Public transport. OAP benefits with that. Pensioner offers in cafes, chip shops etc. Walk or cycle or run a car. Triple lock. Cheap living. Some have never had it so good. Fuel prices up but nothing crazy. PS. Skoda Kodiaq or the likes are lifestyle choices. A taxi / Uber occasionally is all some use and Home deliveries are less than 2 coffees or all gallon of fuel.

Edited 26 August, 202526 Aug by Ootohere

17 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Public transport. OAP benefits with that. Pensioner offers in cafes, chip shops etc. Walk or cycle or run a car. Triple lock. Cheap living. Some have never had it so good. Fuel prices up but nothing crazy. PS. Skoda Kodiaq or the likes are lifestyle choices. A taxi / Uber occasionally is all some use and Home deliveries are less than 2 coffees or all gallon of fuel.

You don't know the half of it, remember England is not Scotland. I don't have Ubers in my City, just normal regular taxi's and recently I had to use one, just measured it on the route-finder I have, 2 miles door to door, 6 minutes, £11.50. Using buses, to cover the trip, means 2 buses but with the concessions out of peak times total cost is £0, in peak times, which the trip I had to make was, £6 and the total time to the nearest bus stop would be 1 hr 30 mins, and this is supposed to be the councils and governments preferred choice for us pensioners for getting about in our city. It really is a total pith take.

Incidentally, the time for that bus trip back in the days when I used to work on the busses would have been about 25 minutes because they ran a proper service being part of the nationalised industry it was run as a service, not a profit centre.

Pensioner offers in cafes, chip shops etc still can't cut the mustard. We have a Chinese curry takeaway once a week for the 4 of us, the wive does the boiled rice and stir fried chicken, for 3 of us while the youngest has chicken nuggets and 4 pots of curry sauce and a portion of chips costs me £17.90. To get 4 portions of boiled rice, 3 chicken curry's, and 1 portion of chips would be £45.50 for a takeaway, welcome to my world.

Edited 26 August, 202526 Aug by Graham Butcher

What a song and dance has come about because of comments from a fully pensioned & invested up member bought 2 drinks while charging an EV.

Each to their own.

'Cut your coat to suit the cloth'.

Getting BIK, home charging, paid for their mileage etc. All that is missing is Lunch in , Luncheon Vouchers.

Green Shield stamps & getting the deposit back on a glass bottle, or before that a bottle and a stopper.

16 hours ago, lol-lol said:

What is the road tax band/ cost per year for your 4x4 Kodiaq ?

I think all cars registered in 2019 would now be £195, any supplement for over £40,000 would be done with last year?

If it had been registered in 2016 with 200g/km it would have been a "J" and now £395

Since 2017 emissions became irrelevant from year 2.

Edited 26 August, 202526 Aug by Stonekeeper

34 minutes ago, Stonekeeper said:

I think all cars registered in 2019 would now be £195, any supplement for over £40,000 would be done with last year?

If it had been registered in 2016 with 200g/km it would have been a "J" and now £395

Since 2017 emissions became irrelevant from year 2.

That seems to be right, there is a 2019 a Rolls Royce, 6.6L V12, tax is £195 but CO2 of almost 499g/km for sale at £200k. I think your 2016 bit is off however, as my 2016 Superb was taxed just £35.

20 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

That seems to be right, there is a 2019 a Rolls Royce, 6.6L V12, tax is £195 but CO2 of almost 499g/km for sale at £200k. I think your 2016 bit is off however, as my 2016 Superb was taxed just £35.

Kodiaq quite a dirty car according to UK VCA......

If it were a petrol car it would be near the limit of NOX.

As even as a diesel a score of 57 mg/km is 71% of the maximum and that is kind lab conditions.

VAG introduced the cleaner twin SCR in late 2020 to help reduce this rather high NOX figure, shame thereis not a retrofit program....

5 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

England is not Scotland. I don't have Ubers in my City

Rebus are not "universally available" in Scotland either.

@lol-lol oh, so the petrol Kodiaq is less clean than the diesel then, and the 2020 facelift and MK2 versions are better still?

I expect is because the engine has to work a bit harder in the Kodiaq then it did in the Superb as it has larger body to haul around, catching more wind than my old car did.

On 24/08/2025 at 20:46, classic said:

My understanding is that EV manufacturers now go to some lengths to ensure their batteries have cobalt which is ethically sourced so I would say their (reducing) use of the stuff has improved matters.

5 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

@lol-lol oh, so the petrol Kodiaq is less clean than the diesel then, and the 2020 facelift and MK2 versions are better still?

I expect is because the engine has to work a bit harder in the Kodiaq then it did in the Superb as it has larger body to haul around, catching more wind than my old car did.

The rise of the SUV, literally and metaphorically.

OK if one does not go at UK NSL and above where that aero drag really tells.

I was over in Germany couple of times with a fellow employee. First time Audi A6 and then some Skoda beginning with a K.

My God there was a difference in changing lanes at 220 kph (A6 felt whole heap better due to its lower CoG.

One thing EVs tend to do well at as their CoG is low as those batteries are as lower as an Adder's bladder.

3 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

That seems to be right, there is a 2019 a Rolls Royce, 6.6L V12, tax is £195 but CO2 of almost 499g/km for sale at £200k. I think your 2016 bit is off however, as my 2016 Superb was taxed just £35.

4 hours ago, Stonekeeper said:

If it had been registered in 2016 with 200g/km it would have been a "J" and now £395

Nothing wrong with what I said?

24 minutes ago, Stonekeeper said:

Nothing wrong with what I said?

It was an Autotrader mistake, they listed that Rolls as being £195.

51 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

It was an Autotrader mistake, they listed that Rolls as being £195.

The 2019 Rolls Royce at £195 is correct. g/km is irrelevant for vehicles for 2nd year onwards since 2017.

From 2001 - 2017 rates were set to encourage people to buy lower emissions vehicles

Since 2017 they have been set to generate more from new car sales because the figures can be hidden in the sales process.

New Car VED 1st year now

Shout out to Cord-EV. Ordered an nice 10M 22 Kw,3 phase therefore cable in the lovely pus colour as shown below.

Sadly the ran out of pus so I got one with white ends.

Weighs a bit mind you as I think there is a fair old bit of copper in there. Good bit was the price, a bagatelle at £89 including the VAT. Nice lady phoned to apologies I was not getting the stunning colour below but all good at that price !

Can now charge a car behind the two on the drive nearest the house so no more shuffling the car to the front pairing now !

https://www.cord-ev.com/ev-cables-portable-ev-chargers.html

2 from Ford the first eligible for the £3750 off.

Is the electric car bubble about to be blown apart or what, I keep hearing about the way that electric cars are supposed to be flying out the door, implying that they are being brought up in increasing numbers by the car buyers. Yet I'm also hearing the exact opposite from other sources including some car manufacturers who we are reducing their exposure to the electric market and opening up again on ICE powered cars, even ones that they had previously pulled the plug on completely, and gone full electric mode.

Citroen reinstates combustion engines for Berlingo and Spacetourer | Autocar

Is just one such statement I have seen recently where makers were bringing back ICE powered models, including the likes of Porsche etc.

Edited 30 August, 202530 Aug by Graham Butcher

https://youtu.be/e_jja8pHQ0M?si=W4I68uHoTEscNhMn

Our friend The Macmaster actually seems to have started to like them 😀.

@Graham Butcher It being about the UK is very relevant. Rest of world including the EU is a different can of worms or kettle of fish. The actual number of BEV,s sold new or leased to private individuals is a figure the UK government and SMMT should have and publish. Maybe the government and HMRC and the DfT need to get a grip on Pre Reging to get First Registrations. Also Demonstrators for this tax benefit to dealerships. ???? How many new BEV,s add Company cars , business use with tax benefits against his many will be private use. How many are Bunkered and first registered and not on the roads? PS the trading of credits needs stopped. There are the requirements of Zero Emission cars and vans to First Register and ask the Average Fleet emissions for the UK. The government are conspiring by allowing the kidoligy thay manufacturers are carrying out.

Edited 30 August, 202530 Aug by Ootohere

Yes it is just DATA. & he can talk as much nonsense as anyone.

Because he sees 150 EV,s in a day is no indication if there are 15,000 or 50,000 first registrations in a month and all are now out being driven.

There will be Fleets / Hire car companies getting NEW Cars delivered and the Used but nearly new going on sale, to Auction etc. Sitting not selling someplace as New ones are a better deal for Private Buyers...

"Now here is the thing."

All these NEW Chinese Brands Authorised Dealers are opening New lots / Bits of the Dealership area. So the Stock is coming in. The Demonstrators, the Media / Press cars and Orders.

Some to be Leased / Lent out cheap to be seen out on the roads.

Bright colour ones often.

MOTABILITY with it Hundreds of Thousands of people leasing cars are getting Nil or very low Advance Payments offers on these New Chinese Manufacturers EV,s and ordering them and getting deliveries now.

"Now here is another thing."

He knows just fine that 'Just get a TESLA is based in Scotland, so why act like at total muppet having to pretend he does not know. 'Lots of models do leave Distribution Centres on 'Hand Over days / slots'.

Watching others Youtubes is part of a days work for Youtubers, Self Employed VLOGGERS.

Acting daft seems par for the course.

Edited 31 August, 202531 Aug by Ootohere

Only the desperate..#

Many thanks to all contributors that have caused me to really look in depth at EV use, production, servicing, charging etc etc.

Elroq ordered.

7 hours ago, classic said:

Many thanks to all contributors that have caused me to really look in depth at EV use, production, servicing, charging etc etc.

Elroq ordered.

Well done. Hopefully cheap night time charging will stay for many quarters and years to come.

We do need some wallies to buy ICE cars, the hybrid con cars too so they keep paying the excise duty and VAT on diesel and petrol to keep up as far as possible that £25B a year taxation contribution.

Hopefully with more and more solar and wind coming onboard for the UK, plus the nuclear, wr will enjoy cheap electricity so we can fill up our vehicles for about a fiver rather than £75.

Relaxing driving, traffic light bursting off the lines and the cheaper running costs all great.

If Skoda get it right with the Epiq & the medium sized EV estate that will be great. (The Eventulaq Estate.)

They just need more Dealerships with Trained EV technicians.

Maybe they could have a School Leaver Apprentiship scheme where Tech Savvy teenagers have to leave their Smart Phone in their locker and learn mechanics and Software . Put in a fair days training and work for a fair wage.

Full training on the new Tech maybe from a Journeyman that is also fully trained.

Hour of Free Charging today between 2 and 3.

I was at the Cricket watching worcestercestershire stuffing Zummerset.

Watched by free charging going in to the EV at the cricket.

And tomorrow wr are going to do it all again with another hour of Free Charging.

Is the something similar with ICE cars ??

Car filling itself with diesel or petrol when one is miles away from the vehicle ?

One day maybe one we have robot drivers doing the filling but not Free Fuel I suppose. Have to give robot one's credit card but no different to out it on smartphones !

32 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

Well done. Hopefully cheap night time charging will stay for many quarters and years to come.

We do need some wallies to buy ICE cars, the hybrid con cars too so they keep paying the excise duty and VAT on diesel and petrol to keep up as far as possible that £25B a year taxation contribution.

Hopefully with more and more solar and wind coming onboard for the UK, plus the nuclear, wr will enjoy cheap electricity so we can fill up our vehicles for about a fiver rather than £75.

Relaxing driving, traffic light bursting off the lines and the cheaper running costs all great.

Oh come on now, only on Tuesday you was saying :-

Lol-lol

Tuesday at 00:46

comment_5964128

If one can then it is good for both businesses and the government ti sometimes overpay.

If we all take a scrimp policy then government would not be able to afford pensions, state and public servant ones, which are paid out of the ongoing public purse and not a put aside pension fund.

I want to spend money freely, pay heaps of VAT to go in to the public purse. Usually on productive items like more solar panels and batteries which can save me money but occasional luxuries especially if it is employing young people who safly will not have tge kind of life most of us in our twilight years due to the decline in the UK since WW2.

Costa gave one of my daughters lots of work through here degree time. Trained Barista, oddly does not drink coffee or tea.

Think it was Aldous Huxley in Brave New World who praise consumption ad necessary to keep the world economy turning and people employed and governments collecting revenue and as an ex Revenue Collector I can go with that.

Now you're being the Ebeneezer Scrooge whatever happened to you wanting to spend money freely and pay heaps of VAT to the public purse etc?

OK, who are you and what have you done with real @lol-lol and please can we have him back safely 😉🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

9 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

Hour of Free Charging today between 2 and 3.

I was at the Cricket watching worcestercestershire stuffing Zummerset.

Watched by free charging going in to the EV at the cricket.

And tomorrow wr are going to do it all again with another hour of Free Charging.

Is the something similar with ICE cars ??

Car filling itself with diesel or petrol when one is miles away from the vehicle ?

One day maybe one we have robot drivers doing the filling but not Free Fuel I suppose. Have to give robot one's credit card but no different to out it on smartphones !

This only happening because of the whole push for Net Zero that you get free periods of lecky if your with the right supplier and have the ability to use it in the intended manner.

I expect that if the status quo was reversed and we were driving around in electric cars, and it was discovered that electric was not as good for the environment as they thought and they wanted to get more of us back into ICE cars, then yes, free petrol/diesel would very much be on the cards. Or should I say a price cut, I mean, just how many miles of driving can you get from 1 hours free lecky, it would take just mere seconds to put that much fuel into a tank.

Not only that but once they have us all driving electric, you can wave bye bye to free lecky and also all hopes of cheap motoring as they will need to replace the current fuel duty and that will be coming from the EV drivers.