EV Owners Thread

[CXRAndy]

True, but with right EV, big trips are just as easy as with an ICE vehicle.

We have several EVs in the family, but when we have a weekend away or foreign trip we take my Model S with free supercharger usage. I also carry 35m extension cord to trickle charge from our destinations mains supply

 

[FishFright]

Good intentions are one thing….the practicality of managing a multi-hop 1,400km journey is fine when you’re retired, but rather high stress if you are on a tighter timeline 🤷‍♂️

Heck, we once did it overnight - can’t imagine that with an EV, nor the fact that en France we potter along at a steady 80 on the toll roads.

Similarly, we have moved our offspring through MANY moves (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Colchester, Essex, London)…..none of which would have fitted physically in our EV, & all of which would have taken longer (& been a fair bit less comfortable!). Fact!

But good luck. Of course these things are all possible with more time or multiple trips.

My simple point being that EVs are rarely the panacea for everyone’s needs 🤷‍♂️

But for the other 99% of the time ?

 

[Gunk]

Good intentions are one thing….the practicality of managing a multi-hop 1,400km journey is fine when you’re retired, but rather high stress if you are on a tighter timeline 🤷‍♂️

Heck, we once did it overnight - can’t imagine that with an EV, nor the fact that en France we potter along at a steady 80 on the toll roads.

Similarly, we have moved our offspring through MANY moves (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Colchester, Essex, London)…..none of which would have fitted physically in our EV, & all of which would have taken longer (& been a fair bit less comfortable!). Fact!

But good luck. Of course these things are all possible with more time or multiple trips.

My simple point being that EVs are rarely the panacea for everyone’s needs 🤷‍♂️

I live walking distance from a Europcar I find renting a van much easier for the university run

 

[icowden]

Whist walking the Dog earlier, an electric (or I think it was?) came past with a badge that looked like an exclamation mark
Something Chinese, I assume?

GWC Ora?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

GWC Ora?
View attachment 756878

That's the badge!!

 

[mikeIow]

True, but with right EV, big trips are just as easy as with an ICE vehicle.

We have several EVs in the family, but when we have a weekend away or foreign trip we take my Model S with free supercharger usage. I also carry 35m extension cord to trickle charge from our destinations mains supply

So you mean “with a big Tesla”?

Sorry, but for *cough* issues I have with their leadership, whist I could buy a Tesla, that won’t be an option for me….& even a Tesla would still require more stops & planning than we do with our XC60 🤷‍♂️

Oh, & you also mean “with a £30-40k recent EV”. The only Tesla we could get all our kit in might be a model X. What would that cost?!
My Volvo XC60 is over 10 years old, worth perhaps £10k. Not really apples v apples comparison?


As to the “for the other 99% of the time” - we do about 60-70% of our miles in our EV. We don’t leap in the Volvo when we don’t need to. So the answer is “for the other 60-70% of the time” @FishFright 😉

Sure, renting a van is an option for journeys, @Gunk. Indeed, our daughter moved within London this year and hired something which sorted her out (multiple runs, but not moving far)….but not everyone lives walking distance from a Europcar…..


Don’t get me wrong: we love our EV….but I can see they do not do everything for everyone. Not yet 👀
I thought this was the “EV thread”, not the “everyone should only ever drive an EV” thread 🤣

 

[mikeIow]

GWC Ora?
View attachment 756878

Darn sight more appealing than the ghastly BYD we tested recently….
Build Your Dreams spelled out in perspex below the rear window 🤮

 

[DRM]

Don’t get me wrong: we love our EV….but I can see they do not do everything for everyone. Not yet 👀
I thought this was the “EV thread”, not the “everyone should only ever drive an EV” thread 🤣

That was your first mistake

 

[chris-suffolk]

Probably covered in the previous 111 pages somewhere, but what are EV's like for towing boats and large caravans? My diesel, which normally gives me about 65mpg (and 750 mile range) on a long run, drops to about 45 (and 500 mile range) when towing our boat. What could I expect from an EV?

 

[DRM]

I’ve never owned nor driven an EV other than an FLT, but the type of traction motor used in both a car & FLT, should mean it will pull very well, and I would guesstimate a drop of range of about 20 to 25% less then being used solo, with a little bit more off if the the ambient temperature is very low, ie single to minus centigrade

 

[CXRAndy]

Probably covered in the previous 111 pages somewhere, but what are EV's like for towing boats and large caravans? My diesel, which normally gives me about 65mpg (and 750 mile range) on a long run, drops to about 45 (and 500 mile range) when towing our boat. What could I expect from an EV?

Terrible- half the range

 

[mikeIow]

Probably covered in the previous 111 pages somewhere, but what are EV's like for towing boats and large caravans? My diesel, which normally gives me about 65mpg (and 750 mile range) on a long run, drops to about 45 (and 500 mile range) when towing our boat. What could I expect from an EV?

Highly unsuited to towing, unless you go short distances, which is fairly rare, I would think.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/electric-cars/top-10-best-electric-cars-towing
“The effort and energy needed to tow often reduces the usable range to under 100 miles in many cases.”

Many smaller or cheaper ones may not even allow towing.
As I said above, “ I can see they do not do everything for everyone” 🤷‍♂️

 

[CXRAndy]

Isn't that the case for everything in life

you don't use a multi tool over a designed tool for specific job.

I wouldn't let a GP perform an operation when a surgeon is required

Use the best equipment or accept the deficiencies in the do most of it tool

 

[Jameshow]

Isn't that the case for everything in life

you don't use a multi tool over a designed tool for specific job.

I wouldn't let a GP perform an operation when a surgeon is required

Use the best equipment or accept the deficiencies in the do most of it tool

But if we are told we must go EV where does that leave caravaners, boaters, groundworkers, tree surgeons, horse riders, race car transport, mobile cafes etc etc.

 

[dicko]

But if we are told we must go EV where does that leave caravaners, boaters, groundworkers, tree surgeons, horse riders, race car transport, mobile cafes etc etc.

They just plucked a date out of thin air without thinking now this new lot decided to bring it forward without thinking 🤔