lol-lol

The Public charging providers have been quite open about their costs ie the very high capital cost of the equipment, grid connection costs and lastly the electricity cost and of course the VAT at 20 %. What I think most public charge providers have been rubbish at is offering cheaper rates when electricity is cheaper like we have at home. I would like to see the combination of cheaper periods to charge, like 20p kwh as we have at home plus the 15% less of the VAT which should take about 30p per kwh on charging at certain times.

Good to hear the specs and actual F1 cars coming out and electric power being equal to ICE power ie with 350 kws coming from either ie total of 940 hp in a lighter and smaller car. Not quite sure how the boost / overtake feature works ie allows the electric side to go to near 400 kw ? I don't whether we have upped our sponsorship for Ferrari but our logo looks much bigger than last season's car. Test coming up soon so we will get an idea how they go. We will see the new Gen4 Formula-e at the end of this year and see how they compare !

If the 6p a litre rise on diesel, and petrol, does happen on September first, £5 a tankful or thereabouts, and EV charging drops by a similar amount per charge up due to the removal or eco costs on electricity the running cost gulf will be even larger. EVs are falling in buy price as the price of new EVs fall quickly as the power train cost ie particularly the batteries, is falling so quickly which has a big effect on the second hand market values naturally. Add to this EVs are increasingly getting more range, incredible performance the difference to ICE is just getting bigger. Whilst choice is something we pride ourselves with in the Western world the death of diesel car sales seems to be inevitable looking at uk SMMT data and how long the second hand diesels command value will depend on those running cost difference as well availability of diesel. The UK does not even produce half the diesel currently needed so it has to be imported. It is the very quick migration of goods transport vehicles from diesel to electric that will see diesel rapidly become a fuel not required much and unecomical for fuel retailers to sell. My company's move, and all others logistics companies transition from diesel to electric trucks and vans is moving at a blistering pace.

Just about to take out a service plan for the R5, it will be £9.99 a month for 3 year period by local Renault going to give me £36 back as they should have rolled it in with the buying process at 8.99 a month. Did not get organised on the Scenic so that is going to cost me nearly twice as much. Been in the upper 3s miles per kwh. Had a worst trip last Sunday, mainly motorway back and forth to Liverpool so needed to charge on way back on the M6. Gridserve and 89p per kwh. Just put in 18 kwh and charged at nearly 100 kws. So cost me £15 something and was there just over 10 minutes. Been fine with the smaller batteried Scenic as only charge about 5 times in a year and therefore only spent around £100, if that. Garages are not going to stock diesel once the sales dwindle below an economic point when they would ve better off having the pump dispense petrol or make way for EV charging points.

Had a lovely run in the Scenic EV from Worcester up to the stunning Betsw y Coed in Snowdonia yesterday. 225 miles in cool and rainy conditions and my Scenic is the nominal 60 kwh battery rather than the 90 kwh one. Got to Snowdonia with half the battery used. What i learnt on my drive to Felixstowe in mid 2025 is there is quite a lower buffer in the Scenic with ut going 11 miles past 0% state of charge before even the restricted performance warning came up on the dash. So again I hit 0% SOC miles before getting to Worcester. Did not heed that warning and did several miles with 0% SOC showing. Did not think the Google Maps were that clever as it advised me to do a good couple of miles further than I needed to. So fuel cost less than a fiver. Was with a couple of Land Rover enthusiasts, one was local the other from Liverpool. Probably cost the traveller from Liverpool 4 times the cost for half the distance. We also talked about servicing. One major service fir the Discovery was about the same a 3 years od servicing for the Scenic. Different worlds. In 7 months time the cost of a fill up is due to rise by about a fiver for them plus it is looking like less garages are going to even stock diesel over the next 4 years. Big changes ahead.

Dacia, Renault sub division, seem to be going great guns, whether the UK will get all the models is another thing. I hope people don't get sucked in to the hybrid thing. Our Clio hybrid was OK for most of the 2 year PCP but when they go wrong they can go wrong big time. I like the Hipster thing and I think there is going to be a Dacia version of the Twingo to. Even the revised Spring has had so much upgrades like roll bar, power. Seats were dreadful, bad enough to steer me away from getting one so went for base model R5. Estate could grab some more market for Dacia. Had a Daicia Logan estate about a decade OK, not too bad. It was £10k and then I got £1k back when I trader it back in. The 0.9 l engine was a bit over worked, blew the gearbox up, did get 115 out of it though, great value car. Would expect the Dacia estate to be more like 25K but deposit might be 40% as new Renault CEO is a different kind of guy to the previous one plus even though interest rates are lower the Dacia loan rates were not that great.

Summary of UK EV sales for 2025. Not quite the half million car target but pretty close. Tesla did well, so did Audi and the Ford (really a VW) also and the two Skoda EVs too. Renault not quite on the radar as they managed just under 20k EV sales split across the 4,5, Megane and Scenic but a big increase over last year. Some buyers have orders in for the Renault 5 and 4 + versions as they want to get the bigger £3,750 UK grant version and they are not due for a few weeks yet as the discount only applies to the models getting the locally made battery packs rather than those using the LG Chem made in Korean batteries.....

Congratulation to Mercedes for winning European Car of the Year 2026. The 60 publications vote across the 7 finalists and the all electric Mercedes CLA took the win. Personally not a fan of its styling but I suspect it is the product of much wind tunnel work as the car has a real work range of over 400 miles at motorway driving speed and base model is under £46k so does not get hit with Expensive car supplementary tax. CAR MagazineThis year's European Car of the Year is by a brand that h...This is your 2026 European Car of the Year - the Mercedes CLA

Send the apprentice out for some Sky Hooks. A spare spirit level bubble and a golden rivet whilst there at it. If I could put one of my 2 axis solar arrays in the front garden that could multi task but neighbours might not be happy and if the rate of cable theft continues then scum would probably nick the cable and the cable holder despite the area being illuminated like Crystal Palace by PIR.

I have got some of this. One of my issues is whilst the R5 and Scenic have their charge points left front wing looking forward ie Passenger side for uk rhd vehicles, the Mini Cooper has the cgarge port right side rear ie Drivers side where the dino juice filler would be. Thus means the cable can need to go a variety of routes across the drive and even a bit over front grass sometimes. More of a fan of the aerial route. Perhaps get myself one of those fake Victorian gas lamppost to hang it from, would enjoy the irony. As to charge ports it would be good if consistent. Quite liked the Zoe's on the nose. As Bjorn Nyland says, and Tom Robinson, the Left side is the right side and the Right side is the wrong side !

Got my last cable from Cord EV, a newish company in Birmingham, a woman orientated company i think, my order, less than £90 for a 10m 3 phase 22 kw capable cable, was supposed to come as bright pink ends but they range me and asked if I would accept white, OK I said. I have some yellow tie wraps to make it more visible in the darkness. The hanging basket hooks set a 2m work well but could do with one or two stands, like cloak stands, to hold tge cables up high so postie does not trip etc. Needs to be ultra stable and will not dent the cars if topples.

I use hanging basket hooks. It is the occasional clean that is abit of a pain. My 10m 22kw 3 phase one is a bit of a beast. I see Amazon are doing extensions to tethered cables now which could be useful if EV needing charging is in row 2 from the tethered charger, might try one.

Not a "Car", the word short for carrus /carrum which is wheeled vehicle but similar issues with motorcycle EVs as "car" EVs ...... Pretty amazing for range and charging speeds ie as good as ICE, or actually better for range !

An acceptable limit is still way below what current, and certainly ICE cars of the pervious decade and older belch out. A report summarizing several recent reports.... United KingdomAir pollution and United Kingdom research documents significant air quality improvements over recent decades whilst highlighting persistent challenges in urban areas and around major transport corridors. Studies reveal that whilst traditional pollutants like SO2 have decreased dramatically, NO2 and particulate matter continue to exceed health guidelines in many locations. The evidence shows both the success of coordinated policy efforts and the ongoing need for additional measures, particularly addressing transport emissions. Explore the research documenting the UK's air quality evolution and what challenges remain for protecting public health. OverallThe total cost to the NHS and social care system related to air pollutants between 2017 and 2025 is estimated to reach £1.6 billion (Moldoveanu, 2025) The contribution to the annual mortality of human-made air pollution across the country is roughly between 28,000 to 36,000 deaths every year (Moldoveanu, 2025) Air pollution in the UK is costing more than £500m a week in ill health, NHS care and productivity losses (Gregory, 2025) Killing more than 500 people a week Air pollution in the UK now kills 30,000 people and costs £27bn a year, according to the research, which also said there was no safe level of air pollutants (Gregory, 2025) Physical inactivity costs the UK economy an estimated £7.4 billion per year (Healthy Air Coalition, 2025) Air Pollution and United KingdomAir pollution and United Kingdom research documents significant air quality improvements over recent decades whilst highlighting persistent challenges in urban areas and around major transport corrido

Volks Wagen finally launching the ID2, with a smart move calling it the Polo ID rather than ID to drill in to that heritage. The good, in fact very good things is the rear seating space is a very good, much better than my Renault 5 and also in moving from RWD to FWD has has the benefits of a very big boot for a B segment car ie over 400 litres. Main fly in the ointment is the base model is 37 kwh (LFP) which is quite small and that is the one that is the starting price of 25k Euros being quoted. 52 Kw ( L ion NMC ) might be quite close to 30K Euros but then with battery prices falling on a quarterly basis, and improving capacity and cold weather performance, there may be discounts in the following quarters after launch in Europe / UK. So very good design, buttons where there should be buttons etc. Think it will do well ? Not sure whether it will be get the £1500 grant or get the £3750 grant from the off, not sure what the battery production is centre and whether the pack will have enough local content to qualify. Car is being made near Barcelona I gather............

There must be some EVs drivers who don't understand there cars and/or their EVs have very little reserve after 0% or they are just not looking at their instruments. Coming up 5 years i have been driving EVs, all Renaults, and got down to close to zero percent many times and gone well beyond it one ie 12 miles past 0% showing. Car only flashed up the restricted performance warning at minus 11 miles. Even the Dacia Springs have gone tens of kilometers past zero state of charge being shown and they only have a small traction battery. If somebodies runs out in an EV abd causes a traffic jam the authorities should think about fining the driver. Think of all those dirty ICE cars belching out CO, CO2, NOX and carcinogens in thise queues. Went to a family meet over New Year, 3 dirty diesels and my EV. We each had about a 200 mile trip. Difference is my fuel cost me about £5, there's would gave cost then £22 at least. No charge required even with the lowish temperatures and a nominal 265 mile range. Going to get even more pronounced running cost difference when electricity prices drop and fuel price goes up in the middle of the year.

MacMasters said he was going back to petrol in the first few minutes of the vid. For that reason alone I am out. EV are getting sensationally good. Unless you need to drive 350 our more miles a day and cannot bring yourself to drive a TESLA, ie the combination of the cars and the networks, then the logical choice is a EV for a host of reasons, no excuses.

You still don't get it. ICE cars are poisoning our air in real time and the resultant climate change in leaving our kids and grandkids a legacy of having to spend much of their earnings fighting climate change. Not fair on them when we can do something about it.

That Cornish halfwit, just like the other two, don't charge up at the places which are clearly better to charge up at but deliberately pick a very bad place. No time for such Tom Foolery.

The original EV designs did not help. Renaults can now have individual packs replaced as they are modular. First time seeing Geoff without his flat cap on, very Worcestershire. The adidge is there is no point thatching an empty cottage ! Could not watch the Three Stoogies for more than a few minutes, risk of computer screen getting damaged. They may well be earning a few quid pandering to the ignorant but I am unwilling to be part of their sick plot.

Not sure you will agree with much of this George but Dave paints a rosy picture of on street and ultra rapid charging .....

If there was a vote i would vote for lower VAT on public charging. Fingers crossed the 4p a kwh reduction in April will filter through. Oil list a quarter of its value in 2025 and that 1.5p a litre does not seem to have been passed on, the reverse it seems the diesel and petrol sales margin has increased. No ASDA driving down the price any more. Oil will continue to fall in crude costs due to over supply which might soften the blow against Septenber Excise duty rise but only a bit. I gave up my "Free" fuel card, oart of my employment package as I could run an EV as cheap without it with the GO overnight tariff from Octopus and I wanted to help give my granddaughter a better world 🌎 to live in.

I'd the answer to have battery cabinets clise buy ? They are getting so much cheaper and will do increasingly with LFP and soon sodium batteries. One significant problem here is the theft and vandalism of cables and with battery packs next to the chargers they would be a target too. More design and hardening required for these valuable assets. Yes the batteries would cost a bit but the batteries next to the charger coukd charge up in cheap overnight lecky and be mire profitable for operator as well as improving their margin.

EY's press release on 2026 on car sales in general. Think they have the trend wrong but an interesting opinion.... A response by EVangilist, as MacMaster would say, a strongly worded response and veiled accusations referencing Toyota etc , his vid below the EY extract. Be interest to hear what my Alma Mater "pwc" as well as Deloittes and KPMG are saying on the subject as well...... Half of global car buyers plan to choose internal combustion engines, a 13-point jump as electric vehicle demand softens Range anxiety, charging gaps and geopolitics fuel growing hesitation towards battery electric vehicles (BEV) Consumers prioritize essential connected features, with nearly four in ten citing high service costs as a barrier Global car buyers are putting the brakes on adoption of electric vehicles, with many shifting back to internal combustion engines (ICEs) and reassessing electric vehicle ownership, according to the new EY Mobility Consumer Index (MCI), a global survey examining sentiment and buying intent across major automotive markets. Global consumers driven back to ICE vehicles as EV enthus...LONDON, 9 DECEMBER 2025. Global car buyers are putting the brakes on adoption of electric vehicles, with many shifting back to internal combustion engines (ICEs) and reassessing electric vehicle owner

A sad time indeed. My employer was of the super massive logistics companies and i think we were one of the beneficiaries of the B change and doubley sk for Ireland using the UK as a land bridge as most goods did. INCOTERMS dictate who pays etc the fees ar the time, though I would presume cars can sit in a customs wh, Cork, Dublin, Rosslare, if not a order fulfilment. The ship that brought my Renaults from Northern France calls in Ireland but mist goods come via the the UK land bridge j would gave thought and we do a customs transit as the UK remained part od the Union Trabsit agreement but it all adds to the cost. France spent hundreds of millions of Euros on new systems. Declaring car customs entries were extra fun as the VIN needs declaring which led to the number of lines being huge when the car boats can have many hundreds or even thousands of cars on board. Being the customs Officer for one of the Japanese car companies was also fun as cars were valued in Yen which meant the declared numeric values were well in to the billions. So many issues with the B situation, but where they is muck there is brass as they say for us doing the clearance, for the other 99% of businesses a nightmare without a happy finale. Hopefully big improvements in the not to distant future and cheaper most things but the Anti Dumping on EVs must be a pain and I wonder if RHD cars, nearly new, make their way from the UK, not northern Ireland as that is treated as EU I suppose, to avoid that near 50% of import duties on some makes of Chinese EVs ie MG, Maxus, SAIC...