lol-lol

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...

R4+ will have the new battery packs entitling the car to the £3750 UK EV grant. More and more European cars will probably get the UK larger £3750 grant and Far East made EV will have to lower their prices to complete. Did some work a few years ago on the import declarations of cars coming in to the UK, before my current employment who moves 4M finished cars, and I was stunned how low the import values were and therefore how different they were to the retail price. For the UK, as with the EU, there is an addition to the value of the UK buying the car from the Asian country of the cost of freight and that is a significant uplift in declared customs value and just shows amazing the Asian countries are in still being good value despite coming half way round the world !

Not available in the UK but perhaps available in Europe as they will make a batch of the LHD ones before making RHD ones. We will not see the top selling Mk6 Clio, or the Twingo, until 2027 apparently. Which of the 7 candidates are not available in the UK yet. Sat in the R4 and Bigster. R4, like my R5, compromised in the rear seating area. Joy to drive though, not quite a good as the Mini but fair bit cheaper. Bigster OK but nothing great I thought, some nice new engines though. Thought CLA is being delivered now but it is not that a different shape etc so probably would not notice one. Granda Panda sounds good value but worry about winter range as I thought heat pump was not standard. EV4 are being delivered I understood, Elroqs also being delivered I read.

We have started to use Electric trucks from the tip of southern Spain and there performance is incredible as the power of the e-trucks is so much more the ICE trucks and the time saved during the journey to Madrid and beyond makes up for their charging time needed and I would like to see interconnectors from Spain which has so much solar etc. The do need more batteries to give the system inertia resilience as exposed by the massive outage earlier this year. Morocco also has incredible solar production, not just photovoltaic cells but their focused sunlight heating salt to incredible temperatures which can keep electricity production thru the night until the sun comes up in the morning. Africa has super massive solar potential and supplying it to us northern nations. Considering how much per kwh the nuclear electricity is going to cost us from Hinkley and Sizewell what can be offered from Southern Europe and North Africa could be really cheap but we will be committed to paying the expensive stuff from the UK nuke sites. Would like to see the Brittany ferries convert to electrical power as is happening on the Norwegian ferries, being able to charge ones EV when sailing across the Bay of Biscay. My Electric Dream.

The title of European Car of the Year 2026 will shortly be announced from the 7 finalists. The Skoda Elroq is a fancied car and would break Skoda's duck on winning this competition. Top Gear have chosen the Renault 4 as their favourite EV for 2026 but I doubt Renault will win a third in a row CoTY title after the Scenic win in 2024 and R5 win this year 2025. The other 5 candidates are the Dacia Bigster, Citreon C5 Aircross, Fiat Grand Panda, Kia EV4, Merc CLA. All good cars. The Merc CLA near 500 mile range for an EV whilst not a completely silly price and will soon not be liable for the Expensive Car Supplement I gather. EV dominance seems to be well embedded amongst the 60 publications that vote for European CoTY, incl UK ones..... AutocarWhich of these seven models will be 2026 Car of the Year?...Car of the Year jurors gathered recently to whittle 29 new cars down to a shortlist of seven...