The all things EV chat thread

[PJ87]

Just had a cooling system warning on my Superb iV.
It turns out there is a leak on the high voltage cooling system and I can't drive it till it's fixed. Not all Skoda dealers can do this work and so at the moment the earliest date I can get is 24th April!

The lack of techs from manufactures is disappointing , they haven't prepared

I'm not sure if they cover hybrids but try

Cleevely EV Mobile - Electric Vehicle Servicing at Your Home

Discover hassle-free EV servicing with Cleevely Mobile – your premier Mobile Electric Car Maintenance solution across Great Britain. Expert EV care at your home

www.cleevelymobile.co.uk

These guys are fantastic

 

[Dando]

Having a discussion with a colleague and it’s interesting that the HMRC mileage rate on EV’s for company cars does not cover his actual costs. Yes, under octopus he gets 7p p/kwh but using fast chargers he is paying as high as 35p p/kwh and it’s subsequently costing him about £200 a month in difference.

I’ll stick to my oil burner at 60mpg until HMRC get their act together and the charging network expends.

Thank god for that otherwise you’d become vegan and pee sitting down

 

[Oddsocks]

What's the rate for HMRC ATM? Tbh 35p a kw Is cheap! The chargers I'm using this week are going to be 85p a kw

Edit I found it 9p a mile

That isn't great as that works out about 34p a kw, but if your using fast chargers that are well above that your very out of pocket

So does that not make an EV completely pointless?

Dragons den style, I’m out!

Thank god for that otherwise you’d become vegan and pee sitting down

I’d never be a vegan but I do enjoy a mid night sitting pee, it’s hard to miss at point blank range.

 

[Slime]

So does that not make an EV completely pointless?

Dragons den style, I’m out!



I’d never be a vegan but I do enjoy a mid night sitting pee, it’s hard to miss at point blank range.

I thoughts that's what gardens are for.

 

[Robster59]

The lack of techs from manufactures is disappointing , they haven't prepared

I'm not sure if they cover hybrids but try

Cleevely EV Mobile - Electric Vehicle Servicing at Your Home

Discover hassle-free EV servicing with Cleevely Mobile – your premier Mobile Electric Car Maintenance solution across Great Britain. Expert EV care at your home

www.cleevelymobile.co.uk

These guys are fantastic

I have to use the garage provided by the lease company I'm afraid. But thanks.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Thank god for that otherwise you’d become vegan and pee sitting down

I’d never be a vegan but I do enjoy a mid night sitting pee, it’s hard to miss at point blank range.

Try working offshore in 5m seas. You soon learn that sitting down for a pee is the safest (and cleanest) option.

Had a guy on one boat I was on many years ago who came down to see the medic with a cut on his head just above his eye and all his clothes soaking wet. The boat had rolled while he was having a pee, he'd missed with his aim, slipped on the now wet floor, hit his head on the way down and continued peeing all over himself while he tried to get back up. The medic did manage to stop laughing for long enough to patch the wound but even now he's still called "p*** head" and it's nothing to do with his drinking.

 

[PJ87]

PJ87 blog entry #10,000

Past few days have done some longer trips in the Kia.

Monday we went 80 mile round trip on the M25.. just a warm up really but it meant the car needed a proper charge overnight before Tuesday. (Car left at 90% we returned at 60%)

Plugged in upon our return Monday at 14:00, asked for 45% charge (was down to 60%) given the following slots


Woke up Tuesday to 100% battery cost of £2.13

Tuesday then drove 25 miles to work, topped up back to 100% at work to give me max milage for the next trip. (Arrived at work 90% left 100%)

Tuesday night after work 90 miles from work to Southampton (battery level remaining 60%)

Wednesday some driving around Southampton area for a golf sim and lunch. (10 miles) found the car park we picked had a 30kw charger linked to my octopus account (which I had £5 freebie and it will take from my octopus balance) so whilst we had lunch I topped up from 55% to 100% £22.75, didn't need to top up but as the car is sitting there thought might aswell.



Then headed to Trowbridge to see my mate for dinner (55 miles, state of charge remaining 81%)


After dinner I headed home to Havering (155 miles) state of charge when I started my return home was 78%..

Half way up the M3 road closed. Diversion . Eventually back on the M25. Decided to stop at Cobham, checked the charge 37% (83 miles remaining with 50 mile drive left. Plenty so just quick wee and a drink as I had run out)

Got home 15% remaining. plugged in and requested 80% by midday to get the car to roughly 90% as that's where I like to run it to for day to day use (75% is 48.6kw so all at the intelligent rate of 7.5p ) cost £3.65 (following slots)




One of the main bonuses of the trip was to test public charging, so that I can work out any issues without the kids being around. We do the same trip (Trowbridge) next month to see the same friend but with the kids and other halfs. So will need to use the charger again.

Total miles coverage in 3 days 420 miles , total cost £28.53 (average out 7p per mile)

If I still had the Alhambra that averaged 45 mile per gallon, 420 miles is 9.33 gallons which is 42 litres of fuel at the price of 1.53 a litre is £64.26 so saved a bit doing it this way.

I will add. That was my first ever charge and it was very smooth and lucky. It could easily have been busy (1 charger) but that wasn't my plan to charge , was going to charge next to my mates house so it was a bonus.

Longest trip I've ever done. Really pleasant tbh. Defo would say even though it went well more chargers in car parks would be nice. Although Cobham on the way home had about 30 chargers unused which was good to see

 

[Hobbit]

I’m guessing that 420 miles is around two full charges. What’s that in charging time? Were you able to charge at your destination or was it a hike from the charging point? How long was the charging time, and did you have to return to the car to move it from the charging point?

Mmm, again, I’m making assumptions before hearing your answers but I’m inclined to think EV’s are more suited to local run arounds and being home charged every night, where they can be left plugged in, than trips like this. Each to their own but I’m still not sold on them.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Having a discussion with a colleague and it’s interesting that the HMRC mileage rate on EV’s for company cars does not cover his actual costs. Yes, under octopus he gets 7p p/kwh but using fast chargers he is paying as high as 35p p/kwh and it’s subsequently costing him about £200 a month in difference.

I’ll stick to my oil burner at 60mpg until HMRC get their act together and the charging network expends.

That’s like filling up at service stations and complaining the fuel allowance doesn’t cover the cost .

 

[PJ87]

I’m guessing that 420 miles is around two full charges. What’s that in charging time? Were you able to charge at your destination or was it a hike from the charging point? How long was the charging time, and did you have to return to the car to move it from the charging point?

Mmm, again, I’m making assumptions before hearing your answers but I’m inclined to think EV’s are more suited to local run arounds and being home charged every night, where they can be left plugged in, than trips like this. Each to their own but I’m still not sold on them.

Not quite 2 full charges but basically

The 80 miles Monday was an overnight charge , didn't take long woke up to full Tuesday

Tuesday was home to work (25 miles) topped the car from 90-100% to max my milage not long charge (whilst I worked).

I charged again when I went for lunch 55%-100% that took 1 hour 30. Which isn't amazing but after you get to 80% on fast chargers it slows down due to chemistry of the battery. Anyways the plan was 80% and then stop at my mates and top to 80% again (because it got to 80% In 30 mins ) and I could have topped up even quicker at the charger near hers as much faster. However as I was in a pub having lunch that 1 hour 30 was exactly how long we were

So if we take Monday (80 miles) and the drive to work off (25 miles) to go 315 miles did 145% battery with 1 stop (which I was at lunch anyways)

Shame the hotel didn't have a charger

I was 20 mins at the services aswell with plenty of chargers so If I hadn't topped up at work (tech I'd of got home with 5%) but I'd of topped up for 20 mins and got the car up another 30% at those speeds

Car was plugged in 0020 at 15% its already at 86% at 0700

 

[PJ87]

That’s like filling up at service stations and complaining the fuel allowance doesn’t cover the cost .

Amazing the cost difference between certain chargers

The one I had an eye on was 81p a kw , one just down the road (which had more plugs) 61p a kw

The one I used at lunch (just because I was there) was 71p a kw

Cobham services they have an instavolt which is 67p a kw

Then also have grid serve which is 75p a unit

Ironically the instavolt is faster than gridserve

They were an entire 30 meters apart in the car park but plenty of them

 

[PJ87]

@Hobbit




This is my charge history of both cars at home

Tuesday morning (was plugged in Monday) it says the active charge below so 4.5 hours whilst I slept

Last night comes up as Thursday 6 hours 38. The cars at 86% I had slots from 0830 onwards to get it to 90% but tbh 86% is enough so I just unplugged it. Only wanted it to 90% to go back to state of charge that we left Monday so it was like for like

More than enough for me

 

[Lord Tyrion]

@PJ87 all of the above is very useful, good information for people. It does seem a right old faff though. Constantly plugging in, charging, thinking about charging. I appreciate that is a mindset we may all need to change to but it is off putting when people are used to the simplicity of ICE cars.

I'm particularly thinking of people I know who are not at all organised, this would be a disaster for them.

 

[PJ87]

@PJ87 all of the above is very useful, good information for people. It does seem a right old faff though. Constantly plugging in, charging, thinking about charging. I appreciate that is a mindset we may all need to change to but it is off putting when people are used to the simplicity of ICE cars.

Have to admit I had one charge in mind and I just happened to move where I charged it

I didn't know when I got that cheeky charge over lunch that it would get me home

I just left my mates , saw 78% and was like that will do.

The home charging (if you have) is a non issue because most people just plug in every night when they get out the car and full car in the morning

The public charging was a bit different, but plan a was near my mates, plan b just down road from hers etc so this random charge just meant I didn't have to do the plans ..

Was good tho. I can see I can stop at services and top up. Which considering we always stop for the kids is useful

On a side note the wife's car she's been out since I been away.. she used a massive 4% battery lol that car. Litterally I charge it once every month (from 20-80%) so it's costing me in fuel just under £3 a month

Mine this is the most expensive month ever. I normally charge at work or golf

Haven't home charged this much (as you can see from above)

 

[PJ87]

@Lord Tyrion I will add this. Not a dig at ice here

But I was driving on the diversion last night and I was like I could do with a drink. I know let's find a petrol garage on the diversion...

Didn't go past any!!! I was like I swear there always about where are they (for balance no chargers either obviously, well that I saw. Obviously some about)

Annoying I just wanted a bottle of water

I just stopped at Cobham services in the end for a wee , leg stretch and grabbed a coke from McDonald's

 

[Lord Tyrion]

@Lord Tyrion I will add this. Not a dig at ice here

But I was driving on the diversion last night and I was like I could do with a drink. I know let's find a petrol garage on the diversion...

Didn't go past any!!! I was like I swear there always about where are they (for balance no chargers either obviously, well that I saw. Obviously some about)

Annoying I just wanted a bottle of water

I just stopped at Cobham services in the end for a wee , leg stretch and grabbed a coke from McDonald's

I guess by the nature of a diversion, depending on how extreme it was, they are taking you a route cars would not normally go and so fuel stations etc would go bust if they were located there.

Do you use Google maps / Android Auto. That is your friend if you really are desperate for fuel / water

 

[PJ87]

I guess by the nature of a diversion, depending on how extreme it was, they are taking you a route cars would not normally go and so fuel stations etc would go bust if they were located there.

Do you use Google maps / Android Auto. That is your friend if you really are desperate for fuel / water

I was using that. It was a massive diversion through lots of towns around the M4 then onto the M25, busy roads tbh I expected one petrol station on route

There was one but was otherside of the dual carriageway lol

The spar I drove past was a tease. Closed (22:30)

Was fine. When I got on the motorway Cobham was just 4 miles further and that was just a perfect timed stop for my bladder

 

[Oddsocks]

That’s like filling up at service stations and complaining the fuel allowance doesn’t cover the cost .

There is always one who needs it explaining, so here goes.

My mileage rate is £0.16ppm, on motorways i average about £0.12ppm cost, and around town in heavy congestion it’s break even, this is based on using non motorway fuel prices with tank that has approx a 500 mile range that increases to 600 mile on motorways. It doesn’t matter where I am in England, unless I make a complete cock up there will always be a station that at worse allows me to top up at break even. I would only ever be out of pocket using motorway services.

In the case I gave, my boss is consistently out of pocket unless he is at home with access to his low rate off peak charge which for someone who spends a lot of time away from home is not an option.

So, my oil burner… at worst breaks even per mile. My boss’s Tesla however …. He’s roughly £2400 ish a year out of pocket.

 

[PJ87]

There is always one who needs it explaining, so here goes.

My mileage rate is £0.16ppm, on motorways i average about £0.12ppm cost, and around town in heavy congestion it’s break even, this is based on using non motorway fuel prices with tank that has approx a 500 mile range that increases to 600 mile on motorways. It doesn’t matter where I am in England, unless I make a complete cock up there will always be a station that at worse allows me to top up at break even. I would only ever be out of pocket using motorway services.

In the case I gave, my boss is consistently out of pocket unless he is at home with access to his low rate off peak charge which for someone who spends a lot of time away from home is not an option.

So, my oil burner… at worst breaks even per mile. My boss’s Tesla however …. He’s roughly £2400 ish a year out of pocket.

I wouldn't like to run pure on away from home charging. Not so much the faff because that was ok

Just the cost

£22.50 is 4.6 charges at home , that's over 1000 miles compared to 45% which is about 100 miles

One thing I found silly is I have a card for charging through octopus

Used it. It ended the charge instantly

(Could use credit card) So instead used the app and tried again. Was fine


Would have thought other way around

 

[cliveb]

So even PJ87 agrees that running an EV entirely on public chargers is a non-starter.
Which reinforces my earlier observation that in order to get transport switched over to zero emissions, by putting all your eggs into the EV basket is a serious mistake.
Some other solution is needed for the fairly significant number of motorists who don't have a driveway.
But I see no evidence that the government has grasped this.