The all things EV chat thread

[Fade and Die]

Take the train and rent a cheap runaround while up there?

?…….Taxi for 4 + dog + luggage to Romford, all pile onto the train to Liverpool St, then off the train and into the Tube to Euston, off the tube then onto the intercity Train to Carlisle to pick up a car that has to fit 4+ the dog + luggage, then a 40 minute drive to the MILs. Sounds tempting ?

 

[PJ87]

?…….Taxi for 4 + dog + luggage to Romford, all pile onto the train to Liverpool St, then off the train and into the Tube to Euston, off the tube then onto the intercity Train to Carlisle to pick up a car that has to fit 4+ the dog + luggage, then a 40 minute drive to the MILs. Sounds tempting ?

Surely any reason to avoid the mother in law is a plus?

 

[larmen]

There are a couple of people here where I would say a plug in hybrid would be their best choice? Are these hybrids still ‘future proof’ or are they outdated by the acceleration of EVs already?

 

[PJ87]

There are a couple of people here where I would say a plug in hybrid would be their best choice? Are these hybrids still ‘future proof’ or are they outdated by the acceleration of EVs already?

Their future proof to an extent .. ie you can still buy and use one.. but they are being banned aswell from 2035 from brand new sale

however not to stop people buying one in 2035 brand new and having best of both worlds until then

I know people who own them and can get to work and back on the charge they provide (40 miles) or you can use them to make your petrol go further

 

[Lord Tyrion]

There are a couple of people here where I would say a plug in hybrid would be their best choice? Are these hybrids still ‘future proof’ or are they outdated by the acceleration of EVs already?

I know people with plug in hybrids and they have been a major disappointment. They don't go as far as hoped on charge alone and if you do a long journey the economy is poor. It's basically a small engine dragging a car weighed down with heavy batteries. I was tempted at one point but was soon put off. Perhaps they have improved but I suspect mfrs are concentrating on pure electric now and not putting the investment into improving these.

 

[Foxholer]

I know people with plug in hybrids and they have been a major disappointment. They don't go as far as hoped on charge alone and if you do a long journey the economy is poor. It's basically a small engine dragging a car weighed down with heavy batteries. I was tempted at one point but was soon put off. Perhaps they have improved but I suspect mfrs are concentrating on pure electric now and not putting the investment into improving these.

Indeed. Compromise often means 'the worst of both' cf 'the best of both'! The only real benefit I see is the 'comfort' of not being stuck if it runs out of charge - which it's more likely to do anyway!

 

[Smiffy]

I also wouldn’t trust a car salesman to tell me the truth. I do my own research and sums.

You've been speaking to the wrong salesmen...

 

[Fade and Die]

You've been speaking to the wrong salesmen...

It’s what they don’t tell you that’s the problem!

 

[Blue in Munich]

It’s what they don’t tell you that’s the problem!

Is it? Or is it what you don't ask...

 

[PhilTheFragger]

?…….Taxi for 4 + dog + luggage to Romford, all pile onto the train to Liverpool St, then off the train and into the Tube to Euston, off the tube then onto the intercity Train to Carlisle to pick up a car that has to fit 4+ the dog + luggage, then a 40 minute drive to the MILs. Sounds tempting ?

Romford to Carlisle return on a Saturday is £135 each, ( just base national rail fares) add the taxi and the car hire and it’s quite a wedge whichever way you do it.

TrainSplit will do 2 adults and 2 kids for £405 return ( under 5 years old are free) takes 4:45 hours

A normal car trip is just over 5 hours without stops, 350 miles , with an EV you may need to factor in 2 recharge stops each taking 45 -60 minutes cost about 12 each time, trip will take 7-8 hours but will be substantially cheaper

Just take a bit longer and enjoy the scenery

This also assumes that there is somewhere you can recharge it oop north for the return ?

 

[Smiffy]

It’s what they don’t tell you that’s the problem!

As long as they answer the questions you've asked truthfully, what's the problem?
They're salesmen, not mind readers...
???

 

[PJ87]

Romford to Carlisle return on a Saturday is £135 each, ( just base national rail fares) add the taxi and the car hire and it’s quite a wedge whichever way you do it.

TrainSplit will do 2 adults and 2 kids for £405 return ( under 5 years old are free) takes 4:45 hours

A normal car trip is just over 5 hours without stops, 350 miles , with an EV you may need to factor in 2 recharge stops each taking 45 -60 minutes cost about 12 each time, trip will take 7-8 hours but will be substantially cheaper

Just take a bit longer and enjoy the scenery

This also assumes that there is somewhere you can recharge it oop north for the return ?

How are you finding delivering electric cars? Do you enjoy the drive of them

 

[Blue in Munich]

As long as they answer the questions you've asked truthfully, what's the problem?
They're salesmen, not mind readers...
???

I thought you were both mate...

 

[PhilTheFragger]

How are you finding delivering electric cars? Do you enjoy the drive of them

They are lovely to drive, smooth and nippy, more suited to urban driving rather than long motorway trips, as the range suffers over 60 mph

The problems we have are for the longer deliveries that require 2 or more recharge stops which limits what else the driver can do that day, therefore long EV deliveries tend to cost more than long ICE ones

 

[PJ87]

They are lovely to drive, smooth and nippy, more suited to urban driving rather than long motorway trips, as the range suffers over 60 mph

The problems we have are for the longer deliveries that require 2 or more recharge stops which limits what else the driver can do that day, therefore long EV deliveries tend to cost more than long ICE ones

I find the a406 limit of 50 helps the range greatly

Anything around 3-3.5 mpkw in winter is great .. I find I'm 4-4.5 in summer / above 10 degree

Found pre conditioning muchs a huge difference aswell .. started the car cold at work other day I got 15 mins away it was saying 1.5mpkw

When I've pre conditioned the same 15 mins as it's down hill is about 5-6

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I find the a406 limit of 50 helps the range greatly

Anything around 3-3.5 mpkw in winter is great .. I find I'm 4-4.5 in summer / above 10 degree

Found pre conditioning muchs a huge difference aswell .. started the car cold at work other day I got 15 mins away it was saying 1.5mpkw

When I've pre conditioned the same 15 mins as it's down hill is about 5-6

Yes , freezing conditions are no friend to battery performance.
From a practical point , picking up a 230 range EV and having to de ice it can take 40 miles off your range, we normally drive them in eco mode which can mean freezing ones Crown Jewels off

 

[GreiginFife]

I finally managed to get a test drive in the new i4 M50 yesterday. Lovely Frozem Portimao Blue but by god the stock alloys are hideous, upgrades are available at a cost though.

So driving… mixed bag is all I can say. It’s quick, that’s for sure. It’s also very stable and very comfortable. But that’s also it’s downfall, it’s all just a bit dis-engaging and sterile. The piped in exhaust notes (by all accounts courtesy of Hans Zimmer) try to make it feel a bit more “real” and engaging but it does my really quite work as you know it’s fake.

I enjoyed the test drive but driving home in the 340, it was apparent how very much of a difference in driving experience there is.

Battery performance, it was fully charged when I picked it up. Range showing as 278 miles. Pressed the start button and all the lively dash lit up like Christmas and the range nudged down to 275.

Drive out of the dealers and on to the main stretch out of the industrial estate, have it a little shoe, just for scientific purposes of course, acceleration is insane, M3/4 insane. But, and here’s the bit, a stretch of 300/400m wiped 20 miles off the range.

I took it out round an area and a circuit of A roads, B roads and motorway that I know to be just shy of 45 miles. I drove within speed limits at all times only accelerating away from lights and junctions quickly. Returned to the dealership with 165 miles of range.

So it’s going to be a big adoption curve from me when one finally becomes available to buy as I have no real idea how energy usage is going to be day to day.

Comparing this to the 340, I left the dealership and travelled the 26 miles home, starting the journey with 298 miles of range from my 3/4 tank of petrol. I got home with 262 miles of range left and had booted it on a couple of quiet stretches.

It’s going to be quite interesting seeing how it all stacks up. But it IS a lovely car.

I haven’t even had my 840 delivered and I’m already on to ordering the new one (yes, it will take that long!)

 

[PJ87]

I finally managed to get a test drive in the new i4 M50 yesterday. Lovely Frozem Portimao Blue but by god the stock alloys are hideous, upgrades are available at a cost though.

So driving… mixed bag is all I can say. It’s quick, that’s for sure. It’s also very stable and very comfortable. But that’s also it’s downfall, it’s all just a bit dis-engaging and sterile. The piped in exhaust notes (by all accounts courtesy of Hans Zimmer) try to make it feel a bit more “real” and engaging but it does my really quite work as you know it’s fake.

I enjoyed the test drive but driving home in the 340, it was apparent how very much of a difference in driving experience there is.

Battery performance, it was fully charged when I picked it up. Range showing as 278 miles. Pressed the start button and all the lively dash lit up like Christmas and the range nudged down to 275.

Drive out of the dealers and on to the main stretch out of the industrial estate, have it a little shoe, just for scientific purposes of course, acceleration is insane, M3/4 insane. But, and here’s the bit, a stretch of 300/400m wiped 20 miles off the range.

I took it out round an area and a circuit of A roads, B roads and motorway that I know to be just shy of 45 miles. I drove within speed limits at all times only accelerating away from lights and junctions quickly. Returned to the dealership with 165 miles of range.

So it’s going to be a big adoption curve from me when one finally becomes available to buy as I have no real idea how energy usage is going to be day to day.

Comparing this to the 340, I left the dealership and travelled the 26 miles home, starting the journey with 298 miles of range from my 3/4 tank of petrol. I got home with 262 miles of range left and had booted it on a couple of quiet stretches.

It’s going to be quite interesting seeing how it all stacks up. But it IS a lovely car.

I haven’t even had my 840 delivered and I’m already on to ordering the new one (yes, it will take that long!)

The guess o meter is a bit wild on cars ...it's like a round of golf with Bryson the amount of factors that go through its mind at any given minute

Outside temp, driving conditions, driving style, colour of your shoes ?

I left work with 48 miles showing the other day (it was 2 degrees) experience said nah I'll have more than that , true enough drove the 22 miles home and it said 60 miles left

 

[Fade and Die]

Romford to Carlisle return on a Saturday is £135 each, ( just base national rail fares) add the taxi and the car hire and it’s quite a wedge whichever way you do it.

TrainSplit will do 2 adults and 2 kids for £405 return ( under 5 years old are free) takes 4:45 hours

A normal car trip is just over 5 hours without stops, 350 miles , with an EV you may need to factor in 2 recharge stops each taking 45 -60 minutes cost about 12 each time, trip will take 7-8 hours but will be substantially cheaper

Just take a bit longer and enjoy the scenery

This also assumes that there is somewhere you can recharge it oop north for the return ?

Add to all the above I hate public transport and it’s a real non-starter!

Yes planning the re-charge is a challenge, after turning off the A1 at Scotch Corner there is not much in the way of civilisation until we get to the MILs so I would need to charge up before then and I expect the chargers at the Scotch corner would have an eye watering tariff. Much like their fuel prices.

As an electrician I was considering getting an extra Rolec wallpod and always carrying it in the car, I could wire it with a sort of “flylead” to connect to the MILs fuse box whilst we was up there. ?

 

[PJ87]

Add to all the above I hate public transport and it’s a real non-starter!

Yes planning the re-charge is a challenge, after turning off the A1 at Scotch Corner there is not much in the way of civilisation until we get to the MILs so I would need to charge up before then and I expect the chargers at the Scotch corner would have an eye watering tariff. Much like their fuel prices.

As an electrician I was considering getting an extra Rolec wallpod and always carrying it in the car, I could wire it with a sort of “flylead” to connect to the MILs fuse box whilst we was up there. ?

Or just use a granny charger up there ? If your staying up there will be ample