The all things EV chat thread

[GreiginFife]

It’s not “excuses”

As an example - I have no off road parking , my two parking spots are 50ms away , I can’t charge at home

My parents don’t have off road parking , I can’t charge there

These are two practical barriers that stop plenty from using them

There are many hotels without charging as well

When the network is there and people don’t need to hang around waiting then it may get a big boost

50 milliseconds sounds like no time at all

 

[jim8flog]

It highlights for many the impracticality of it for decent size trips to be constantly thinking about plugging a car in so give it a boost - 3 or 4 times in a trip to Bath

For many it’s a single top in an ICE Car

When we go down to Somerset - fill up before we go , single drive all the way down there , potter around the place , fill up when coming home

We have a hybrid and it’s perfect for around the town and short journeys etc

Funny one that, I live in Somerset with family in Hertfordshire.

I always take the same breaks in driving using an electric car as I did when using using a petrol or diesel one. The only difference being that the electric car is being given a short boost charge whilst I have a pee break, cup of coffee and a snack.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Funny one that, I live in Somerset with family in Hertfordshire.

I always take the same breaks in driving using an electric car as I did when using using a petrol or diesel one. The only difference being that the electric car is being given a short boost charge whilst I have a pee break, cup of coffee and a snack.

We go around the back of Bicester to hit the a34 and then down the 420 until the M4 - when the daughter was smaller we used to stop at Leigh Delamere for some food etc but now if needed a quick stop for toilet and back out again until we get ti Burnham

When we get to a stage were you can fill you “battery” up in a couple of mins then it becomes more practical for many - the hybrid right now is perfect for us

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I agree EV’s are getting better, but until the infrastructure is fully in place I won’t go there.
An example being as slid in previously above, parking in an electric bay just because they couldn’t find another space when they don’t need to charge. With a general shortage of charging points that just isn’t fair.

 

[PJ87]

Funny one that, I live in Somerset with family in Hertfordshire.

I always take the same breaks in driving using an electric car as I did when using using a petrol or diesel one. The only difference being that the electric car is being given a short boost charge whilst I have a pee break, cup of coffee and a snack.

Looking for excuses that don't exist .. agendas at play

We just stopped at reading. Girls having a wee and fresh air break.

Haven't plugged in (even tho eldest twin said daddy shouldn't we plug in? Dw little lady plenty of charge, 61%) but saying that plenty of chargers available

50 milliseconds sounds like no time at all

Takes longer than that to pre authorise pay at pump

 

[PJ87]

I agree EV’s are getting better, but until the infrastructure is fully in place I won’t go there.
An example being as slid in previously above, parking in an electric bay just because they couldn’t find another space when they don’t need to charge. With a general shortage of charging points that just isn’t fair.

Considering I left 2 bays free which were there the whole time it's a non issue



Plenty of free bays at the services .

 

[Robster59]

As an aside, when I stopped in my hotel last week there were two cars from Sweden from this company.
IM Motors
Looking at the cars, I have a feeling they were perhaps doing long distance tests as one of the cars had its logo covered up, but one didn't.
They seem to be very much copies of Tesla in styling.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Considering I left 2 bays free which were there the whole time it's a non issue

View attachment 57574

Plenty of free bays at the services .

Do you really think the charging network is sufficent around the UK and that everyone can charge at home

it’s not really practical for people to pop to their nearest service station and sit there whilst the car is being charged

 

[Robster59]

Considering I left 2 bays free which were there the whole time it's a non issue

View attachment 57574

Plenty of free bays at the services .

I've been to services where they are far more busy than that and people have gone into the electric parking bays to prevent them walking another 20 yards.
And in some hotels, where they may only have 1 or 2 electric charging stations, I've certainly seen them being used by non-EV vehicles, overnight so nobody can charge up!
Mind you, these people also park in disabled bays for the same reason.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I've been to services where they are far more busy than that and people have gone into the electric parking bays to prevent them walking another 20 yards.
And in some hotels, where they may only have 1 or 2 electric charging stations, I've certainly seen them being used by non-EV vehicles, overnight so nobody can charge up!
Mind you, these people also park in disabled bays for the same reason.

There are selfish parking in all walks of life

See it regularly with the parent and child parking

 

[Arthur Wedge]

As an aside, when I stopped in my hotel last week there were two cars from Sweden from this company.
IM Motors
Looking at the cars, I have a feeling they were perhaps doing long distance tests as one of the cars had its logo covered up, but one didn't.
They seem to be very much copies of Tesla in styling.

They do look good

Seem to be a Chinese company ?

This does look very like a Tesla

 

[larmen]

I've been to services where they are far more busy than that and people have gone into the electric parking bays to prevent them walking another 20 yards.
And in some hotels, where they may only have 1 or 2 electric charging stations, I've certainly seen them being used by non-EV vehicles, overnight so nobody can charge up!
Mind you, these people also park in disabled bays for the same reason.

All charging places, child places, ... should be further away to stop c*** from using them. People that need them happily walk another 50m and don't mind. Disabled of course is harder to protect.
With electric it might be difficult because of the cable run needed? Trenching 50m and such doesn't com cheap.

 

[PJ87]

Do you really think the charging network is sufficent around the UK and that everyone can charge at home

it’s not really practical for people to pop to their nearest service station and sit there whilst the car is being charged

Lol who pops to the services to charge? I seriously worry about you. Their are 1000s of charges littered around the UK. .. many petrol stations have a charger available.

Far more people could drive an EV than do. They would suit far more people than currently drive them they just fear the unknown

Yet someone could give you a free EV with 400 mile range. Install a charger next to your parking spot and give you free charging at services and you would still moan it doesn't suit you.

 

[PJ87]

Fully home now. 10 mins stop at reading for the wees and got the girls some snacks for the car

No charging needed

Got home with 29% left (started with 89% when we departed) so 60% used.

Effortless.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Lol who pops to the services to charge? I seriously worry about you. Their are 1000s of charges littered around the UK. .. many petrol stations have a charger available.

Far more people could drive an EV than do. They would suit far more people than currently drive them they just fear the unknown

Yet someone could give you a free EV with 400 mile range. Install a charger next to your parking spot and give you free charging at services and you would still moan it doesn't suit you.

People who don’t have home charging

Who is giving me a free EV with 400 miles and a charging spot ?

That’s not really any sort of real life situation

I can’t install a charger at my current house - there are many in the same situation as myself

Why can’t you ever acknowledge that there are still plenty of issues for people that stop them owning an electric car

 

[Fade and Die]

If you want somewhere different to stop en route, about 3 miles along the A66 from Scotch Corner is a huge farm shop, Mainskill. Have a quick google. Amazing place, lovely cafe, fun barn to see some animals. A good place to take a break, stretch your legs, and is a bit different to your usual service station set up. It's 20 minutes on from Leeming Bar but if you are okay jigging your stops, it's well worth it.

I know Mainsgill, there is usually a queue of cars trying to turn right into it on our way home! (They also have snazzy bales in the fields that look like Turkeys At Christmas)

Leeming bar is ok for us as I normally leave home at about 6pm, means we are stopping about 10.30/11. The wife and son get out for a leak and I Benefitting from having a bladder of an adult stay in the car talking to the dog. Stopping somewhere “nice” where there is stuff to see and do does not fit in with my schedule.

 

[PJ87]

Had 5 mins to do the sums

350 miles total over the weekend

Gridserve charging £16.30
Mer charging £1.71
Instavolt £11.99
Fill car back up tonight £3.50

£33.5 for 350 miles £0.095 per mile

Cheaper than it used to be in the Alhambra that was 15p a mile

 

[jim8flog]

We go around the back of Bicester to hit the a34 and then down the 420 until the M4 - when the daughter was smaller we used to stop at Leigh Delamere for some food etc but now if needed a quick stop for toilet and back out again until we get ti Burnham

When we get to a stage were you can fill you “battery” up in a couple of mins then it becomes more practical for many - the hybrid right now is perfect for us

I live in South Somerset just a mile and a bit from the A303 so it's A303, M3, M25 and A1M for me
I occasionally do Camberley to Slough for a change or A34 to M4 so stops are always Solstice Services, Chieveley or Fleet, South Mimms or Tescos Hatfield.

 

[PJ87]

I live in South Somerset just a mile and a bit from the A303 so it's A303, M3, M25 and A1M for me
I occasionally do Camberley to Slough for a change or A34 to M4 so stops are always Solstice Services, Chieveley or Fleet, South Mimms or Tescos Hatfield.

I have now used fleet, chieveley and south mimms on my travels, all excellent for charging

Gridserve was so simple for the first 2 , tap and go

South mimms I can use my octopus account which is excellent aswell

I Can do 20% to 80% in 30 mins and that's on my very slow 80kwh limited charger

The cars with faster chargers can do them in 15 mins now. Don't think people realise how long it takes to get out of the car at services and do what you need. Suspect 10 mins minimum.. what's an extra 5 mins? By time you walk back to the car it's chucked in even more!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I know Mainsgill, there is usually a queue of cars trying to turn right into it on our way home! (They also have snazzy bales in the fields that look like Turkeys At Christmas)

Leeming bar is ok for us as I normally leave home at about 6pm, means we are stopping about 10.30/11. The wife and son get out for a leak and I Benefitting from having a bladder of an adult stay in the car talking to the dog. Stopping somewhere “nice” where there is stuff to see and do does not fit in with my schedule.

I can recommend Simply Dutch at Leeming Bar
The food is excellent value and good. You can even stretch your legs after looking round at the stuff for sale. We stop there on our way up to Northumberland from Kent