Electric Cars

Mrs LS was pushing a heavy shopping trolley up the slope of Morrisons car park this morning and a car immediately behind her blew it's horn. She nearly jumped out of her skin as she had no idea that it was there. I thought that when electric cars were in their infancy, there was talk of them having an artificial engine noise. It's happened to me twice when walking in the lane, as 2 of the neighbours have bought electric cars. I think that they're dangerous without a warning device, particularly for the dard of hearing.
You let your wife push heavy trolley up
Slope at Morrisons??
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
That's the crux of the matter right there. Battery has a longer range than normal day to day use for 99% of drivers, but they just need to realise that. For those exceptional days, the range is still longer than the bladder of most people and battery recharges are getting so fast that it's not much more delay than filling one whilst you empty the other.

on a Ionity charger, I can get 80% refill in 22 mins - that's a pee, wash hands and grab a bottle of water / pay etc - but the reality is that will rarely ever happen, it will recharge at home 99.9% of its life

I think its just fear of something different that scares people, I was very apprehensive of this before I actually got one, now the idea of filling up with petrol or diesel seems like a right pain!
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
on a Ionity charger, I can get 80% refill in 22 mins - that's a pee, wash hands and grab a bottle of water / pay etc - but the reality is that will rarely ever happen, it will recharge at home 99.9% of its life

I think its just fear of something different that scares people, I was very apprehensive of this before I actually got one, now the idea of filling up with petrol or diesel seems like a right pain!

I have a mate who does the opposite - has had EV for a few years now and only ever charges away from home and for free. His favourite is to take the dog to a free charge site, plug in the car and then go for a walk.
 
I am definitely not a member of the tree hugger brigade but I am all for reducing pollution to cut global warming ,has anyone looked long term at electric cars when batteries wear out as well as other moving parts
Will there be after market for reconditioning?
What is insurance cost for very expensive hybrids ?
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
I am definitely not a member of the tree hugger brigade but I am all for reducing pollution to cut global warming ,has anyone looked long term at electric cars when batteries wear out as well as other moving parts
Will there be after market for reconditioning?
What is insurance cost for very expensive hybrids ?

Most accounts suggest that batteries are lasting far longer than claimed - IIRC @teslacoils said his leaf was still very good at 8? years - let's face it engines don't last forever

There will be markets for used car batteries to buffer household solar etc and ultimately recycling

Right now I'm not sure it's actually a lot "greener" than oil but as electricity gets greener with more renewables and Nuclear it surely must be a better option? and it has to start somewhere
 

Y Fan Wen

Member
Location
N W Snowdonia

I watched a programme about this vehicle, the story of its development. following the build of one for a Birmingham driver. Very interesting, watching the chassis and body being glued together. Apparently it's stronger than welding or riveting!
 

Gong Farmer

Member
BASIS
Location
S E Glos
Son has a Leaf, has an artificial engine noise but you can switch it off. Still very quiet when on, and when off it just sounds like the car is rolling away with the handbrake left off.
He had it on three years lease but just bought it outright, batteries still have several years warranty.
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Leaf has 90k miles on. Battery is still good. Service every 15000 miles is c£200. New tyres. No other expenses. Bought for £14k with 7500 miles. Offered £10k for it as is. I'd like more range but it's good for wife's work run and shopping trips.
Servicing at £200 seems steep, what do they do? (2l diesel here costs similar)
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Servicing at £200 seems steep, what do they do? (2l diesel here costs similar)

I guess we have to think of these machines more as mobile software than a car - I suspect manufacture service is essential for updates, brakes, suspension, steering, etc still need service just like any car, all you really save is the oil and filter

That said my cars first service is scheduled at 20,000 miles
 

jpd

Member
Location
rep of irl
I passed a Tesla ‘driver’ on an Italian motorway who obviously wasn’t driving, as both his feet were poking out of the drivers side window and resting in front of the wing mirror.
If Tesla’s are ‘the future’, then the future is populated by morons.
bad news for ye son
they're already here
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I guess we have to think of these machines more as mobile software than a car - I suspect manufacture service is essential for updates, brakes, suspension, steering, etc still need service just like any car, all you really save is the oil and filter

That said my cars first service is scheduled at 20,000 miles
True but its oil and filters that actually cost the rest is just a look at, anything worn and need replacing is then extra, suppose the washer water will need a top up at £10!
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
I can drive on level roads at 50mph on the battery alone.

I done a 45 mile journey involving town, open driving and some hills and returned 50mpg. Wife drives like a slightly more mellow Stig Blomqvist most days and it’s average over 8000 miles is still 40mpg.

I remain to be convinced as yet, but getting there...

VW Polo will do 45mpg on real world mix driving, according to Fuelly... Prius about 55-60mpg so a fuel saving worth having.
 
I drive a BMW 330e which is rapid and great fun to drive . Battery range is circa 19 miles with several operational modes to choose from:
Electric only.
Battery Save (charges when on move and saves battery for urban driving) - sucks the juice though and you can feel the alternator taking load.
Auto - switches between Petrol and electric depending upon speed and throttle position.
It’s a company car so a real tax buster but the reality is that the hybrids are a bit of a con...

I would have a Tesla but annoyingly, they are much more expensive to service on contract hire and I suspect it’s to do with lease companies being wary of future RV and build this into the service element of the contract....
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
yes so i do i just assumed you needed a specific volt, amp.. etc to charge your battery, how else do they make money off of it? just charge more for the car and hope you need repairs?

You can charge it with a standard domestic socket, or can pay a bit extra to install a higher power one at home - maybe £500 or so - and be able to fill up the car quicker. For most folks travel patterns, that’s enough.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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