- Thread starter northwest
- Start date
- Status
premmington
Member
- Messages
- 5,641
- Location
- Norfolk
18 months, 1 owned and 1 hybrid as a company car, and 0.
Now that doesn’t make me an expert but I’d suggest it does give me some insight of living with them over someone with stats of, say 0, 0 and 0.
I not owned an BEV or a PHEV.
I not charged one outside of the workshop.
I have only test driven them - lots of them - but would think the longest ride out I have had has been 20miles.
Worked on hundreds/thousands of them. All over three years old (except a few newer salvage ones - mostly BMW salvage).
Dealt with a lot of owners and the feedback from them (some positive - some negative - all makes).
Never seen an EV fire or even a dead EV that has been alight (but seen loads of videos on youtube).
------------
My experience will be three years ish behind @Ubique 's - as he deals with new cars and I don't. I will be three years behind the latest stuff...
willie.macleod
Member
- Messages
- 862
- Location
- Western Isles, Scotland
EV range will never be a dieselgate scandal. That's because the cars can achieve the range the manufacturer claims as per standardised testing, but the variability in driver skills/weather/road conditions will all play their part in cars not achieving their specified range.
The fact that a manufacturer has programmed in a best case range to start with and it updates as you go along each day is no bad thing, you have a limited amount of energy available compared to an ICE vehicle and if you decide to use more up sitting at high speed or heating the interior to tropical temperatures in the middle of winter then that's a choice you make over keeping charge in the battery. My wife drove our EV into work on Saturday night, achieving 2.6 miles/kWh. I did 60 miles yesterday and achieved not far off 5 miles/kWh in pretty much identical weather conditions.
So in a nutshell, if you decide to drive your EV like you stole it, you might well experience half the range the manufacturer states and you may well go through sets of tyres much earlier than expected. Neither is the fault of the manufacturer, unless we really want them to clamp down on acceleration limits which may well be the next thing coming given our nanny state government and noises about tyre pollution.
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,058
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
A perfectly balanced view, I wouldn’t expect to tell you, and have you believe me, that I have extensive technical knowledge of working on them because I simply don’t.
But likewise, when someone who has never even driven one tells you they are impractical fiery death traps that leave you riddled with range anxiety, while at this very moment I am about to load one up with 2 adults, 2 kids and a dog and all our luggage for a week away at the other end of the country, then my own experience tells me otherwise.
I’m under no illusion that they are perfect, or there aren’t issues - and I wouldn’t try to convince anyone they should buy one. But equally, I think that simply regurgitating stereotypes without having any experience, or even acknowledging that people who actually own and run the things, in the main, do so with little problems, and blindly repeating the same cliches over and over isn’t really on either.
I’m really not making anything up, but in nearly 2 years of owning one I’ve not had one issue that has made me regret my decision. If it was rubbish I’d say so, I’m not too proud to admit I’ve made a mistake, but the truth is I’d make exactly the same decision today that i did when we bought it.
Of course other people will have different views and experience, but I can really only tell you from my point of view.
Bobtail4x4
Member
- Messages
- 1,195
scimitars had a problem as the ford supplied webber carb had a push fit fuel inlet pipe, when it got hot the alloy carb expanded and the brass pipe under 3-5 psi popped out,
the car would run on for a few seconds while spraying petrol onto a hot engine,
the body would be totally consumed at the front,
however a similar granada etc after a fire still looked like a granada, even if totally ********.
Pigeon_Droppings2
Member
- Messages
- 5,931
- Location
- london
I think the same has happened with Hyundai/Kia....bought my first Hyundai 8+ years ago and they were just very well made cars at sensible prices. I guess eventually they all go chasing higher margins.
premmington
Member
- Messages
- 5,641
- Location
- Norfolk
I not ever said "I will never have an EV"
I am just not or ever been a new car buyer...
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,058
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
Perfectly understandable and in your position I would 100% do the same - I’m not in that position in terms of having facilities, time or knowledge to do so, therefore naturally I have a different outlook.
Pigeon_Droppings2
Member
- Messages
- 5,931
- Location
- london
I think with EVs the main financial benefits come from buying new...BIK tax reduction for businesses or salary sacrifice (basically a 40% price discount).
Combine the above with a rapidly evolving technology I think means PCP or Lease is really the only sensible choice.
I wonder how many of the posters on here would still buy an EV if the generous incentives were removed...is it simply a sound financial decision?
On this we certainly agree (while there are those on here, that are).
As for me - you'll note that I’ve not mentioned "living with one" (beyond quoting someone I know well who has - who got rid of it after 3-years to go back to ICE).
I've an opinion & reasons on why I'm not going to have one (while better, cheaper, more reliable vehicles are available with a far better fuel & support network.
Perhaps you think that someone cannot possibly arrive at a decision, without investing first?
(I've no direct experience of Heroin or Sky-diving.... I don't think I need to try these first before forming the decision that they aren't for me).
This has generally been my point regarding much of the new "renewables" initiatives.
Effectively, we the taxpayer subsidises those (who already have the money to invest) to adopt and run these things..... & indeed the very pertinent question is "does this (whatever) stand up on its own merits on performance & financial versus existing systems, were there no incentive schemes to give them a huge "leg up"?
Would Londoners be buying anything like as many EV's if there wasn't both carrots and sticks herding them that way? We can be sure of the majority answer.
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,058
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
You are of course entitled to an opinion, it’s just that mine comes from experience.
As I’ve said I’m not trying to convince anyone to buy one, whereas you seem hell bent on persuading people the other way. I suppose if you’re not into heroin or skydiving then you need a hobby, but each to their own. You might want to try fishing, it’s probably calmer
S'ok- no need for concern. I mainly mountain bike..... on an E-bike (which I've had about as long as you've had your car). I have other hobbies too that help me control my hysteriaYou are of course entitled to an opinion, it’s just that mine comes from experience.
As I’ve said I’m not trying to convince anyone to buy one, whereas you seem hell bent on persuading people the other way. I suppose if you’re not into heroin or skydiving then you need a hobby, but each to their own. You might want to try fishing, it’s probably calmer
Were I ever asked for my (unqualified) opinion by friend or family about buying an EV - then unless there were exceptional extenuating circumstances then you're right - I'd not at this time consider an EV to be the best possible option.
Nomad
Member
- Messages
- 1,691
- Location
- North Devon (for how long?)
Am I the only person who didn't know that in 2019 the weight limit for a Class B driving licence limit was increased from 3.5T to 4.25T when driving an EV to allow for their increased weight?
www.gov.uk
Towing limits have also been increased for EVs. Anyone who passed a class B test before 1997 can tow a max train weight of 8.25T (up from 7.5T for non-EVs), more info at https://www.gov.uk/government/consu...lexibility-for-alternatively-fuelled-vehicles
To upgraded your licence you need to take a 5 hour training session.
It's odd that a few years ago drivers of anything above 7.5 tonne vehicle would have needed a HGV licence before they could drive it on the road. Now we can have vehicles over 8T on the road being driven on a car licence. Expect increased wear on the roads and a lot more damage if one of those heavy beasts crashes into you.
Changes to licence requirements for alternatively fuelled vehicles
Guidance to drivers on changes in the law which allow category B licence holders to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) up to 4.25 tonnes.
Towing limits have also been increased for EVs. Anyone who passed a class B test before 1997 can tow a max train weight of 8.25T (up from 7.5T for non-EVs), more info at https://www.gov.uk/government/consu...lexibility-for-alternatively-fuelled-vehicles
To upgraded your licence you need to take a 5 hour training session.
It's odd that a few years ago drivers of anything above 7.5 tonne vehicle would have needed a HGV licence before they could drive it on the road. Now we can have vehicles over 8T on the road being driven on a car licence. Expect increased wear on the roads and a lot more damage if one of those heavy beasts crashes into you.
premmington
Member
- Messages
- 5,641
- Location
- Norfolk
Am I the only person who didn't know that in 2019 the weight limit for a Class B driving licence limit was increased from 3.5T to 4.25T when driving an EV to allow for their increased weight?
Changes to licence requirements for alternatively fuelled vehicles
Guidance to drivers on changes in the law which allow category B licence holders to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) up to 4.25 tonnes.
Towing limits have also been increased for EVs. Anyone who passed a class B test before 1997 can tow a max train weight of 8.25T (up from 7.5T for non-EVs), more info at https://www.gov.uk/government/consu...lexibility-for-alternatively-fuelled-vehicles
To upgraded your licence you need to take a 5 hour training session.
It's odd that a few years ago drivers of anything above 7.5 tonne vehicle would have needed a HGV licence before they could drive it on the road. Now we can have vehicles over 8T on the road being driven on a car licence. Expect increased wear on the roads and a lot more damage if one of those heavy beasts crashes into you.
I did not know that either...
Excempt from OL as well.
But not testing requirements - Class7 mot won't cover them.
I'd seen that the max towing train for C1E licence holders (me) was 8.25T (when I thought it was 7.5T gross train, & max 3.5T gross trailer if the tow vehicle is rated to tow that much)....Am I the only person who didn't know that in 2019 the weight limit for a Class B driving licence limit was increased from 3.5T to 4.25T when driving an EV to allow for their increased weight?
Changes to licence requirements for alternatively fuelled vehicles
Guidance to drivers on changes in the law which allow category B licence holders to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) up to 4.25 tonnes.
Towing limits have also been increased for EVs. Anyone who passed a class B test before 1997 can tow a max train weight of 8.25T (up from 7.5T for non-EVs), more info at https://www.gov.uk/government/consu...lexibility-for-alternatively-fuelled-vehicles
To upgraded your licence you need to take a 5 hour training session.
It's odd that a few years ago drivers of anything above 7.5 tonne vehicle would have needed a HGV licence before they could drive it on the road. Now we can have vehicles over 8T on the road being driven on a car licence. Expect increased wear on the roads and a lot more damage if one of those heavy beasts crashes into you.
But I didn't know about the bump-up to allow a much bigger group of licenced drivers to drive the heavier EV's.
I was aware of it, but it's that restrictive, I'm not aware of anybody who's actually made use of it.Am I the only person who didn't know that in 2019 the weight limit for a Class B driving licence limit was increased from 3.5T to 4.25T when driving an EV to allow for their increased weight?
Changes to licence requirements for alternatively fuelled vehicles
Guidance to drivers on changes in the law which allow category B licence holders to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) up to 4.25 tonnes.
Towing limits have also been increased for EVs. Anyone who passed a class B test before 1997 can tow a max train weight of 8.25T (up from 7.5T for non-EVs), more info at https://www.gov.uk/government/consu...lexibility-for-alternatively-fuelled-vehicles
To upgraded your licence you need to take a 5 hour training session.
It's odd that a few years ago drivers of anything above 7.5 tonne vehicle would have needed a HGV licence before they could drive it on the road. Now we can have vehicles over 8T on the road being driven on a car licence. Expect increased wear on the roads and a lot more damage if one of those heavy beasts crashes into you.
It's a UK only exemption, so major vehicle manufacturer's have not really produced suitable vehicles as there is little commercial viability.
It doesn't apply to anything carrying goods, so is no use for couriers who are the ones most likely to make use of the exemption.
It was one of those law changes that was aimed to try and increase EV development/use, but became so restrictive, they might as well not have bothered.
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,058
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
However, the current derogation does not allow alternatively-fuelled goods vans between 3,500kg to 4,250kg to tow a trailer
Form the above the extra weight is only for a single vehicle, not in reference to towing a trailer which applies to all vehicles?
Form the above the extra weight is only for a single vehicle, not in reference to towing a trailer which applies to all vehicles?
premmington
Member
- Messages
- 5,641
- Location
- Norfolk
It covers LPG vehicles as well (ICE that will only run on LPG - not start on petrol and change over).
Interesting subject of something I knew nothing of/about....
premmington
Member
- Messages
- 5,641
- Location
- Norfolk
Enfield Council launches first fully electric Renault Trucks E-Tech refuse truck
Enfield Council launches first fully electric Renault Trucks E-Tech refuse truck
- Status
