balthazar

Kokomo IN, 1952 :

Sure, but obviously 20 internal combustion engines operated by 20 operators over 10 years may involve a 1000 variables all affecting those outcomes. I expect all 20 -sans accidents- to still be operating. This, tho the OEM only basically guarantees it to work for 3 years. I was merely saying that in the most stress-less scenario like I outlined, a L-I battery should be able to perform to it's maximum potential & advertised lifespan. Or at least 90% of that. It's a controlled demonstration cycle.

No 9V replaceable batteries are sold with a claimed 10-yr operating lifespan.

^ Agreed, but I have seen this commonly with detectors and LED (and CFL) bulbs. Enough to determine it’s likely not an anomaly. Good deal on BEV certification; that’s as it should be.

My example is an extremely-controlled test. No recharges, no ambient temp changes, no power grid connection, designed/spec’d by segment-leading manufacturer for that unit. Only reached 67% of claimed battery life. I can’t imagine many factors of EV use that would significantly extend the advertised claims; there are more that would lower it than extend it.

It was a battery-ONLY unit; power grid fluctuations are irrelevant.

^ I can agree with that for the most part.

No- they don't "affect" real world usage, but they give one a window of expectation. It's generally a median. My question is; are battery ratings a median or a maximum... sometimes? Why doesn't a sealed, constant-draw battery meet it's claimed lifespan? Why doesn't a minimum-draw LED bulb meet it's? IS it a lack of certification to get these claims to be more realistic? Remember when Porsche was dialed back from 400 miles of range to 308? (I think I have those numbers right) - Porsche's internal testing / planned marketing was pulled back from the unrealistic.

MPG is tested & certified; some vehicles get worse, some get better. A lot of variables in the operation of a combustion-engined vehicle (as in a BEV). I don't know that battery life certification is done, but between batteries & light bulbs, it certainly has been my observation that they commonly fall short with FAR less variables in their operation. You cannot 'hyper mile' a light bulb. It's worthy of some examination, IMO.

Just got back from a short job from a long-time & utterly helpless customer. Among the list of things, her smoke detectors had been beeping FOR A WEEK. None are hard wired, 4 older units took 9V, no problem. But the main hallway unit (a Kidde) I put up, after dutifully labeling the install date sticker. Now... a smoke detector battery sees totally static battery useage. But this sealed lithium battery unit, blatantly labeled as being a "10 year life" (120 months) lasted only 79. This is why I always doubt battery manufacturer claims. An electric car has dozens of factors that affect battery life. A smoke detector has 1 function and no variables on that function (I guarantee the customer NEVER pressed the test button ONCE).

Rivian definitely seems more purposeful & appealing than the soft boiled egg Model X; but it still needs a nose job badly. Both are lux toys for the few- Tesla sold I think it was 19K Model X in 2019... R1S is unlikely to achieve that in '22 (a supposed full year of production), even tho David believes Rivian will sell 1,000,000.

I was thinking specifically of the frame rot issue.

The off road / winter mountain trail busting looks cool, but I have zero interest in putting myself in that sort of scenario.

The same thing was done to the dealer my 2500HD came from- there since '55, closed in '08, now some sort of 'farm fresh deli / eatery' establishment. They did what looks like a nice job, some obvious but minor exterior changes (I've not been inside since the remodel), but I somehow prefer to see the 'car' aspect of the structure maintained, somehow.

Ask toyoter how that worked out for them.

It seems weird that certain components on certain vehicles don’t last rust-wise. You’d think a manufacturer would determine a long-lasting process and use it on everything underneath, for example. Shouldn’t the entire underside of a vehicle, with the possible exception of the exhaust, rust at the same rate?

Zenda KS. Would love to restore an old commercial building like this. That's not original lettering, so not sure if it was an actual dealer; Zenda is minuscule and this is a relatively big building for that.

It’s an ‘11 Liberty Sport. Has been very reliable, I think it has about 130K on it. Only thing it’s needed is about 3 yrs ago it had to limp to a nearby dealer; trans filter was supposedly clogged so it got a flush/filter there. Jersey has been using brine for a number of years, but we just don’t see snow much at all. I think we had light snow twice last year. No major snow on a number of years. It’s all in the paint prep I believe; my 2500HD’s pans are fine at 203K miles, and the rest of the Jeep’s underbelly is fine.

The video at the top of this page, from Insideevs. Interesting; first the maintenance cost issue gets inverted, now here’s an example where fueling it costs more as an electric. Huh.

Was under my buddy's '02 nissa -whoops- infiniti QX4 last weekend, inspecting a transaxle leak. Then I happened to notice his oil pan had a severe case of rust acne, like those blooms of rust that flake off with a fingernail. He got a pan from Rock Auto cause ni—infiniti wanted $176 for a pan (with no gasket). You'd have to see this pan, it's TINY. Looks like nissan has it sized for about 1 quart, which means the seam between the pan & the block is ALWAYS under the level of the oil. ? Fast forward to yesterday and my son's Jeep's trans pan looks just that oil pan, so when it gets here in the next 4 or so days, I have a trans pan swap to do. Interesting sidebar- Jeep's 3.7L V6 has NO DIPSTICK in the fill tube, just a cap. Hand-in-hand with that; the manual has no listed trans fluid capacity. Should be able to find that online, I hope. infiniti pan was dry, but the Jeep is leaking quite a bit. It's grounded until the swap.

Wait - audi e-tron costs you $34 to 'fill up' every 200 or so miles?

I see them now & again (but rarely); they are a min of 41-2 yrs old now.

I always liked the 1st gens, they have spot-on great proportions. I guess there's no way to ever see formal backlights again; I kinda miss them in some iterations... mostly because they give a sedan some 'booty'. All that fastback interior space is useless.... it's there for aero.

San diego CL, 38K mile original :