Mastodawn

The Mïghty Kräcken Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen I would like to buy an electric car that is NOT built by a comic book villain, please.

Richard Knott Mar 17, 2024

@Klaxun @jensorensen we actually have small EV in Europe, a smaller selection than China but some cool ones. Dacia spring is £14, Renault 5 later this year will be £25k , but then there’s the Microlino:

@richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen

There isn't a class for microcars or quadracycles in the US and Canada with few exceptions.

If it's got 4 wheels it needs to meet the same crash test standards as any other car. So things like the Microlino or Citroen Ami, Renault Twizy etc can't be licensed here.

The major out is if it's got three wheels. Then it gets classified as a motorcycle and exempt. So things like the Polaris Slingshot and Aptera are legal.

The other exception is cars older than 15 years in Canada, or 25 years in the US don't have to meet the standards. So you do see some Japanese kei class cars/trucks roaming around.

The Mïghty Kräcken Mar 17, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @richardknott @jensorensen If those cars were made by a comic book villain, it was probably this guy.

Richard Knott Mar 17, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen hopefully you guys will get the Renault 5

Morgan ⚧️Mar 17, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen adding this to the "things I didn't know about the US but I am not surprised in the slightest" list. Well, I would, but no hard drive I can afford could fit the whole list

@raphaelmorgan @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen

With vehicles like the Ford Expedition Max a relatively common sight on the road, a person could sort of see why crash standards are relatively stringent.

Length: 5640mm
Width (body, excluding mirrors): 2032mm
Height: 1930mm
Curb weight: 2631kg

The Mïghty Kräcken Mar 18, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @raphaelmorgan @richardknott @jensorensen known as the Ford Battering Ram, before Dodge sued them.

Wilfried Klaebe Mar 17, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver Not even the Renault Twingo? Are you sure you don't mean the Renault Twizy? 😳

@richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen

@wonka @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen

My mistake, you are quite correct. I was thinking of the Twizy.

Renault pulled out of the US and Canada after they sold their stake in American Motors (AMC). back in the 1980s. Which was a shame.

I had a version of the Renault 25, which was sold here as the Eagle Premier. Sedan body with a facelift and a 3.0L PVR V6. I rather liked it. It wasn't reliable though.

Peter Brown Mar 17, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen that’s a pity because a four wheeled micro car is demonstrably more stable and safer than a three-wheeled one

@peterbrown @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen

I agree. It's a weird line to draw in the sand.

I ride a Moto Guzzi V85TT. The only protection I have is my riding gear.

From that starting point, why should I not be allowed to have the freedom to choose a Citroen Ami for poking around town, as long as it's an informed choice?

Stefan Baur 8 * 💉Apr 22, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen How are ATVs/quad bikes street legal, then? Or are they banned as well?

Sir Osis of Liver 🇨🇦 🇲🇽Apr 22, 2024

@farbenstau @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen

They're not street legal.

Some local jurisdictions do carve out some exceptions, so allow them to ride from trail heads to gas stations or hotels.

Stefan Baur 8 * 💉Apr 22, 2024

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen TIL!

@richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen they do exist, but pretty much the only sensible sized EVs you ever see on the road are Leafs and the odd ioniq.
Not that there are many new ICE models that aren't SUVs either.

Engesa Mar 17, 2024

@richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen 14£‽‽ Shit maybe I will buy a car after all

Geoff Mackenzie Mar 17, 2024

@engesa @richardknott @Klaxun @jensorensen super low manufacturing costs here in Romania :) Unfortunately not *that* low. I'm contemplating a Dacia Spring when my old diesel Astra is finished, but I might just stop owning cars after this one instead. Bicycles, public transport and very occasional rentals seem to make sense for me now

cuan_knaggs Mar 17, 2024

@Klaxun suzuki is getting in on the game and should be bring out an electric swift sometime @jensorensen

sabik Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen @BinChicken
Are the fake sounds at least projected in the direction of travel

(That'd be particularly an advantage over rear-engined ICE cars and buses)

Jen Sorensen Mar 17, 2024

@sabik @BinChicken My understanding is that the Dodge Charger EV is supposed to mimic the sound of a traditional internal combustion engine through a series of speakers and acoustic chambers in the rear of the car, like a traditional exhaust system

Cassandrich Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken Being a Dodge, it's designed to mimic the sounds of charging at antifascists you're about to murder.

That's literally their brand/target market now.

Graham Sutherland / Polynomial Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken wat. I've seen these systems inside the car to make it sound vroomy to the driver (it sells more cars despite being silly) but... exterior speakers? soooo silly.

Ángela Stella Matutina Mar 17, 2024

@gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken

Helps distracted and visually impaired people.

Yes, it shouldn't be necessary, but it's another safety layer.

sabik Mar 17, 2024

@angelastella @gsuberland @jensorensen @BinChicken
For distracted and visually impaired people, the fake sounds would be projected in the direction of travel

Graham Sutherland / Polynomial Mar 17, 2024

@angelastella @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken that's not what this is. what you're thinking of is a separate thing, where a sort of crunchy white noise is used to provide better locational accuracy to listeners, based on the research that went into improving emergency vehicle sirens. from the sounds of it, this is just loud engine revving noises to make the car sound like it has a big combustion engine.

Ángela Stella Matutina Mar 17, 2024

@gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken

Three things:

Thank you.

Fuck me for believing in fairy tales.

And fuck the manufacturers and owners.

@gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken it's supposed to be so pedestrians can hear you coming…

@ehproque @gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken So they can flee your reckless driving?

@ahltorp @gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken yes, that's it, that's the only type of driving

@ehproque @gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken It’s the only type of driving you have to flee from.

@ahltorp @gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken you have to look both ways before crossing, but people don't if there's silence.

@ehproque @gsuberland @jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken Why do you have to look both ways before crossing? Hint: it’s not the same reason you look both ways before you step out onto a sidewalk. It’s not politeness.

Hextore Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen @sabik @BinChicken Unfortunately, the excessive catering to unnecessary male egos is neither new nor specific to EVs: https://motorillustrated.com/2020-chevy-corvette-c8-exhaust-sound-speakers/35883/

2020 Chevy Corvette C8 Exhaust Sound Speakers Configured Exactly Like C7

The new 2020 Chevy Corvette C8 uses the car’s speakers to improve the sound experience. Thing is, it’s the same setup as in the C7 Corvette. The controversy over the new C8 Chevy Corvette exhaust note and using speakers to amplify the engine sound has been put to rest. At the very least, Chevrolet says […]

Motor Illustrated

Apple Annie

@jensorensen Next up: electric RAM pickup with roll coal setting

Nathaniel Hörnblowér Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen If it gets a few people who normally wouldn't buy one to buy one, then I'll live with it. The spaceship noise is pretty ridiculous IMHO.

Patrick Morris Miller Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen Compensating for something.

adritheonly Mar 17, 2024

@kentenmakto @jensorensen
I jokingly called my ex-boss's overpriced, over-sized 4x4 "The Compensator", not fully understanding, right up to the moment I was retrenched, how truly small his... ego was.

StarkRG Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen Instead of noise and smoke, wouldn't it be even more manly to have a tesla coil shooting lightning bolts as you drive? It's just as wasteful, but far cooler and still uses electricity. Also it's noisy, so maybe you could use it as a horn.

Kristoffer Lawson Mar 17, 2024

@StarkRG I’ve been saying the exact same thing!! Have a Tesla coil transmit power from batteries to motors. That would be amazing. Stupid. But amazing.

attractive nuisance Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen counterpoint: i've nearly been run over and nearly been t-boned by electric cars because the godaccursed things are (literally) deadly silent

some of them, you can't hear them coming AT ALL and they're a fuckin menace because of it

Raglan Niall

@killeveryhetero @jensorensen it's not a binary choice between silent or Nascar emulating.

@killeveryhetero @jensorensen Because if a car is silent, the driver loses the ability to brake. The braking power is literally in the sound of the car.

It has nothing to do with drivers being incapable of driving.

Tonydunc Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen I gave a ‘21 Leaf Plus. I like the soft whirl noise

ehurtley

@jensorensen I’m pretty sure US vehicle laws make that illegal. Not that anyone will enforce it, based on the number of emissions-deleted lifted pickups I see driving around.

Jason, Human, Average

@jensorensen
Moving to a fully electric vehicle economy means we're gonna have to sell EVs to the small dick crowd.

Julie Goldberg Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen One thing I love about my EV is how quiet it is. I guess we can’t have nice things.

Mathias ❄️🐺🐶

Mar 18, 2024

@Julie @jensorensen So much same. My starship (an Ioniq 5) makes quieter noises than even most hybrids I've heard with the mandated noisemakers, and it's dreamily quiet on the inside. But of course ~some automakers~ (as far as I've ever seen this isn't the actually-leading ones like Hyundai-Kia, Rivian, Mercedes, VAG, and dare I say even Tesla) think they just have to market to chuds...

ex or current IDF unwelcome Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen Ford now concentrating on small EVs. Renault subsidiary Dacia launching one in UK for $15k. Early adopters are generally rich and probably want a status symbol. Later come the people who want more economy and as a manufacturer goes more and more into EV efficiencies occur and prices decline. EVs here have to make a noise. US I thinks is 56db. Over that most who don't sell to red necks don't bother with added noise as they believe drivers and passengers like peace and quiet

federico

@jensorensen In many European cities EV microcars are starting to appear. But the world need trains.
EVs won't solve toxic pollution from tyre particulate, traffic congestion, and the impact of manufacturing and recycling the vehicle.

Erwin Rossen 🔸Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen Why is that even allowed?

Matthew Miller Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen

I, for one, am very pleased to have a car that sounds like a flying saucer.

ManniCalavera Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen On point!
Maybe you get a kick out of this, if you don't know it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipX_UcZdxg&t=81

Be A Man And Drive The New Pontiac Schvantz

YouTube

Jen Sorensen Mar 17, 2024

@ManniCalavera Hadn't seen that, thanks

enoch_exe_inc Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen Obnoxious *and* a waste of electricity, which seems to be recurring theme in many products these days. The only need for any vehicle to make a really loud noise like that is if it’s being stolen.

Angua

@jensorensen

Ahhh - BCSD Syndrome.
Same Old Shit with Horse Drawn Carriages - the bigger the carriage, the greater the number of horses - higher status.

Outi 🦊🌱🌍🌈Mar 17, 2024

@jensorensen I've been told that with some EVs, you can choose a noise they make to make ppl aware that they're coming and that coconut clip clops à la Monty Python are available. Not sure if true or urban legend, but I do wish it's true 😃

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izZm4oYpLCc#ddg-play

@OiskaE @jensorensen

I'd want customizable sound just so my car could sound like a TIE fighter. 🙂

Star Wars TIE fighter flyby and spinout sound FX

YouTube