Probably helps with their forecasting models for free slots and stuff.
Octopus are a very clever company, I'll give them that.
EV general discussion
- Thread starter Ricochet J
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Probably helps with their forecasting models for free slots and stuff.
Octopus are a very clever company, I'll give them that.
I've got it on the app. Showed I had 3 days in my stream tonight. TO be honest I like Octopus. They are trying to innovate and Generally I've found the tech to be reliable. There are a few quirks but I think Intelligent Go is a clever and very fair way to support the EV transition.
Huge recall on these, and Volvo advising not to charge above 70%. They are finally fixing cars but it'll take months, if not longer, to do them all.
There may be a vin checker to see if they are impacted but I'd check before buying!
Obviously if new, you should be fine.
Soldato
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imo car park owners need to treat these like disabled bays
so if a car is parked in them and either not an EV or not plugged in they get a ticket.
Very loosely related, I was at Cambridge Services today and as I walked out I spotted a couple of disabled EV charging bays.
I assume these are the same as regular disabled bays, ie. No blue badge = do not use?
Disabled parking is often disproportionate to need (I'm sure we've all been in a full car park with multiple disabled bays free) so on the infrequent occasions that charger demand outstrips capacity they must be a pretty annoying sight!
Soldato
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I dunno about disabled charging but i would assume so unless very clearly marked.
as for when demand outstrips supply. I would at least have *some* sympathy if there were rows of empty charging bay and every other parking spot was full. .... however at the carpark behind where my house the charging bays are regularly iced when there are loads of other normal spaces. I can only assume that people are so lazy that they park in them because they are close to the amenities and they don't want to walk the extra 25m or so but are not disabled so don't have a blue badge. that doesn't directly affect me as I would never need to charge at the back of my house....... but when I am travelling and it happens elsewhere it's a different matter
But ultimately.... even IF someone is trying to park and there are no spaces... yes it must be annoying if there is a free EV bay.... but ultimately maybe it takes 5.mins hanging around for a space to be free.......
but if someone needs to charge their car it may take significantly longer to get a charging bay if a bunch are taken up by people sticking their diesel car in there whilst they spend the afternoon shopping.
A car can park in any bay .. but an EV in need of charging has a limited number of options.
as for when demand outstrips supply. I would at least have *some* sympathy if there were rows of empty charging bay and every other parking spot was full. .... however at the carpark behind where my house the charging bays are regularly iced when there are loads of other normal spaces. I can only assume that people are so lazy that they park in them because they are close to the amenities and they don't want to walk the extra 25m or so but are not disabled so don't have a blue badge. that doesn't directly affect me as I would never need to charge at the back of my house....... but when I am travelling and it happens elsewhere it's a different matter
But ultimately.... even IF someone is trying to park and there are no spaces... yes it must be annoying if there is a free EV bay.... but ultimately maybe it takes 5.mins hanging around for a space to be free.......
but if someone needs to charge their car it may take significantly longer to get a charging bay if a bunch are taken up by people sticking their diesel car in there whilst they spend the afternoon shopping.
A car can park in any bay .. but an EV in need of charging has a limited number of options.
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Man of Honour
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Our new vets practice has a couple of charging bays and they are also marked with disabled signs. I am up there in a couple of weeks time so will ask them.
Generally no, they are usually marked as ‘accessible bays’ which anyone can use.
The general ‘don’t be a ****’ rules would suggest not using them unless you need to. Also be prepared to move if needed.
The same applies to the large vehicle/towing bays which some people seem to think are there so someone doesn’t door ding their car.
IIRC disabled bays outside of council car parks are down to whatever T&Cs are posted.
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Got to love the bent U.K. media.
Apparently Burham has handed U.K. EV drivers a 1.52p/mile saving from the VAT cut according to the express.
Last time I checked, my model Y was 2-2.2p/mile so knocking 5% VAT of electricity has saved me a whopping 0.1p/mile.
I’d love to know how they calculated that, I’m guessing taking the most expensive rate of electricity possible and one of the least efficient cars available.
Even at price cap rates it’s only about 1p/kwh of VAT. So that’s only 0.3p/mile in a 3mile/kwh car.
Apparently Burham has handed U.K. EV drivers a 1.52p/mile saving from the VAT cut according to the express.
Last time I checked, my model Y was 2-2.2p/mile so knocking 5% VAT of electricity has saved me a whopping 0.1p/mile.
I’d love to know how they calculated that, I’m guessing taking the most expensive rate of electricity possible and one of the least efficient cars available.
Even at price cap rates it’s only about 1p/kwh of VAT. So that’s only 0.3p/mile in a 3mile/kwh car.
Soldato
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indeed. those relying on public charging AND once clobbered with 3p per mile would be kind of daft to get ab EV.
the hybrid thing is weird too. and I say that as someone who will benefit so long as our i3 does not kick the bucket..... but anyone who has a plug in hybrid which is less efficient and more components to manufacture .. if they run it as a pure EV (as we do with ours) get half price per mile driving compared to those with a proper EV
and don't get me started about how unfair for those who cross the border a lot whilst driving who for "reasons" have to pay per mile when not even driving in the country.
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You guy with your 3+ mi/kwh luxuries, if only my Stellantis electron eater could do that 
The EV luxuries were always going to come to an end at some point too much tax loss to ignore, completely understand what the are trying to achieve but this implementation is rubbish, I barely do any miles so I should be happy at pay per mile but I am not, to much faff and complexity for very little value to anyone, just wholesale increase VED full stop if you want more, how it is paid right now couldn’t be simpler.
It is such a silly system getting you to pay up front for what you might do and claim back or pay more etc, too much admin, having to turn on tracking if you go abroad, just 2x/3x/4x VED what ever nice and simple, I won’t like it anymore than eVED but at least there is no faff. I can’t understand the rationale for this apart from the thin end of the wedge for vehicle tracking.
Also if you are doing pay per mile and doing this complex system, take tax off the petrol and let them do it too, nothing is going to make the tax cost more visible to people than when they have to lump sum the tax at the end of the year, that certainly help encourage switch over.
The EV luxuries were always going to come to an end at some point too much tax loss to ignore, completely understand what the are trying to achieve but this implementation is rubbish, I barely do any miles so I should be happy at pay per mile but I am not, to much faff and complexity for very little value to anyone, just wholesale increase VED full stop if you want more, how it is paid right now couldn’t be simpler.
It is such a silly system getting you to pay up front for what you might do and claim back or pay more etc, too much admin, having to turn on tracking if you go abroad, just 2x/3x/4x VED what ever nice and simple, I won’t like it anymore than eVED but at least there is no faff. I can’t understand the rationale for this apart from the thin end of the wedge for vehicle tracking.
Also if you are doing pay per mile and doing this complex system, take tax off the petrol and let them do it too, nothing is going to make the tax cost more visible to people than when they have to lump sum the tax at the end of the year, that certainly help encourage switch over.
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Soldato
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I would be less annoyed if they did it on all new cars (from 2025 when the 3p was announced) going forward esp now they are almost at price parity with gas guzzlers ..... but early EV adopters paid a premium to go EV and part of the sales pitch to eat that extra expense was cheap running. as it is we have retrospective vehicle tax added, something not done to old ICEs and public charging costs have gone mental.
then add to that because EVs have improved drastically over the last 6 years.... the deprecation has been brutal ... so again adding the 3p per mile just seems like a kick in the nuts imo
then add to that because EVs have improved drastically over the last 6 years.... the deprecation has been brutal ... so again adding the 3p per mile just seems like a kick in the nuts imo
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Just the beginning, it will be worked up each year until it's comparable to the tax on petrol per mile. It will cost me £600 per year but it's not like tax isn't going to go up on petrol. I won't be worse off.
A guy I work with is talking about getting rid of his EV and going hybrid because of it, "halve my costs". He does about 5k miles per year. Talk about an over reaction.
Well, nearly half the UK has below the median IQ...so...
I don’t think he can…
His wife work(ed?) for a public charging company so he’ll be attacked by all the foaming at the mouth right wing politicians and press even if it’s a great idea and totally should happen
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...ling-cutting-vat-public-electric-car-chargers HMRC don't want to, it's a big juicy tax stream
Soldato
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yes that is an over reaction but it could well be a factor for anyone who is replacing their car anyway looking to go from an ICE to either a proper EV or a hybrid with a decent EV range. imo it makes little sense to encourage a hybrid over an EV.
the thing which boggles me was that at the same time as announcing the 3p per mile they also announced they were freezing fuel duty again.
IF it were me I would freeze fuel duty for the foreseeable then from 2028 ALL new(ISH) cars pay 3p per mile on top...... EVs registered from 2025 when the 3p announcement was 1st made and ICE cars from when ever the 1st new registration is following the "Mike fictitious announcement". (thus meaning everyone who buys a new car going forward goes in eyes open if you insist on an ICE AND insist on a brand new car then you are gonna have to pay more)
that would mean there is still a big incentive if buying new to still buy an EV (or a plug in hybrid if an EV doesn't work) . ... and those who cant afford new cars don't get screwed over for now.
realistically that would give the government and ev charging companies and the grid around 15 years to actually get a plentiful, reliable and affordable public charging across the whole country..... which may not seem that long but if we compare where we are now compared to where we were in 2011 then I believe it's possible.
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There may be other motivations as well - a plug in hybrid would be perfect for my usage/situation but I'm struggling to find one which ticks all the boxes.