'Everyone I know who bought an electric car has gone back…’
Discussion
SWoll said:
So, just to clarify, you need to be able to drive for 6+ hours without stopping and then only have 15 minutes for a break before driving for another 6+ hours?
I have done this but this is not my common requirement or the point I am makingRight now I have 400 miles in my car ready to go. It doesn’t particularly matter where or when this 400 miles runs out because I can get another 400 miles pretty much whenever I need it and it takes less than five minutes
In an EV, with the current infrastructure, unless I am at home every night then I have to plan my journeys taking recharging into account. Depending on the exact EV, the charging available and the queue at the charging points, ad hoc recharging just isn’t yet a thing
This is planning that my ICE car does not require
Jaguar99 said:
Right now I have 400 miles in my car ready to go. It doesn’t particularly matter where or when this 400 miles runs out because I can get another 400 miles pretty much whenever I need it and it takes less than five minutes
The real revelation is actually realising none of us are that important we need to be able to drive 400 miles non stop, with no planning, on demand. I picked up my commuter vehicle from a service just now, its got a range of about 40 miles when am in commuter mode, but I barely use 50% of that in a normal work day. The Tesla is charged to 50% most days of the week.
If you really have a job/life that demands you need to travel 800 miles with a 5 minute break than no on demand than an EV isn't for you (and you have a much more important job than most of us on here). But for most families a 200 mile range car is more than enough.
gangzoom said:
The real revelation is actually realising none of us are that important we need to be able to drive 400 miles non stop, with no planning, on demand.
I picked up my commuter vehicle from a service just now, its got a range of about 40 miles when am in commuter mode, but I barely use 50% of that in a normal work day. The Tesla is charged to 50% most days of the week.
If you really have a job/life that demands you need to travel 800 miles with a 5 minute break than no on demand than an EV isn't for you (and you have a much more important job than most of us on here). But for most families a 200 mile range car is more than enough.
How about a hundred mile round trip when you have 50 miles of charge left and when you get on the motorway you find that the services are closed and you can't find anywhere to charge.I picked up my commuter vehicle from a service just now, its got a range of about 40 miles when am in commuter mode, but I barely use 50% of that in a normal work day. The Tesla is charged to 50% most days of the week.
If you really have a job/life that demands you need to travel 800 miles with a 5 minute break than no on demand than an EV isn't for you (and you have a much more important job than most of us on here). But for most families a 200 mile range car is more than enough.
That's the sort of ballache that needs sorting out.
JeffreyD said:
How about a hundred mile round trip when you have 50 miles of charge left and when you get on the motorway you find that the services are closed and you can't find anywhere to charge.
That's the sort of ballache that needs sorting out.
But why/would I need to do a 100 mile round trip with zero notice?That's the sort of ballache that needs sorting out.
I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
gangzoom said:
But why/would I need to do a 100 mile round trip with zero notice?
I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
Any number of reasons. Work or pleasure or family emergency. Or just because you fancied it.I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
As I have said I use and EV as my daily car, but until the infrastructure changes it's compromised.
JeffreyD said:
gangzoom said:
But why/would I need to do a 100 mile round trip with zero notice?
I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
Any number of reasons. Work or pleasure or family emergency. Or just because you fancied it.I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
As I have said I use and EV as my daily car, but until the infrastructure changes it's compromised.
In four years, the closest we have come was being rung at short notice by the Tesla service centre to say our car was ready. It was quite convenient as it was on the way to where my wife was heading, so she thought she'd drop off the loaner and continue on her way. Except they hadn't charged her car. She therefore had to stop to charge to make it to her destination. There were some time pressures so it was a stress she didn't need. But that was someone else's cock up happening once in four years.
AstonZagato said:
But that's like saying you need to own a van in case you have to (or feel like) transporting a wardrobe. Basing your car requirements on extreme edge cases is not sensible.
In four years, the closest we have come was being rung at short notice by the Tesla service centre to say our car was ready. It was quite convenient as it was on the way to where my wife was heading, so she thought she'd drop off the loaner and continue on her way. Except they hadn't charged her car. She therefore had to stop to charge to make it to her destination. There were some time pressures so it was a stress she didn't need. But that was someone else's cock up happening once in four years.
Having had an EV as a daily for the last couple of years I agree.In four years, the closest we have come was being rung at short notice by the Tesla service centre to say our car was ready. It was quite convenient as it was on the way to where my wife was heading, so she thought she'd drop off the loaner and continue on her way. Except they hadn't charged her car. She therefore had to stop to charge to make it to her destination. There were some time pressures so it was a stress she didn't need. But that was someone else's cock up happening once in four years.
However until things change we will always have a ICE as back up.
My criticism is more about the public charging network. As it stands it's s
te.gangzoom said:
But why/would I need to do a 100 mile round trip with zero notice?
I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
I did one yesterday - spur of the moment thing. "Let's go to Portsmouth" the fact that I didn't have enough petrol for a return journey didn't matter since I can get extra range in 5 minutes with little (no?) effort. I have no doubt at all that at some point in the next 10 I'll be in an electric car - if things improve, as one would hope that they will!I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
DodgyGeezer said:
gangzoom said:
But why/would I need to do a 100 mile round trip with zero notice?
I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
I did one yesterday - spur of the moment thing. "Let's go to Portsmouth" the fact that I didn't have enough petrol for a return journey didn't matter since I can get extra range in 5 minutes with little (no?) effort. I have no doubt at all that at some point in the next 10 I'll be in an electric car - if things improve, as one would hope that they will!I'm been quite serious, may be my life just isn't exciting or my job not demanding enough, but I cannot remember the last time I needed to do even a 100 mile round trip with no notice?
If I knew I had a long trip planned for the day I would simply charge the car to 90% every night instead of 50%.
Got caught out when in a rush to get somewhere having to queue at a petrol station far more often than the EV has every been a problem and needed charging publicly.
SWoll said:
That's why I keep our EV charged overnight every night. Get up every day to 250 miles of range or so and don't need to make a detour anywhere to fuel up within that range.
Got caught out when in a rush to get somewhere having to queue at a petrol station far more often than the EV has every been a problem and needed charging publicly.
I suppose that brings us round in a circle Got caught out when in a rush to get somewhere having to queue at a petrol station far more often than the EV has every been a problem and needed charging publicly.
Some people can't charge their vehicle at home.
DodgyGeezer said:
I did one yesterday - spur of the moment thing. "Let's go to Portsmouth"
JeffreyD said:
Any number of reasons. Work or pleasure or family emergency. Or just because you fancied it.
Gosh I wish I had the 'free time' some of guys seem to have to just head for a 2-3hr trip some where random for no reason. Looking at my week ahead between the school run, work commitments, trying to squeeze in some exercise to stop my self turning into a round ball after a week of eating, I can pretty much schedule every waking hour into Outlook!
Most if not all EV owners here drive one by choice not force, and most if not all I suspect value their 'free time' above all else.
In many ways not having to worry about filling up the car mid week is a massive time saver for me with the EV. I certainly wouldn’t waste money on anything that made my life harder, but the only thing that stops us going totally electric on the driveway is simply down to ££££.
If you really are desperate for random trips just keep the car charged at 90% - on a LR Model 3 that's 230 miles+ of range, surely enough for anyone for sudden unplanned trips?? Though am sure some on here will also need to tow a caravan at random times for 400 miles non stop.......all I can say is tell what jobs you are doing that is letting you have so much free time during the working week!
JeffreyD said:
SWoll said:
That's why I keep our EV charged overnight every night. Get up every day to 250 miles of range or so and don't need to make a detour anywhere to fuel up within that range.
Got caught out when in a rush to get somewhere having to queue at a petrol station far more often than the EV has every been a problem and needed charging publicly.
I suppose that brings us round in a circle Got caught out when in a rush to get somewhere having to queue at a petrol station far more often than the EV has every been a problem and needed charging publicly.
Some people can't charge their vehicle at home.
gangzoom said:
The real revelation is actually realising none of us are that important we need to be able to drive 400 miles non stop, with no planning, on demand.
I'm not but my uncle is (I'm next of kin and have medical power of attorney) , and when he collapsed and admitted to hospital 190 miles away I jumped in the ICE to get there as sonn as I could. After seeing him in hospital I then drove the 20 miles to his house, packed some over night things for him including his glasses and hearing aid so he could see and hear, drove back, then eventually I got to drive home.Lets hope you're never in the situation when you are further away from your daughter than the available range in your MX if she suddenly really needs you.
DodgyGeezer said:
I did one yesterday - spur of the moment thing. "Let's go to Portsmouth" the fact that I didn't have enough petrol for a return journey didn't matter since I can get extra range in 5 minutes with little (no?) effort. I have no doubt at all that at some point in the next 10 I'll be in an electric car - if things improve, as one would hope that they will!
I kind of did that yesterday. Day trip out so thought I’d see how I’d get on just charging when we stopped with dogs etc.15mins at M5S Gloucester. Parked and an etron pulled up seconds after but he carried on as said wasn’t desperate. Then ID3 arrived and was happy to wait 10 for CCS. First time I used ecotrocity so was surprised space free and it worked ~43kW as I understand they have throttled them to improve CCS handshake.
2nd row of images is Sedgemoor, ID3 this time had beat me to the CCS so grabbed AC for 19mins of 11kW.
RETURN trip. Tried Gloucester M5 N but an MX-30 was just unplugging and EQC hooking up for 40mins on the only CCS cable; so carried on to InstaVolt just off the motorway… at an empty Magnet carpark! Weird location really so pretty much calculated enough to get home after 15mins of charging and dogs walked, McDonald’s round corner available but didn’t like this experience really.
Then on way dropped by Strensham to see if I could get an Ecotricty triple in one day, charger connector battered and it wouldn’t connected as the plug wasn’t secure, 4 attempts and it only start charging once whilse I was holding the connector home…. Stopped when let go. Amusingly the same MX-30 driver was there and came over to have a chat aswell.
Bad traffic at Bristol but it’s kinda of less of a stress in an EV as the energy consumption improves if anything with the lower speed so less stress there.
Interesting day, busier on the roads and amount of EVs but not too bad taking the ABC logic, always be charging… or chatting, not sure which!
Started the day on 100% and added those charges just to top up. Dog/bladder only reason to stop on the way there. Then at Tamworth MOTO stopped to try new 120kW gridserve/ecotricity charger as on free vend. Only managed 65kW for the 13 mins I was there starting 8% but it’s only been in a few days.
Anyway just wanted to share experience of probably my first beyond a full battery day.
Edited by JonnyVTEC on Sunday 6th June 20:29
I did a 400 mile round trip after a day at the office a fortnight ago, where an EV would not have been recharged yet after returning home. travelling into the highlands there were no chargers, not that I had the time to wait for a charge of one due to the fault I had been called for. I wouldn't have been able to charge at the site I visited.
My useage is out of the ordinary, electric cars aren't for me (Yet). I don't complain they aren't for me as the technology will get there but there are those EV fans who just don't accept that currently they don't meet everyones usage needs,
My useage is out of the ordinary, electric cars aren't for me (Yet). I don't complain they aren't for me as the technology will get there but there are those EV fans who just don't accept that currently they don't meet everyones usage needs,
Heres Johnny said:
gangzoom said:
The real revelation is actually realising none of us are that important we need to be able to drive 400 miles non stop, with no planning, on demand.
I'm not but my uncle is (I'm next of kin and have medical power of attorney) , and when he collapsed and admitted to hospital 190 miles away I jumped in the ICE to get there as sonn as I could. After seeing him in hospital I then drove the 20 miles to his house, packed some over night things for him including his glasses and hearing aid so he could see and hear, drove back, then eventually I got to drive home.Lets hope you're never in the situation when you are further away from your daughter than the available range in your MX if she suddenly really needs you.
That's the issue, based on your argument there will always be a 'what if' scenario that will make EV's a problem until they can charge in the same timescale as ICE. Do people really base their decisions on such rationale?
SWoll said:
Heres Johnny said:
gangzoom said:
The real revelation is actually realising none of us are that important we need to be able to drive 400 miles non stop, with no planning, on demand.
I'm not but my uncle is (I'm next of kin and have medical power of attorney) , and when he collapsed and admitted to hospital 190 miles away I jumped in the ICE to get there as sonn as I could. After seeing him in hospital I then drove the 20 miles to his house, packed some over night things for him including his glasses and hearing aid so he could see and hear, drove back, then eventually I got to drive home.Lets hope you're never in the situation when you are further away from your daughter than the available range in your MX if she suddenly really needs you.
That's the issue, based on your argument there will always be a 'what if' scenario that will make EV's a problem until they can charge in the same timescale as ICE. Do people really base their decisions on such rationale?
When we dropped to EV only, we simply decided that if we can't fix a remote problem via the phone, and if we can't charge on the way, we will just get a taxi. Five years later that day has never come, so with the money we have saved by driving an EV for 5 years, when it does come we can simple get a HELICOPTER to the emergency and still be better off overall....... ;-)
Ironically, the ICE vehicles in my garage are always running on fumes while the EV is good to go for 500km at any time.JonnyVTEC said:
carried on to InstaVolt just off the motorway… at an empty Magnet carpark! Weird location really so pretty much calculated enough to get home after 15mins of charging and dogs walked, McDonald’s round corner available but didn’t like this experience really.
I used this charger just the other day.... was in Painswick and grabbed a quick top up. 
I simply can’t remember the last time I turned up a garage and the fuel pump refused to connect to my car to deliver the liquid motion lotion I needed. No stress delivery. Apart from the cost.
Would I go EV yet? Not quiet, they are pretty expensive still for the ones I’d actually desire to own. And the infra is immature and heading for an availability crunch. However, if I could have one, it would be to supplement an ICE car that I’d keep for fun. EV for the drudge, the commute, the shopping runs.
petrol sports car for fun (choice currently would be a Boxster S).
Would I go EV yet? Not quiet, they are pretty expensive still for the ones I’d actually desire to own. And the infra is immature and heading for an availability crunch. However, if I could have one, it would be to supplement an ICE car that I’d keep for fun. EV for the drudge, the commute, the shopping runs.
petrol sports car for fun (choice currently would be a Boxster S).
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