EV Owners Thread

[Twizit]

Our 62-reg Kia Cee’d is on its way out…. Mrs Legs is making noises about possibly replacing it with a plug-in hybrid, since the majority of her mileage in it is relatively short commuting, and we want/need the safety net of being able to cover long distance in at least one of our cars (mine being a company car MG4 EV).

Does the panel have any experience and/or recommendations?

Have just changed previous petrol X3 for a plug in Lexus NX (basically a RAV 4 in a posh suit). Only had it 3 weeks but absolutely love it. Suits my needs very well. 40 mile round commute to new job which it will do on full electric. Hybrid mode for longer journeys (which yes I could have gone full electric on but for which I’m just not ready to do yet). Even with a 2.5 litre petrol engine it still did 50 mpg on a 500 mile weekend round trip. Has an 18KWH battery from which it always reserves 30% for hybrid mode (like a Prius), which means it will do 40-50 miles on EV only.

 

[Rusty Nails]

My in laws have a Rav 4 hybrid with 40 mile EV range.

Skoda Kodiaq has an advertised range 75 miles

Looking back I wish I had bought something like this instead of my ice Karoq last year. Would have met my concerns about the long holiday breaks I take in this country and at the same time covered the majority of my other journeys which are rarely more than 60 miles round trips.

I tend to keep my cars for around five years so plenty of time to consider my next choice...and for the charging infrastructure to improve out in the sticks.

 

[cougie uk]

Our 62-reg Kia Cee’d is on its way out…. Mrs Legs is making noises about possibly replacing it with a plug-in hybrid, since the majority of her mileage in it is relatively short commuting, and we want/need the safety net of being able to cover long distance in at least one of our cars (mine being a company car MG4 EV).

Does the panel have any experience and/or recommendations?

How long are long journeys for you ?

Kia Niro can go 300 miles without stopping for a charge. That's going to be a good 5 hours and most of us wouldn't do that without a comfort break.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmAS46zG7ys

 

[Legs]

How long are long journeys for you ?

Kia Niro can go 300 miles without stopping for a charge. That's going to be a good 5 hours and most of us wouldn't do that without a comfort break.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmAS46zG7ys

We semi-regularly travel from Uttoxeter to Newbury and back (260 mile round trip) to my parents, and more regularly Hull and back (240 miles) to Jo's. Neither of our sets of parents has a charger, so visiting for the weekend (which would often be done straight after work on a Friday, and therefore not from fully-charged) would really need to be done without charging. Having youngish children means that we'd really rather not spend longer than necessary on the road, faffing about at service stations. Even a 300-mile WLTP range doesn't give much headroom for doing things at the other end, and you can bet your bottom dollar that it couldn't do 300 in winter; my MG4 was getting nearly 300 when I first got it in September; now it's just managing 230.

 

[BrumJim]

Have you checked on Zap-map for any local chargers near both of those destinations?

Going to visit my cousin over Christmas, and use the charger at his local garden centre, otherwise I certainly wouldn't be able to go back home. For my Aunt and Uncle, I use a charger attached to a house in the next village. A bit of a faff, but means that I don't have to worry about parking there too long.

 

[cougie uk]

We semi-regularly travel from Uttoxeter to Newbury and back (260 mile round trip) to my parents, and more regularly Hull and back (240 miles) to Jo's. Neither of our sets of parents has a charger, so visiting for the weekend (which would often be done straight after work on a Friday, and therefore not from fully-charged) would really need to be done without charging. Having youngish children means that we'd really rather not spend longer than necessary on the road, faffing about at service stations. Even a 300-mile WLTP range doesn't give much headroom for doing things at the other end, and you can bet your bottom dollar that it couldn't do 300 in winter; my MG4 was getting nearly 300 when I first got it in September; now it's just managing 230.

By the time you stop and take the kids for a wee and back in the car you'd easily have added a good few miles. You don't need a charger at your destination - do they have a drive ? Granny plug overnight and you'll have a full battery.

 

[Beebo]

I set off last night for a 151 mile trip, mainly on motorway. It was windy but not too cold. 8c.
I had 204 miles of charge when I left, and arrived with just 25miles. So I lost 28 miles of range during the journey. Motorway driving at 70mph definitely eats power quicker. And the wind and cold won’t have helped.
So you definitely have to accept at least 10% loss of range.

 

[markemark]

I set off last night for a 151 mile trip, mainly on motorway. It was windy but not too cold. 8c.
I had 204 miles of charge when I left, and arrived with just 25miles. So I lost 28 miles of range during the journey. Motorway driving at 70mph definitely eats power quicker. And the wind and cold won’t have helped.
So you definitely have to accept at least 10% loss of range.

I seem to be the opposite. Most driving for me is city miles. When I sit doing 70 I get 10-20% more than the initial range. I suspect a large factor other than those you mention is the traffic volume and the amount of speed change.

 

[Jameshow]

We semi-regularly travel from Uttoxeter to Newbury and back (260 mile round trip) to my parents, and more regularly Hull and back (240 miles) to Jo's. Neither of our sets of parents has a charger, so visiting for the weekend (which would often be done straight after work on a Friday, and therefore not from fully-charged) would really need to be done without charging. Having youngish children means that we'd really rather not spend longer than necessary on the road, faffing about at service stations. Even a 300-mile WLTP range doesn't give much headroom for doing things at the other end, and you can bet your bottom dollar that it couldn't do 300 in winter; my MG4 was getting nearly 300 when I first got it in September; now it's just managing 230.

Can you not plug into 13 amp slow charger?

Gives you a slow charge overnight?

 

[Legs]

Can you not plug into 13 amp slow charger?

Gives you a slow charge overnight?

Limited off-road parking in Hull. 2kW charging is 15hrs to recharge a half-depleted battery, so wouldn't all be off-peak and could be expensive, depending on their lecky tariff (though no as expensive as dinosaur juice).

Would probably be okay at my parents'.

 

[Gunk]

Wet roads definitely make a difference to the range, far more drag

 

[BrumJim]

Had a stressful but successful weekend. Car charger I used last time I was down in Portsmouth (JustPark at a private house) was no longer available. No problem, as I could use a nearby country park, although inside a gated car park, so could only use during opening hours. And due to Storm Darragh it was closed on Saturday, so no chance of a charge. Arghh!!

Got a few extra kWh from the Granny charger where I was staying, and then found another JustPark near our destination, which got it up to 98%. Result! Needed a further stop on the way home, which coincided with supper, and got back with 6 miles left.

Going up to Bradford in the New Year. No chargers near the destination, and distance right on the edge of range if I drive carefully. So getting a hire vehicle.

 

[CXRAndy]

Limited off-road parking in Hull. 2kW charging is 15hrs to recharge a half-depleted battery, so wouldn't all be off-peak and could be expensive, depending on their lecky tariff (though no as expensive as dinosaur juice).

Would probably be okay at my parents'.

Most 3pin chargers are 3kW. Overnight or even day tariff is only going to be 25p/kW so slip them a few quid. 30kW is like £7.50 peak rate. Far cheaper than any supercharger

 

[CXRAndy]

Had a stressful but successful weekend. Car charger I used last time I was down in Portsmouth (JustPark at a private house) was no longer available. No problem, as I could use a nearby country park, although inside a gated car park, so could only use during opening hours. And due to Storm Darragh it was closed on Saturday, so no chance of a charge. Arghh!!

Got a few extra kWh from the Granny charger where I was staying, and then found another JustPark near our destination, which got it up to 98%. Result! Needed a further stop on the way home, which coincided with supper, and got back with 6 miles left.

Going up to Bradford in the New Year. No chargers near the destination, and distance right on the edge of range if I drive carefully. So getting a hire

vehicle.

Hey, where in Bradford, there are plenty of chargers in the Bradford area

Apart from the lawlessness in Bradford, it looks well catered for.

Cost of hire will outweigh a little inconvenience

 

[CXRAndy]

I set off last night for a 151 mile trip, mainly on motorway. It was windy but not too cold. 8c.
I had 204 miles of charge when I left, and arrived with just 25miles. So I lost 28 miles of range during the journey. Motorway driving at 70mph definitely eats power quicker. And the wind and cold won’t have helped.
So you definitely have to accept at least 10% loss of range.

8C is cold-ish. 70mph will eat range. 60-65mph seems to be optimum speed to extract best miles per kW on motorways