A downside to EV's
Discussion
Currently working away but got a phone call from the wife to say she's just killed the family cat.
Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
More of a dog person to be honest, and sadly our Weimeraner passed away back in August aged 11. Was a lovely cat to be honest, and will be sadly missed by the whole family.
I'd never though of the potential issue until it happened. Clearly you get the issues with people not hearing you, but honestly never considered this as an issue.
I'd never though of the potential issue until it happened. Clearly you get the issues with people not hearing you, but honestly never considered this as an issue.
Cat based aside:
Landrover sells a "cat guard" for 4 cyl defenders, because farm cats soon worked out that the large plastic fan cowl that spanned the space between the rad and the front of the (short) engine was a very warm comfy place to sleep.
Unfortunately, the large metal fan that spins violently round when the engine starts really is less nice....
Landrover sells a "cat guard" for 4 cyl defenders, because farm cats soon worked out that the large plastic fan cowl that spanned the space between the rad and the front of the (short) engine was a very warm comfy place to sleep.
Unfortunately, the large metal fan that spins violently round when the engine starts really is less nice....
I am sorry for your loss. Its not easy getting over the loss of a pet.
However, I have a friend who has managed to kill not one, but two of their cats by running over them on the drive. In their Honda Jazz.
I know, it takes some effort to do that. But as their garage door also shows, its more down to the driver than the car.
However, I have a friend who has managed to kill not one, but two of their cats by running over them on the drive. In their Honda Jazz.
I know, it takes some effort to do that. But as their garage door also shows, its more down to the driver than the car.
ajap1979 said:
Does the e-tron make no noise at all then? My Polestar makes a chiming noise when you reverse it.
I watched two old blokes the other day being very slowly followed up a lane where I live by a Nissan Leaf whose driver was obviously far too polite to alert them to his presence.
My Leaf is silent and you have to take great care, also some people are deaf anyway!I watched two old blokes the other day being very slowly followed up a lane where I live by a Nissan Leaf whose driver was obviously far too polite to alert them to his presence.
My neighbour ran over their cat with their Range Rover it can happen to anyone. Sorry for your feline loss.
Hobo said:
Currently working away but got a phone call from the wife to say she's just killed the family cat.
Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
Stuff of nightmares Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
In the UK all new EV models released after July 2019 must have a sound generator for speeds below 12mph. All new EV's sold, regardless of when the model was first released, must have one since Jan 2021.
Our eTron (2021MY) does, it's quite loud (especially in reverse) and sounds like a spaceship. I've noticed it helps in car parks etc. with pedestrians when compared to our previous silent EV's.
Our eTron (2021MY) does, it's quite loud (especially in reverse) and sounds like a spaceship. I've noticed it helps in car parks etc. with pedestrians when compared to our previous silent EV's.
Sorry to hear that, it's very sad.
ICE cars have this too, cars get into the engine bay because it's warm. There was a campaign for people to knock on the bonnet before starting the car.
I think all you can do is check every time I'm afraid. Even with an ICE car I always want to know where the cat is before moving off because he has a habit of idly wondering around the car and doesn't move when it comes towards him.
ICE cars have this too, cars get into the engine bay because it's warm. There was a campaign for people to knock on the bonnet before starting the car.
I think all you can do is check every time I'm afraid. Even with an ICE car I always want to know where the cat is before moving off because he has a habit of idly wondering around the car and doesn't move when it comes towards him.
Hobo said:
Currently working away but got a phone call from the wife to say she's just killed the family cat.
Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
My Wife did the same to one of our cats a few years ago and that was in a Land Rover.Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
Rang me in tears as there were three very upset young kids in the back at the time.
aestetix1 said:
Sorry to hear that, it's very sad.
ICE cars have this too, cars get into the engine bay because it's warm. There was a campaign for people to knock on the bonnet before starting the car.
I think all you can do is check every time I'm afraid. Even with an ICE car I always want to know where the cat is before moving off because he has a habit of idly wondering around the car and doesn't move when it comes towards him.
Did that myself to another of our cats.ICE cars have this too, cars get into the engine bay because it's warm. There was a campaign for people to knock on the bonnet before starting the car.
I think all you can do is check every time I'm afraid. Even with an ICE car I always want to know where the cat is before moving off because he has a habit of idly wondering around the car and doesn't move when it comes towards him.
She was a love little thing, very upsetting.
Edited by so called on Wednesday 9th March 11:05
Hobo said:
Currently working away but got a phone call from the wife to say she's just killed the family cat.
Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
On one memorable occasion many years ago there was a cat sleeping under the bonnet of my "classic" Range Rover (I assume because it was warm). When I started the engine, it got caught in the belts and chopped into pieces. So ICE doesn't necessarily help.Seemingley it was asleep behind the wheel of the E-tron and she got in, reversed, and the rest is history as they say. I'm assuming the car never heard anything. She's clearly distraught, as are the three kids.
If she'd have taken the family ICE car we wouldn't be in this situation I suspect.
RicksAlfas said:
Sorry to hear that OP.
I once sucked up a hare which went to sleep on the undertray. It got wedged in the air intake pipe. Turbodiesel so it would clearly have been awake. Well, up until the point it suffocated it would have been. Not a mark on it when I pulled it out via the airbox.
Reminds me of the recipe for Jugged Hare: first, catch your hare. Very prominent, till the Romans brought rabbits over to the U.K.I once sucked up a hare which went to sleep on the undertray. It got wedged in the air intake pipe. Turbodiesel so it would clearly have been awake. Well, up until the point it suffocated it would have been. Not a mark on it when I pulled it out via the airbox.
Back to OPs situation, I remember years ago when we had two cats, underneath a car was a common sheltering/hiding place.
SWoll said:
In the UK all new EV models released after July 2019 must have a sound generator for speeds below 12mph. All new EV's sold, regardless of when the model was first released, must have one since Jan 2021.
Our eTron (2021MY) does, it's quite loud (especially in reverse) and sounds like a spaceship. I've noticed it helps in car parks etc. with pedestrians when compared to our previous silent EV's.
This, my car is an early 2019 model and you really have to be careful in carparks, esp with people on their phone all the time.Our eTron (2021MY) does, it's quite loud (especially in reverse) and sounds like a spaceship. I've noticed it helps in car parks etc. with pedestrians when compared to our previous silent EV's.
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