Do EV's encourage poor driving?
Discussion
The question of whether car design affects driving is interesting, and I am sure it does. I alternately drive a manual Mustang and an automatic 2 litre X3. The Mustang is much the faster car.
However,I have to take far more care to drive the X3 within urban speed limits. It is a mild hybrid, but a lot of the reasons would also fit a full EV. Little clue to speed from engine noise. Lack of engine braking because of hybrid assistance, unless the battery is flat in which case regen braking occurs. Car tends to change into a high gear at low speed making it easier to let speed drift up- it will be in 6th or 7th when I would be in 3rd or 4th in the Mustang in spite of the Mustang's torque..
Of course all these things can be worked around, and using Sport mode paradoxically makes driving slowly easier!
That suggests that, for me at least, I would have to take more care with an EV than an ICE, particularly than an older manual ICE.Without that care, I'd sometimes be going too fast .
However,I have to take far more care to drive the X3 within urban speed limits. It is a mild hybrid, but a lot of the reasons would also fit a full EV. Little clue to speed from engine noise. Lack of engine braking because of hybrid assistance, unless the battery is flat in which case regen braking occurs. Car tends to change into a high gear at low speed making it easier to let speed drift up- it will be in 6th or 7th when I would be in 3rd or 4th in the Mustang in spite of the Mustang's torque..
Of course all these things can be worked around, and using Sport mode paradoxically makes driving slowly easier!
That suggests that, for me at least, I would have to take more care with an EV than an ICE, particularly than an older manual ICE.Without that care, I'd sometimes be going too fast .
Sigmamark7 said:
Maybe the drivers the OP originally referred to, are car enthusiasts and where previously, they would have used their mechanical sympathy to allow engine and gearbox oils to get up to operating temperature before pressing on, whereas now, the full performance of the EV is pretty much available from the moment you switch it on. Or maybe, they woke up late and need to be somewhere!
I think in many cases that's not far from the truth in terms of why they might drive through the estate more briskly than normal, it's because the car wakes up ready and willing to drive briskly.I live on a modern estate and I'm sure I drive a little more briskly, it's just easier to do so as it is easier to briskly accelerate out of each turn, no pause for a gear change or go deliberately slowly to keep it in a single gear as I navigate the zig-zag roads.
In general EV's are simply nippier around town/estate type roads, that's a benefit of the powertrain. I don't speed in estates, I know some do but they will in whatever car you give them.
I suspect the above answers the OP's observation of school run EV's going faster too. They're probably within the speed limit but simply out accelerate his ICE with breathless ease - he would then have to thrash it or speed to catch up. I notice the same thing at traffic lights when I pull off, if I'm in front I leave the cat behind for dead 0-30, I'm not trying and I'm not speeding. If an ICE is in front of me when the lights change, from my perspective it feels like they're dawdling.
Nomme de Plum said:
When some who post on PH realise that for 99.9% of the population a car is a tool to ferry family, drive to work , supermarket DIY store etc. etc. the better.
True although for all the posturing I think for 99.9% of Phers a car is a tool to ferry family, drive to work , supermarket DIY store etc. etc. After all that's what cars are essentially designed for on the open road.
crikey, another outlandish nonsense post about EVs.
Personal perspective: since i have had an EV i've driven all my 3 cars slower and as it encourages me to try and drive more efficiently (more sensible throttle inputs, coasting etc) I've probably driven more sensibly overall, even in my 911.
Personal perspective: since i have had an EV i've driven all my 3 cars slower and as it encourages me to try and drive more efficiently (more sensible throttle inputs, coasting etc) I've probably driven more sensibly overall, even in my 911.
Seasonal Hero said:
That’s a good point. Famously no ICE vehicle has ever been involved in an accident and it’s actually illegal for them to speed so they can’t.
I'm shocked too. I've driven electric cars for years, I never even considered that if I drive like a 
it could be dangerous 
Once you realise that 99% of petrol (yet alone diesel) cars are woefully slow compared to EVs it’s one less incentive to try the traffic light grands prix, it just makes you look silly so I would expect people to drive their ICE vehicles more considerately.
Track driving has the same effect on your road driving IMO
Track driving has the same effect on your road driving IMO
Low powered petrol stuff was always self-limiting around town. Revving the nuts of a horrible 4 cylinder was a loud, antisocial, horrible experience, so you didn't bother. Then came the turbo diesels, all low-down torque, so you could nail it quietly at low revs whilst accelerating briskly. Now you have EV, with torque from a standstill and no audible downside to accelerating.
Not too surprising people in EVs might inadvertently accelerate more than they used to in their old petrols.
Not too surprising people in EVs might inadvertently accelerate more than they used to in their old petrols.
I’ve lost count of the times someone in an M4 or something has eventually caught me up in my EV having been left for dead as I effortlessly accelerate back up to the motorway limit after a slower section (usually roadworks) with them seeming to need to drive at 100+ to make up for the time lost. Pretty childish.
In some cases EVs make ICE drivers drive badly I find.
In some cases EVs make ICE drivers drive badly I find.
740EVTORQUES said:
I’ve lost count of the times someone in an M4 or something has eventually caught me up in my EV having been left for dead as I effortlessly accelerate back up to the motorway limit after a slower section (usually roadworks) with them seeming to need to drive at 100+ to make up for the time lost. Pretty childish.
In some cases EVs make ICE drivers drive badly I find.
I've been on Pistonheads many, many years and I typically just have a look every now and then at "what's new" to dip in and read random stuff. In some cases EVs make ICE drivers drive badly I find.
In all my years I've never seen anyone appear top of the list so consistently on such a campaign as you seem to be on
740EVTORQUES said:
I’ve lost count of the times someone in an M4 or something has eventually caught me up in my EV having been left for dead as I effortlessly accelerate back up to the motorway limit after a slower section (usually roadworks) with them seeming to need to drive at 100+ to make up for the time lost. Pretty childish.
In some cases EVs make ICE drivers drive badly I find.
Isn't that just a function of having no gearbox and I imagine maximum torque available instantly?In some cases EVs make ICE drivers drive badly I find.
srob said:
I've been on Pistonheads many, many years and I typically just have a look every now and then at "what's new" to dip in and read random stuff.
In all my years I've never seen anyone appear top of the list so consistently on such a campaign as you seem to be on
Fair point, but winning the internet is not easy you realise? In all my years I've never seen anyone appear top of the list so consistently on such a campaign as you seem to be on
740EVTORQUES said:
srob said:
I've been on Pistonheads many, many years and I typically just have a look every now and then at "what's new" to dip in and read random stuff.
In all my years I've never seen anyone appear top of the list so consistently on such a campaign as you seem to be on
Fair point, but winning the internet is not easy you realise? In all my years I've never seen anyone appear top of the list so consistently on such a campaign as you seem to be on
I do think the phenomenon of fast ICE car drivers thinking there is a race on is a real thing. If I put my foot down a bit leaving a roundabout to head down a motorway slip road to merge, I'm easily doing 70+ within a couple of seconds of leaving the roundabout - from my perspective I'm just getting from a-b without taking longer than I need too, I won't even be trying to go particularly fast, I just want to be at merge speed when I hit the merge part of the slip road (something no Peugeot driver has ever understood..)
Sometimes having merged I see a fast BMW or whatever that has followed me and speeds past several seconds later at stupid speed - I do get the impression they thought I was trying to prove something or 'have a race', but I generally don't even speed!!
It's the same at traffic lights, the lights change and I go, from standing to 30mph smoothly and assertively, without spinning wheels or looking like a tool - I just want to return to the legal speed limit quickly and complete my journey. Obviously, quite often the car behind me is still busy restarting it's engine and finding a cog by the time I'm at 30 and cruising along - but then I find that same car has caught me back up surprisingly quickly, so they must have gone way over the speed limit to close up the gap that I left, why? I don't think they want to race in that scenario, I assume sometimes it's a case of them feeling they must have been dawdling and wanted to make up for it
I think drivers that aren't familiar with EV do sometimes mistake the inherent efficiency of instant pick up and acceleration for showing off. I don't mind if they do, but it is odd sometimes to realise that whilst minding my own business and making no effort whatsoever, I appear to have somehow insulted another guys manhood and challenged them to a duel
Sometimes having merged I see a fast BMW or whatever that has followed me and speeds past several seconds later at stupid speed - I do get the impression they thought I was trying to prove something or 'have a race', but I generally don't even speed!!
It's the same at traffic lights, the lights change and I go, from standing to 30mph smoothly and assertively, without spinning wheels or looking like a tool - I just want to return to the legal speed limit quickly and complete my journey. Obviously, quite often the car behind me is still busy restarting it's engine and finding a cog by the time I'm at 30 and cruising along - but then I find that same car has caught me back up surprisingly quickly, so they must have gone way over the speed limit to close up the gap that I left, why? I don't think they want to race in that scenario, I assume sometimes it's a case of them feeling they must have been dawdling and wanted to make up for it
I think drivers that aren't familiar with EV do sometimes mistake the inherent efficiency of instant pick up and acceleration for showing off. I don't mind if they do, but it is odd sometimes to realise that whilst minding my own business and making no effort whatsoever, I appear to have somehow insulted another guys manhood and challenged them to a duel
Christ. Some EV drivers really do think they're the main character. 
To be fair, I find both extreme ends of the EV vs ICE debate equally embarrassing. They're cars, not football teams ffs. Just drive what you like and stop caring about what other people do.
I drive both, I enjoy both. I've got a passion for cars, whatever they're powered by.
To be fair, I find both extreme ends of the EV vs ICE debate equally embarrassing. They're cars, not football teams ffs. Just drive what you like and stop caring about what other people do.
I drive both, I enjoy both. I've got a passion for cars, whatever they're powered by.
JackJarvis said:
Christ. Some EV drivers really do think they're the main character.
To be fair, I find both extreme ends of the EV vs ICE debate equally embarrassing. They're cars, not football teams ffs. Just drive what you like and stop caring about what other people do.
I drive both, I enjoy both. I've got a passion for cars, whatever they're powered by.
The thread was posted to ask a question, which people are answering... You have posted to complain about people posting to answer the question asked? Why?To be fair, I find both extreme ends of the EV vs ICE debate equally embarrassing. They're cars, not football teams ffs. Just drive what you like and stop caring about what other people do.
I drive both, I enjoy both. I've got a passion for cars, whatever they're powered by.
And which posts here demonstrate an 'extreme end of the debate'?
I think you're looking for a problem you expected to exist but didn't actually find on this thread..
I think part of the problem is not so much that EV's encourage it but more exacerbate it.
If your already the type to use a throttle as an on off switch then your constantly going to be catching the car in front/brake/catching the car.
Tend so see this quite a bit as the world of EV (especially salary sacrifice) is dropping higher end performance into the lap of people who have never had it before. My first EV I 100% met this criteria and evolved so now spot it for what it is.
Also spotted that you tend to "catch out" some drivers who misjudge where you will be on roundabouts etc, not excessive speed or acceleration just a bit quicker than they were expecting.
If your already the type to use a throttle as an on off switch then your constantly going to be catching the car in front/brake/catching the car.
Tend so see this quite a bit as the world of EV (especially salary sacrifice) is dropping higher end performance into the lap of people who have never had it before. My first EV I 100% met this criteria and evolved so now spot it for what it is.
Also spotted that you tend to "catch out" some drivers who misjudge where you will be on roundabouts etc, not excessive speed or acceleration just a bit quicker than they were expecting.
TheDeuce said:
Sometimes having merged I see a fast BMW or whatever that has followed me and speeds past several seconds later at stupid speed - I do get the impression they thought I was trying to prove something or 'have a race', but I generally don't even speed!!
The classic loser flyby 
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