The all things EV chat thread

[Captain_Black.]

I have grave reservations about some of these so-called polls / consulations & referendums.
In certain situations I'm sure there is a predetermined outcome to the question being asked.

Some years ago, Bristol had all manor of public consultations regarding traffic management.
Fast forward a few years after the installation of a chargeable clean air zone / multiple bus lanes / busgates & high parking charges the net result is the central shopping centre is a dying & decaying mess.
They have succeeded in reducing car travel into the centre, but rather than people travelling swapping to alternative transport, they have stopped going altogether.
They now either shop online or travel to an outer city mall.

 

[Neilds]

I have grave reservations about some of these so-called polls / consulations & referendums.
In certain situations I'm sure there is a predetermined outcome to the question being asked.

Some years ago, Bristol had all manor of public consultations regarding traffic management.
Fast forward a few years after the installation of a chargeable clean air zone / multiple bus lanes / busgates & high parking charges the net result is the central shopping centre is a dying & decaying mess.
They have succeeded in reducing car travel into the centre, but rather than people travelling swapping to alternative transport, they have stopped going altogether.
They now either shop online or travel to an outer city mall.

Bristol haven't helped themselves by cutting the bus services at exactly the same time they bring in the LEZ. We used to go in quite often but don't now as the LEZ starts right at the entrance to the shopping centre car park. the train station is not ideal if you are shopping as it is not central and there are no P+R that are suitable. If they put a P+R at the top of the M32 it would be ideal and solve a lot of the travel issues.

 

[BubbaP]

Apathy rules okay .

They really should have a minimum turnout figure to bring about a change but if there isn't one.............Thankfully, it will never affect me. Who the heck would drive in Paris anyway, never mind with a big car

Incidentally, it will be €18 per hour, €12 per hour in some places. Ouch, but it sends a message.

What's the actual criteria for eligibility?
I'm no great fan of SUVs, but there is quite a variation in sizes.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What's the actual criteria for eligibility?
I'm no great fan of SUVs, but there is quite a variation in sizes.

That is a very good question and one that might cause them some problems. We all can picture the obvious ones but what about a Nissan Juke, Vauxhall Mokka? Small cars that are taller, do they qualify? An SUV is penalised but what about a people carrier, similar size, or a luxury car such as a Merc S class which will be an equally heavy weight and polluting car? It's a knee jerk reaction to a style of car rather than based on actual facts. It seems to be more symbolic than anything else.

 

[larmen]

What's the actual criteria for eligibility?
I'm no great fan of SUVs, but there is quite a variation in sizes.

It will be any car that isn't a Renault, Citroen or Peugeot ;-)


If it is about pollution, what about electric cars? If it is about size, what about the IB.Buzz or other vans? If it is about weight, what about the S-Class/A8/7-Series type cars? ...

There will always be someone who thinks they are unfairly classed in it.


Edit:
Just seen it on the BBC and it 1.6t or more in weight.
Also exception for EV, Trade, disabled and local people.


The trade one is where they are ahead of, or have learned from ULEZ.

 

[PJ87]

So today I drove into work in the Alhambra. My colleague is interested in it and he is working.

I let him take his time to look all over it , take it out on his break

Alhambra won't be coming home , it's train home for me today

I'll leave it here for him to take home at his leisure

Paid for the Kona so that's now being delivered by the garage to work next week. Guess I'm training in that day lol

 

[cliveb]

That is a very good question and one that might cause them some problems. We all can picture the obvious ones but what about a Nissan Juke, Vauxhall Mokka? Small cars that are taller, do they qualify? An SUV is penalised but what about a people carrier, similar size, or a luxury car such as a Merc S class which will be an equally heavy weight and polluting car? It's a knee jerk reaction to a style of car rather than based on actual facts. It seems to be more symbolic than anything else.

SUVs are horrible cars. Size doesn't come into it. The French are simply penalising people who have bad taste, bless 'em.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

SUVs are horrible cars. Size doesn't come into it. The French are simply penalising people who have bad taste, bless 'em.

Considering the weight of some of the EV SUV's (BMW ix3, 2.6t) size and weight will come into it,,,soon

 

[bobmac]

Considering the weight of some of the EV SUV's (BMW ix3, 2.6t) size and weight will come into it,,,soon

To be fair, if you can afford £60k-£65k for a new car, you can probably afford the VED

 

[clubchamp98]

Considering the weight of some of the EV SUV's (BMW ix3, 2.6t) size and weight will come into it,,,soon

Yes if it’s about weight why do EVs get a free pass.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

To be fair, if you can afford £60k-£65k for a new car, you can probably afford the VED

Its not the costs of it.

 

[PJ87]

To be fair, if you can afford £60k-£65k for a new car, you can probably afford the VED

The "luxury" car tax needs to rise with inflation, when it came in really your mercs bmws etc were in the 40k range

My niro was 43k list price so if I had bought next April would be subject to "luxury" car tax but really it's just an average family car that has an electric battery

If I had specced down to not have the electric tailgate and such would have been 39k but I really wanted that lol

 

[pendodave]

SUVs are horrible cars. Size doesn't come into it. The French are simply penalising people who have bad taste, bless 'em.

Not just horrible.
They are significantly more likely to cause death or injury if they hit someone.
Plus numerous other significant disadvantages to everyone except the person driving them.

As ever, regulation asleep at the wheel until it's almost impossible to row back.

Monsters of the road: what should the UK do about SUVs?

They have higher emissions, hog roadspace and are more dangerous for other road users. Yet SUVs are selling better than ever. As calls for curbs increase, some people are taking matters into their own hands

www.theguardian.com

 

[PJ87]

Not just horrible.
They are significantly more likely to cause death or injury if they hit someone.
Plus numerous other significant disadvantages to everyone except the person driving them.

As ever, regulation asleep at the wheel until it's almost impossible to row back.

Monsters of the road: what should the UK do about SUVs?

They have higher emissions, hog roadspace and are more dangerous for other road users. Yet SUVs are selling better than ever. As calls for curbs increase, some people are taking matters into their own hands

www.theguardian.com

I will admit the higher position of an suv does suit my knees getting in and out of with the old ACL scar

But I think ours are crossovers rather than suv so basically a hatchback that's slightly higher

 

[cliveb]

Considering the weight of some of the EV SUV's (BMW ix3, 2.6t) size and weight will come into it,,,soon

Once again I failed to add the required smiley to let eveyone know it was just a joke.
But then again, I thought it was so obviously a joke that the smiley was unnecessary.
So please accept my apologies.

(But SUVs *are* horrible cars. Not a joke).

 

[PJ87]

Once again I failed to add the required smiley to let eveyone know it was just a joke.
But then again, I thought it was so obviously a joke that the smiley was unnecessary.
So please accept my apologies.

(But SUVs *are* horrible cars. Not a joke).

Suv have only really taken over because MPV are butt ugly and now an SUV has most of the practicality of an MPV without the need for one.

Plus car seat laws help them fit in the extra space

 

[bobmac]

Yes if it’s about weight why do EVs get a free pass.

Because it's also about emissions.
And the EVs only get a free pass if they are under 2 tonnes

 

[Jimaroid]

Considering the weight of some of the EV SUV's (BMW ix3, 2.6t) size and weight will come into it,,,soon

Was speaking to a work pal last week about this very thing. He has a BMW iX and it’s heavier than my truck. This is significant when it comes to speed limits and unladen weight. I get stung in a weird grey area because it’s a commercial vehicle on the V5C but HMRC don’t class it as one for tax purposes. So I have the joy of paying VAT and VED as if it’s a car but with the speed limit of a commercial vehicle.

It’s all a bit of a mess. Good job I don’t care because driving it makes me laugh. A lot.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Was speaking to a work pal last week about this very thing. He has a BMW iX and it’s heavier than my truck. This is significant when it comes to speed limits and unladen weight. I get stung in a weird grey area because it’s a commercial vehicle on the V5C but HMRC don’t class it as one for tax purposes. So I have the joy of paying VAT and VED as if it’s a car but with the speed limit of a commercial vehicle.

It’s all a bit of a mess. Good job I don’t care because driving it makes me laugh. A lot.

Be careful then, becuase if it's classed as a commercial the speeding penalty code is the same as a HGV, and will impact on your insurance for the full 5 years (whereas a car speeding ticket does nothing).
Sadly I have been there.....

 

[clubchamp98]

Because it's also about emissions.
And the EVs only get a free pass if they are under 2 tonnes

Why though?
It should be 1.6T like other cars!