The all things EV chat thread

[PJ87]

Add to that all the smart charging which gets me 7p for the whole house ,I average 10p per kWh on my bills.

Considering my 13.5kwh saves me £2k ISH a year charging up at 7p then using to power the house all day again £20 is small fry

Do you get free charging at the golf club? We've not put chargers in yet ?

Yes, they got installed when the club was opened however the issue is they are the original chargers that no cars (bar the MK1 leaf) have. So I bought a £50 adapter and bingo 3.5kwh speed charger. Gets me 15% per round

The GM says they will upgrade to new chargers one day but then they will be paid for

 

[hambugerpete]

One of our swindle groups brother has a Merc EV. Its been playing up for a little while. Merc dealer has decided the battery pack needs replacing, but it's failure is due to his charging of it and the warranty doesn't cover it. They only want 10k.
The car is on a PCP and after 18months is now costing him £650 a month to sit and do nothing.
He is handing it back to the lease company as soon as he can.

Also while Merc way well want 10k, batteries are modular and can be repaired at a much lower cost. Main dealers will just give a price for a while new pack.

 

[Neilds]

Bad news sells, good news is boring.

It was very useful I just started the charge in the electroverse app and walked in. It was so simple to start by the time I started the charge the wife had got the kids into the services.. and hadn't even got to the toilet yet..

50 min stop total , if we charge tomorrow I'll get a lot more in the battery as it will be less full so the speed will ramp up

Stop posting then

 

[PJ87]

We had a vote just before we got to south mimms to see if the kids needed a wee or food so we stopped.

Left Warwick with 71% (after a pre condition of the cabin)

South mimms was 100 miles away arrived with 25% stopped for 33 mins added 35%.. got home little while ago with 52% left car plugged in to be ready for work

Now I did have 2 charge issues at South mimms. 1 was My fault I clicked bay 12 not bay 14. Doh user error but when I went to select bay 14 it said occupied.. but it let me select it anyways and sure enough the car charged.

All via octopus so the entire charges for the trip cost just over £30 all coming off my balance which is £131 in the positive ATM so plenty

Plenty of Xmas sing songs with my girls on the way

 

[Lord Tyrion]

@PJ87 does that suggest that 100 miles used around 50% of your charge? That doesn't sound great. Have I read that correctly, is there a reason for it?

 

[PJ87]

@PJ87 does that suggest that 100 miles used around 50% of your charge? That doesn't sound great. Have I read that correctly, is there a reason for it?

46% , by those sums is 217 miles to a full charge .. which is 3.3 miles per kWh

Tbh it was colder today than yesterday (dropped below 5) and went faster on motorway as yesterday we got stuck in some traffic where as today was a steady 72 mph

That said 217 miles on motorway at this time of year is good for a 64.8 kWh battery . That's a pretty small battery in the scheme of things (it's estimated range is 255 according to Google so it's just driving style and conditions)

Also add that we drove 33 miles home from South mimms only using 8% of the battery as the M25 was 50 for a while and it got warmer

 

[jim8flog]

E-bikes: Battery fire destroys family home days before Christmas

One occupant escaped through the front door and two others were forced to climb on to the roof.

www.bbc.co.uk

If you worry about cars catching fire just do a net search on Vauxhall Zafira.

 

[bobmac]

E-bikes: Battery fire destroys family home days before Christmas

One occupant escaped through the front door and two others were forced to climb on to the roof.

www.bbc.co.uk

Better stop using your mobile phone immediately

Google Search

And just for future reference, some e bikes are NOT classed as vehicles, they are Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle. (EAPC)
However, e-bikes that have a "twist and go" throttle feature are not considered EAPCs and are subject to different regulations. These bikes are classified as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act.

''While most e-cycles are very safe, there is a risk of fire, particularly for counterfeit, damaged, or poorly modified e-cycles and batteries.''

Battery safety for e-cycle users

www.gov.uk

I believe the ebike in your report was in fact modified...
From the report.....

''e-bike had been converted from a conventional pedal cycle by having a battery pack fitted to it, and was being charged at the time of the fire.''
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of charity Electrical Safety First, said: "Batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters can cause devastating fires if they are modified, damaged, charged incorrectly or manufactured to a poor standard.

And if you are suggesting EVs are more likely to catch fire than ICE cars, please show us some evidence, because ALL research shows that is far from the truth.

''So while more research is aways helpful, the data we have so far is clear: EVs don’t have any higher fire risk than conventional gasoline cars. In fact, fires in aging gasoline powered cars happen much more frequently than EV fires. And as battery technology continues to improve and get safer, the EV fire risk will decrease even further.''

Clearing the air: Emerging data and battery trends suggest EVs could bring lower fire risk - International Council on Clean Transportation

Emerging data shows that electric vehicles are no more prone to fires than conventional vehicles, and advancements in battery technology are expected to further reduce this risk.

theicct.org

 

[PJ87]

Better stop using your mobile phone immediately

Google Search

And just for future reference, some e bikes are NOT classed as vehicles, they are Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle. (EAPC)
However, e-bikes that have a "twist and go" throttle feature are not considered EAPCs and are subject to different regulations. These bikes are classified as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act.

''While most e-cycles are very safe, there is a risk of fire, particularly for counterfeit, damaged, or poorly modified e-cycles and batteries.''

Battery safety for e-cycle users

www.gov.uk

And if you are suggesting EVs are more likely to catch fire than ICE cars, please show us some evidence, because ALL research shows that is far from the truth.

''So while more research is aways helpful, the data we have so far is clear: EVs don’t have any higher fire risk than conventional gasoline cars. In fact, fires in aging gasoline powered cars happen much more frequently than EV fires. And as battery technology continues to improve and get safer, the EV fire risk will decrease even further.''

Clearing the air: Emerging data and battery trends suggest EVs could bring lower fire risk - International Council on Clean Transportation

Emerging data shows that electric vehicles are no more prone to fires than conventional vehicles, and advancements in battery technology are expected to further reduce this risk.

theicct.org

I think what was most worrying about the entire story was it was a convert of a normal bike, packs like this are sold on eBay cheap to get people moving.

On the face of things their great , cheap way to get people about. Life line during these tough times. Unfortunately you need to invest a minimum of say £1000 for a decent safe one and people are skint so turn to these kits and put their lifes at risk unknowingly

 

[bobmac]

I think what was most worrying about the entire story was it was a convert of a normal bike, packs like this are sold on eBay cheap to get people moving.

On the face of things their great , cheap way to get people about. Life line during these tough times. Unfortunately you need to invest a minimum of say £1000 for a decent safe one and people are skint so turn to these kits and put their lifes at risk unknowingly

And the oil companies and people who have a vested interest in rubbishing ALL EVs and e bikes are quick to highlight these unfortunate cases.
Think back to the massive fire at Luton Airport. How long was it before people were saying it was a Tesla that started the fire.

 

[PJ87]

And the oil companies and people who have a vested interest in rubbishing ALL EVs and e bikes are quick to highlight these unfortunate cases.
Think back to the massive fire at Luton Airport. How long was it before people were saying it was a Tesla that started the fire.

Lol so true, quickly died down interest in it when it was proved to be a good old dinosaur juice car

If as much effort went into improving the charging network as is creating this false narrative more people would have switched

@Lord Tyrion was explaining last night to me the chargers he would have to use on long travels up north, basically needs a Tesla or the chargers aren't nearly as upgraded as they have done in the more central areas of the country. It's going to take time ofc getting better every day

Definitely working for my family. Think my sister's eyeing up having my wife's car when the time comes for us to upgrade.. which will be once the niros paid for and then we will look at slightly bigger as the kids will have grown a bit (the Kia EV 5 that's coming out looks perfect size) by then my salary sacrifice will have launched to save 40% on the monthly aswell

 

[hambugerpete]

Considering my 13.5kwh saves me £2k ISH a year charging up at 7p then using to power the house all day again £20 is small fry



Yes, they got installed when the club was opened however the issue is they are the original chargers that no cars (bar the MK1 leaf) have. So I bought a £50 adapter and bingo 3.5kwh speed charger. Gets me 15% per round

The GM says they will upgrade to new chargers one day but then they will be paid for

I did some quick maths and including some public charging I'd say my 10500 miles have cost me about £400. In my old car that would've been more like £2400. That's without factoring in the savings made by load shifting and smart charging.

 

[PJ87]

I did some quick maths and including some public charging I'd say my 10500 miles have cost me about £400. In my old car that would've been more like £2400. That's without factoring in the savings made by load shifting and smart charging.

My 10859 miles this year in my car has cost me £131. £91 public charging included in that. Now if I didn't get free charging about it would be nearer £370 still very good

Wife's done 850 miles at a cost of £20

This is all since Feb

Load shifting ? £1694 saving but that doesn't include December yet

If you add it all up, plus the solar export it's about £3000 a year saving for the lot I reckon

 

[PJ87]

Christmas eve was the reveal to the kids about Disney, in true Xmas fashion I couldn't get to sleep last night. Wife snoring away so I planned the journey

65 miles to "le shuttle" leave with 100% no need to charge.

Break number 1 is on the shuttle. Does it count as a stop? I don't know. As you make progress on your trip so 50/50

After we emerge in France we have an hour until a proper break. 7 chargers available and a services (back up 20 miles down road and second back up 40 miles down. All services and the second one would be a total of 175 miles from home so plenty of range)

Then it's 1 hour 45 mins until stop 3 , only 30 miles left to Disney.. so don't need to stop long (tech could make all way from stop 2 to Disney as it's only 150 miles but kids will need a pitstop) McDonald's apparently 500m from 20 chargers... Perfect for a wee etc

Disneyland has free to use chargers at the hotels so all good

Leave Disney with 100% for the return leg

Drive 1 hour 30 mins (95 miles) to stop 1. 20 chargers and a services. Perfect (back up 1 is 20 miles away back up 2 35 mins, all on the route just a service stop if anything happened)

Stop 2 is 1 hour from stop 1.. really we could go to stop 2 directly as it's only 195 miles from Disney to leshuttle so could just stop at the second stop but kids won't last. We also don't need stop 2 ... If the kids can last to the tunnel.. technically from stop 1 we could go all the way home but if we didn't stop at stop 2 I'd prob stop just outside Ashford and do a 10 mins charge just incase

Stop 3 is the tunnel itself (is it a stop?) then home

So both directions yes need 1 stop defo, no question (2 including tunnel) but will plan for 3 for the kids.

Added bonus all of these chargers are available on Octopus so comes off my bill and also easy to use. (I have a back up tap card for octopus if the app didn't work lives in car).. added note .. just like petrol, charging is a lot cheaper in France. 0.49 euros a kWh compared to the 80p we pay on the road. Bargain

Right now? Wife's car is on charge as lunch has drained the battery on the house right down to 45% so it's being topped up at cheap


Merry Christmas all.

 

[Fade and Die]

Christmas eve was the reveal to the kids about Disney, in true Xmas fashion I couldn't get to sleep last night. Wife snoring away so I planned the journey

65 miles to "le shuttle" leave with 100% no need to charge.

Break number 1 is on the shuttle. Does it count as a stop? I don't know. As you make progress on your trip so 50/50

After we emerge in France we have an hour until a proper break. 7 chargers available and a services (back up 20 miles down road and second back up 40 miles down. All services and the second one would be a total of 175 miles from home so plenty of range)

Then it's 1 hour 45 mins until stop 3 , only 30 miles left to Disney.. so don't need to stop long (tech could make all way from stop 2 to Disney as it's only 150 miles but kids will need a pitstop) McDonald's apparently 500m from 20 chargers... Perfect for a wee etc

Disneyland has free to use chargers at the hotels so all good

Leave Disney with 100% for the return leg

Drive 1 hour 30 mins (95 miles) to stop 1. 20 chargers and a services. Perfect (back up 1 is 20 miles away back up 2 35 mins, all on the route just a service stop if anything happened)

Stop 2 is 1 hour from stop 1.. really we could go to stop 2 directly as it's only 195 miles from Disney to leshuttle so could just stop at the second stop but kids won't last. We also don't need stop 2 ... If the kids can last to the tunnel.. technically from stop 1 we could go all the way home but if we didn't stop at stop 2 I'd prob stop just outside Ashford and do a 10 mins charge just incase

Stop 3 is the tunnel itself (is it a stop?) then home

So both directions yes need 1 stop defo, no question (2 including tunnel) but will plan for 3 for the kids.

Added bonus all of these chargers are available on Octopus so comes off my bill and also easy to use. (I have a back up tap card for octopus if the app didn't work lives in car).. added note .. just like petrol, charging is a lot cheaper in France. 0.49 euros a kWh compared to the 80p we pay on the road. Bargain

Right now? Wife's car is on charge as lunch has drained the battery on the house right down to 45% so it's being topped up at cheap


Merry Christmas all.

Hope you and your family have a great time.

 

[hambugerpete]

Free charging all day on gridserve.

 

[PJ87]

Free charging all day on gridserve.

Oh wow really? That's decent of them. They been doing good discounts this month (24% off yesterday)

I do like gridserve, I wish they would pair with octopus tho so I could use the electroverse app exclusively

 

[hambugerpete]

Oh wow really? That's decent of them. They been doing good discounts this month (24% off yesterday)

I do like gridserve, I wish they would pair with octopus tho so I could use the electroverse app exclusively

Yes very handy if anyones off visiting family and friends. I did check but didn't find any free petrol anywhere

 

[PJ87]

Yes very handy if anyones off visiting family and friends. I did check but didn't find any free petrol

Makes sense tho. The grid will be having a surplus atm, better than it going to waste

 

[Hxck]

Just got back from a Christmas trip (our first in our EV) and had some interesting findings;

• Range drops off a cliff at 70+ mph
• Car does not always charge at its highest potential speed, even when battery is down at 20% or so
• Gridserve are a rip off
• IONITY are not a rip off

Also got back to a crack on the windscreen, not bad for a car with 250 miles...