Electric cars

[dsr-burnley]

30 minutes ago, peach0000 said:

I'm pretty sure that you can get home chargers that can output a lot higher that a three pin socket as well. Obviously not supercharger levels but enough to charge your car in about 9-12 hours fully. As you say the electric bill goes up but it only costs around 15 pounds to fully charge and car from what I gather. 

Though of course the electric bill includes only 5% tax while the petrol bill includes about 70% tax.  The base cost of the fuel isn't all that different.  When the government starts losing large scale tax revenues from petrol, they will surely start taxing electric cars much more heavily.  That's a medium-to-long term problem, though, not something that need be overly worrying if buying an electric car now.

Edited 21 February 2021 by dsr-burnley

[WigstonWanderer]

41 minutes ago, peach0000 said:

I'm pretty sure that you can get home chargers that can output a lot higher that a three pin socket as well. Obviously not supercharger levels but enough to charge your car in about 9-12 hours fully. As you say the electric bill goes up but it only costs around 15 pounds to fully charge and car from what I gather. 

Upgrading to 3 phase power (about $200 typically where I am) should allow you to draw much more current from the grid for a fast charger and dedicated socket.

 

Interesting. Never stopped to consider the numbers before.

[WigstonWanderer]

18 minutes ago, dsr-burnley said:

Though of course the electric bill includes only 5% tax while the petrol bill includes about 70% tax.  The base cost of the fuel isn't all that different.  When the government starts losing large scale tax revenues from petrol, they will surely start taxing electric cars much more heavily.  That's a medium-to-long term problem, though, not something that need be overly worrying if buying an electric car now.

Or just slap more taxes on the use of dirty fossil fuel usage. Governments need to stop subsidising fossil fuels and actively discourage their use by taxing them to pay for mitigation of the environmental damage, particularly if there is an economically viable green alternative. Certainly applies here in Aus, not so sure if it applies so much in the UK. There seems to be much more environmental awareness in the UK.

Edited 21 February 2021 by WigstonWanderer

[dsr-burnley]

24 minutes ago, WigstonWanderer said:

Or just slap more taxes on the use of dirty fossil fuel usage. Governments need to stop subsidising fossil fuels and actively discourage their use by taxing them to pay for mitigation of the environmental damage, particularly if there is an economically viable green alternative. Certainly applies here in Aus, not so sure if it applies so much in the UK. There seems to be much more environmental awareness in the UK.

If fossil fuel cars are banned, taxing them more heavily won't raise any money.

 

And the UK government doesn't, by and large, subsidise fossil fuels.  Not unless you accept the absurd argument that imposing 5% VAT on domestic electricity constitutes a subsidy.

[peach0000]

33 minutes ago, WigstonWanderer said:

Upgrading to 3 phase power (about $200 typically where I am) should allow you to draw much more current from the grid for a fast charger and dedicated socket.

 

Interesting. Never stopped to consider the numbers before.

Not sure if it still happens but certainly at one point if you bought an electric car in the UK the govt would instal one for free. I have a feeling that ended a few years ago but it's something that should come back if they want mass adoption. The savings on fuel and road tax really are an incentive for me already though. 

[tom27111]

25 minutes ago, peach0000 said:

Not sure if it still happens but certainly at one point if you bought an electric car in the UK the govt would instal one for free. I have a feeling that ended a few years ago but it's something that should come back if they want mass adoption. The savings on fuel and road tax really are an incentive for me already though. 

Buy a diesel car registered before April 2017, the tax will be minimal 

 

This country really had no idea and it's laughable.

[peach0000]

5 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

Buy a diesel car registered before April 2017, the tax will be minimal 

 

This country really had no idea and it's laughable.

Yeah I'm paying 30 pounds a year on a heavily polluting diesel at the moment. What I should say is it's an incentive when buying a new car 

[tom27111]

1 minute ago, peach0000 said:

Yeah I'm paying 30 pounds a year on a heavily polluting diesel at the moment. What I should say is it's an incentive when buying a new car 

When I was selling cars and customers were debating over 2 cars..."mate, it's 6 months older, but you'll pay 30 quid a year tax on that".

 

They though I was lying 

 

VW Polo GTI 1.8 petrol = £145 a year road tax

 

BMW 420d 2.0 diesel = £30 a year road tax

 

Just...how? 

 

 

[tom27111]

8 minutes ago, peach0000 said:

Yeah I'm paying 30 pounds a year on a heavily polluting diesel at the moment. What I should say is it's an incentive when buying a new car 

 

I drive a 2016 2 litre BMW. I pay £20 road tax a year.

 

The funniest thing was when the DVLA website asked me if I wanted to set up a Direct Debit and pay monthly 🤣

[peach0000]

1 minute ago, tom27111 said:

 

I drive a 2016 2 litre BMW. I pay £20 road tax a year.

 

The funniest thing was when the DVLA website asked me if I wanted to set up a Direct Debit and pay monthly 🤣

I went from a 0.9l petrol Corsa which I paid 130 a year on to a 2L Alfa which I pay 30. Whoever maid those decisions need to look at themselves 

[MPH]

1 hour ago, WigstonWanderer said:

Or just slap more taxes on the use of dirty fossil fuel usage. Governments need to stop subsidising fossil fuels and actively discourage their use by taxing them to pay for mitigation of the environmental damage, particularly if there is an economically viable green alternative. Certainly applies here in Aus, not so sure if it applies so much in the UK. There seems to be much more environmental awareness in the UK.

Crikey. I think 70% is high enough personally.

[WigstonWanderer]

6 hours ago, dsr-burnley said:

If fossil fuel cars are banned, taxing them more heavily won't raise any money.

 

And the UK government doesn't, by and large, subsidise fossil fuels.  Not unless you accept the absurd argument that imposing 5% VAT on domestic electricity constitutes a subsidy.

Yes, obviously but I wasn’t really talking about cars I was talking more generally. But fair enough, as I acknowledged in my post, the UK seems much more environmentally aware than here in Aus where fossil fuels are a protected species.

Edited 22 February 2021 by WigstonWanderer

[peach0000]

Anyone had a look at the Ford Mustang Mach-E. That looks amazing, practical and has a decent range. Also cheap in comparison to the Model X and 3 and the I-Pace.

[Sly]

12 minutes ago, peach0000 said:

Anyone had a look at the Ford Mustang Mach-E. That looks amazing, practical and has a decent range. Also cheap in comparison to the Model X and 3 and the I-Pace.

They were on my company car list. 
 

Normally I’d go and have a look, however just decided to stick with what I know (Covid and all).
 

Opted for a BMW 330E to save on money. The benefit in kind worked out so much better compared to the 420D. 
 

Plus it makes me feel better, knowing I’m not killing the ozone with my tractor! 

Edited 28 February 2021 by Sly

[SpacedX]

6 minutes ago, Sly said:

Plus it makes me feel better, knowing I’m not killing the ozone with my tractor! 

Although combustion engines can cumulatively have an effect upon the ozone layer, chiefly through the release of nitrous oxide which destroys O3 molecules, VOCs, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide combined with sunlight actually creates dangerous levels of ground-level ozone. Of course the promotion of diesel engines was governed by the fact that they were less harmful to the environment and produced less in the way of carbon emissions than petrol engines - that is, until the realisation of the health hazard posed by fine particulate matter. Diesel engines are far more efficient than petrol engines at converting fuel to mechanical energy with 20% more thermal efficiency than a petrol engine. This directly equates to a 20% increase in fuel economy. Despite the dangers of ultrafine particles behind the government anti-diesel rhetoric, the sector could have possibly 'engineered' itself out of extinction - not least due to the effectiveness of filtration. 

 

Saying that, I'd never own one again. Since naturally aspirated diesel engines are gutless and therefore virtually defunct, obviously they need to be turbocharged. Of the four diesel motors I've owned, without exception each one has experienced the same problems with mileage. Because the turbo compresses and essentially recycles air from the exhaust gases the soot build up jams the vane/actuator in the waste gate or blocks the hose resulting in overboost and the ECU light coming on. Every bloody time. You then have to remove the turbo and de-coke it. There's too much complexity and fine balance/tolerance involved in the way diesel engines need to be set up for my liking.

 

Have to confess to hypocrisy here; I'm fervent about renewables and greener alternatives, a veritable tree hugger and strongly advocate awareness about climate change but at the same time commute long distances in the car (which is why I despise driving) and am at heart a complete petrol head. The latter comes from a lifetime of being on two wheels as opposed to four - even worse, historically many of them two strokes for off road and dirt. I currently own two motorcycles and couldn't conceive or countenance riding electric.  

[yorkie1999]

On 21/02/2021 at 22:53, peach0000 said:

I'm pretty sure that you can get home chargers that can output a lot higher that a three pin socket as well. Obviously not supercharger levels but enough to charge your car in about 9-12 hours fully. As you say the electric bill goes up but it only costs around 15 pounds to fully charge and car from what I gather. 

You can but to have one fitted requires a new feed to your house if you live in a terrace or a semi.

[Sly]

6 minutes ago, yorkie1999 said:

You can but to have one fitted requires a new feed to your house if you live in a terrace or a semi.

You can, I’m getting a £300 Government grant to fit mine, so it’s only £400 odd. 

[Bellend Sebastian]

I'm always moaning about twats that sit in their parked cars with their (especially diesel) engines running, but a new level of incredulity was unlocked last night when I had to take one of my kids to A&E yesterday, and there were taxis doing that right outside the entrance, and cars parked up in that little car park across the way doing the same.

 

I can only assume that people just don't realise how bad this is; I find it hard to believe that folk are genuinely relaxed about poisoning the air directly outside a hospital.

 

I'd like to force electric cars on them, and ideally really crap ones with very short ranges

[yorkie1999]

1 hour ago, Sly said:

You can, I’m getting a £300 Government grant to fit mine, so it’s only £400 odd. 

I was just going of what a bloke down my street told me after he had to have his drive and the pathway dug up to fit new cable

[Sly]

7 hours ago, yorkie1999 said:

I was just going of what a bloke down my street told me after he had to have his drive and the pathway dug up to fit new cable

Ouch! 

[yorkie1999]

18 minutes ago, Sly said:

Ouch! 

Nah, his firm paid for it.

[Milo]

13 hours ago, peach0000 said:

Anyone had a look at the Ford Mustang Mach-E. That looks amazing, practical and has a decent range. Also cheap in comparison to the Model X and 3 and the I-Pace.

Just looked at the reviews - looks decent.

 

I tried to have a look at the Volvo XC40 Recharge on Saturday at a couple of local dealers. I just wanted to see the size of it, but none of them had any in and suggested I just buy it online...!!

 

Might hold off until I see these in the dealerships. Possibly a bit coupe-ish for me. 
 

 

[peach0000]

18 minutes ago, Milo said:

Just looked at the reviews - looks decent.

 

I tried to have a look at the Volvo XC40 Recharge on Saturday at a couple of local dealers. I just wanted to see the size of it, but none of them had any in and suggested I just buy it online...!!

 

Might hold off until I see these in the dealerships. Possibly a bit coupe-ish for me. 
 

 

I get that entirely. If you're buying something that expensive you want to see it, drive it and then think about it before buying. I think it's wise to wait. 

 

That being said if I was to buy an electric SUV tomorrow I think the Mustang would be it. But I tend to make decisions like this using purely my heart not my mind