lol-lol

So if I keep my 2014 Clio 0.9 TCE, 109 gm/km, on the road in 3 years time will I still be paying about £20 a year ie £140 less than my 2021 Zoe at zero emission !!!!

I know a friend who has broken two of the common but clearly not very strong Rolec. The cable locking pins had not been serviced in many a year, so power was switched off at release fired from the car end but now cable released. Tug of War ensued, charge post lost twice, had its facias pulled off. I expect there is still much to do to improve robustness of their designs.

Is there any other car than the Zoe that can charge at 22 kilowatts AC ?

I feel I have hit the sweet spot with the Arkana / Zoe combination and this has been compounded by the fact that my company quite readily renewed by fuel card from my old diesel card to a new petrol card but continued to prevaricate on giving me a lecky card to use. But no current EV can match the Arkana for range, which is not far short of 600 miles even a gentle motorway progress rates of 60 to 70 mph, M6 is oft too busy to do much more. With petrol around 160 p per litre, and I was in the 20% tax bracket but looks like I will be in the 40% bracket now I have vastly reduced monies go in to pension fund as that has been so bad a use of pay in the last year or so, therefore my personal fuel hit was 3p a mile at 20% tax but is now more like 6p per mile with the Arkana it much closer to the Zoe than it was with lecky having gone up 50% lin price ie 7.5 per kWh instead of 5p per kWH so the Zoe is more like 2p per kWh when it was 1p per kWh but mileage is well over its PCP annual rate, set it at 6k and it is running more like 8k so will back off that. Biggest money difference was in the buy price of an EV ie the Renault Megane-e I tested, £38k in mid spec, only just over 200 miles range at motorway speeds so frequent charging ie daily in journey probably but the Arkana I got for £25k, bigger car, very relaxing to drive, glad I chose that over the Megane-e. I will not be returning to EVs until they are better value. VAT needs reducing on EVs to same level as the lecky ie 5%, then they might spurt on selling them but for now I can see a stall in EV sales happening as they are just not good value to buy and increasingly quite close to the same running costs as an efficient petrol hybrid, even a mild one like my Arkana which spend quite some time with no propulsion at all other than gravity, the engine off and the hybrid battery just running the power steering, lights etc whilst it cover hundreds of metres at time using Newtonian physics. M1*M2 *6.67 × 10-11 Newtons kg-2 m2 Force = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Distances between objects CoG squared Both the Zoe and Arkana less than £280 pm each with a few K down trade in, happy motoring. That said the Treasury 45p per mile compensation rate is crap if that is the total compensation for doing business miles.

For the streets of Chelsea ? What is the ground clearance on that ? Barely 8 inches Compared to the proper Dakar car the Afriq is too low even for the Dakar desert stages and way too low for back roads in the rest of Africa either. Back to the drawing boards students unless their aim is just a stylie car rather than actual contender for racing in Africa, Dakar.

Flying Alonso keeps 7th place and points so Alpine 6 points ahead of McLaren in to Mexican race............. https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-lance-stroll-high-seed-airborne-crash/ 2022 Constructor Standings POS TEAM PTS 1 RED BULL RACING RBPT 656 2 FERRARI 469 3 MERCEDES 416 4 ALPINE RENAULT 144 5 MCLAREN MERCEDES 138

Finally some good news..... (haha) Actually am I getting 5 hours instead of 4 hours with Octopus cheap lecky between 0030 and 0430 as the clock go back an hour at 0200 so I get --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am pleased to announce that Osprey will be reducing the price for our rapid EV charging network, to 79p/kWh, effective from 1st November 2022. We are passing on a saving enabled by the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Why is this only happening now? The price that you pay at the charger is comprised of the cost of electricity, the cost of installing infrastructure, the operation and maintenance of the charging network, plus 20% VAT on top. As has been widely reported, the unprecedented electricity wholesale prices in 2022 have driven up the cost of electricity sold to businesses, such as Osprey, by their energy suppliers (at times by over 600%). In September, the Government therefore announced an Energy Bill Relief Scheme to subsidise the wholesale cost of electricity for energy suppliers – resulting in savings they would then pass on to their business customers. The mechanics of this scheme became clearer during October. It does not guarantee a fixed or capped unit rate per-kWh for businesses; the price is still calculated by the energy supplier and factors in existing wholesale contracts and future market forecasts. Energy suppliers also add on non-commodity costs, their own running costs and margin on top of wholesale electricity, to determine the price that businesses like Osprey pay. The team at Osprey have been working diligently throughout October with our energy supplier to further clarify what this reduction looks like for us. We have now achieved this reduction and are fulfilling the promise we made last month and passing on a saving to our customers immediately. So what’s next? Our focus is on continuing to build charging infrastructure for the future. Over the next two years alone Osprey will invest over £50 million expanding its GB-wide public charging network, establishing the much-needed national infrastructure that you can trust and rely on. We thank you for your patience, Ian Johnston CEO - Osprey Charging *Please note that for payment by contactless bank card, some charging stations will be changed over to the new price throughout the day on Tuesday 1 November. To guarantee the lower rate on this day, please use the Osprey App.

I would have thought especially for diesel as I have never seen diesel such a high percentage more expensive than petrol, seems like around 15% but heading towards 20%. Diesels must now more expensive to run mile per mile than petrol. Stunning how efficient hybrid can be now with coasting with the engine off is resulting in fuel cost of less than 10p a mile.

Congrats to Scot John McFee in Moto 3 for winning the Moto 3 race, epic ride from 22nd on the grid to win in his penultimate race as a 28 year old he can no longer race in Moto 3 as he is now too old. Won by 0.043 seconds from his team mate. Racing at its best. https://www.bikesportnews.com/news/news-detail/motogp-sepang-sensational-moto3-victory-for-mcphee

just wish my local Tesco had a rapid charger, still on short supply in Worcester a part from in town car park with wierd operator or train station miles away.

As well as age and charge cycles I would say that the speed of those charges is very important ie if Rapid charging compared to slow charging . Rapid charging as the norm, compared to overnight slow charging, will reduce the capacity of the battery much faster. Batteries that are rapidly charged most the time can lose 10% of their capacity in say 40k Kms where as slow charging batteries could still have 95 % capacity after 100k kms. Zoe ZE40 has a real capacity of 44.1 kWh when new, or as high as 47 kw in the last of the ZE40s https://cleantechnica.com/2016/10/11/details-renault-zoe-ze-40-battery-packs/ Buffers can be quite large and used if charging past the 100% SOC shown and can go below 0% too with the Zoe. Still not a nice place to drive with and practically keeping between 10% and 90% is optimal but that gives a true range of about 200 miles in summer and 150 miles in winter here in the Midlands.

I had nearly forgotten how good the range on ICE cars can be and how the range game can be fun in an efficient ICE car. With temperatures plummeting the amount of range I see on the Zoe drops a little bit each morning for the same state of charge. So when the temperature was 15C or above I could see 230 miles range on the Zoe 52 kWh. Driving it on the motorway, particularly between Worcester and Birmingham, which is about a 500 ft climb, the range has taken a hit at more than one mile of range lost per one mile travelled, particularly in that 100% down to 90% level in the EV as regen does not work fully in that range of state of charge. Do my regular journey to Liverpool yesterday in the Arkana which is powered by the well known 1.333 TCE engine used by Mercedes, Nissan and Renault, linked to the 7 speed EDC gearbox with coasting programmed in which works in ECO mode and non-ECO. Fill the 50 litre tank up, car came with 20 litres from the dealer and I put in another 30 litres. Predicted range on the car is a rather staggeringly low 430 miles, still 200 more than the Zoe would show at best and 230 more than on a cool autumn morn with the temp at around 6C. Set off from Worcester heading North, thinking about the days of running in cars which was not mentioned by the dealer and I do think was mentioned in the last decade or two with the new cars I have owned. 50 litres is about 11 gallons so car is predicting about 40 mpg I suppose. Climb the several hills up to Brum, pass the Hawthorns WBAFC ground at it 551 feet above sea level after starting in Worcester at about 75 feet above sea level and range is still 430 miles even after having done 25 to 30 miles. The join the M6, lots of traffic but at least very little 50 mph as there has been but keeping the car at around 60/65 mph as no big rush to get to Liverpool and setting a few thinks as I cruise along ie music settings, balance of speakers, bass, treble etc. 115 miles later arrive at city limits of Liverpool, range now showing 450 miles and instruments showing 56 mpg. Indicated range is close to the 600 miles, miles travelled plus range shown with 7/8s of a tank showing, I have been expecting. "Coasting function is weird, even more so than the 7 speed DSG I had in Octy, ie engine shows no revs at all but I suppose the mild hybrid system is providing power to powering steering etc. So ICE car was great, EV would have been a pain, even if I had got the new Megane-e I test rode, probably would not have made the 250 mile round trip without severe range anxiety. EV I charge at home for around £4 to give me the 200 miles range. Arkana I use by company fuel card to fill with petrol and the tax on that would be £16 so both very cheap, I pay more for the parking in Liverpool. Employer seems to be reluctant to supply an EV charge card compared to no problem with an ICE fuel card. Certain things must change if the initial spurt of move from ICE to EV is to continue. Salary sacrifice scheme for EV need rolling out to make EVs appear better value to business car users. EV cars need to get better 350 plus miles of range, in the winter, much better motorway charging for non-Teslas, Gridserve getting there but oh so slowly. Pricing of EV charging at home and on the road it increasingly massively ie trebled in about a year. After April 2023 ie end of home energy subsidy could be interesting ie 20p per kWh even on night time tariff, 50p-60p on day time tariff except for lagging energy deals still in place. Cannot se myself going all EV until I retire in about 4 years time when hopefully the above will be a reality and not just a pipe dream.

Always check what the garage does when it fits tyres for you or you pick up a new car. Arkana is suppose to be 33 psi front and 31 psi rear. Dealer put 37 psi all round according to my digital tyre pressure inflator which I feel is quite accurate ie reads same as TPM in both my newer Renaults.

I think using that equation of what cars cost and using it as the Treasury mileage rate went out the door many many years ago. My ex-colleagues in HMRC would say that the 45p / 25p over 10k miles ha been fixed at its ridiculously low level to try sand force motorist to use public transport rather than use their cars. If one looks at the running costs on a site like fleet news, https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/car-running-costs-calculator, good to see my Arkana comes out at between 41p and 46p a mile and that is quite a good score. https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/car-running-costs-calculator?Years=4&Miles=80000&CarType=suv-and-crossover&Manufacturer=renault&Model=arkana&CO2From=&CO2To=&BIKPriceFrom=&BIKPriceTo=&SortBy=Manufacturer&SortDesc=False&FuelType= Cheapest car going are the Dacias, also from the Renault stable, running the Dual Fuel system, which actually get in at less than 25p per mile but noting else does as a new car. https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/car-running-costs-calculator?Years=4&Miles=80000&CarType=small-car&Manufacturer=renault&Model=&CO2From=&CO2To=&BIKPriceFrom=&BIKPriceTo=&SortBy=PencePerMile&SortDesc=false&FuelType= Wonder how many people cheat on the mileage and as a open question what is the point to point mileage that should be used for Self Assessment and mileage claims from employer ? Odometer, Google, and then add a bit for comfort break etc ???

How about "rioters" in London/Tottenham riots "steal" a bottle of water and get 18 months prison. Protesting Catholics in Derry and Dublin get mass murdered by British Army (twice).

Having just 48 hours ago bought a dinosaur juice burning vehicle I am up for a VAT cut on oil and it should have been done on 1st of January 2021 as part of the BREXIT bonus or when fuel prices went up massively as a modifier to fuel prices at the garage as do countries like Belgium. It is an obvious tool as base prices go up then VAT can be tweaked downwards to keep prices lower whilst keeping a similar tax take and balance the books. Even a change from 20% down to 19% would be something and probably more sensible than a 1% lowering of the basic rate of taxation.

Time for the UK government to reduce the VAT on electrical energy from 5% to something a bit lower, they are taking more and more tax on lecky. At 12p per kWh that is over half a pence on tax on every kWh which means more than a quid a month on a couple of hundred kWh but on a couple of hundred kWh of peak tariff at 44.35p kWh that is over 2p per kWh of VAT or more than £4 a month so more than a £5 a month on lecky alone and probably similar for most on the gas as well hence over £10 a month VAT when it has been less than a £5 just a year ago with the tariff at 5 p per kWh for off peak and less than 20p per kWh for peak rate lecky. Government could drop VAT to 3% from 5% and still be raising more tax than they were a year ago and a 2% drop in energy costs would help the inflation figure too !

It is all one of perspective. Both the Chinese and Russian, and probably over a hundred other countries of the world regard Great Britain, and the other empire building Western European powers of the last 2 or 3 hundred years, as some of the worst examples of invaders and exploiters, Napoleon, Hitler and the general expansionist policies of Western European countries, killing millions of the local inhabitants, plundering those countries resources, the UK Royalty even display the stolen gems from countries it plundered. The history of the British Empire, particularly the East India Company is one of centuries of shame, especially against China, India but many others. China is becoming the most important country in the world, India is climbing in economic importance and now exceeds UK GDP. The 19th century was when the UK time at the top. 20th century was when the Americans ruled. The 21st century is the Asian century. The best thing the UK can do is slow it inevitable decline as much as possible. We could still enjoy a decade or two of quite good standard of living. The UK economy has already starting to perform like an Emerging economy rather than a strong and stable one. Empires rise and fall, propaganda is no ones exclusive tool.

Thanks George. It became clear to me, quite a while ago, that the offering from SAIC are of a different quality, dealer network, potential volume that they can produce from the general perception of "Chinese" goods that are output by that industrial super power. Both the cars coming out with the MG badge and the vans with the LDV/Maxus, being bought and used by the thousands by companies like DPD UK appear to be of generally acceptable quality and notably very good value and represent a turning point in what are group of significant players in the EV market and therefore the overall car and van market in the UK and beyond.

I think Slimbridge Wild life Trust's point is that a full project of modifying the height of the tides upstream of a full barrage would effect one of the most import birds migration area in Europe. If the project was just many axial turbines sitting in the flow then Slimbridge would have noting to worry about, The project that is designed to generate many GWs by effectively damming would have an effect on the upstream nature that the WWT, which Charles 3 is patron off, would put up a huge fight against the bigger Severn barrage/damming but that would give us by far the most lecky.

Just bought an Arkana, petrol ultra mild hybrid. Chinese, haa, The Arkana was original Russian and Ukrainian, using Lada and sometime Renault badge. Now built in South Korea by Samsung as Part of the Mitsubishi, Nissan, Samsung, Renault Alliance. Complicate business. Many, many cars have some Chinese bits in them.

24 hours and 50 minutes for two high and two low tides. Bristol Channel Barage could generate 10% of UK needed power. Spring tides up to 46 ft range, only second to Bay of Fundy in Canada. Super impressive area and the wonder of the Severn bore on the river. Wetlands Trust Slimbridge quite opposed to it as they are worried the wetlands would be compromised. Maybe not if managed well I think.

Every intention of keeping the Zoe long term as it has quite good range and is super cheap to run. It is just that the sub £50k EVs do not compete as practical for those 300 mile round trip visits I do quite often. If company was doing salary sacrifice for EV I could afford to get something good enough to a main work car but subsidies and/or salary sacrifice needs to come in plus improved road network for chargers in the west side of England.

Well ordered a new Renault car, after testing the Megane-e and then the 1.3 TCE Mild 7 speed EDC dual clutch, mild hybrid Arkana and the Arkana won hand down on value, enjoyment to drive, usefulness as a main car. Nice as the Megane-e was, quite rapid, seven and half to 60 mph, the range is just not good enough when 300 miles has to be the bare minimum really, they need to get that battery up a few kWh and efficiency too I reckon and the price to the public is too high, they need to get it down in the low thirties to the private buyer. Disappointed that I felt I could not further progress my conversion to electric, I still enjoy driving the Zoe R135 Riviera, range is dipping below 200 miles on a full charge as the temperature drops down in to single figures. Arkana should average about 50 mpg, maybe manage 60 mpg tasking it very easy, not bad for quite a big car. Rather than wait I got the absolute base model, the Iconic, not even got the engine mode changing facility ie from normal to ECO, SPORT and configurable but it has got a load of safety features, engine is EUR6d, RDE2 emissions standards. £25K instead of £36K for the Megane-e for a much more capable car and running costs will not be a lot different as long as I have a company fuel card. Getting a electric card seemed to be just not happening even though Allstar now do one and it is linked to GridServe, that said Gridserve seem to be having problems and they are still a year or two away from being a proper full network. See how it goes, hopefully all electric in the next 4 years as average range gets well past 300 miles and we see motorway and A road charging at the same standard as ICE cars.

Tested one last Saturday. Middle spec I think. Underwhelmed. Goes quite well in Sports mode and the regenerative paddles work well. Range was only showing 220 miles if one extrapolated the fact car showed 90% charge and only 198 miles range when I started. Display quite nice. Probably going for an Arkana, much better value, so much more car, £10k less to buy.