Hypothetical Breakdown

[Larry]

I certainly don't want to imply that there are not problems other than those caused by software. I is just that most of the problems stem from that. And sometimes the fact that software is the villain is not clear. Your low voltage battery problem is probably a software problem. My inability to position the passenger seat was a software problem. But my inability to position the drivers seat was a mechanical one. I've also had gaskets and seals fall off... but the things that eat your lunch are most likely to be software related.

Interestingly enough the same is evidently true with ICE vehicles. I saw an interview with a high up in one of the major manufacturers in which he said that only 15% of repairs were in the guts of the engines,

In the case I describe, a software issue combined with a cheap, inadequate 12v battery.

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[ajdelange]

I don’t know if this is true but some suspect the new heating issues with Tesla was caused by a software update. Even if not true, I know it can happen.

There is a critical component in any heat pump (which includes air conditioners) called an "expansion valve". It meters the flow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator and it does this based on temperature and pressure with the goal of shooting just enough refrigerant in there as is needed to absorb the heat to be removed from the hot reservoir (which in this case is the outside air). Too much and you "slug" the compressor. Too little and you don't collect all the available heat. Without knowing any of the details of the Tesla system I'll bet a 6 pack of your choice that this valve is controlled by a computer so that there is indeed a good chance that the problem is software related - no necessary failure of a computer but bad software design. This does allow the possibility that it can be fixed (or exacerbated) by OTA.

 

[CabinCrusher]

I’m driving a Ford Mustang Mach—E now. It’s been in the shop for over a week having recalls done. I’m very close to the threshold for the state lemon law. Can’t say the Ford dealer network has been much help. That’s why I’ve recently sold an F-450, a Ranger and ordered a Rivian.

I get regular abuse over brand loyalty and even more over the often emotional issue of whether a vehicle gets energy through a wire or a pipe. Hence I live in dread of being pulled into such discussions.

Great…. My Mach E is coming this Spring. I’ve heard multiple stories that are making me second guess the Mach E. We are trying to replace both our vehicles with EV and I really don’t want a Tesla.

 

[Larry]

Great…. My Mach E is coming this Spring. I’ve heard multiple stories that are making me second guess the Mach E. We are trying to replace both our vehicles with EV and I really don’t want a Tesla.

I’m exactly where you are but I regret deciding my MME was the answer. On the bright side, they’ve had several months to iron out the kinks.

 

[ajdelange]

In the case I describe, a software issue combined with a cheap, inadequate 12v battery.

If it makes you feel any better Tesla has those too but is switching over to Li ion for the 12V.

Now Rivian has 2 (why?) lead acid 12V batteries but there is what looks, from the manual, like pretty convenient access to some charging pigtails which will make jumps fairly easy.

 

[CabinCrusher]

I’m exactly where you are but I regret deciding my MME was the answer. On the bright side, they’ve had several months to iron out the kinks.

Best alt I can come up with is a Q4 etron, but who knows how hard it will be to get hands on one of those. Or just bite the bullet and reserve an R1S match my R1T. ?

 

[crashmtb]

You have to stop thinking of it as a mechanical device. It has

why else would I anticipate it will be more reliable than any other vehicle I’ve owned?

I similarly anticipate it will be more reliable than any piece of autodesk software I’ve used.

 

[ajdelange]

I really wouldn’t do that.

 

[E.S.]

For all the reasons you mention, I’m not really concerned about fuel exhaustion. Past life experiences put avoiding that very high in my priority list (Airline Transport Pilot, Multi-Engine Land).

Those same experiences leave me with a penchant for planning my response to problems well before they happen.

Thanks for clearing up this wasn't a fuel consumption scenario. I run into too many ... lets just say there are plenty of people very ignorant about running out of fuel still out and about. Regarding getting caught by nature (covering stuff like getting caught in heavy snow, or the vehicle breaking down for whatever reasons). Supposedly Rivian has a Roadside assistance. Alas, we have yet to see that in effect.

 

[Larry]

Thanks for clearing up this wasn't a fuel consumption scenario. I run into too many ... lets just say there are plenty of people very ignorant about running out of fuel still out and about. Regarding getting caught by nature (covering stuff like getting caught in heavy snow, or the vehicle breaking down for whatever reasons). Supposedly Rivian has a Roadside assistance. Alas, we have yet to see that in effect.

I had an interesting discussion after the snow mess in DC a couple weeks ago. This ICE driver was convinced an EV would be at much worse risk of fuel exhaustion in that sort of situation. I pointed out that, in a pinch, I could get electrons from any electric outlet and there are a lot more of them than gas pumps.

 

[ajdelange]

I had an interesting discussion after the snow mess in DC a couple weeks ago. This ICE driver was convinced an EV would be at much worse risk of fuel exhaustion in that sort of situation. I pointed out that, in a pinch, I could get electrons from any electric outlet and there are a lot more of them than gas pumps.

There was a piece in the WaPo about what a disaster it would have been had we all transitioned to electric. Typical Wapo "journalism". This brought out responses from people who were stuck in the mess in BEV. They didn't exactly have a pleasant time but they didn't run out of gas running their heaters and, when things finally did clear up, simply drove to the nearest charging opportunity and went on their way.

 

[E.S.]

I had an interesting discussion after the snow mess in DC a couple weeks ago. This ICE driver was convinced an EV would be at much worse risk of fuel exhaustion in that sort of situation. I pointed out that, in a pinch, I could get electrons from any electric outlet and there are a lot more of them than gas pumps.

I must get the super dolts. I keep running into people that actually think EVs are one time charge and that's it. Once it's empty, it's done. Gotta swap out the battery (I truly wish I was joking here ? ). Again, makes me want to grab a lead pipe and go swinging ...

 

[Dark-Fx]

With my Mach-E the biggest problems relate to the 12V battery. It is allegedly kept charged by the HVB but sometimes that fails. That can leave you unable to enter the vehicle let alone reboot without an external power source..

This is reportedly an issue with my Polestar 2, but I have yet to experience it. My Bolt EV killed the 12V battery once in the 3.5 years I owned it. That was after getting the Keypass working and enabling proximity detection. Parked the car in the garage and went to use it the next day? Completely dead. Battery was about 7.2V and took a long time to get back up to a usable level with the chargers I had available.

 

[E.S.]

My Bolt EV killed the 12V battery once in the 3.5 years I owned it. That was after getting the Keypass working and enabling proximity detection. Parked the car in the garage and went to use it the next day? Completely dead. Battery was about 7.2V and took a long time to get back up to a usable level with the chargers I had available.

Odd. I own a '17 Bolt and I have yet to experience the 12v draining. I also have proximity detection on, still no drain.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Odd. I own a '17 Bolt and I have yet to experience the 12v draining. I also have proximity detection on, still no drain.

Does your attached garage have a bunch of living space near it/above it? I tend to be fairly close to vehicles most of my day if I'm at home.

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