As many of us thought.......from today`s Daily Telegraph

[Bluemarlin]

27 minutes ago, J Henderson said:

Yeah, but the "customisation" Mercedes are charging a subscription for, is something the car is already capable of.

It's just locked away behind a pay wall, videogame-style.

I suppose, but the argument would be that it was fitted with a capability that wasn't yet paid for. A bit like a cable tv box that is capable of receiving premium channels, but they're only made available once you pay a subscription.

Essentially, the old option is to pay to have a new capability supplied and fitted by a garage,  against the new option of it already being fitted, and you pay to have it switched on.

Swings and roundabouts, depending on costs, and the latter could ultimately be more convenient.

[Malc1]

1 minute ago, Bluemarlin said:

and the latter could ultimately be more convenient.

or simply to buy a new car with all the " bells and whistles " in place and working .  as in olden times 

Malc

[J Henderson]

2 hours ago, Boxbrownie said:

I am not familiar with the MB system, what are they doing exactly?

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63743597.amp

[Bluemarlin]

3 hours ago, Malc1 said:

or simply to buy a new car with all the " bells and whistles " in place and working .  as in olden times 

Malc

Indeed, that would be my choice Malcolm.

Although, if things were provided on a monthly subscription, I might consider a lower spec one, and only rent the heated seats in the colder months 😉

[First_Lexus]

I enjoy Hubnut videos - lots to like here and some good points made.

EVs are good environmentally but bad in terms of sustainability - as are all new cars. 

Hopefully an interesting ten minutes for those members that watch it…

[Boxbrownie]

On 11/24/2022 at 5:09 PM, Spacewagon52 said:

My bus pass is becoming even more appealing!

You might have to pay a subscription for a seat to use in the bus soon 😉

[VFR]

If J *unt ran a charity shop in any high street he would try to find a way to fleece / steal anyone thinking of buying anything & would consider charging people to come into the shop as well no doubt.

[Malc1]

12 hours ago, Boxbrownie said:

You might have to pay a subscription for a seat to use in the bus soon 

chatting to my guy in Delhi last night  .........

ALL buses in Delhi are now Electric and it's only men who pay, ALL women travel free as are the first 5 children you take on the bus with you .......  nothing about seats tho' ...  think they may be a little superfluous tbh

Malc

 

[ROYT]

Does anybody think any tax will go down if we were not paying £7 million a week to keep fake asylum seekers in 4 star hotels?

[Malc1]

6 hours ago, ROYT said:

Does anybody think any tax will go down

not one jot  ...........  £7 mn a week is a drop in the ocean sadly ............. Sue the Home Secretary is probably preparing the equivalent 4 star hotel style of accommodation in glorious sunny and warm, secure and safe Rwanda right now at an equivalent cost of just £ 0.5 mn 

I wonder !

Malc

[flotsam]

Electric Cars are the VHS to hydrogen cars Betamax. Servicing of hydrogen cars consists of, apparently, only changing some filters, whereas one owner of a Tesla blew it up when he got a $30,000 bill to replace the Battery.

[Las Palmas]

Don't worry

be happy

https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/green-hydrogen-production-apd-aes/8556372/

https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/hydrogen-fuel-cell-airbus/8556278/

It will come sooner than we thought a few years ago. When so many big spenders are starting it will be done.

[Bluemarlin]

18 hours ago, flotsam said:

Electric Cars are the VHS to hydrogen cars Betamax. Servicing of hydrogen cars consists of, apparently, only changing some filters, whereas one owner of a Tesla blew it up when he got a $30,000 bill to replace the battery.

Excuse my ignorance, but aren't hydrogen cars still electric cars,  and just use a hydrogen fuel  cell to generate electricity,  instead of running off a Battery?

[Boxbrownie]

2 hours ago, Bluemarlin said:

Excuse my ignorance, but aren't hydrogen cars still electric cars,  and just use a hydrogen fuel  cell to generate electricity,  instead of running off a battery?

Yes, although there is a train of thought that hydrogen can be used to power 100 year old ICE technology and call itself Green. 😂

[Las Palmas]

Your ignorance excused:

 

Toyota unveils prototype Corolla Cross hydrogen combustion engine car

 

The concept vehicle was developed with an H2 tank and enough room for 5 passengers and luggage.

 

The engineering team at Toyota has recently unveiled a new prototype hydrogen combustion engine car called the Corolla Cross H2 Concept.

The vehicle is based on the GR Corolla equipped with a 1.6l 3-cylinder turbo engine.

 

That car was equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine with direct injection technology from motorsport activity, in addition to an H2 tank based on the expertise gained from the development and launch of the Mirai. This car has enough room for 5 passengers as well as their luggage.

 

 

The new H2 vehicle is still a prototype. Its evaluation under real world conditions is currently underway, even as its digital development is continuing. The car is slated to begin its winter testing in northern Japan very soon.

The hydrogen combustion engine design was chosen for a number of benefits it can provide.

 

Among the top advantages offered by H2 internal combustion engines (ICEs) is that they provide the capacity to leverage existing ICE technologies in addition to rapid refuelling times and a notable decrease in the use and requirement for rare and expensive elements of which there is a limited supply, such as lithium and nickel (required for Battery production). Adaptation of existing technologies and reaching further into existing investments gives H2 ICE tech the chance to provide a faster and more accessible carbon reduction solution, said Toyota.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypEdnckk-4k

[Las Palmas]

On 12/12/2022 at 5:24 PM, Boxbrownie said:

Yes, although there is a train of thought that hydrogen can be used to power 100 year old ICE technology and call itself Green. 😂

And some ignorantly believe there is nothing wrong destroying the earth in search of material to build heavy batteries that last only a few years.

[Las Palmas]

On 12/12/2022 at 2:53 PM, Bluemarlin said:

Excuse my ignorance, but aren't hydrogen cars still electric cars,  and just use a hydrogen fuel  cell to generate electricity,  instead of running off a battery?

No problem, we can all learn if we are willing to.