11 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

You may do; my BFF has a solar installation at 55.92N (Long omitted for confidentiality), and even in January on a sunny day the electricity meter can be seen to be running backwards.

 

Interesting?

 

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/feed-in-tariffs/article/feed-in-tariffs/electricity-meters-running-backwards-afQO90P1oLps

22 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

I don't have any means to check what is its actually generating, only know what they told me. It was installed for free, and we can use as much of the power it generates for free, and any excess is sold to the grid by the installers as their payback for the free power to us. I guess that their way of looking at it was that there was a very good chance that during the day on weekdays, there would be nobody at home, so most of the power could be sold. Little did they know that I was working from home a large part of the time, and so was one of my sons. Now I've retired so spending a lot of time on the computer and doing my electronics so still using a lot of the power from the panels, my son now works in a warehouse 12 miles away so they are gaining a bit more now. It was installed IIRC in 2015/2016

Back in 2015/2016, there was "Feed in tariff". my was installed Oct 2015, receive ~15p/kWh generation + deemed 50% export at pittance. It's not the export they are banking on, it's the generation and government money.

 

I can highly recommend getting one of these to monitor generation so you can better utilise it.

https://docs.openenergymonitor.org/applications/solar-pv.html

 

 

22 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

I just watched this chap moaning about his Tesla and also discussing its good points. He mentioned the lack of maintenance which saves him money, but then he claims that because the car is heavy that tyre costs far out weigh the saving in maintenance as they only last about 10,000 miles a set.  Towards the of the video he moans about the road noise and says he can hear every bump in the road and says that it might be that they cheeped out on the grade of metal etc to keep the weight down a bit, so there is very little to dampen the noise?

 

 

I think maybe he has a point there, as this video shows at approx 2:45 just how the panels flex when touched and can easily be dented.

 

Commenting on your points:

- Tyres will definitely last over 10k miles. My are OEM still over 6mm, I think they were 7mm new, my LR AWD car has done 12k so far, a lot of motorway miles as over 2/3 of my commute is on motorway at "70" mph, and we drive Leaf locally.

- Road noise is more than 2006 Mercedes C class I've had and more than 2014 Nissan Leaf. Slightly better than previous 2013 Octavia on road noises. Difference is that MY is very well insulated up top with double glazing, but road noise comes in all the same as speeds pick up.

- Ride jiggly-ness is highest in any car I've driven. Overall ride comfort for 2022 MY LR on 19inch (smallest default) about the same as 2013 torsion beam Octavia on 18 inch wheels (biggest option, ex showroom car). From early 2023, there had been a "comfort suspension" tweak. I've not driven one to compare. But it is possible to do retrofit at cost of around £1500 including new OEM parts and labour by Cleevley (I enquired, decided it's not bad enough to worth the money and effort)

- Model 3 2024 refresh is very well reviewed in the noise dampening compartment as well as ride comfort. I think it's more to do with use of noise dampening material, or complete lack of for first-gen 3/Y.

 

9 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

I'd have expected a Tesla built in any of the locations to be built to the same standards, driving anyone should be the same as any of them apart from the position of the steering wheel of course.

It is well known that their first US factory has worst build quality. All Model S/X and early 3 are from this factory.

Texas factory is a big improvement.

Shanghai factory cars are very well built, we get them here from 2021 onwards.

Berlin factory cars are about same or slightly better than Shanghai plant for build quality. Paint quality is said to be miles better. They are the only factory that produces quicksilver paint option 😍

 

Summary:

Tesla arrived a few minutes earlier because the driver ended up on a less congested road near destination in London.

They ate together at Tebay, afterwards Tesla were 10min to finish and BMW had a refuel.

Tesla had another 14min stop at Rugby, I'm not sure if BMW had a rest stop during 5+ hours of driving from Tebay.

 

Video also talks about Tesla's predicted arrival percentage and trip consumption meter, if you are interested.

 

From video description:

Quote

COST BREAKDOWN:

 

BMW 318i
- 41.2 litres of petrol needed in total :
- 50% of the tank at start - assuming refuelled at a local petrol station at the UK average price as of Jan 24 (30 litres @ £1.44/litre = £43.20)
- Would have needed to get 11.2 litres at the services to make it to the showroom with no fuel left in the tank (11.2 litres @ £1.64/litre = £18.37)
- TOTAL petrol cost: £61.57

 

Tesla Model 3 LR
- 140 kWh of electricity needed in total (including losses, heating while charging, etc.):
- Home charge to 86% = 62 kWh (based on a 72 kWh net battery size) at the maximum home rate (capped) at 28p/kWh = £17.34
- Tebay Supercharge: 62 kWh * £0.33 p/kWh = £24.80
- Rugby Supercharge: 16 kWh needed to get to the showroom with no energy left in the battery * £0.46 p/kWh (based on the vehicle having 23% or 16.5 kWh in the battery on arrival and needing a total of 32.4 kWh to cover the last leg of the journey) = £7.36
- TOTAL electricity cost: £49.50

 

Of course, just like RSymons, need to remember this is an EV dealership channel.

This channel is a breath of fresh air IMO, well researched and balanced.

 

 

She is great, i assume she researched what Fud means in Scotland!

Which is what?

 

eg.

The MacMaster & Geoff buys cars. A pair of fuds,

Maybe, but very entertaining, speaking of which, do you watch this channel?

 

 

Octopus introducing the "Power Pack"

https://octopus.energy/power-pack/

 

Basically: give Octopus control of your car for at least 12 hours a day every couple of days. You receive free charging up to 333 kWh (~1000 miles) per month totally free.

 

Current only compatible with Leaf and Wallbox V2G charger. 

 

As I've been saying, batteries in BEV are part of solution to enable adoption of more unpredictable renweables. We are starting to see the technology trickling to early adopters while EV enter mainstream.

I just fixed my home tariff,s for 15 months when my current one finishes.

I took the gamble of these costs and it is quite an increase on the pretty good one i have been on.  High daily standing charges.

(Still no Smart Meter fitted but they will be no doubt contacting me again to arrange having one fitted, time will tell if somehow they do this year.)

 

This cost for electricity means charging on the 3 pin cable at home will be about £8.00 for 100-120 miles of travel. 

(The only thing that will keep the cost down on using an EV and home and then public charging is that there is still some Free charging about where i do charge.)

 

Edited 16 February, 20242 yr by Rooted

There was a 3 vehicle crash on the A96 near Inverness on Monday and sadly a passenger in a Tesla was killed and i just heard on the news the driver of the Tesla has died.

A 3rd person in the Tesla was released from hospital after assessment. 

The driver of a van involved was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

The driver of an HGV was uninjured. 

 

This is the first fatal accident involving a Tesla in Scotland but that means nothing as there may have been others. 

21 minutes ago, Rooted said:

There was a 3 vehicle crash on the A96 near Inverness on Monday and sadly a passenger in a Tesla was killed and i just heard on the news the driver of the Tesla has died.

A 3rd person in the Tesla was released from hospital after assessment. 

The driver of a van involved was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

The driver of an HGV was uninjured. 

 

This is the first fatal accident involving a Tesla in Scotland but that means nothing as there may have been others. 

2 passengers from the Tesla are deceased.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/6375998/a96-crash-two-named/


Leaving that sad news to one side is the fact they were in a Tesla really of any significance or is it like the Luton airport carpark fire?

And then having written that this is interesting

 

Electric cars are involved in 50% more traffic accidents than their petrol and diesel counterparts, according to a study by insurer Axa.

The high number of accidents has actually nothing to do with the technology, but everything to do with the driving behaviour of the drivers. It is mainly the fast and sharp acceleration that surprises drivers, especially those new to the cars, and leads to accidents.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/287315/electric-cars-involved-in-more-accidents-than-regular-vehicles-study-shows

On 11/09/2023 at 21:00, cheezemonkhai said:

Hydrogen fuel cells have worked for a long while

Yup, they were used on Apollo as the primary electrical power source and also to provide drinking water.

And that's the beauty of hydrogen power, from water to water. 

45 minutes ago, Winston_Woof said:

Electric cars are involved in 50% more traffic accidents than their petrol and diesel counterparts, according to a study by insurer Axa.

The high number of accidents has actually nothing to do with the technology, but everything to do with the driving behaviour of the drivers. It is mainly the fast and sharp acceleration that surprises drivers, especially those new to the cars, and leads to accidents.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/287315/electric-cars-involved-in-more-accidents-than-regular-vehicles-study-shows

That has been my thoughts for a long time now and is more than likely one of the reasons for the huge jump in insurance premiums and until now, no insurance company has wanted to mention it because it did not fit the narrative currently being pushed by almost every country.

 

The answer is there, staring everyone in the face, instead of making EV cars ever more powerful and have such blistering pace, develop them with power outputs and power delivery that mimic normal everyday ICE family cars. If they did that, it would mean fewer accidents, cheaper insurance, new drivers making the transition to EV would not be startled and caught out by their sheer power and as a result, the rapid tyre wear that a lot of people are reporting, the poor battery ranges would be all be dramatically improved along with the adoption of EV cars in general?

 

Nobody actually needs all that much power or speed, any way, unless you're on a racetrack because for the vast amount of countries it would either be impossible to use due to traffic and road conditions, or illegal.

Edited 16 February, 20242 yr by Graham Butcher

@Winston_Woof  Did you not read the link you posted.

1 passenger died and then the driver died on Wednesday.   2 passengers did not die.

25 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

That has been my thoughts for a long time now and is more than likely one of the reasons for the huge jump in insurance premiums and until now, no insurance company has wanted to mention it because it did not fit the narrative currently being pushed by almost every country.

 

The answer is there, staring everyone in the face, instead of making EV cars ever more powerful and have such blistering pace, develop them with power outputs and power delivery that mimic normal everyday ICE family cars. If they did that, it would mean fewer accidents, cheaper insurance, new drivers making the transition to EV would not be startled and caught out by their sheer power and as a result, the rapid tyre wear that a lot of people are reporting, the poor battery ranges would be all be dramatically improved along with the adoption of EV cars in general?

 

Nobody actually needs all that much power or speed, any way, unless you're on a racetrack because for the vast amount of countries it would either be impossible to use due to traffic and road conditions, or illegal.

EVs have far more performance than many people are accustomed to or need, and accident figures are going to reflect this.

I'm not sure why the emphasis has been on performance rather than range for so many of them, but then I suppose using  strong acceleration to try and attract "petrolheads" to EVs makes sense.

I'd be happier with a 0-60 time of under 7 seconds and a 500 mile range rather than something with a sub 5 second 0-60 time and a 300 mile range.

I read that the Swiss department of AXA are behind the report on the 50% figure.

 

I read the Law Firms and Insurers in America using this report.  & in an EU report.

 

?

Is it global figures, EU / Europe only, and what are the Statistics from insurers for the UK on this.   Are there lots of Americans crashing EV,s with minor or major damage or lots of Europeans? 

 

EDIT.

 

 

 

Edited 16 February, 20242 yr by Rooted

9 minutes ago, Rooted said:

@Winston_Woof  Did you not read the link you posted.

1 passenger died and then the driver died on Wednesday.   2 passengers did not die.

not enough coffee is my only excuse

OT. re past posts.

 

Today in the same place the Fisker Ocean in Blue was parked last week was a Satin Black one with the very distinctive registration the owner has usually on his ICE Porsche.

The thing is with EV, it's easier to get more performance than more range. 

Low-down torque is easy with electric motor, this means quick acceleration. The modest 80 kW Leaf motor is quite punchy 0-30mph. There's certainly an adjustment period to get used to lighter touch on the accelerator. 

More range need a bigger battery.  Bigger battery in turn enables even more unnecessary performance...... 

 

As said, it's to attract petrolheads who still holds their outdated view that EV are milk floats. 

 

 

Efficiency is the name of the game, with so many SUV's on the market, I don't think most manufacturers (and buyers) got the memo.

 

However, one can have both range and power in the example of Model 3 LR AWD 2024 refresh. 

Similarly, I have done 160 miles with loads of sentry mode over last 2 days and only used 58% battery. A hair under 4 mi/kWh with 5 people in the car. Uncongested but can't do my usual ""70""mph on M25. 

one car I was considering as a replacement for my Ceed (until I started looking at Superbs) was an Ampera/Volt with a REX powertrain. A car that was ahead of it's time but suffers now from spares availability(in the UK) and didn't sell here in great volumes.

19 minutes ago, wyx087 said:

Bigger battery in turn enables even more unnecessary performance......

Enables, but doesn't have to necessitate.

That said, I don't (at this time) believe that EV acceleration that kills range, it seems that the energy needed to sustain high speeds seems to be the issue limiting range.

Improved efficiency at speed appears to me to be an important factor in extending battery range, which is what I want from an EV.

(That said, I am very much not an EV expert.)

I think the term milk float is purely used as a joke only, it is not a reference to how EVs perform. 

 

It is perfectly possible to get EVs to accurately mimic a normal ICE powered family car. It's called a soft start and is already used in industry where it is often desired to run certain processes at slow speeds and gradually ramp up speed as required. 

 

Surely it is beyond man's capability to understand this would encourage the uptake of EVs, if insurance costs were not going up and drivers can see a greater parity to what they are used to already and if they could see that they were more affordable to all. 

@Winston_WoofThey are a good car and people that have good ones are holding on to them. 

Like your good ladies car, keepers.

 

 

As to EV performance.

Lots of people seem to know all about the acceleration and appear to have not driven the cars.

 

They are not all power all the time.  There are BEV,s with modes and some have heavy accelerator pedals in some modes and are not like a hair trigger.

Some do shoot of like a scolded cat.  But not in default mode when started.

6 minutes ago, Rooted said:

@Winston_WoofThey are a good car and people that have good ones are holding on to them. 

Like your good ladies car, keepers.

 

 

yup and therein lies the issue.

Regarding the GFs Ioniq HEV I think this is the first time she's got to the end of her finance on a vehicle and not even thought about looking for another one.

She's even been getting the dealer contacting her wanting to take it back in, might be because it's worth more now than when she bought it 3 years ago!