Adventures in an all electric vehicle.

[addjunkie]

If you were to begin using oil, for the first time, right now, think how fantastically unbelievable it would seem to do so.

First, you need to go and find some dead dinosaurs from millions of years ago, probably under the sea somewhere.

Next you need to build some structures, many thousands of tonnes of steel, with all sorts of fantastically complicated processing equipment onboard. These need to be capable of being sunk down to the sea bed and then drill down into the pockets of dead dinosaurs.

Once you’ve drilled down you need to extract and separate the crude, remove any water etc and then pump it onto a ship specially built to transport it to somewhere else. You might also build a pipeline hundreds of miles to transport it.

The next step is then to refine this into products you can actually use, using huge amounts of heat and chemicals in specially made plants costing many billions of pounds to build and run. You’ll need to then transport this product using a fleet of specially made trucks to stations across the uk with big underground storage tanks where you can then pump this stuff into your vehicle.

Makes putting some fast chargers around the country seem quite tame really.

yes…..fair point, but you did need to build the power stations of what ever flavour first, using the dead dinosaurs to power to build them.

 

[daleyd]

yes…..fair point, but you did need to build the power stations of what ever flavour first, using the dead dinosaurs to power to build them.

Yes, where do you stop - the point being that apparently it’s going to be next to impossible to imagine sticking a network of fast chargers in…

And yet compared to other stuff that goes on that maybe you don’t actually see it doesn’t seem particularly onerous.

 

[GRW]

No-ones directly answered my question - just given peripheral information (or something entirely unrelated).

Again - who is footing the bill for the fast chargers?

 

[daleyd]

No-ones directly answered my question - just given peripheral information (or something entirely unrelated).

Again - who is footing the bill for the fast chargers?

At a guess a combination of the companies providing them, with some contribution from government? The companies providing them will be getting paid by people using them - the same way other things get paid for?

 

[rhubarb7]

No-ones directly answered my question - just given peripheral information (or something entirely unrelated).

Again - who is footing the bill for the fast chargers?

The bill payers. Our standing charge payment is to keep the network going.

 

[premmington]

Not one single company. There's a number of providers who have a national presence (BP Pulse, Osprey, Fastned, Tesla, Instavolt, Gridserve, Charge Place Scotland, PodPoint) but it can get complicated as to who owns what. If you want footfall in a food based shop and are in an area with low public charger availability then a rapid in the car park may not be a bad idea, companies like Chocolates of Glenshiel, or the two cafes at Tyndrum are good examples of how to get yourself onto the radar and get customers in the door who you can then work on for half an hour to pry their wallets open, and even out of hours have the asset paying for itself.

Yeah it is good business - EV drivers and there driving/charging habits - are "a product" now - to take money from! Very valid point...

 

[premmington]

The bill payers. Our standing charge payment is to keep the network going.

Yes... We all paying the "green levy" on energy bills mate...

 

[rhubarb7]

Yes... We all paying the "green levy" on energy bills mate...

Reminds me of the tv programme Guy Martin did, basically said if we want to use it, we have to pay for it.

Look how things have changed in our lifetime. My parents young years were paraffin heaters ffs!

 

[premmington]

Reminds me of the tv programme Guy Martin did, basically said if we want to use it, we have to pay for it.

Look how things have changed in our lifetime. My parents young years were paraffin heaters ffs!

I saw this programme - it all looked like "spin" to me...

How to justify the "spend"....


Sorry that sounded negative again...

 

[premmington]

Your quote "Agreed. I will use the system if/when I need. It will cost me 20%VAT, for a start. Unit costs are around a quid per unit at some outlets - hence I shall choose either a cheaper supplier and/or avoid public chargers as much as possible.

Renewable energy, while not ‘dispatchable’ is now far cheaper than fossil-derived electricity. Roll on the time the grid can operate without fossil burning power stations. If we don’t stop burning fossil fuels they will be used up. Make no mistake about that - just a bit later than the demise of the anti-renewable/pro fossil groups. It is a definite eventuality. However much the pro-fossil burners may try to argue, it won’t last indefinitely.

It is a simple, well known fact - fossil fuels were initiated about 150-200 million years ago. Very little since and none being produced now."

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I get the logic of charging your EV at home - with the lessor energy capped KWH rate and the 5% VAT rate. I really do...

Wealthy people pay more tax than poor people.

ICE drivers are paying income tax to subsidise EV drivers home charging.... (they are) I get it...

And yes you are correct - no more fossil fuels are being made in the earth in the time scale required for the consumption rates we have now (growing consumption rates).

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I not anti renewables - I not anti EV cars - but the take up - is not gonna be fast enough - worldwide to resolve the problem - it will help for sure...

Less of us consuming less is the only obvious solution. How you get to this - I don't have an answer for and I think this is the bridge mankind will never cross. Is mankind doomed - maybe?

That maybe a bit too deep/negative for a sunny Sunday afternoon in June...

 

[rhubarb7]

Her’s another. Who paid for the thousands of fuel stations? Not a lot of difference, I would suggest - if you think about it!



Utterly ridiculous assertion. You conveniently forget a lot of things. Like grid reinforcement that is totally necessary.




Agreed. I will use the system if/when I need. It will cost me 20%VAT, for a start. Unit costs are around a quid per unit at some outlets - hence I shall choose either a cheaper supplier and/or avoid public chargers as much as possible.

Renewable energy, while not ‘dispatchable’ is now far cheaper than fossil-derived electricity. Roll on the time the grid can operate without fossil burning power stations. If we don’t stop burning fossil fuels they will be used up. Make no mistake about that - just a bit later than the demise of the anti-renewable/pro fossil groups. It is a definite eventuality. However much the pro-fossil burners may try to argue, it won’t last indefinitely.

It is a simple, well known fact - fossil fuels were initiated about 150-200 million years ago. Very little since and none being produced now.



What has changed? Absolutely nothing - except that most could not do without their mobile phones, many choose to eat junk food, etc etc. The one major difference is that when it is no longer available nobody will pay for it, ‘cos it won’t be there to buy.

I've said nothing ridiculous. Standing charge is to keep the network going and make sure the power lands at your door.

F*ck knows what your rant at the bottom about junk food and mobile phones is about.

Go sort your attitude out.

Electricity is greener it's greener he says, what provides most of electricity....You come across as a bible puncher.

Bet you don't talk to people like this in public.

 

[premmington]

I've said nothing ridiculous. Standing charge is to keep the network going and make sure the power lands at your door.

F*ck knows what your rant at the bottom about junk food and mobile phones is about.

Go sort your attitude out.

Electricity is greener it's greener he says, what provides most of electricity....You come across as a bible puncher.

Bet you don't talk to people like this in public.

Simon - I told you they lynch car mechanics on here.

Don't engage old mate - come hide behind me - I got broad shoulders!

I get frustrated with them at times - but at our age we gotta stay calm old mate!

 

[daleyd]

Simon - I told you they lynch car mechanics on here.

Don't engage old mate - come hide behind me - I got broad shoulders!

I get frustrated with them at times - but at our age we gotta stay calm old mate!

Don’t be daft, as a mechanic you know technical details and problems that owners would never know. Your opinion on those is obviously very respected.

What you won’t know (unless you own one) is the day to day practicalities of living with one, which is where people who do can chime in.

There’s more than one side to every story.

 

[addjunkie]

There’s more than one side to every story.

there are two sides to every storey……

The truth us usually some where in the middle.

 

[daleyd]

there are two sides to every storey……

The truth us usually some where in the middle.

Yea, that was more than one last time I checked.

 

[addjunkie]

Yea, that was more than one last time I checked.

Unless arguing with the Mrs…the. Theres only oneside!

 

[daleyd]

Unless arguing with the Mrs…the. Theres only oneside!

And it doesn’t matter which side you pick - it’ll be the wrong one either way

 

[premmington]

Don’t be daft, as a mechanic you know technical details and problems that owners would never know. Your opinion on those is obviously very respected.

What you won’t know (unless you own one) is the day to day practicalities of living with one, which is where people who do can chime in.

There’s more than one side to every story.

I have road tested loads of EV's PHEV's - I like driving newish small cars - I like the regen braking on an EV - the one pedal driving suits my slow drivng style.

I been out in several Teslas - not so keen on these. They look sort of "thrown together" - can't explain - they look sort of like a cheap kit car to me.

My BIL has a full EV - BMW iXM - he £73k into it and not that happy with it. He is retired and only goes to the golf cource - and a holiday bungalow up the coast - 20miles away. I have driven this - and it seemed OK to me. Most of his working life he had flagship 7 series BMW's.

I have never done a long journey in an EV - I have never used a public charger (but charged loads up in a workshop setting).

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I won't be/doubt I will be buying one yet or in the near future - as I am not a new car buyer/renter.

But I never say never to anything...

 

[daleyd]

I have road tested loads of EV's PHEV's - I like driving newish small cars - I like the regen braking on an EV - the one pedal driving suits my slow dring style.

I been out in several Teslas - not so keen on these. They look sort of "thrown together" - can't explain - they look sort of like a cheap kit car to me.

My BIL has a full EV - BMW iXM - he £73k into it and not that happy with it. He is retired and only goes to the golf cource - and a holiday bungalow up the coast - 20miles away. I have driven this - and it seemed OK to me. Most of his working life he had flagship 7 series BMW's.

I have never done a long journey in an EV - I have never used a public charger (but charged loads up in a workshop setting).

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I won't be/doubt I will be buying one yet or in the near future - as I am not a new car buyer/renter.

But I never say never to anything...

Yes agreed about all that - if they’re not for you then that’s fine.

Teslas don’t do it for me either - I could be tempted by a polestar if any but it’s not an option as yet.

The day to day experience of living one over a period of time is what I can offer my first hand opinion on, the rest I bow to your knowledge.

 

[premmington]

Yes agreed about all that - if they’re not for you then that’s fine.

Teslas don’t do it for me either - I could be tempted by a polestar if any but it’s not an option as yet.

The day to day experience of living one over a period of time is what I can offer my first hand opinion on, the rest I bow to your knowledge.

Another thing - I buy and sell a few cars - always have done.

When I speak to the "sales reptiles" in dealers - they unsure on the used BEV/PHEV market.

Pricing them is difficult to say the least.

The few BMW 330E I have bought off customers who aborted on repairs - have been real difficult to sell - so difficult I am reluctant to buy into another one.

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New sales of BEVS are going up - a fairly strong trend - but PHEV sales are stable and not increasing (which makes them difficult to price).