David Peilow
@dpeilow.bsky.social
Driving electric since 2008. European Space Agency engineer. Save the hydrogen for rockets. 48%. Views my own.
BuT EvS aRe ToO eXpEnSiVe
August 30, 2025 at 8:29 AM
BuT EvS aRe ToO eXpEnSiVe
I'm not sure how this is even still a debate. This is a presentation Martin Eberhard (CEO of Tesla) gave to CARB in 2006 that more than makes the point. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o3sbz...
August 23, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I'm not sure how this is even still a debate. This is a presentation Martin Eberhard (CEO of Tesla) gave to CARB in 2006 that more than makes the point. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o3sbz...
Pulling away from a station off the wires.
August 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Pulling away from a station off the wires.
...and here from the overhead wires as it pulls into the mainline terminal station and recharges.
August 22, 2025 at 7:25 AM
...and here from the overhead wires as it pulls into the mainline terminal station and recharges.
There was even a Toyota Prius style screen in each carriage informing passengers which energy source the train was running on and what systems it was powering. Here we are running on battery power...
August 22, 2025 at 7:25 AM
There was even a Toyota Prius style screen in each carriage informing passengers which energy source the train was running on and what systems it was powering. Here we are running on battery power...
These Hitachi made trains were running on various routes of a more modest 16 miles round trip, but in all other respects were like any other modern 2-car unit.
The typical Japanese attention to detail even extended to "Dual Energy Charge Train" branding on the flooring and other interior panels.
The typical Japanese attention to detail even extended to "Dual Energy Charge Train" branding on the flooring and other interior panels.
August 22, 2025 at 7:25 AM
These Hitachi made trains were running on various routes of a more modest 16 miles round trip, but in all other respects were like any other modern 2-car unit.
The typical Japanese attention to detail even extended to "Dual Energy Charge Train" branding on the flooring and other interior panels.
The typical Japanese attention to detail even extended to "Dual Energy Charge Train" branding on the flooring and other interior panels.
Great to see @gwr.com achieve 200 miles range in a converted battery powered ex-London Underground train this week. I hope it leads to modern units deployed across the UK.
On my trip to Japan last month I rode these 2 car BEMUs around Fukuoka. Here you see one charging at the turn around station.
On my trip to Japan last month I rode these 2 car BEMUs around Fukuoka. Here you see one charging at the turn around station.
August 22, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Great to see @gwr.com achieve 200 miles range in a converted battery powered ex-London Underground train this week. I hope it leads to modern units deployed across the UK.
On my trip to Japan last month I rode these 2 car BEMUs around Fukuoka. Here you see one charging at the turn around station.
On my trip to Japan last month I rode these 2 car BEMUs around Fukuoka. Here you see one charging at the turn around station.
I was waiting for this article. Surprised it took him so long.
March 24, 2025 at 6:09 AM
I was waiting for this article. Surprised it took him so long.
After 50 minutes, I had to move the car to avoid overstay fees - not ideal at a hotel - and the charger still seemed fine, but by the next morning it had faulted again. They really think this is worth 79p/kWh?
And the 43kW AC cable from this one is missing. Is that a new policy or just cable theft?
And the 43kW AC cable from this one is missing. Is that a new policy or just cable theft?
February 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
After 50 minutes, I had to move the car to avoid overstay fees - not ideal at a hotel - and the charger still seemed fine, but by the next morning it had faulted again. They really think this is worth 79p/kWh?
And the 43kW AC cable from this one is missing. Is that a new policy or just cable theft?
And the 43kW AC cable from this one is missing. Is that a new policy or just cable theft?
my hotel, only to find the touchscreen frozen, have to recreate an app account and throw a fault as it started to charge. Several cycles of "wait 2 mins" later, I called the helpline. No one picked up and the requested callback didn't happen. The second call got through and after a reset, it worked.
February 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
my hotel, only to find the touchscreen frozen, have to recreate an app account and throw a fault as it started to charge. Several cycles of "wait 2 mins" later, I called the helpline. No one picked up and the requested callback didn't happen. The second call got through and after a reset, it worked.
Back in the UK this past week and first impressions were that EV charging networks are going from strength to strength. This is the car park at South Mimms now: Tesla superchargers, Applegreen and @gridserve.bsky.social rapids, in addition to the original superchargers at the far end. Great!
February 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Back in the UK this past week and first impressions were that EV charging networks are going from strength to strength. This is the car park at South Mimms now: Tesla superchargers, Applegreen and @gridserve.bsky.social rapids, in addition to the original superchargers at the far end. Great!
Searching for an old article and Google's AI somehow thinks @bobbyllew.bsky.social and I are one and the same...
But it's going to fix all the country's problems though, right? 🙄
But it's going to fix all the country's problems though, right? 🙄
January 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Searching for an old article and Google's AI somehow thinks @bobbyllew.bsky.social and I are one and the same...
But it's going to fix all the country's problems though, right? 🙄
But it's going to fix all the country's problems though, right? 🙄
We've had rapid charging electric city buses here for 5 years, but now electric buses are being introduced across the region.
Longer routes are served by these Chinese Yutong U15s. I've never been on such a fast accelerating bus. Cup holders, laptop trays, faux leather seats and no rattles either!
Longer routes are served by these Chinese Yutong U15s. I've never been on such a fast accelerating bus. Cup holders, laptop trays, faux leather seats and no rattles either!
January 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
We've had rapid charging electric city buses here for 5 years, but now electric buses are being introduced across the region.
Longer routes are served by these Chinese Yutong U15s. I've never been on such a fast accelerating bus. Cup holders, laptop trays, faux leather seats and no rattles either!
Longer routes are served by these Chinese Yutong U15s. I've never been on such a fast accelerating bus. Cup holders, laptop trays, faux leather seats and no rattles either!
HS2 was aligned for 400 km/h, but it is required to run slower until train efficiency improves to match 320 km/h energy use. That day will arrive before it opens.
In the pictures you can see 3 key energy saving innovations: Covered wheels, flush joints between carriages and aerodynamic pantograph.
In the pictures you can see 3 key energy saving innovations: Covered wheels, flush joints between carriages and aerodynamic pantograph.
January 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
HS2 was aligned for 400 km/h, but it is required to run slower until train efficiency improves to match 320 km/h energy use. That day will arrive before it opens.
In the pictures you can see 3 key energy saving innovations: Covered wheels, flush joints between carriages and aerodynamic pantograph.
In the pictures you can see 3 key energy saving innovations: Covered wheels, flush joints between carriages and aerodynamic pantograph.
It is now reported expected energy use at 400 km/h is 23 kWh/km. en.people.cn/n3/2025/0103...
This is the same HS2 used in their modelling for *300* km/h!
If production trains have 619 seats (like previous CR400), at 400 km/h this is 37 Wh/seat-km. On the UK grid this produces just 7g/seat-km CO2e
This is the same HS2 used in their modelling for *300* km/h!
If production trains have 619 seats (like previous CR400), at 400 km/h this is 37 Wh/seat-km. On the UK grid this produces just 7g/seat-km CO2e
January 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
It is now reported expected energy use at 400 km/h is 23 kWh/km. en.people.cn/n3/2025/0103...
This is the same HS2 used in their modelling for *300* km/h!
If production trains have 619 seats (like previous CR400), at 400 km/h this is 37 Wh/seat-km. On the UK grid this produces just 7g/seat-km CO2e
This is the same HS2 used in their modelling for *300* km/h!
If production trains have 619 seats (like previous CR400), at 400 km/h this is 37 Wh/seat-km. On the UK grid this produces just 7g/seat-km CO2e
technology. Arrogance. To think a country of 1.4 bn people can only copy. In the case of trains they took the best the West had to offer and improved it. People said 350 km/h couldn't be done reliably. China has a billion km experience doing so by now, yet there is still ICE heritage in this design.
January 4, 2025 at 9:05 AM
technology. Arrogance. To think a country of 1.4 bn people can only copy. In the case of trains they took the best the West had to offer and improved it. People said 350 km/h couldn't be done reliably. China has a billion km experience doing so by now, yet there is still ICE heritage in this design.
UIC defines high-speed as above 250 km/h on new track or above 200 on upgraded track, so technically while this service even in Germany meets the criteria (France definitely so), you have to wonder what is going on east of the Rhine to achieve a ~100 km/h average there.
www.uic.org/com/IMG/pdf/...
www.uic.org/com/IMG/pdf/...
January 4, 2025 at 7:52 AM
UIC defines high-speed as above 250 km/h on new track or above 200 on upgraded track, so technically while this service even in Germany meets the criteria (France definitely so), you have to wonder what is going on east of the Rhine to achieve a ~100 km/h average there.
www.uic.org/com/IMG/pdf/...
www.uic.org/com/IMG/pdf/...
Ironically, the direct train skips everywhere between Frankfurt and Berlin, whereas the existing, only marginally slower, 1-change options stop at every minor German city en route. If you take out the time needed to change trains, with the latter you actually spend less time on the move 🤷
January 4, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Ironically, the direct train skips everywhere between Frankfurt and Berlin, whereas the existing, only marginally slower, 1-change options stop at every minor German city en route. If you take out the time needed to change trains, with the latter you actually spend less time on the move 🤷
And I appear to have made it home with no trouble whatsoever.
January 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
And I appear to have made it home with no trouble whatsoever.
Oh no it's snowed everywhere and I have to drive my EV 500 miles home. The Facebook experts tell me this is impossible. How will I survive? 😱
January 3, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Oh no it's snowed everywhere and I have to drive my EV 500 miles home. The Facebook experts tell me this is impossible. How will I survive? 😱
Great to have an option, but in reality 8 hours is far too slow to capture much market. The fact 1,300km from Beijing to Shanghai can be covered in around 4 hours (soon 3½) by basically the same type of train shows how much Europe (particularly Germany) threw away its leadership in this technology.
January 2, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Great to have an option, but in reality 8 hours is far too slow to capture much market. The fact 1,300km from Beijing to Shanghai can be covered in around 4 hours (soon 3½) by basically the same type of train shows how much Europe (particularly Germany) threw away its leadership in this technology.
Here's the promo from the manufacturer of the second prototype:
December 30, 2024 at 6:31 PM
Here's the promo from the manufacturer of the second prototype:
Here's the promo from the manufacturer of the first prototype:
December 30, 2024 at 6:22 PM
Here's the promo from the manufacturer of the first prototype:
Looks like the Renault 5 price gouging already started.
November 25, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Looks like the Renault 5 price gouging already started.