The all things EV chat thread

[PJ87]

I've just had my first long journey in my Škoda Superb plug-in hybrid. This was a trip from Glasgow down to Stoke. I ran the car in hybrid mode but by the time I got to the hotel the batteries were discharged. There was nowhere on my journey where I stopped for any length of time that had a charging point I could use. I didn't have the time to wait to get them charged full at a service station and so basically ran on petrol for the journey home. I had the car set up to recharge or top up the batteries during the journey which helped, but the reality is that for myself as a business driver I can't afford to spend a few hours charging the car on the motorway. Somewhere I can overnight charge would be the benefit but there was nowhere near the hotel I could use. Nor at the customer. All the charge points had a different fitting (that's another gripe. Why can the manufacturers not agree on a standard fitting!? ). The Gretna services on the M74 have a reasonable number of chargers and it was interesting to see all the Tesla ones were all fully occupied but only one of the other (non-Tesla) chargers was in use.
On the positive side, for the whole journey I still got over 50mpg which for a 1.4 litre petrol turbo lugging around a Škoda Superb is pretty good. The batteries were never completely flat and kicked in when slow speed manoeuvring. But we're still a way away from these for use as business commuters.

They are agreeing on a standard charger in Europe now, the Nissan's etc next time round will have CCS rather than chademo .. but these are still available

Type 2 chargers fit in CCS ports and CCS goes over the top so to speak so becomes one combined port in new cars

It's hard to run a plug in hybrid in pure electric their not designed for the distance but short trips work

The new chargers have tap to pay and choice of charger which is good

Grideserve are upgrading the motorway network



Green is upgraded, grey is to be done .. all motorway services are being done


I watched a video yesterday where they drove 6 EV cars from Christchurch to Braintree (grideserve massive centre) 160 miles

Telsa model 3 long range got there and had enough to get back

Hyundai and niro took 16 mins to get enough charge to get back

I can link the video it's long tho

 

[Deleted member 29109]

I had a similar decision to make, decided to go with the Audi S3 Avant and then got it remapped. It's a decent family car but doesn't half shift although I can physically see the petrol guage moving on some occasions. I think this was probably my last 'silly' car and will probably look at electric in 3 years or so when it's time to change again. Hoping by that point the prices will have moved a bit as nothing on the market excites me at the moment....or at least nothing that's within budget!!

I opted for a 535d this time. As I was fed up of visiting petrol stations and my job involves doing some 4/500 mile round trips in a day. So I wanted something with enough shove that would also be able to do it without filling up more then once.

 

[hovis]

I've just had my first long journey in my Škoda Superb plug-in hybrid. This was a trip from Glasgow down to Stoke. I ran the car in hybrid mode but by the time I got to the hotel the batteries were discharged. There was nowhere on my journey where I stopped for any length of time that had a charging point I could use. I didn't have the time to wait to get them charged full at a service station and so basically ran on petrol for the journey home. I had the car set up to recharge or top up the batteries during the journey which helped, but the reality is that for myself as a business driver I can't afford to spend a few hours charging the car on the motorway. Somewhere I can overnight charge would be the benefit but there was nowhere near the hotel I could use. Nor at the customer. All the charge points had a different fitting (that's another gripe. Why can the manufacturers not agree on a standard fitting!? ). The Gretna services on the M74 have a reasonable number of chargers and it was interesting to see all the Tesla ones were all fully occupied but only one of the other (non-Tesla) chargers was in use.
On the positive side, for the whole journey I still got over 50mpg which for a 1.4 litre petrol turbo lugging around a Škoda Superb is pretty good. The batteries were never completely flat and kicked in when slow speed manoeuvring. But we're still a way away from these for use as business commuters.

First of all you have a plug in hybrid with a range of about 35 miles. That's not designed for the motorway and not what I would qualify as an electric car.
Why couldn't you use the charging point? . I find it hard to believe you couldn't find one. Instavolt have them at alot of mcdonald's and would charge your 35 mile battery in 10 minutes. Why do you think it would take a couple of hours? . It takes 50 minutes to put 280 miles into my Car on a rapid charger.
I travel from Lichfield to Newcastle on regular occasions and find charging no problem at all.

 

[hovis]

That's where Tesla are so far ahead on range and charging infrastructure.
Everybody else is still downloading multiple apps for all the different charging companies and arguing between CHAdeMO or CCS plugs (think VHS and BETAMAX).
If you are regularly driving driving over 200 miles a day, stick with your ICE car for the time being until things catch up. Or get a Tesla

My car has a 300 mile range. Things are caught up. People just moan because when they want some electric a plug doesn't magic itself instantly. If you're going on a long journey you just need to plan.
I drive to Newcastle from Lichfield and stop at a mcdonald's Sheffield on the way back for a 100 mile top up that takes about 20/25 minutes. No apps just bleep a bank card

 

[Robster59]

First of all you have a plug in hybrid with a range of about 35 miles. That's not designed for the motorway and not what I would qualify as an electric car.
Why couldn't you use the charging point? . I find it hard to believe you couldn't find one. Instavolt have them at alot of mcdonald's and would charge your 35 mile battery in 10 minutes. Why do you think it would take a couple of hours? . It takes 50 minutes to put 280 miles into my Car on a rapid charger.
I travel from Lichfield to Newcastle on regular occasions and find charging no problem at all.

What I said was that there were no charging points near the hotel that I was staying at (at least any that were working). And I did a search. I also said there were charging points at the services that I stopped off at. I say it would take hours to charge my car as that is what Škoda have told me. The maximum charging rate is 3.6kW so it doesn't look like it will take the fast charging.
If you read everything I put into my posts, you will realise that I got the hybrid because it is a company car and because of the considerable savings on the amount I pay on tax against an ICE equivalent. No electric vehicles were available as an option.
Also, it is most certainly a motorway car. @Lord Tyrion asked me that very question and I answered by saying that it actually performed the task very well indeed. I was still able to get 50+ mpg and with no drop-off in acceleration. I never said it was an electric car. I have always pointed out it was a hybrid, but I believed it still had some relevance to the discussion. I also believe that PHEV vehicles are a stop-gap but at this moment in time, for me, it was the best option. It's great around town as I run it on battery and most days I can get around on the batteries alone.

 

[PJ87]

What I said was that there were no charging points near the hotel that I was staying at (at least any that were working). And I did a search. I also said there were charging points at the services that I stopped off at. I say it would take hours to charge my car as that is what Škoda have told me. The maximum charging rate is 3.6kW so it doesn't look like it will take the fast charging.
If you read everything I put into my posts, you will realise that I got the hybrid because it is a company car and because of the considerable savings on the amount I pay on tax against an ICE equivalent. No electric vehicles were available as an option.
Also, it is most certainly a motorway car. @Lord Tyrion asked me that very question and I answered by saying that it actually performed the task very well indeed. I was still able to get 50+ mpg and with no drop-off in acceleration. I never said it was an electric car. I have always pointed out it was a hybrid, but I believed it still had some relevance to the discussion. I also believe that PHEV vehicles are a stop-gap but at this moment in time, for me, it was the best option. It's great around town as I run it on battery and most days I can get around on the batteries alone.

I don't see phev as a stop gap
I see them as a tax dodge by companies

If the batteries aren't charged up the cars are less eco than petrol cars .. and people don't always charge them but get the tax break

 

[Robster59]

I don't see phev as a stop gap
I see them as a tax dodge by companies

If the batteries aren't charged up the cars are less eco than petrol cars .. and people don't always charge them but get the tax break

I can't argue with any of those points.
It makes a nightmare trying to choose your company car though.
However, I am quite fastidious about charging up my car.

 

[PJ87]

I can't argue with any of those points.
It makes a nightmare trying to choose your company car though.
However, I am quite fastidious about charging up my car.

If used correctly they are great

Tbh I could get away with one for the big car as we only go short distance so could run on the battery all time

I do love my electric though

I'm really toying with driving down to Southampton and back to see my mate but then it's a golf day .. so the more space in Alhambra is appealing .. spread out very comfortable

 

[harpo_72]

I was weighing up the options today, Tesla 3 looked affordable, and I thought the 270 mile range one would be okay. However the charging locations are pretty concentrated in central England and not distributed to the south west and east … So also looked at the Ford in long range but not sure what the speed is on the charge .. need to have the accountant to also feedback to do it as well

 

[bobmac]

I was weighing up the options today, Tesla 3 looked affordable, and I thought the 270 mile range one would be okay. However the charging locations are pretty concentrated in central England and not distributed to the south west and east … So also looked at the Ford in long range but not sure what the speed is on the charge .. need to have the accountant to also feedback to do it as well

You do know you can charge your Tesla at normal charging points using an adaptor?

 

[PJ87]

I was weighing up the options today, Tesla 3 looked affordable, and I thought the 270 mile range one would be okay. However the charging locations are pretty concentrated in central England and not distributed to the south west and east … So also looked at the Ford in long range but not sure what the speed is on the charge .. need to have the accountant to also feedback to do it as well

You can charge from normal ones like at BP charges grid serve at the normal motorway services

 

[PJ87]

Loving the new Skoda .. £31k starting price which is decent for car of its size

Once I add my options and go for the bigger battery , comfort packs, few extra bits to make it a great car for the kids when their older it goes to 45k (my choice tho like do I need the extras ? No I just want them)

Aiming to purchase something like that when the Corsa lease is up as I'm so impressed with it. Run the Alhambra into the ground as the bigger family car and then when that goes lease a small electric car

The 82kw battery on the longer range is 350 range which is more than enough. Upgrade the DC charger to 125kw rather than 50kw then really unlock some long range with massive boot

 

[harpo_72]

View attachment 37128
Loving the new Skoda .. £31k starting price which is decent for car of its size

Once I add my options and go for the bigger battery , comfort packs, few extra bits to make it a great car for the kids when their older it goes to 45k (my choice tho like do I need the extras ? No I just want them)

Aiming to purchase something like that when the Corsa lease is up as I'm so impressed with it. Run the Alhambra into the ground as the bigger family car and then when that goes lease a small electric car

The 82kw battery on the longer range is 350 range which is more than enough. Upgrade the DC charger to 125kw rather than 50kw then really unlock some long range with massive boot

That’s the way I optioned it up as well. But it’s a huge car. I think possibly too big for my small family of 3. The boy is getting taller but I cannot see him being over 6ft for another 5 years.
I like the ioniq 5 but they are not available yet. Also the Ford Mach E , which might be the best compromise.. need to read up on the charging speeds

 

[PJ87]

That’s the way I optioned it up as well. But it’s a huge car. I think possibly too big for my small family of 3. The boy is getting taller but I cannot see him being over 6ft for another 5 years.
I like the ioniq 5 but they are not available yet. Also the Ford Mach E , which might be the best compromise.. need to read up on the charging speeds

What about the Kia niro electric? Or it's twin the hyandai Kona? Lovely cars

Yeah maybe bit big, we are a 5 so will need that space

 

[harpo_72]

What about the Kia niro electric? Or it's twin the hyandai Kona? Lovely cars

Yeah maybe bit big, we are a 5 so will need that space

The Niro looks to be the most practical.. but lacks pizzazz , I will look at it though.
I like the French offerings but the ranges are just a little low when you look at winter degradation

 

[Lord Tyrion]

View attachment 37128
Loving the new Skoda .. £31k starting price which is decent for car of its size

Once I add my options and go for the bigger battery , comfort packs, few extra bits to make it a great car for the kids when their older it goes to 45k (my choice tho like do I need the extras ? No I just want them)

Aiming to purchase something like that when the Corsa lease is up as I'm so impressed with it. Run the Alhambra into the ground as the bigger family car and then when that goes lease a small electric car

The 82kw battery on the longer range is 350 range which is more than enough. Upgrade the DC charger to 125kw rather than 50kw then really unlock some long range with massive boot

What Car test drove it. Loved it but found the real range to be 225 miles. They estimated in winter it would likely be 185 miles. Okay but still not great.

 

[PJ87]

What Car test drove it. Loved it but found the real range to be 225 miles. They estimated in winter it would likely be 185 miles. Okay but still not great.

That's the smaller battery the larger battery would be a bit higher .. I'd say over 200 in winter which is fine for me

With climate change going to be baking anyways lol

 

[bobmac]

That’s the way I optioned it up as well. But it’s a huge car. I think possibly too big for my small family of 3. The boy is getting taller but I cannot see him being over 6ft for another 5 years.
I like the ioniq 5 but they are not available yet. Also the Ford Mach E , which might be the best compromise.. need to read up on the charging speeds

If you're looking for something smaller.......they don't get much smaller or cheaper. @£3,400

 

[Lord Tyrion]

That's the smaller battery the larger battery would be a bit higher .. I'd say over 200 in winter which is fine for me

With climate change going to be baking anyways lol

Hope you're right about the bigger battery. Car looks excellent.

 

[PJ87]

The Niro looks to be the most practical.. but lacks pizzazz , I will look at it though.
I like the French offerings but the ranges are just a little low when you look at winter degradation

Yes that put me off the leaf as for example my Corsa (which is a 208) is 50kw battery .. and that's about ok .. the 40kw leaf was just too small for me personally

62kw leaf yes please