5 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

@lol-lol is it really? I wonder if it is not a case of grabbing the current situation and using it to suit the narrative; after all, the powers that be are not going to look a gift horse in the mouth if they think that enough people would be swayed to buying a car to go towards their ideological dream.

If Ed Miliband can possibly think that spending millions of UK taxpayers' money on solar panels and then installing them in the Congo where the sunshine is more predictable then here in the UK is a good idea, the claiming the Iran war is also a good idea.🫣

Reuters, very respected news agency, reporting a doubling of used EV sales in Europe earlier this month and they should be believed, not seen anything on the UK and we will see the normal publish of new EV March sales by SMMT some way in to April and will be interesting to see the UK seconds hand EV sales data but would expect it to be similar to mainland Europe.

In other news relating to the truth of running an EV or 3 I have just had my email from Octopus relating to my GO tariff which they tell me is dropping by a quarter next Wednesday for the all important Night charging rate ie from 8.5p per kwh to 6.5 p per kwh, great news considering my 9% cost rise in the Reform led council tax and water bill cost rise from Severn Trent !

Even the Day time rate is going down considerably ie 2.45 p per KWh so not too bad to even charge during the Day time period when only 27.2 p per KWh ! Think the saving will be about £200 a year overall. Nice!

Edited 27 March27 Mar by lol-lol

Oh dear, now VW are recalling loads of their EVs over faulty modules on the electrics that could cause the cars to overheat and catch fire – just another in a long line of car manufacturers to do so. So what happens to the Ford models which are based on the VW's, will Ford now also issue a recall or will they just try and wing it?

• Ford Explorer EV: A compact SUV launched in 2024, produced at Ford's Cologne plant, sharing its core underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4.

• Ford Capri EV: A "coupe-crossover" sibling to the Explorer, which also uses the VW MEB platform and is produced in Germany.

Volkswagen and Cupra battery fire recall affects 93k EVs, 2k in the UK | Auto Express

Edited 28 March28 Mar by Graham Butcher

Potential of fires. Good they have identified possible issues and design, manufacturing or specification issues. How many fires have there been would be 'Honesty is the best policy', as VW Group were coming away with when the Emissions Fix caught them out and no more 'Das Auto'.

Edited 28 March28 Mar by Evolution13

Anyone seen this new video from Harry's Garage?

I think he is making some extremely good points in this video, do you agree?

1 hour ago, Graham Butcher said:

Oh dear, now VW are recalling loads of their EVs over faulty modules on the electrics that could cause the cars to overheat and catch fire – just another in a long line of car manufacturers to do so. So what happens to the Ford models which are based on the VW's, will Ford now also issue a recall or will they just try and wing it?

• Ford Explorer EV: A compact SUV launched in 2024, produced at Ford's Cologne plant, sharing its core underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4.

• Ford Capri EV: A "coupe-crossover" sibling to the Explorer, which also uses the VW MEB platform and is produced in Germany.

Volkswagen and Cupra battery fire recall affects 93k EVs, 2k in the UK | Auto Express

Several inconsistencies in the recall scope remain unexplained.

The Cupra Born is affected for vehicles built between February 7, 2022, and April 21, 2024. However, the Volkswagen ID.3 — produced alongside the Born on the same assembly line at Zwickau — is only affected for vehicles manufactured between June 24, 2023, and August 23, 2024.

The KBA documents do not explain why the ID.3’s affected period is shorter despite sharing the same production line.

A similar gap appears with the ID.4 and ID.5. Both models are typically built on a second Zwickau production line together with the Audi Q4 e-tron and its Sportback variant.

However, neither Audi model is included in the recall.

On 28/03/2026 at 13:19, Graham Butcher said:

Oh dear, now VW are recalling loads of their EVs over faulty modules on the electrics that could cause the cars to overheat and catch fire – just another in a long line of car manufacturers to do so. So what happens to the Ford models which are based on the VW's, will Ford now also issue a recall or will they just try and wing it?

• Ford Explorer EV: A compact SUV launched in 2024, produced at Ford's Cologne plant, sharing its core underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4.

• Ford Capri EV: A "coupe-crossover" sibling to the Explorer, which also uses the VW MEB platform and is produced in Germany.

Volkswagen and Cupra battery fire recall affects 93k EVs, 2k in the UK | Auto Express

The Volkswagen Group recall specifically targets battery modules manufactured between February 2022 and August 2024. Most units of the Ford Explorer and Capri currently on the road were produced or delivered after this specific window, or used batches that did not contain the identified manufacturing defect.

On 29/03/2026 at 18:49, Graham Butcher said:

Anyone seen this new video from Harry's Garage?

I think he is making some extremely good points in this video, do you agree?

Think he had got virtual everything wrong and vack to front.

Big Western car companies, perhaps with the exception of Renault-Dacia got things so wrong.

Late to develop EVs, except Nissan-Renault, completely behind in the development of manufacture at scale of Lithium, LFP etc battery plants to feed the car production.

TESLA did well for a decade or so but no cannot compete with the Chinese EV car makers ie BYD etc.

US is an outlying case a Trump promised cheap fuel and an end to EV subsidies and now gas is expensive in the US and EV sales do not need subsidising and Harry has misread and misinterpreted the whole matter.

I gave found some of his videos quite good but he seems to have stopped relating to the modern world sadly.

I'm not too sure, your talking of the global scene and I think Harry was talking more about the UK situation and how the UK car industry is suffering and thus the UK economy.

As to the Chinese cars, I think they are of poor quality with many cases of cars not even lasting 3 months before failing here in the UK, with the dealers struggling to fix them. Some cars are claimed to have been back at the dealers for over a month awaiting parts or even not being able to diagnose them correctly.

9 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

I'm not too sure, your talking of the global scene and I think Harry was talking more about the UK situation and how the UK car industry is suffering and thus the UK economy.

As to the Chinese cars, I think they are of poor quality with many cases of cars not even lasting 3 months before failing here in the UK, with the dealers struggling to fix them. Some cars are claimed to have been back at the dealers for over a month awaiting parts or even not being able to diagnose them correctly.

Like all marques the EV market has good and not so good marque. I gather BYD tend to be on the better side. Next door has the little Atto 1, looks decent.

Ex boss bought a Jaecoo 7 PHEV, not so sure about that.

The Mini we have, Cooper EV is really good quality throughout though BMW would gave overseen everything I expect. It us actually made by Great Wall Motors.

Dacia Spring is Chinese biult and mych of the new RenaultcTwingo is Chinese j gather with just a final screw together operation in Europe.

The prices are just so low many are taking a punt.

Though some of the Minis, Nissans and Renaultvplus others are getting that £3750 UK government grant which on the cheaper models is making them quite low monthly payments abd even some good liw or zero finance deals with them in addition.

Just seen my Octopus GO tariff click down to 6.5 p per KWh which is dandy for our running costs and means some savings to pay for those outgoings which have not gone down ie Council tax and water rates.

Edited 31 March31 Mar by lol-lol

Eon next drive down to 5.99 pence for 6 hours. The Eon Next Smart drive is lower for those with a Smart Charger. Not checked today's Fixed prices though, they will be higher than early last month.

Edited 1 April1 Apr by Evolution13

28 minutes ago, Evolution13 said:

Eon next drive down to 5.99 pence for 6 hours. The Eon Next Smart drive is lower for those with a Smart Charger. Not checked today's Fixed prices though, they will be higher than early last month.

I expect that what they give with one hand, they will try and get back with other. It's important to remember that their costs have to rise as well because of the gulf War, just as they did with the ukraine war. We still use gas do we not at some plants?

Yes they have to rise. But that will be at the end of the Fixed Tariffs if you have that. Today to fix Smart Drive Next is 8 pence offpeak & Drive Next 9 pence for 12 months. PS, we as in the UK does still use Gas Plants to generate electricity, we as in Scotland have one remaining gas plant and 1 nuclear plant. Both will close at some point. The Peterhead plant is one of the most polluting facilities in Scotland. No.1 one most polluting now i think. Funny not funny really, that is where they want Carbon Capture to be and take Carbon from elsewhere. Yet right now they are not collecting there and piping out under the sea into where they took oil and gas from.

Edited 1 April1 Apr by Evolution13

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2 hours ago, Stonekeeper said:

EV Accessories

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Screen wash is about the only liquid I do buy. No oil for top up or servicing etc.

Cabin filter changes at servicing, no air filters or oil filters.

Hence why servicing and EV is so cheap as well as its energy top ups etc.

@Stonekeeper I just wonder, once all all that heavy disguise is removed if the car will have the same kind of style, grace and presence of the classic Jags such as the XJ series cars had?

Edited 2 April2 Apr by Graham Butcher

7 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

@Stonekeeper I just wonder, once all all that heavy disguise is removed if the car will have the same kind of style, grace and presence of the classic Jags such as the XJ series cars had?

As far as I can see all future Jaguar production models will be electric ie made at their UK sites and the Wolverhampton diesel plant being repurposed for electric motors.

800v architecture, tri motor configuration and 120 kwh battery packs to compete with the best of the Getnan output.

Fingers crossed it is success further UK's export figures.

Miss my Type S even though it had too many Ford parts for my liking. Felt special.

Great jobs for Somerset for the battery packs.

1 hour ago, lol-lol said:

As far as I can see all future Jaguar production models will be electric ie made at their UK sites and the Wolverhampton diesel plant being repurposed for electric motors.

800v architecture, tri motor configuration and 120 kwh battery packs to compete with the best of the Getnan output.

Fingers crossed it is success further UK's export figures.

Miss my Type S even though it had too many Ford parts for my liking. Felt special.

Great jobs for Somerset for the battery packs.

Yes, we already know that. I was not even hinting towards there being anything other than all-electric models.

As the car that Rory was being driven in is wearing heavy disguise, we cannot see if the car will have any of the DNA of their most iconic range, the XJ from 1968 to 2009, which saw them winning the best prestige luxury car award year on year throughout that period. The model that came out from 2010 to 2019 had none of the poise and road presence of the previous models and saw a rapid decline in the popularity of the car.

5 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

Yes, we already know that. I was not even hinting towards there being anything other than all-electric models.

As the car that Rory was being driven in is wearing heavy disguise, we cannot see if the car will have any of the DNA of their most iconic range, the XJ from 1968 to 2009, which saw them winning the best prestige luxury car award year on year throughout that period. The model that came out from 2010 to 2019 had none of the poise and road presence of the previous models and saw a rapid decline in the popularity of the car.

With reports that some car makers, Stellantis for example, if was sounding like car makers were going to continue to make ICE vehicles beyond 2030 and 2035.

Not sure about the Range Rover side of JLR who might see that ICE is still part of their future for many year to come.

Certainly sales of the Range Rover knock offs such as Jaecoo are selling very well, PHEV versions particularly.

Tough future I expects for JLR but at least Tara seem to be backing JLR but with some UK government backing it also appears.

Lots of big fat elephants of cars about and the can be any drive train or fuel. Too big for parking spaces in many many cases. Taxing them by Gross Weight is what is needed, especially as Really BIG EV,s can be under £50,000, now even under £40,000.

Edited 3 April3 Apr by Evolution13

4 hours ago, lol-lol said:

With reports that some car makers, Stellantis for example, if was sounding like car makers were going to continue to make ICE vehicles beyond 2030 and 2035.

Not sure about the Range Rover side of JLR who might see that ICE is still part of their future for many year to come.

Certainly sales of the Range Rover knock offs such as Jaecoo are selling very well, PHEV versions particularly.

Tough future I expects for JLR but at least Tara seem to be backing JLR but with some UK government backing it also appears.

Why are you widening this out to include other marques, the actual theme of this discussion was purely around the Jaguar decision to only offer BEV cars when they are world famous for Ice luxury cars that are award winning beautifully looking cars with real road presence.

All I was saying is will this car that Rory was given a ride in actually continue that legacy as most BEVs are boring to look at.

OT in EV section, but Stellantis have a lots of ICE vehicles to have recalled because of the risk of catching fire..

Where did this fire thing come from? Nobody is talking of fires.

Why i said OT. Nothing here in this thread about fires, maybe because you never posted recently on fires, just JLR & @lol-lol on Stellantis, so i posted about Stellantis ICE vehicles. Recalls left right and centre across makers including VW group and BEV,s.

Edited 3 April3 Apr by Evolution13

Re Stellantis / Vauxhall Frontera. I met the driver of this NHS Fleet car last night then again this lunch time. The car has done 57 miles since delivered. He took his wife to show her how to charge it. That was Thursday evening. I asked why he was on the AC tethered, & that was because that looked the right charger head. Anyway charger stuck in Thursday and nobody could help. Not Charge Place Scotland who restarted the charger, not the RAC that did not Recognise the Car. Not the NHS Fleet people who were not on call. Anyway they were still waiting for Assistance from RAC at 3am and no local taxis were answering or coming out. A boy racer that came around took them home 15 miles for 20. Nobody came out or got back to him yesterday until evening which was when i met him, they never arrived. Appointment today for a Tech to come between 7am-12 pm. We were there at 1.00pm. No show. I could not help, i did not want to disconnect the battery under the bonnet. So i left him in the torrential rain waiting. Storm Dave just hit. We tried starting and stopping charger, using emergency stop etc. Locking unlocking etc. Ziltz success.