1st Experience with Electric Car

[Lincsman]

It' still does not sit well with me they rushed out a statement that it started in a diesel car, sort of he protests too much.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

To be fair there's plenty on a car which melts burns and drips whether they are ICE or leccy.

And on a tractor. When next door's went up, topping, I couldn't believe how little was left.

 

[Muck Spreader]

 

[Robt]

Soon you won’t even need to stop for a coffee…..

 

[Lincsman]

Soon you won’t even need to stop for a coffee….. View attachment 1142714

That will be great in uk in 20 more years of climate change.

 

[JP1]

My guess: The range on the motorway is a long way off the range you achieve pootling about at 40. Petrol cars are no different, really. The 170 mile range you're seeing now is based on recent driving history, if you bimble about on local roads in coming days your car will start predicting more miles on a full charge.

I had a similar experience with the Tesla, not quite as dicey, admittedly, we got home with about 5% charge, but I burnt thru' the charge quicker than I expected to with the M11 pretty much to myself.

Frost this morning. My hybrid battery normally shows 44 miles range (based on previous driving style) after a charge overnight and gets me to the office 36 miles away - just. Frost today and range was 10 miles less....

 

[Hampton]

I’ve now run an Electric vehicle for a month and done 1400 miles in it.
I have a Mercedes EQB 350 4 matic which is a 7 seat 4 wheel drive suv similar in size to a Discovery sport (the car it’s replaced)
Here are my findings
1) the drive is superb, handling, acceleration etc is great. Reminds me of my old golf GTI.
2) it’s a great size vehicle and the family love it.
3) charging at home is very simple. Even though we didn’t get the charger installed for the first fortnight and had to use a 3 pin plug, it was an easy situation. Easier than filling the Navara up with diesel from the farm tank.
4) range. It’s 250 miles but real world 220. Mainly because we have to go over the clee hill Each day. Was noticeable that range also reduced when I put heater on this morning.
The fact is, that when it’s fully charged, it’s like driving the Disco on 3/4 tank of diesel.

Once an average EV gets a 400 mile range, buyers would only see benefits from owning an EV, no negatives.
We are currently trying to decide whether to take the Merc to the Alps next March as it is such a nice vehicle to drive and ride in, however, it will take some planning. With kids in the car though, anymore than 200 miles without a break is too much and it’s very difficult to get in and out of services in under 45 mins with kids in tow.
anyone else tried it?

 

[sjt01]

I’ve now run an Electric vehicle for a month and done 1400 miles in it.
I have a Mercedes EQB 350 4 matic which is a 7 seat 4 wheel drive suv similar in size to a Discovery sport (the car it’s replaced)
Here are my findings
1) the drive is superb, handling, acceleration etc is great. Reminds me of my old golf GTI.
2) it’s a great size vehicle and the family love it.
3) charging at home is very simple. Even though we didn’t get the charger installed for the first fortnight and had to use a 3 pin plug, it was an easy situation. Easier than filling the Navara up with diesel from the farm tank.
4) range. It’s 250 miles but real world 220. Mainly because we have to go over the clee hill Each day. Was noticeable that range also reduced when I put heater on this morning.
The fact is, that when it’s fully charged, it’s like driving the Disco on 3/4 tank of diesel.

Once an average EV gets a 400 mile range, buyers would only see benefits from owning an EV, no negatives.
We are currently trying to decide whether to take the Merc to the Alps next March as it is such a nice vehicle to drive and ride in, however, it will take some planning. With kids in the car though, anymore than 200 miles without a break is too much and it’s very difficult to get in and out of services in under 45 mins with kids in tow.
anyone else tried it?

We have done the Dolomites a couple of times in our Tesla over the years, a snip with the Tesla infrastructure. I would recommend A Better Routeplanner to plan the journey https://abetterrouteplanner.com/

 

[Clive]

I’ve now run an Electric vehicle for a month and done 1400 miles in it.
I have a Mercedes EQB 350 4 matic which is a 7 seat 4 wheel drive suv similar in size to a Discovery sport (the car it’s replaced)
Here are my findings
1) the drive is superb, handling, acceleration etc is great. Reminds me of my old golf GTI.
2) it’s a great size vehicle and the family love it.
3) charging at home is very simple. Even though we didn’t get the charger installed for the first fortnight and had to use a 3 pin plug, it was an easy situation. Easier than filling the Navara up with diesel from the farm tank.
4) range. It’s 250 miles but real world 220. Mainly because we have to go over the clee hill Each day. Was noticeable that range also reduced when I put heater on this morning.
The fact is, that when it’s fully charged, it’s like driving the Disco on 3/4 tank of diesel.

Once an average EV gets a 400 mile range, buyers would only see benefits from owning an EV, no negatives.
We are currently trying to decide whether to take the Merc to the Alps next March as it is such a nice vehicle to drive and ride in, however, it will take some planning. With kids in the car though, anymore than 200 miles without a break is too much and it’s very difficult to get in and out of services in under 45 mins with kids in tow.
anyone else tried it?

reality of ownership is not bad is it !

I didn’t do the alps in ours but mostly because of space for ski gear and having something more capable in snow but i wouldn’t worry about charging in europe as its better than in the uk from what i’ve seen

 

[Fogg]

Once an average EV gets a 400 mile range, buyers would only see benefits from owning an EV, no negatives.

I get the point, the more range the better, but I honestly don't see why required range needs to be that high for pretty much anyone. 250 miles is as much as anyone needs, I reckon. Who regularly does more miles than that in one go without needing to stretch their legs or grab a coffee?

If you have a driveway and a home charger then keeping topped up just becomes routine.

We gave the Model 3 its first longish run at the weekend, going from Cambs to Lancaster and back, 450 mile round trip, and managed to charge on stops we were ready to make anyway. I'm going to start filling my flask with home brew latte, I'm finding I'm saving a fortune on fuel, but the savings are getting spent in Starbucks!

 

[kiwi pom]

I get the point, the more range the better, but I honestly don't see why required range needs to be that high for pretty much anyone. 250 miles is as much as anyone needs, I reckon. Who regularly does more miles than that in one go without needing to stretch their legs or grab a coffee?

If you have a driveway and a home charger then keeping topped up just becomes routine.

We gave the Model 3 its first longish run at the weekend, going from Cambs to Lancaster and back, 450 mile round trip, and managed to charge on stops we were ready to make anyway. I'm going to start filling my flask with home brew latte, I'm finding I'm saving a fortune on fuel, but the savings are getting spent in Starbucks!

Range for most people most of the time not a factor, price, home charging and off-street parking will be a bigger deal for the masses, but again TFF ownership isn't really typical I don't think.

There's been a sizable rebate on EV's here for a while now, which certainly seems to have made a big difference to sales, it's only for the "cheaper" cars under 80K NZD or roughly 40 thousand pounds. Talking to an MG dealer the other day, he says it's really boosted sales, but he said if National win the election (they did) it would be scrapped.
Time will tell

 

[Lincsman]

K

I get the point, the more range the better, but I honestly don't see why required range needs to be that high for pretty much anyone. 250 miles is as much as anyone needs, I reckon. Who regularly does more miles than that in one go without needing to stretch their legs or grab a coffee?

If you have a driveway and a home charger then keeping topped up just becomes routine.

We gave the Model 3 its first longish run at the weekend, going from Cambs to Lancaster and back, 450 mile round trip, and managed to charge on stops we were ready to make anyway. I'm going to start filling my flask with home brew latte, I'm finding I'm saving a fortune on fuel, but the savings are getting spent in Starbucks!

Car range requirements have not changed in 20 years, but petrol cars have always been around 450 miles, makers would have saved a fortune reducing tank size to 200 miles. If any had they would have been slated by every car reviewer despite a 1 min refill time.

 

[chickens and wheat]

Yes but with ev home charging you can start everyday with a full 'tank'.
As opposed to our previous cars , the wife never refueled, so it seemed I had to call in at afuel station everytine I drove it

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

K

Car range requirements have not changed in 20 years, but petrol cars have always been around 450 miles, makers would have saved a fortune reducing tank size to 200 miles. If any had they would have been slated by every car reviewer despite a 1 min refill time.

I've owned many vehicles that couldn't do over 300 miles on a tank.

My 1981 mini barely did 250 and our 1972 series 3 landrover only did 200 (barely 100 towing a loaded cattle float).

 

[Lincsman]

I've owned many vehicles that couldn't do over 300 miles on a tank.

My 1981 mini barely did 250 and our 1972 series 3 landrover only did 200 (barely 100 towing a loaded cattle float).

My old smax at 600 miles would have you panicking about the gauge sender working then!

 

[Hampton]

reality of ownership is not bad is it !

I didn’t do the alps in ours but mostly because of space for ski gear and having something more capable in snow but i wouldn’t worry about charging in europe as its better than in the uk from what i’ve seen

Ours is quite a big car and with the skis on the roof and a 13 and 10 year old in the back, it could be quite a pleasant journey.
Things to consider are not using the car to charge devices, get charge packs and charge them before hand to prevent them using the juice.
And obvs weight reduces range.
We have more time than normal (due to Easter not half term so less rush

 

[Clive]

Ours is quite a big car and with the skis on the roof and a 13 and 10 year old in the back, it could be quite a pleasant journey.
Things to consider are not using the car to charge devices, get charge packs and charge them before hand to prevent them using the juice.
And obvs weight reduces range.
We have more time than normal (due to Easter not half term so less rush

For me the alps would be easy enough in our EV - it's just a bit tight for 4 of us and all the ski kit / boards etc and big fat tyres not ideal in the snow !

I can get from home to tunnel easy and there are fast chargers at the tunnel (flexi plus) or ionity at the shell just before entry

I could then easy get to Dijon where the hotel we often stay at has chargers that will fill me up while I eat and enjoy the wine over night. That would get me to the mountains where I could charges at chalet

so no additional stopping, in fact possibly less stops that I do in a ICE ?

 

[Hampton]

For me the alps would be easy enough in our EV - it's just a bit tight for 4 of us and all the ski kit / boards etc and big fat tyres not ideal in the snow !

I can get from home to tunnel easy and there are fast chargers at the tunnel (flexi plus) or ionity at the shell just before entry

I could then easy get to Dijon where the hotel we often stay at has chargers that will fill me up while I eat and enjoy the wine over night. That would get me to the mountains where I could charges at chalet

so no additional stopping, in fact possibly less stops that I do in a ICE ?

I know you’re going to say it’s worth it (and it was, we’ve always done flexi plus) but the premium for flexi plus now is approaching £400 over standard tickets for the week we are going!!!

edit:
Sorry, my mistake. If we put skis on roof it’s a lot more money as you have to go freight.
If we put them in the car for tunnel we can travel in double deck train and it’s a lot cheaper.
Had never realised that before as we could get everything inside the Navara/discovery sport

 

[Clive]

I know you’re going to say it’s worth it (and it was, we’ve always done flexi plus) but the premium for flexi plus now is approaching £400 over standard tickets for the week we are going!!!

I know, its getting silly now / they are taking the pee

it makes things much easier / more relaxed etc but they are certainly very expensive macarons !!

it helps if it's on expenses !

 

[Lincsman]

Just googled flexy plus, we must have gone at a low demand time last July as we drove from here in lincs straight to car park, where you queue, quick wee in the car park toilet and on the train within 15 mins of arrival.
Just for balance one refill of diesel got us to the Mediterranean, about 950 miles
As for train type we went double Decker but came home freight single Decker!