Ron Ron Ron

There aren't going to be any 5-car Bi-Modes as such Paul. Well not in the traditional sense. The Stadler Class 755 Bi-Modes are in 3-car (x14) and 4-car (x24) configurations. Each with the short diesel generator unit added in the formation. The all electric Stadler Class 745 is a 12-car EMU (x20). The GA Class 720 Aventra's will be in 5 and 10-car configurations. I'm not sure if that's of any help? Ron .

This video was posted on YouTube a couple of weeks ago.....

A taste of what's to come from France. Step by step, Paris is trying to rid itself of petrol and diesel cars, and persuade people to use other types of transport. So far the city has banned all conventional cars built before 1997 from entering the city centre on weekdays between 8am and 8pm. Diesels registered before 2001 are also prohibited. Drivers breaching the bans face heavy fines. Next year, the restrictions will be widened to include pre-2005 diesels. The clampdown will then continue in stages. Diesels are due to be outlawed altogether in 2024, and petrol cars in 2030. .

Norway leads the way in Europe. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-norway-autos/norway-powers-ahead-over-half-new-car-sales-now-electric-or-hybrid-idUSKBN1ES0WC .

Audi plans to make 800,000 Hybrid's and EV's by 2025. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-audi-electric/audi-eyes-800000-electric-and-hybrid-car-sales-in-2025-idUKKBN1I92HJ https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-fleshes-out-its-corporate-strategy-and-plans-to-sell-800000-electrified-cars-in-2025-10217 .

Regarding the operating temperature range, 200-450 C. Is that suitable for most modelling and electrical work? n.b. My old cheapie Weller, that I've had for nearly 35 years, doesn't have any temperature control, so it's always been a hit and miss affair. .

The first passenger carrying service of the iLint took place in April, as part of the press launch. Introduction into fare paying commercial service, is due to commence with the first few trains, this summer. The press launch. The big German boss man stops talking at about 1:56 into the video.....

That news article is over a year old and reports on the prototype. As Mike says, there are now some production standard trains running trials on the German rail network. Its in the news again today.... https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/25/hydrogen-train-of-the-future/ .

Using existing IC platforms will diminish as manufacturers introduce new car ranges that are either exclusively EV, or are designed to accommodate both EV or various of the Hybrid configurations. New car models designed to run as pure ICE, will disappear within 5 to 10 years from now. As for the Golf EV. Volkswagen will be introducing its ID range of EV's from 2020.] There's a Golf sized hatchback in that range. .

On sale from this Sunday... https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-digital-soldering-station/p/083184201878400 How would this compare with other soldering stations and is the spec. suitable for a wide range of model railway applications, e.g. electrical wiring, soldering brass parts etc, ? Ron .

Here's a selection of low alcohol and alcohol free beers..... https://www.beerhawk.co.uk/browse-beers/browse-by-style/low-alcohol-beer .

It seems to be a very bizarre choice of location. I should imagine there must be lots of suitable alternative sites. As for the visitor centre, they were planning to relocate it until the plan fell through. Are they still looking for a new home? .

It makes no difference who they vote for, as probably 99% of the general public have no idea about how the railways are structured and run. There is nothing but uninformed debate and opinion on the matter and that extends to the media and even some politicians. What information or discussion that gets aired on TV, Radio and in the newspapers is dominated by misinformation, spin and even outright lies. How is any member of the general public going to be able to obtain an informed opinion on the matter? In a newspaper article last week, a journalist wrote a piece where he criticised NR's running of an outdated rail system and signalling. Concluding it would be better if it was nationalised !!!!!! One "leading" inter city franchise fails, for the 3rd time, because off the way it was badly set up. So the conclusion is that all franchises and the franchise set up are a total failure ???? .

RapidGate. I wasn't aware of that issue until yesterday. Nissan have rather shot themselves in both feet on this issue.

Range anxiety ??? Here's a little snippet of information. Apparently, the AA rescue 2,100 drivers of petrol and diesel cars who've run out of fuel....every week . I don't know what the figures are for members of the RAC, Green Flag etc. .

Do you mean Rich Fat ba****ds ??? .

Looking away from EV's for the moment. Very recently we've seen the application of "mild hybrid" power trains on some very new car models. The new Audi A7 & A8 and new Mercedes CLS (mk3 - 2018) both very expensive premium cars, employ mild hybrid systems purely to help boost performance. The forthcoming new Audi A6 along with other cars are getting these 48v systems too. This is quite unlike the hybrid cars we've seen so far, as they do not allow running on electric, but use the batteries as a power booster, cutting fuel usage and emissions in the process. Only announced couple of days ago, the revised Kia Sportage will adopt mild hybrid tech as well, so already it's apparent that mild hybrid is going to trickle down into more affordable cars over the next few years. It's possible that within the next 5 years or so, there will be no mainstream, mass produced petrol or diesel cars being sold, that are not Plug-in Hybrid, Hybrid, or use Mild Hybrid technology. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pure EV Range Extender EV Plug-in Hybrid Hybrid Petrol/Diesel + Mild Hybrid https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/updated-kia-sportage-gains-mild-hybrid-diesel-variant https://www.audi-technology-portal.de/en/drivetrain/fsi-tsi-engines/audi-a8-mild-hybrid-electric-vehicle-mhev-components https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-audi-a6-guns-5-series-mild-hybrid-power-and-a8-cabin-tech http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/159947/what-is-a-mild-hybrid https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mercedes-amg-cls53-and-e53-hybrids-revealed .

That's exactly what I was talking about in the OP, where I started this topic. It's clear from many of the contributions over the last 8 pages, that many of us are unaware of where the technology has got to so far and just how advanced development has become. The pace of change is faster than most realise. Even the most sceptical of motoring journalists are being won over. Of course there are many practical issues still to be dealt with and battery technology will continue to be developed, but that time when "maybe one day, when they're more developed and battery ranges are improved", is for many motorists, upon us. .

That process of working issues out of the system is underway. The cars themselves are becoming very mature. The larger hurdles are price and charging infrastructure. Most of the new generation of EV's have been designed from the ground up and are not adaptations. In terms of looks, the market preference would prefer a bias towards more conventional styling. The concept cars are something else. See the video below....... Development of EV's has gone far beyond that stage, as witnessed by the major car companies now committed to producing wide ranges of electrically powered vehicles. Not just low production technology demonstrators. The next generation now beginning to come to market are very well developed. The premium brands in particular are not going to risk flooding the market with products which would damage their brand image and possibly put them at a severe disadvantage as the market moves further in this direction, over the next 10 years or more. VW ID range Concept vehicles. Featuring the micro bus concept........

The Opel Ampera-e. An updated European version of the Chevrolet Bolt. Soon to appear wearing a Vauxhall badge. The original Chevvy Volt and Opel/Vauxhall Ampera, was a range extender hybrid. This new car is pure EV. http://www.opel.com/ampera-e/index.html. .