Electric car pulling a caravan
130 replies
ChocolateTrees replied on 04/07/2022 16:47
Posted on 04/07/2022 16:00 by MethevenMy daughters first full EV taxi was swapped in still working but with a 30% reduced battery range, and only after 150,000 miles in 2 years. Photo was taken a few years ago, and would probably equate to normal >10 years of ownership.
Not bad for a hard life.
Metheven replied on 04/07/2022 16:50
Posted on 04/07/2022 16:47 by ChocolateTreesHeadlights look like a Nissan Leaf 1st gen? Is that the case? If so - thats pretty good for an air cooled battery system!
ChocolateTrees replied on 04/07/2022 17:37
Posted on 04/07/2022 16:50 by MethevenYes they had Nissan leafs1st gen then 2nd, now moving over to MGs which I believe are water cooled.
Posted on 04/07/2022 17:37
Yes, the MG tech is well ahead of the older Leaf. Looked at the MG 5 at Goodwood. It’s a great car for the money! Not sure yet if it will be allowed to tow, but if it can it will make a great tow car for a medium sized van.
Also test drive the MG ZSEV at Fully charged live , again very impressed.
davetommo replied on 04/07/2022 19:18
Posted on 04/07/2022 14:51 by ChocolateTreesI think Boff's point was that pavement gullies are not new. They have been around for years for different purposes. Charging is just one more use case.
Overnight home charging is undeniably the cheapest option. But does not have to be the only way. As an EV driver, you can set up an agreement to use a neighbours charger through a facility like co-charger. Or you can just use public charging. For a positive story of a user who has been doing exactly that, have a look at https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKEVDrivers/permalink/7548962761841080/
Drawbacks of an EV -
- They can be expensive to buy. But they can also be very cheap depending on who you are and how you access one. This is a subjective, not objective issue.
- They have less range from full to empty than an ICE car. This is a subjective issue.19 days of out of 20, the journeys I do per day are shorter than the range of the car, and by the next day it has full range again.
- If I have to public charge, it costs more, but still less than petrol or diesel.
- If I don't have a drive, I cant charge from home. Maybe. Or maybe there is an option I can look at. It depends.
- They can only tow up to a limited weight. Just like any other car.
- If I want to tow a long way, I might have to unhitch to charge - yes, an actual real drawback. That has almost no impact on me at all...
- The public charging network is not perfect. It still needs to expand and add capacity. Fortunately, only about 1 in 20 days that I use the car do I need to use the public network, and even then its not terrible in my experience. Your experience may vary.
- The batteries will absolutely definitely be shot after three years. Only, my 5 year old PHEV had zero battery loss when I sold it, and it was under warranty for 8, and will more than likely be "fine" after 12 or 15. Same with my EV.
- It doesn't make a sound like a V8. Oh dear, what a pity, never mind.
If I missed any - feel free to call them out, and I will give you my opinion on being a drawback to me or not (with which you may disagree).
But at the end of the day, no one is being forced to drive an EV. Not now, not in 2030, not even in 2035. If someone doesn't want one, they can simply not get one.
If they think they might like one, but have heard there may be issues, or would like to ask how they work, I and a bunch of other EV owners and drivers will be more than happy to bore them to death with all the good stuff about EVs, and point out where they are not so good too.
ChocolateTrees replied on 04/07/2022 20:35
Posted on 04/07/2022 19:18 by davetommoI was under the impression that electric cables for safety reasons had to be burried a certain distance below ground, or if overhead a certain distance above ground.
Posted on 04/07/2022 20:35
I suppose to be accurate it’s not a cable, it’s a flex. I.e. it’s not a fixed permanent installation, but a temporary connection from the plug on the car to the socket on the end of the trailing lead. It’s the same as plugging in your vacuum to clean the inside of your car. Just a bit thicker cable and a bit more power.
Boff replied on 04/07/2022 20:39
Posted on 04/07/2022 20:39
I have always assume that electric charging cables are a potential trip hazard. I believe that some areas (Oxford?) have trialed pavement gulleys. I didn’t mention lamp post charges because I was worried it blow JVB66 mind
I filled the Touareg just less than half a tank just over 45litres and it only cost me £90 bargain.
Navigateur replied on 05/07/2022 10:38
Posted on 05/07/2022 10:38
Some of our older members may recall the arrangement used at petrol retailers in the past that were situated in town centres. A swiveling boom was attached to the wall of the premises and could be swung out over the pavement with the delivery hose dropping down from the end.
Seems an ideal arrangement for charging cables - if one can get one's battery car parked at the right spot.
brue replied on 05/07/2022 11:11
Posted on 05/07/2022 11:11
If the multiple charging stations get going charging will be much like filling a car with fuel, a different experience but possibly removing the worry that an ev has to be charged at home. We only top up our ev car at home, it rarely has a full charge, it's convenient yes but our motorhome has to go to a fuel court and in the future hopefully this will be the case for evs in situations where home chargers are not possible.
You probably don't worry that your ice vehicle is only a quarter full at home and you take it to your nearest fuel pump. Hopefully it will be the same with EVs. The next question will be is home charging cheaper...but then we all have different life styles and live in different places and have different spending needs.
At present towing with an ev is very cost effective regarding fuel.
ChocolateTrees replied on 05/07/2022 13:50
Posted on 05/07/2022 10:38 by NavigateurSome of our older members may recall the arrangement used at petrol retailers in the past that were situated in town centres. A swiveling boom was attached to the wall of the premises and could be swung out over the pavement with the delivery hose dropping down from the end.
Seems an ideal arrangement for charging cables - if one can get one's battery car parked at the right spot.
Posted on 05/07/2022 13:50
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JVB66 replied on 05/07/2022 14:19
Posted on 05/07/2022 13:50 by ChocolateTrees
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