EV general discussion

My model 3 doesn’t have it but the smax does. I was actually very disappointed it didn’t have it as use it on the other car all the time and would have definitely specked it if possible. However tbh I haven’t missed it. Probably a combination of preheating, fairly well padded and the fake leather means it has never really felt cold to the touch
 
you can usually play the vents on your hands if you need to too;
never driven with gloves but touch screen wouldn't work (are most cars capacitative now)

avoiding petrol stations with coronavirus would be useful ... evoluttion will favour the ev drivers.
 
Alcantara and softer leather wheels just never feel cold anyway. If its fake leather or the more rigid stuff then yea.

Aluminium gearknob and handbrake though.. :\
 
Heated steering isn't a necessity - but its a lovely addition. I don't know if all the Leafs are the same, but the Tekna spec steering wheel is lovely - gets piping hot with a nice leather feel.

The only downside is it makes me hold onto the wheel like a granny - with a good firm 10 to 2 grip. :p
 
bimbleuk said:
Well I'm now fully committed to electric. My weekend toy for the last 10 years has been sold and that money will go towards my next EV.

My final switch was influenced by the "smart" tariffs being offered by a few energy suppliers. I'm now with Octopus and will start on their Go tariff. This should mean a 4 hour window each day to charge at 5p/kwh which will more than cover any daily travel needs.
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Updating my switch to Octopus Go as it could be another reason for people to consider the switch to an EV.

I started charging my Model 3 at 01:30am and set the charge limit to 70% so only 2 hours of charging required from 40%. Previously my meter display would report £1.18/hr @ 8kw charging and now it's showing £0.40/hr @ 8kw so a noticeable drop in charging cost. That equates to ~14.4 kwh of energy after loses or 55 miles of range on a mild winter day so lets call it 1.5p per mile. So for me that's £2.55 per week to drive to work and back (170 miles). To be fair I'm also currently pre-heating for 20-30 mins everyday so lets call it £3.00!
 
bimbleuk said:
So for me that's £2.55 per week to drive to work and back (170 miles).
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You could have almost bought 2 litres of 'real' mans fuel for that. :p

Granted you'd only get 20 miles on it, but still you'd have 'real' fuel not these stupid electrons.

EDIT: What is even worse is that 75% of those stupid electrons at that time of the day were produced with no blooming CO2 emissions tied to them, what an utter fool. Get a Hummer.
 
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Journey said:
You could have almost bought 2 litres of 'real' mans fuel for that. :p

Granted you'd only get 20 miles on it, but still you'd have 'real' fuel not these stupid electrons.
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My Brother has recently bought a PHEV, Its great, it was a good deal too! (Q7)

(Actually, not really a good deal at all, because he is well of enough to be able to afford the damn thing, poorer people are being taxed to pay him, via tax breaks and subsidies, to buy it! :( )

He stopped off at a motorway services to try a charge up and was staggered to find the they were charging 50p/KWhr!

If EV's are "Cheap" now, they will omly be for a very short time window. Government/utilities will still need to collect taxes, cover there costs, and make profits.

The infrastructure investment to make EV's work in practice will cost a Trillion pounds! Do not expect that, one way or another, we/you are all going eventually, not going to have to pay through the nose for all of it!
 
Orionaut said:
My Brother has recently bought a PHEV, Its great, it was a good deal too! (Q7)

(Actually, not really a good deal at all, because he is well of enough to be able to afford the damn thing, poorer people are being taxed to pay him, via tax breaks and subsidies, to buy it! :( )

He stopped off at a motorway services to try a charge up and was staggered to find the they were charging 50p/KWhr!

If EV's are "Cheap" now, they will omly be for a very short time window. Government/utilities will still need to collect taxes, cover there costs, and make profits.

The infrastructure investment to make EV's work in practice will cost a Trillion pounds! Do not expect that, one way or another, we/you are all going eventually, not going to have to pay through the nose for all of it!
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I do fear the 'golden age' of EVs is coming to an end. Too many people are now buying them.

Plus - good. If he's got a PHEV, then there should be no benefit to hogging a motorway charger with it. Charge at home by all means - but once beyond the electric range, use diesel.
 
Orionaut said:
My Brother has recently bought a PHEV, Its great, it was a good deal too! (Q7)

(Actually, not really a good deal at all, because he is well of enough to be able to afford the damn thing, poorer people are being taxed to pay him, via tax breaks and subsidies, to buy it! :( )

He stopped off at a motorway services to try a charge up and was staggered to find the they were charging 50p/KWhr!

If EV's are "Cheap" now, they will omly be for a very short time window. Government/utilities will still need to collect taxes, cover there costs, and make profits.

The infrastructure investment to make EV's work in practice will cost a Trillion pounds! Do not expect that, one way or another, we/you are all going eventually, not going to have to pay through the nose for all of it!
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I have a tap at home, costs me a few pennies for glass full of water.
If I am out and want to buy some water I have to buy for many times that cost, although there are some places to source for free.

Sounds like exactly the same situation as your cheap vs expensive electric to me.
 
Journey said:
You could have almost bought 2 litres of 'real' mans fuel for that. :p

Granted you'd only get 20 miles on it, but still you'd have 'real' fuel not these stupid electrons.

EDIT: What is even worse is that 75% of those stupid electrons at that time of the day were produced with no blooming CO2 emissions tied to them, what an utter fool. Get a Hummer.
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Sorry but my Man credentials are failing this week due to selling my 5.7L V8 RX7 of 10 years to fund further EV purchases!

I'm not ruling out an EV conversion of some sort in the future though.

PS The Octopus Agile tariff pays you to use those Pixie Particles early in the morning once or twice a month but I prefer the more predictable fixed 5p tariff.
 
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Mazda were reputedly going to put a small wankle in their hybrid (size, relative power - why?) .... but it sound like the rx7 had had, a heart transplant.
 
Nasher said:
Including insurance, deprecation, any finance or battery cover/rental?
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The electricity cost may not be so important to me, though why pay more if you don't have to. Could be a big factor in someone else making the decision to switch to an EV. Plus it's not limited to car charging as you can run any electrical device in that window and you pay 5p per kwh.
 
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jpaul said:
Mazda were reputedly going to put a small wankle in their hybrid (size, relative power - why?) .... but it sound like the rx7 had had, a heart transplant.
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I think the days of a wankle engine in a mainstream car are dead. It might suit a range extender though - small, light and with less moving parts. Plus as it would be only occasionally used, the emissions and fuel efficiency are of less significance.
 
They never managed to make it reliable enough :/

Also it was a 1.3 with the running costs of a V8 and drank oil like it was petrol. Might as well just use a inline 3 cylinder engine now.
 
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