This is not necessarily a large constraint and we are just starting to see most large manufacturers offer electronic vehicles. There is one huge advantage to locating the battery in the floor as it brings the center of gravity down which is made even more useful and important by the height of many popular models.
Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
21–30 of 54 posts
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#22While I definitely don't want to come across as unsympathetic or uncaring towards those with disabilities, I am quite frustrated by tone of this article.
Yes, putting the battery in the floor makes the current ways that disabled people modify their vehicles to be more friendly easier, however, the need to modify the vehicle is not unique to EVs - they were already taking non friendly vehicles and making them friendlier.
> "We shouldn’t just be behind the wheel of electric cars, we should also be calling the shots on how to build them."
I'm also all for more diversity and representation in engineering (what percentage of companies have people with mobility needs on their engineering teams?) however it fundamentally doesn't make sense to take any group brought together by a particular need and have them design something for mass consumption.
It kind of feels like a "hit piece", as the author paints this specifically about how "big EV" doesn't care about disabled people instead of suggesting ways that the situation can be improved.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#23Misleading headlines like this are very irresponsible.
It’s especially frustrating because the article itself presents the challenges as largely surmountable as long as there is adequate awareness.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#24Counter evidence: https://youtu.be/cuZYROM4Vrs In fact, much of the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel is counter evidence for this claim, as Zack shows taking two electric bikes and welding them together for a seriously good and relatively inexpensive first pass at an “off road wheelchair”, and then ups the ante with his custom-designed “notawheelchair” a.k.a. “Rig”, and plenty of other videos with his lovely now-wi…
The thing that struck me about the Tesla video is that they're still using after market mechanical controls for acceleration and braking. This is very similar to what my aunt used in her car back in the 80s. Since Tesla is at least partially drive-by-wire, it seems like actual controls on the steering wheel without a mechanical component would be trivial to add. Perhaps there are regulatory reasons for this or maybe Tesla simply hasn't been asked for or prioritized this functionality.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#25Counter evidence: https://youtu.be/cuZYROM4Vrs In fact, much of the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel is counter evidence for this claim, as Zack shows taking two electric bikes and welding them together for a seriously good and relatively inexpensive first pass at an “off road wheelchair”, and then ups the ante with his custom-designed “notawheelchair” a.k.a. “Rig”, and plenty of other videos with his lovely now-wi…
The thing that struck me about the Tesla video is that they're still using after market mechanical controls for acceleration and braking. This is very similar to what my aunt used in her car back in the 80s. Since Tesla is at least partially drive-by-wire, it seems like actual controls on the steering wheel without a mechanical component would be trivial to add. Perhaps there are regulatory reasons for this or maybe…
Most cars now are partially drive-by-wire. The mechanical interconnect serves as backup.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#26We’re not even in the “Model T era” of EVs yet. The landscape is still evolving and will become more available and accessible to more people.
I’d argue we are just in the era of the Model T with Tesla’s model 3.
I'd argue the model t of electric vehicles was the Electrobat in 1894. EVs came before gas, and the ICE hit the pause button for a century on EV progress.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
That’s got little to do with the article. Their primary issue is EV’s have batteries in the floor. This is great for driving as it lowers the center of gravity and adds space for a frunk, but adding a wheelchair ramp etc becomes extremely difficult. It’s fixable, but significantly more expensive to deal with. Charging cables are heavy and require precision making them difficult for many disabled people to use. Also f…
"Charging cables are heavy and require precision making them difficult for many disabled people to use. Also few charging stations have been added to disabled parking spaces." Interesting. Why isn't the ADA used to require such affordances?
I can’t speak to the entire EV charging landscape, but Tesla’s 250kw charging pedestals are liquid cooled and have thin, easily manipulated charge cables and Supercharger stations (at least in Florida) have dedicated handicap spots.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’d argue we are just in the era of the Model T with Tesla’s model 3.
I'd argue the model t of electric vehicles was the Electrobat in 1894. EVs came before gas, and the ICE hit the pause button for a century on EV progress.
Model T wasn’t the first car. It was the first mass-market, “Everyman” car. What I’m talking about is a car that pretty much anyone who can afford a car can afford.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#29On the other hand, it seems the move to self-driving electrical vehicles would be welcomed by alternatively-abled people that suffer from visual, motor, or gender-impairment.
Re: Electric vehicles are the future for everyone – except disabled people
#30My wheelchair bound friend would never be able to afford a car even if he could drive it. All cars and car dependent infrastructure makes his life more difficult. He takes the bus or the bike lane, and neither option is very good.