One Thing They Don’t Tell You About EVs When The Rubber Meets The Road

The thing that a few of the proponents of EVs don’t often tell you about is about the tyres.  They’ll tell you about how EVs produce less in the tailpipe emissions department and about how quiet they are and how much better the range is these days, but if you’re new to the world of electric vehicles, you may be in for a surprise the first time you have to change the tyres.

What they don’t tell you is that EVs need special tyres and fitting the sort of tyre that worked perfectly well for an ICE vehicle of the same size or even the same weight won’t work on an EV. The tyres on an EV have to cope with a number of the characteristics of electrical motors. Specifically, the tyres have to cope with the increased torque, the weight of the battery pack, the need for better energy efficiency and the need to reduce road noise.

Because electric motors behave differently from internal combustion engines, they have much higher torque figures. Torque, as we should remember from our high school physics class, is rotational force (as opposed to linear acceleration), so it bites in where the rubber hits the road – literally.  The more torque, the more force is applied.  Now, I like a good bit of torque in a motor, but tyres don’t like it as much, and too much can wear them out more quickly. This means that an EV has to have tougher tyres. They also have to have more grip to avoid slipping when accelerating, especially in wet or slippery conditions.

On top of that, the tyre has to handle the increased weight. You might not realise this, given that most EVs tend to be smaller urban vehicles (although this is changing).  However, EVs weight more because of the battery pack. In fact, the battery pack can make up to quarter of the weight of an EV – and yes, this outweighs the bits that aren’t in an EV, such as the radiator, the fuel tank, the exhaust system and so forth. The battery pack also needs to be protected against mechanical damage (such damage is very bad news for the battery and is the leading cause of electrical car fires). This extra weight applies to hybrids as well as to purely electric vehicles (battery electric vehicles or BEVs). This means that the sidewalls on the tyres for EVs need to be stronger and heavier to carry the weight.

These two factors alone would be enough to indicate that putting regular tyres on an EV or hybrid vehicle is a bad idea, as the tyres would wear out more quickly – a lot more quickly! In fact, some have argued that if you are concerned about the environment, you should bear in mind that although EVs produce less from the tailpipe, they create more particulate matter from tyre wear. This is why several of the big-name tyre manufacturers have created special tyres for EVs.

If you’ve ever looked at the tyres made specifically for EVs, you may notice that they are taller and thinner. This is to decrease the rolling resistance.  Going back to high school physics once more, something that’s heavier has more inertia and thus requires more force to get moving (think about how easy it is to kick a soccer ball rather than a medicine ball).  Naturally, a tyre that’s stronger and more resistant to wear will be heavier, which would mean more inertia and thus rolling resistance. Making the tyre narrower will reduce the drag and thus the rolling resistance. This is important, because if you have waited half an hour to charge up your EV from a public charging station, you want that charge to last as long as possible before you have to do it again, so reducing the drag and the rolling resistance will be more energy efficient.

Lastly, there’s the noise issue. In an ICE vehicle, the rumble of the engine drowns out the road noise.  In an EV, there is no rumble, so road noise is the only thing you can hear.  Road noise isn’t quite as soothing as engine noise (most of the time), and that’s the only thing that you can hear in an EV, especially if you’ve switched off the sound system to save power and extend the battery range.

You can put tyres designed for other cars on EVs and hybrids, but three things need to be borne in mind.  Firstly, you have to be sure to get something that can handle the extra weight.  Secondly, a regular tyre will reduce the range of the battery.  Thirdly, the tyre will wear out a lot more quickly, meaning that you won’t actually save anything by putting regular bog-standard tyres on an EV. 

It’s best to put the proper tyres on an EV, as you will get better range and longer tyre life out of them.  Admittedly, these tyres are more expensive (like performance tyres on a splashy sports car).  They will also wear out more quickly, but not quite as quickly.  This is something that tyre manufacturers such as Michelin are working on but you will have to factor in if when deciding if an EV is right for you and your budget.  Despite being built tougher, these tyres still need to be maintained correctly – checking the pressure and rotating them regularly.

As with all things, the issue of battery weight and tyre wear are things that researchers are looking into and trying to improve, so we can look for things to get better (and hopefully cheaper) as time passes.

Some More Exciting Mazda News

If you are anything like me, then you’ll be driving along the highway spotting the cars coming the other way.  One of the snazzier brands out on the roads would have to be those from out of Mazda’s showrooms.  Mazda’s great variety of models all look great and boast some striking modern designs.  Even the new Mazda BT-50 ute, a very reliable workhorse, is looking pretty slick, and so too the family-oriented new Mazda 6 Sedans and Wagons.  Mazda also offers a wide range of brand new SUVs with sharp looking exteriors and endearing interiors that are well-equipped.  The small MX-30 is one of these SUVs, and it also has some cool new materials used inside the cabin – like the cork inlays that offset nicely against the premium leather trim.

Toyota, Mazda, Kia, and Hyundai sell the most cars in Australia; Toyota being out in front by a decent margin, with Mazda coming in at second place.  For quite some time, in Australia, Mazda has been a popular vehicle to buy.  Mazda’s 2022 sales of 43,687 are down 9% on this time last year, though Mazda retains its 2nd placing to Toyota’s 1^st place for overall sales.  Sales drops have occurred right across the market, thanks to the shortages of components and current logistical issues.  Mazda had sold 101,119 vehicles in 2021, quite a large portion of the whole pie, considering all the brands that are available to buy new in Australia.

So, what’s some hot off the press Mazda news?

You may have noticed a tidy looking compact SUV running our roads the past couple of years.  Mazda’s MX-30 is one of Mazda’s newer creations in recent times – gaining in popularity too.  The little Mazda MX-30 has been a key model for Mazda in that this has been Mazda’s model of choice for bringing new technologies, hybrid motoring, and EV motoring into their modern fleet of vehicles that will also lead them in a new direction for future motoring.

As the direction of future transport trends toward cleaner engines and lower emissions, Mazda launched a series of mild-hybrid powertrains.  We saw these first being used in the Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-30.  The Mazda MX-30 provided a mild-hybrid engine, but Mazda also made available their brand new pure-electric drivetrain available for the MX-30.  Designed purely for an emissions-free city commute, the Mazda MX-30 Electric uses its 107 kW to whistle up to 0-100 km/h in 9.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 140 km/h.  The driving range proves to be over 175 km, a handy dollop of motoring before recharging needs to happen.

Some other new Mazda technology which will be implemented will be that of a new small rotary engine as a supplementary power source.  With a NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) accredited range of 224 km, this will provide Mazda-buyers with another means of excellent low-emission city transportation.

Mazda’s approach to electrification is based on the customers’ demand for EVs, and the regional infrastructure available to support them.  Within 5 years, Mazda hope to introduce a new hybrid system alongside more battery-electric models in their line-up of new vehicles.  This is in response to the newer European emissions rules that come into effect.

Towards the end of this decade, Mazda’s entire line-up will offer fully electrified versions.  One model that has been talked about as being another exciting Mazda EV will be the little MX-5’s progression into EV powering.  Now that’s a tasty thought!

Travelling with a Roof-Top Tent

Got your trusty Outback or Forester, maybe a Patrol or even a new Cherokee?  Then you’re likely ready for a bit of an adventure!  Haven’t we got the country just for you?  Australia is filled with many wonderful things to see, places to explore, and amazing wildlife and flora to enjoy.  It’s surprising how many decent vehicles we can actually use to get around Australia; space and practicality being the main factors contributing to the type of vehicle we end up using.

Of course, the other factor will be how 4x4ish and AWDish you’ll want/need the vehicle to be – because the further you go off-road, then the more likely you’ll be driving an SUV with 4WD ability or even a true blue 4×4 brute to get you anywhere.

Next question I’d be asking would be: Will you want to be staying in motels and B&Bs, towing a caravan, or staying in a tent?  If you want to ditch the vacancy/no-vacancy signs for a lot more freedom and a lower price tag, then caravanning and tenting are very decent options.

What I wanted to focus attention on was the types of tents that can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle.  Roof-top tents are a means of accommodation that are great while you’re on the move around Australia.  They keep you up off the ground and away from the creepy crawlies, or at least minimalizing their access!  A pop-top roof tent is a neat and inexpensive way of giving you your sleeping space while travelling around Australia.

Some of the advantages of having a roof top tent include:

You can camp in as many places as your vehicle can take you – think off-road and a rugged 4×4 vehicle!

The roof-top tent is usually designed to be fast and easy set up and store away at a campsite.  Usually, they can take as little as 1 – 5 minutes to set up.  This is a brief!

The roof-top tent is off the ground, thus keeping you off the wet ground and mud, and away from insects, snakes, and other animals.

Many pop out roof-tents are designed with the mattress already included in the fold out design.  This makes camping life even easier.

The biggest disadvantages of a fold out roof tent would include:

Older folk may struggle getting in and out of the tent via the ladder.

The tent’s maximum body capacity and height are limited, so there’s no way for you to stand up to your full height.  You also won’t be able to hold a party of any great number inside.

Lifting the tent to the roof of the car can be a little more challenging depending on the set-up and weight involved.

Unfortunately, not every vehicle is made for carrying a hefty weight on the roof, and some simply cannot handle the additional weight.  As a general rule of thumb, your car should have cargo racks and be able to withstand at least 80–100 kg of weight. They should accommodate for the weight of your tent and everyone inside.  However, if you’re thinking of buying a four-person roof top tent, you’ll need a sturdier SUV or a pickup truck/ute.  Some sedans and town cars may be able to handle one- or two-person pop-top roof tents.

Roof-top tents have been an Australia thing for many, many decades, but the first one was invented between 1957 and 1958 by Giuseppe Dionisio.  Roof top tents are now available right around the world, and the variety of roof-top tent models is staggering.

For your first ever roof top tent experience, a softshell tent might be the best choice.  It is lighter, cheaper, and more familiar to most people for setting up at a campsite. However, if you’re ready to go all in and have the money to spare, a hard shell roof top tent is a more luxurious (and usually more convenient) option.

Thule and Kings roof-top tents would be a great place to start if you want to take a look and try out the camping lifestyle with a view.  Camping life with a bit of freedom is hard to beat!

How Much is Too Much for EV Driving Range?

How long should an EV be able to travel on a full battery?  ‘Neue Klasse’, from BMW, suggests that 1000 kilometres is about right.  BMW’s New Class of vehicles are not far off the runway now, said to be arriving in 2025.  And they are going to be the first BMWs-ever that have been designed from the ground up to be specifically all-electric, EV through-and-through.

That does raise an interesting question: How far should we expect our brand spanking new EVs to go on a full charge (a full tank of electrons instead of a full tank of gas)?  Should we be able to drive from Sydney to Melbourne (877 km), Sydney to Adelaide (1374 km), Sydney to Cairns (2430 km), Sydney to Perth (3932 km), or just Sydney to Wollongong and back (about 175 km) on a full battery?

Most of us are probably sick of driving non-stop after 6–8 hours max in a day.  So, say most of that was done at 100 km/h, then 100 × 8 hours would get you to 800 kilometres before you’d be needing a proper cup of coffee in a proper coffee cup!  It would be then you’d want a rest and a sleep, right?

Perhaps Neue Klasse has got it bang on then.  1000 km would cover an all day blast up the coast from Sydney to Brisbane, which is approximately a total of 911 kilometres via the coastal route.  Get to the end of that journey, and you could pull up at a mate’s place for tea, or a motel, and plug in your EV overnight ready for the long drive back home.

According to Thomas Albrecht (BMW’s head of Efficient Dynamics), in 2025, New Class EV BMWs are set to have “thirty-percent or more” range than what’s currently available now.  That means that the brand-new BMW EV platform with lots of fresh pieces of technology, including 46 mm cylindrical battery cells, should push the Generation 6 batteries out to around 1000 km before they run out of electron juice.  Even though BMW could go further than this 1000 kilometre range, Albrecht suggested that this would be the maximum that BMW will offer because they don’t think that such a long range is necessary.

BMW will debut the new Generation 6 batteries in the 2025 BMW 3 Series EV.  How much do you think we should be able to get out of the battery packs in any new EV bought in 2025–2030?  I’d be interested to know – remembering that battery tech and recharging times will likely have vastly improved by then.