouldn't detract from range...

 

[WhatsThisFor]

This best bit of the EV is the engine doesn’t need to start - there is hot air straight away, it’s also as secure as it would be if it wasn’t defrosting.

 

[Highway Dave]

2 Of my E51's have the remote start feature and fob but I've never even tried to use them. Maybe I will try them now the weather has turned cold, then I could remote start the engine and have the car windows defrosted and it'd be nice and toasty inside ready for when I get in it.

The thought occurs that we could have the pre-heat facility with any car by sticking an electric heater inside and running an extension cable from the house to it. Mind you it could be a pita having to run a cable to the car parked on the drive...

I can start and defrost the Elgrand via an app, it’s called Alexa, I call my lad who would be snuggled up all toasty like in his room and send him out to do it.
Can’t say it’s the best app in the world as sometimes it can take several attempts to get a result and the abuse is a bit disconcerting but works eventually

 

[Lpgc]

This best bit of the EV is the engine doesn’t need to start - there is hot air straight away, it’s also as secure as it would be if it wasn’t defrosting.

Same as putting an electric heater inside any car and running an extension cable out to it

Keep the heater in the rear footwell so when you get home on an evening plug it straight into the extension cable. Turn the power to the extension cable on/off by using the switch beside the plug socket inside the house, even possible to set it up so you can turn the heater on/off in the car using an app on your phone, computer, or some type of fob transmitter.

Just about to climb into my boat, it's freezing weather but it'll be toasty inside because I left an electric heater running inside. I could turn that electric heater on/off using the power socket in the garage or house lol.

 

[WhatsThisFor]

Safety first Simon.

Also as you can see mine has no cable running to it.

But it has now.

 

[Lpgc]

Safety first Simon.

Also as you can see mine has no cable running to it.

But it has now.

No safety issues with some types of electric heaters inside cars. A fan heater can be fine if positioned OK, that's what is running inside the boat at the moment. No safety issues with an oil filled electric rad inside the car. Unless you mean the cable running to the car could be a safety problem

 

[Lpgc]

You know I'm only messing lol. But its true we could always pre heat cars if we wanted. The benefits would have to have been balanced against the negatives... with both the electric heater setup I describe and the electric vehicle you describe the negative is the same - the need to run a cable out to the car / plug the car in. Which is probably why hardly anyone with an ice car does it... but the thought must have occurred?

 

[Highway Dave]

No safety issues with some types of electric heaters inside cars. A fan heater can be fine if positioned OK, that's what is running inside the boat at the moment. No safety issues with an oil filled electric rad inside the car. Unless you mean the cable running to the car could be a safety problem

Simon makes a good point @WhatsThisFor, the cable could be considered by todays society, a tripping hazard for the bastards that are constantly nicking your lectrickery

 

[WhatsThisFor]

If you want Instant heat from a ICE engine there are Radiator and Block heaters that are 240volt and they pre warm the engine coolant before you turn it on. Instant heat.

I would never put a flexed 240v domestic heater in my car though.




Surely this won't work as its so inexpensive, but its the sort of gizmo I'm talking about.

 

[WhatsThisFor]

Simon makes a good point @WhatsThisFor, the cable could be considered by todays society, a tripping hazard for the bastards that are constantly nicking your lectrickery

I agree as Simon pointed out a flex cable to your car to run a heater could be a hazard.

 

[mikkb]

Sorry to post three on the bounce but no one else is posting…….

Whilst curled up in my warm bed I put the deicer / heater on in my wife’s EV from the app on the phone as I needed to go out early.

I got into the car and it was warm inside and free of snow and ice, I felt rather smug and happy with our new toy.

This…
View attachment 111296

To this…
View attachment 111297

Then as I drove off the drive I noticed that my de icing feature had used 6 % of the battery, now I don’t know the cost for this but I think 6 % of the battery is approx 10 miles

Not feeling so smug now.

That was one of the things I liked about my Outlander PHEV I used to have - pre heating via the app on a frosty morning. The battery will probably show a small reduction overnight anyway on a very cold night (temperature affects range/charge). If you really need the full range just leave it plugged into its charger overnight so it replenishes during the preheat.

 

[Elgraman]

Sorry to post three on the bounce but no one else is posting…….

Whilst curled up in my warm bed I put the deicer / heater on in my wife’s EV from the app on the phone as I needed to go out early.

I got into the car and it was warm inside and free of snow and ice, I felt rather smug and happy with our new toy.

This…
View attachment 111296

To this…
View attachment 111297

I'd still prefer a manual transmission and a manual handbrake

 

[Yasawas]

I had to change gear in a van recently…..after 5 minutes of a 4 hour trip…..I was bored of it!!

If it’s not on a track……automatic please!!

 

[mikkb]

Same as putting an electric heater inside any car and running an extension cable out to it

Keep the heater in the rear footwell so when you get home on an evening plug it straight into the extension cable. Turn the power to the extension cable on/off by using the switch beside the plug socket inside the house, even possible to set it up so you can turn the heater on/off in the car using an app on your phone, computer, or some type of fob transmitter.

This is kind of what I do to replicate the preheat I used to enjoy with my Outlander.
A bit easier with my camper conversion;
Leave it plugged in to 240V hookup from garage with fan heater facing windscreen and plugged in to socket via a remote control socket outlet. Then use remote to switch on from the house for a defrost and warm up. Only really do it occasionally but nice when it's needed. Of course you have to remember to hook up to power the night before.

 

[Elgraman]

I had to change gear in a van recently…..after 5 minutes of a 4 hour trip…..I was bored of it!!

If it’s not on a track……automatic please!!

Yes, changing gear on a slush box trans isn't the best. When I had the Elgrand I used to primarily do that on descents for engine braking, rather than being one of the 18,345,345 people who ride their brakes for ages.
'Changing gear' on any auto, even a dual clutch trans (DCT) is still not as involving as a manual trans.
I like how I think about my driving more with a manual. I tend the read the road more. Coming up to a roundabout, what gear am I going to need,..rev match down to third before hand etc if the roundabout 'usually' hasn't got anyone coming from the right.....is it a busier one etc? so maybe engine brake a it then throttle blip and into 2nd etc. WIth an auto I tend to switch off a bit as the car is going to do that thinking for me.
I couldn't imagine my MX-5 say with an auto trans and an auto handbrake etc

 

[Lpgc]

Another top tip... Wipe the snow from your screen and front end of the roof before heating the windscreen. If melting snow slides down the screen the sudden cooling can crack it. It happened to me once with a Jeep, I started the engine with screen defrost on and let it warm up while I was doing something else. For that reason I wouldn't point a heater at the screen if there was snow.

 

[Nevillerover]

I had to change gear in a van recently…..after 5 minutes of a 4 hour trip…..I was bored of it!!

If it’s not on a track……automatic please!!

I agree, after years of physically exhausting Land Rovers, I love that Ellie does all the work for me.

 

[Lpgc]

rev match down to third before hand etc if the roundabout 'usually' hasn't got anyone coming from the right.....is it a busier one etc? so maybe engine brake a it then throttle blip and into 2nd etc.

I can't remember if MX5 pedals are nicely set for heel and toe driving?

 

[mikkb]

Another top tip... Wipe the snow from your screen and front end of the roof before heating the windscreen. If melting snow slides down the screen the sudden cooling can crack it. It happened to me once with a Jeep, I started the engine with screen defrost on and let it warm up while I was doing something else. For that reason I wouldn't point a heater at the screen if there was snow.

Interesting point. I keep my heater well back from the screen in the rear of the van so as to generally warm the cabin interior rather than just the screen. Hopefully ok or am I in danger still do you think?

 

[Lpgc]

Interesting point. I keep my heater well back from the screen in the rear of the van so as to generally warm the cabin interior rather than just the screen. Hopefully ok or am I in danger still do you think?

I think you'll be fine with the heater so far from the screen.