wyx087

15 minute cities idea is a good thing. Why don't you want local amenities within walking distances? Good. We all need to drive smaller vehicles. I am guilty of this, "just buy a bigger vehicle to fit all my needs" I thought. Car manufacturer's push for higher margin SUV are now rightly being pushed back upon.

So your assumption is that cells will catch fire, only question is what happens afterwards. Whereas everything single statistical analysis, including a video you've shared, shows well managed battery cells self igniting are vanishingly rare.

As owner, I'm of the opinion build them and they will come. a LOT more universal 7 kW road side charging (not like one that require a giant lance I tested). Hotel charging should be widely and readily available so away-from-home charging doesn't require visiting rapid chargers (also enable more EV miles on PHEV). Government grants to solve those will remove both charging cost concern (if no driveway) and ease of charging concern (if no driveway). Totally agree for EV apprenticeship. Currently got a knocking sound with my Leaf and many local garages only wiggle suspension parts and refuse to look further, "don't have the training, so we don't touch any parts connected by orange wires". It now has to go back to main dealer to diagnose extensively.

Both are very valid barriers to full mass EV adoption, unlike "I like vrrom vroom". I agree the latest grant is a farce. Too many conditions making it a lot of guesswork, the lower amount is too small. But the higher amount does make a noiceable change to leasing cost, eg. Ford Puma. Out of interest, what sort of incentive or financial assistance are you envisioning?

There's the by-stander effect where no one speaks out for petty crimes that doesn't affect themselves. Not sure fully retractable solves anything, only require a second thief to pull the cable out during the deed. But yes, more lighting, CCTV, busier area does help..... to some degree. At very least this theft doesn't affect individual owners. From the thread I posted, it seems to be repaired quite quickly. Unlike catalytic converter thefts. There were a string of CAT thefts at my local Tesco that were done in broad daylight. Owners left with £££ bill.

Solution? "smart water anti-theft measures" Source: Rapid charger anti-theft cables | Speak EV - Electric Car Forums

That's a great idea. First would be building out enough renewable and transmission so that there is excess more times than not. Current GB Energy seems to be aiming to do. Then bank those money for grid scale battery to capture the excess, enabling cheaper energy. But as always, there will be people crying foul when early adopters are capturing those early benefits. TBH I'm not so sure. They are already on the big 6 supplier after absorbing Bulb's customers. In fact this article say in 2025 they are now the biggest supplier: Who are the Big 6 Energy Providers? | Switcheroo What they have been shown to do is consistently innovate. So I believe their free/saving sessions are aiming to change customer behaviour in anticipation for more renewables. The link I provided is from Uswitch and Uswitch alone. Have you seen other energy supplier (than Octopus) doing similar? The promise for smart meter were 2 fold: monitor usage and saving off-peak. Both are realised for me, after installation of smart meter, I purchased this IHD and was able to monitor my usage in smart home "Home Assistant". Don't need to say more on off-peak saving. Hildebrand Technology - Innovative Solutions To realise their promise, you do need to sign up to various tariffs. It doesn't automatically happen by itself. Can you imagine the outcry from people if their smart meter changes supplier without their consent? In-house display for live usage data monitoring had always been provided, even now. The instantaneous consumption data has always been 100% correct.

Funny how that perfectly describes many youtuber who have found EV related shock tactics gets them more views. There's always people to lap up talking heads that confirms their view points. Read the Uswitch page, it has nothing to do with energy supplier, it appears to be Uswitch's initiative getting people to sign up to their app and link their smart meter data. I don't believe OVO are doing any free sessions. It's not a company known for innovations. Smart meter does not automatically mean they get all the data. User has to opt-in to half-hourly reporting, user has to be already providing those kind of half-hourly to be able to take advantage of any free electricity. Electricity supply and demand changes quickly and drastically. On top of that, OfGem and suppliers cannot lower price cap or give too much discount because the average electricity price consumed by people who can't time-shift their demand tend to be more expensive by consuming during worst of peak times. Only when more people consume lower priced electricity the average price can come down. The Octopus scheme (both free session and saving session) are trying to change behaviour, get people to shift their usage, so that we can all have lower overall average pricing. https://octopus.energy/free-electricity/

Free electricity that anyone can participate (as long as have freely fitted smart meter) https://www.uswitch.com/mobile-app/power-hours/25-hours-free-electricity/?lid=aezqoejwk55u

Of course there's always a spread. But let's lay the facts out, what percentage of people are "hand-to-mouth" in terms of finances? Within those percentage, how many actually owns vehicle? People speak as though they are speaking for the poorest, yet drive around in their personal transport on the roads designed to be car centric and punish those who are not able to own cars. People view 'Environmental / Green' initiatives as too expensive. But it's not much different likes of Costco, where the well off are economically "rewarded" for buying in bulk. Are you pretending you've never taken advantage of 3 for 2 deals to stock up on stuff? The economy of scale in capitalism has always been built this way from day one.

I don't believe this minority is represented in this car ownership forum. And I believe this climate crisis will only exacerbate the problem for the poorest in every society across the world. We, with privilege of personal mobility, should do our bits to ease climate change.

There certainly are. But I believe that is by choice if property owner, or forced to due to bad landlords. Latter should be reported to the council. All rental properties now have a minimum energy efficiency rating. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance Resistive heaters (inc oil based radiator which we have one from many years ago) are the least economical way to heat.

Energy producing companies are investing in grid scale batteries or other form of storage. For example: https://electrek.co/2023/04/12/uk-largest-ever-grid-scale-battery/ As well as giant interconnects to mainland. I think that's a good thing. EV have embedded production carbon and batteries have calendar aging, it's a case of use it or loose it. So getting more out of these battery is ultimately good for everyone. But I think it will be just like free sessions or off-peak pricing, financially driven rather than mandated. That's a very good idea. get battery installed into people who needs it the most. Sunday at Everything Electric, they did mention working with government to enable renters to install home battery and left at the property so that renters are able to take advantage of off-peak tariffs. But it was mentioned in passing and I can't find anything concrete online. I agree, energy should be a national asset. Building renewables need to be done under a nationalised entity, aka. GB Energy. But I don't believe there's an economic divide in the same way EV's are now no longer an economic divide with so many choices and cheap second hand options.

How do you propose this prioritisation happen in a way that makes sense financially for the energy suppliers? They do give everyone hours of free energy (not power, kwh not kw) when there is excess. Key here is excess. Having more and more people able to time-shift their demand according to grid variability makes sure the average price of electricity goes down. Then, everyone's price of electricity goes down because there's less demand when production is being strained. Simple economics 101. Truth for EV (and other connected battery) is that they can help shift grid demands, enabling more renewable installation. Correction, fossil fuel based energy producing company had massive windfall profit. Whilst being the most expensive source of electricity generation. BBC NewsWhat is the windfall tax on oil and gas companies and how...The government is increasing the windfall tax on oil and gas companies and extending it to March 2029.Office for Budget ResponsibilityA more comprehensive measure of the costs of energy - Off...An estimate of the full cost of different energy sources to the power system needs to reflect more than just the construction and operating costs of energy generators that are captured in the level...

I didn't pay any upfront capital for my Powerwall. 0% finance: they turned up, installed it, I started paying the month after, pay for 3 years. https://heatable.co.uk/ If after 0% VAT, 0% loan and so many cheap options, you still think this is worthy of complaining unfair playing field.........

The ease of removal I guess it would depend on your install. Most of installed system are not designed to be taken with you to a different property. But I'd argue home battery and solar does add value to a property just as new kitchen. A new kitchen is going to be a lot more expensive.......

^ Save £400 after making back the £600 purchase cost of battery. Total ~£1000 of electricity saving. Not counting free sessions, saving sessions, charging from solar or changes to electricity price. For an installed system, the only hassle is the half day during install.

Depends if you want them professionally installed or a portable one and swap around plugs every day. Portable are subject to regular VAT due to being a regular product. They are cheaper to buy because no install cost but it's a hassle plugging it in every day. Installed ones have 0% VAT until 2027 and places like Heatable do 0% loan on some of them. Cheapest ones that doesn't work in powercut should be very cheap. Quick quote on Heatable says £6k for 14 kWh for their Alpha system. MSE article: Is solar battery storage worth it? Without link, I can't see suitability, whether it needs other stuff to work. Does it require inverter or is it a portable standalone? Quick maths say: 3000 cycles for 2 kWh = 6000 kWh Let's say 25p peak, 8p off peak => 17p/kWh difference. 0.17 * 6000 => £1000 grid saving For a portable, not forgetting other benefits: usable when out and about, usable as UPS and during power cut. But then, as with all battery, iPhones say they have cycle life of 1000 and after that it still retains charges and usable with reduced battery life.

Economics 101. This is not a zero sum game. Suppliers offer cheap rates not out of kindness of their heart. They do it because they are buying it in cheaply or even getting paid. They are able to pass the savings on to consumers using different tariffs/schemes. As always, key is to be in a position to take advantage of that. You are then happy you are saving on bills. Supplier is happy that you can buy their cheap electricity so they can even get money for selling grid excess. Grid is happy that their excess demand is being consumed. Everyone should be happy that the average electricity price is being driven down thanks to people buying when there's low demand.

Spot on. Changes, removal of sound/harshness, should not automatically make the new tech a blasphemy to people who like the sound/harshness. The old can still be enjoyed in moderation as a hobby. No one is taking away motorsports or race tracks. Of course, there's still a small percentage of drivers current EV are not suitable. But it's slowly getting there. The new Merc CLA is said to be very fast charging and also very efficient, achieving almost ICE travel time over 1000 km. For charge pricing, Tesla vehicles or with their supercharging membership is always cheaper than driving ICE. Their peak price are all below 50p/kWh and cheapest off-peak is less than 30p/kWh. Key, as always, is to get the majority of people's miles on electricity that can be renewably generated. The power plants emission can be centrally improved, don't have to wait 10+ years for an ICE car to be scrapped.

Have you thought about just getting a home battery installed? Takes out all the hassle. I'm sure I've seen products that allow you to plug in their portable battery as home battery and retain the portable flexibility if you desire. At least that product was available in US.

The 10 years estimate is for my install and I'm happy to shoulder the upfront cost for my enjoyment just like a new kitchen for other people. It's in no way indicative of everyone's cost. For other people, who does not have any older panels already installed, it will take less time if their roof is suitable. Key, as always, it's the roof, my one isn't most suitable. Installer chasing FIT payments, like Graham's install contract, deemed my roof not suitable. There's no more FIT though, only SEG export tariff. There's other incentives: 0% loans, 0% VAT. Is this another social divide? People who can get profitable solar and people who has to be a slave on the gird.

Didn't you say you have solar? Have you done the maths? But very good question: It's been 10 years since my solar PV install, I receive FIT. By my calculation it had paid back initial investment around 9 years. Initial estimate was just over 10 years but accelerated due to 2023 energy price increase in combination with me able to bank those with V2H/battery, plus my early crypto mining profits using excess solar. For V2H, payback was calculated to be 2 years. on time-shifting my energy load alone. Not counting storing "free" solar. But after 1 year I got battery installed. So that's £800 difficult to account, but then for £2200 I got 2 new charge point installed, so paying £1400 for 2 brand new charge points is more than reasonable. Battery storage was calculated payback of 8 years, again using only time-shifting energy load. Reality will be sooner due to solar and getting more daytime load (AC system). AC system install probably wouldn't see any ROI. It might if we rely upon it for heating. But so far wife doesn't like the dry feeling and amount of air movement as result of the AC fan. So now only use it in the morning before getting up to make bedrooms toasty warm. It's purely a comfort addition. One question I always ask, why don't people do the same sums for a new kitchen or for a new extension? Or even a new boiler, a new car, new computer? Why must some thing justify the expense whilst others don't? Also, a few weeks ago, I DIY swapped the solar inverter from the 10 year old one to a new one to minimise downtime. Took me ~1 hour including getting tools out and packing up. The new inverter cost £330, could be around £200 if it were single string. It's all super cheap these days.

Cheap times may change. One common message from listening to talks at Everything Electric yesterday was that the grid demand variability will always be present, there will always be ultra-cheap periods. As always, the key is making sure one is in a position to take advantage of that. Energy poverty is a bigger social divide than what's powering one's vehicle, that's if one owns a vehicle in the first place!

And I thought we were talking about "truth about EV's", not personal preference over rental cars. Hey ho. Not sure where PV5 fits with rental car though. ;)