EV general discussion

wind blowing like a b...... here. power still on but keep expecting to hear the dreaded scraping of tiles as one comes down the roof and hits one of our cars.
last gale one of our ridge tiles came off. luckily didn't hit anything (could have killed someone)
so would you claim on your car insurance against the building insurance if that were to occur ?
last gales over xmas roof slates adjoining public car park blew off and I had wondered if the park here at your own risk clause would abidicate responsibility from car park or building owner,
probably not if you got physically hurt though.

..

the lfp charge to 100% regime is just because the electronics cant otherwise keep track of the level of charge (thermal losses) , and is ultimately offsetting the increased lifetime charge cycle the LFP, should have,
and, benefits it should give for future owners.
 
It's rather cute that most posts on EV groups or manufacturer posts on Facebook or twitter are from the anti EV brigade leaving silly comments about things they cant or refuse to understand. They waste far more time moaning than they probably do driving their 800 mile without stopping diesel guzzlers.
Why worry? EV ownership must surely be at its sweet spot right now with decent cars, tax incentives, BIK incentives, low salary sacrifice schemes, generally decent public charger availability. All that is going to change when the ICE drivers come over en mass.

I think I'd like to keep my niche status for as long as possible so would be very happy that the "FUD" is putting people off!
 
Why worry? EV ownership must surely be at its sweet spot right now with decent cars, tax incentives, BIK incentives, low salary sacrifice schemes, generally decent public charger availability. All that is going to change when the ICE drivers come over en mass.

I think I'd like to keep my niche status for as long as possible so would be very happy that the "FUD" is putting people off!
You'd think. But EV sales actually went down as a percentage of sale last quarter and theres no way Rishi is letting people off ICE or drilling for more oil anytime time, net zero be damned. Stupid ******.
 
You'd think. But EV sales actually went down as a percentage of sale last quarter and theres no way Rishi is letting people off ICE or drilling for more oil anytime time, net zero be damned. Stupid ******.
That's the point though. They aren't going to start ripping out chargers and the incentives I mentioned won't be going anywhere until the bait and switch has reached full momentum so if I was in an EV right now I'd be very happy for the adoption to level right off.

Mass rapid adoption will just see more tax and greater demand on public charging.

Net zero is a load of cobblers anyway as proven by what they are doing with TATA steel. Massive reduction in emissions... Which are then shifted over to India with the resulting product then shipped half way across the globe. True net zero requires a complete shift in the way we live our lives which ultimately people aren't going to do. The great thing about heat pumps and EVs is that it cleans up what goes directly into our lungs. On a global scale they mean jack.

Sorry for the OT soapbox...
 
Hopefully, the uptake in ev buying stays lower than the roll out of public chargers.
I currently have to charge whilst away at work (no workplace chargers yet, later this year) and it can be a pain finding a charger when required.
Big test later this year when we travel down to Newquay for the first time in our ev, should be interesting.
 
Hopefully, the uptake in ev buying stays lower than the roll out of public chargers.
I currently have to charge whilst away at work (no workplace chargers yet, later this year) and it can be a pain finding a charger when required.
Big test later this year when we travel down to Newquay for the first time in our ev, should be interesting.
Map of charging hubs with 5 or more charge bays
 
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I'm seriously considering the move to EV with works Octopus salary sacrifice scheme. My area is a little low on charging points (that I've seen) but can always charge at home on the drive or at work (which is currently free).

One of the hardest parts is actually picking which EV to go for. It'd be interesting to see a poll of which one forum members are driving. I keep hearing rumours of a Tesla hatchback too which sounds more like my kind of thing so I can throw the dogs in the boot after a muddy run in the fields.
 
I keep hearing rumours of a Tesla hatchback too which sounds more like my kind of thing so I can throw the dogs in the boot after a muddy run in the fields.
The Tesla Model Y is hatchback.
The rumors on another cheaper Tesla have been circulating for years. When (if) it's ever released, it'll likely be launched in the US first, then come to the UK 1-2 years after that.
 
Model Y is a hatchback but obviously a big car and more expensive. If looking at smaller cars then the VW ID3 isn't bad, I drive one quite a fair bit and it's essentially an electric golf.
 
I'm seriously considering the move to EV with works Octopus salary sacrifice scheme. My area is a little low on charging points (that I've seen) but can always charge at home on the drive or at work (which is currently free).

One of the hardest parts is actually picking which EV to go for. It'd be interesting to see a poll of which one forum members are driving. I keep hearing rumours of a Tesla hatchback too which sounds more like my kind of thing so I can throw the dogs in the boot after a muddy run in the fields.
if you can charge at home or at work then local charging infrastructure is the least of your issues because its highly unlikely you will ever need them.

of more relevance will be the state of the network on the routes of any places you go outside of the range of your car. i have found the biggest challenge is - because i travel out of the range of my car so rarely i do not pay the zapmap subs to allow me to use directly in my car - is knowing the state of charging places when i am in the car.

if i am on my own i cant be looking at my phone when driving to see how many bays are free and tbh if my wife is with me she is not much better as she never fails to some how make a mess of looking at my phone (and after 7 months of owning an ev and 3 months of owning 2 evs, she still hasnt installed any charging related apps on her own phone ..........

so imo even as an EV fanboy, those who just use zapmap as proof that there is charging out and about are, lets say, oversimpifying the issue somewhat. if you blindly pull into a service stop at a peak time without 1st checking there is still a good chance you will struggle to charge without waiting and that is something ice drivers do not need to worry about.

hell according to tesla app there WERE loads of free spaces at trentham a few months back, but when i pulled in, the V4 charge points were not working despite saying they were on the app.... and the 3 version 3 bays showing as free were blocked by cars takign up 2 slots (not their fault........ imo tesla should only have unlocked the version 4 chargepoints to non teslas as the cables are simply not long enough for many non tesla evs on the older chargers, forcing them to use 2 bays.
 
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if you can charge at home or at work then local charging infrastructure is the least of your issues because its highly unlikely you will ever need them.

of more relevance will be the state of the network on the routes of any places you go outside of the range of your car. i have found the biggest challenge is - because i travel out of the range of my car so rarely i do not pay the zapmap subs to allow me to use directly in my car - is knowing the state of charging places when i am in the car.

if i am on my own i cant be looking at my phone when driving to see how many bays are free and tbh if my wife is with me she is not much better as she never fails to some how make a mess of looking at my phone (and after 7 months of owning an ev and 3 months of owning 2 evs, she still hasnt installed any charging related apps on her own phone ..........

so imo even as an EV fanboy, those who just use zapmap as proof that there is charging out and about are, lets say, oversimpifying the issue somewhat. if you blindly pull into a service stop at a peak time without 1st checking there is still a good chance you will struggle to charge without waiting and that is something ice drivers do not need to worry about.

hell according to tesla app there WERE loads of free spaces at trentham a few months back, but when i pulled in, the V4 charge points were not working despite saying they were on the app.... and the 3 version 3 bays showing as free were blocked by cars takign up 2 slots (not their fault........ imo tesla should only have unlocked the version 4 chargepoints to non teslas as the cables are simply not long enough for many non tesla evs on the older chargers, forcing them to use 2 bays.

Yeah I suppose you're right with regards to the local infrastructure.

I guess that would be my biggest issue, when I leave the comforts of the local surroundings I'm usually out in the middle of nowhere hiking - you're lucky to find a mobile phone reception and a shred of civilisation so charging points are likely a lengthy stop at the nearest services on the way home for the ~120 mile journey back.

Okay, so even the apps aren't reliable which is a problem. Presuming you drive a Tesla and the Tesla app isn't cross-manufacturer compatible, or is it? Follow-up question is how do you rate the EVs at your household, any negatives of the particular brand/models you own?

I'm extremely keen to go full-in on electric rather than a hybrid, but perhaps that is a more sensible option currently until the charging network comes up to par and allowing me to live without anxiety of breaking down in the middle of nowhere and connecting the worlds longest extension lead. But then again, I'm not sure these are available through the Octopus scheme, believe that's only for full-EVs.
 
Yeah I suppose you're right with regards to the local infrastructure.

I guess that would be my biggest issue, when I leave the comforts of the local surroundings I'm usually out in the middle of nowhere hiking - you're lucky to find a mobile phone reception and a shred of civilisation so charging points are likely a lengthy stop at the nearest services on the way home for the ~120 mile journey back.

Okay, so even the apps aren't reliable which is a problem. Presuming you drive a Tesla and the Tesla app isn't cross-manufacturer compatible, or is it? Follow-up question is how do you rate the EVs at your household, any negatives of the particular brand/models you own?

I'm extremely keen to go full-in on electric rather than a hybrid, but perhaps that is a more sensible option currently until the charging network comes up to par and allowing me to live without anxiety of breaking down in the middle of nowhere and connecting the worlds longest extension lead. But then again, I'm not sure these are available through the Octopus scheme, believe that's only for full-EVs.
i dont own a tesla however there are a bunch of tesla places which have allowed other cars to charge ... and tesla supercharging is way cheaper than anyone else.

i would say the apps are "fairly" reliable but unless you pay a sub it is difficult to use them whilst you are driving if you are alone.

i own a jag ipace
love it, it is a great car imo but only an ok EV. (its charging is not the fastest, its range isnt the greatest and its efficiency is not amazing either....... but as a car like i said, i love it, and the prices of them at the moment are rock bottom.

(its range is still a worst ccase scenario of around 200 cold winter miles when limiting to 75mph on the motorway, closer to 260 miles in summer of mostly motorway driving so its fine for my needs)

my wife has a bmw i3 ....... for the money it is expensive, but i do like it, its defintiely not as "posh" as the ipace and it has a very firm suspension. I like it as it is a totally different driving experience to the ipace.
we have the middle battery option - 27kwh usable which in the -6 degree temps of a few weeks back would give 80 miles of mixed driving on a full charge, about 100 miles i suspect in warmer weather.

however we have the petrol range extender in it to give my wife piece of mind...... we only use it the minimal amount to keep the engine healthy at a guess we have used maybe 10 litres of petrol over the 1500 miles since buying. ....


the ipace i would buy again absolutely no doubt (esp at current prices - £26k for 3 year old HSE with 40k on the clock)

the i3 would definitely be a contender............ but if you are considering a plug in hybrid the mercedes A class plug in hybrid is pretty special as well imo - tho a little more expensive. we had an A class as a courtesy car and it really won me over.

Do get insurance quotes before you buy however!

final point before i move on and do some work................ i love owning an EV... being able to charge at home over night - and get stupid cheap electricity for the rest of the house at the same time is something else. unless something goes insane with insurance i hope to never buy a pure ice car again............ and i really hope by the time the wife needs to replace the i3 she is then confident enough to lose the training wheels of the range extender in her car too.

as said above my ipace is far from the most efficient EV out there but it probably costs about 1/4 of the price of my old 1.5 diesel nissan QQ in actual daily running costs but it is head and shoulders a far nicer car to drive, and giving it some welly (when safe to do so) never fails to put a smile on my 8 year old lads face - or mine for that matter ;)
 
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Map of charging hubs with 5 or more charge bays
Yes, I have used that before.
The issue I have is explained a little further down in another post, the availability of the chargers is sometimes the issue.
Even as an EV driver, quoting charge times is a great way to show it can be done quickly, but if I have to wait 20 mins for a charger to become available then it's a different kettle of fish.
 
Just had the booking in date for the I-Pace H441 battery issue (needs a new cell)...

for the 2nd April!! 6 months to get the part and do the repair... :cry:
 
Just had the booking in date for the I-Pace H441 battery issue (needs a new cell)...

for the 2nd April!! 6 months to get the part and do the repair... :cry:
so have you been limited to 75% state of charge for all that time? and - if you stick to the guidelines - you are not meant to leave the car in a garage or near built up areas iirc - which is kind of unworkable!.

on the bright side, if they can replace individual cells that does kind of negate the argument some EV naysayers claim about having to throw the whole battery away if there are any faults at any point.
 
so have you been limited to 75% state of charge for all that time? and - if you stick to the guidelines - you are not meant to leave the car in a garage or near built up areas iirc - which is kind of unworkable!.

on the bright side, if they can replace individual cells that does kind of negate the argument some EV naysayers claim about having to throw the whole battery away if there are any faults at any point.
Yep, 72% since late Sept but it's not been too big an issue, just results in more frequent charges at home

The fear is a few people have reported the same error occurs again, and after they fix the faulty cells another one gets flagged. Cue another long wait lol
 
Yep, 72% since late Sept but it's not been too big an issue, just results in more frequent charges at home

The fear is a few people have reported the same error occurs again, and after they fix the faulty cells another one gets flagged. Cue another long wait lol
that is a pita. one would have hoped that once they have the car battery exposed they would have been able to (and willing to) do an indepth analysis of each cell individually working out the health of each cell possibly much more accurately than the car can on its own. (of course i have no idea in reality how feasible this is, i just know as a customer, waiting 6 months for a safety repair is bad............. waiting 6 months then getting flagged again and having to do it all again is terrible!.

fingers crossed my car is behaving, i love it but i am constantly a little worried about it!.
 
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Yep, 72% since late Sept but it's not been too big an issue, just results in more frequent charges at home

The fear is a few people have reported the same error occurs again, and after they fix the faulty cells another one gets flagged. Cue another long wait lol
Yeah I'd seen an owner reporting a second faulty cell only evident after a long wait for the initial repair. Painful.
 
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