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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 11:24:15 GMT
I think the Renault Zoë is quite interesting.
It's a bit of a nuisance that it is almost twice the price of a Clio though.
Not a fan of small cars personally but the little Zoë is quite a good unit for local use with your own charging point.
The slightly ironic thing is that loads of people who live in cities do not in fact have allocated parking. Just a CPZ in most cases which means a personal charging point is much less feasible.
Usually if you have off street parking it means you also have more money so probably drive a big gas guzzler plus perhaps get an electric to look green.
Apparently the biggest market for electric cars is as second cars in more wealthy households who already have the Chelsea tractor so it partially defeats the object.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 11:26:37 GMT
I think a lot of people are falling into the same trap. The family member I refer to above had a beautiful virtually brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Yes it was a diesel and as they were becoming increasingly demonised he became increasingly concerned about the potential for plummeting value of his vehicle so he traded it for the Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid. In reality the bottom hasn't quite dropped out the used values of diesel vehicles at least according to some pundits, there is actually conflicting data some of which suggests that values are holding up as used car buyers are still finding fuel economy of diesels attractive despite all the anti diesel sentiment in some quarters. Personally I will remain a die hard (no pun intended) diesel driver for as long as possible not least due to range issues and charging availability, but also due to affordability of the initial vehicle purchase. They are consistently currently more expensive that equivalent cars with ICE, often a LOT more. The Outlander I refer to above has a very similar spec. to my Ford Kuga in the chosen versions.The Kuga cost around £25k new, the equivalent Hybrid Outlander (which actually can legally tow our current caravan as well) comes in at around a whopping £45K. That's one hell of a difference. And a lot of money to spend in order to feel 'good' about saving the planet. No doubt as peterboat will point out to us all we are all heading that way eventually anyway, the changes the government are bringing in to the sale of ICE vehicles means it is inevitable. I for one will not be an 'early adopter'. Anyway if I make it alive to 2040 I will be 82 and if still relatively fit and well probably making full use of my free bus pass by then (no doubt on an electric bus) and will have given up caravanning too. When we used to live in medieval villages there was little need to travel as we’d get water from the local well/stream and farm our own food. Shelter was even made from local produce. Although I doubt the pendulum will swing back that far, I think that our reliance on moving stuff around the planet and ‘working’ long distances away from where we live, is the real trap. Man's greatest invention. The wheel. Or maybe not !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 13:00:32 GMT
When we used to live in medieval villages there was little need to travel as we’d get water from the local well/stream and farm our own food. Shelter was even made from local produce. Although I doubt the pendulum will swing back that far, I think that our reliance on moving stuff around the planet and ‘working’ long distances away from where we live, is the real trap. Man's greatest invention. The wheel. Or maybe not ! Well nature didn’t invent a wheel...but I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t given me loads of fun over the years, especially motorbikes. I suppose this is the real problem, we do get a lot of joy out of some of the things we have invented and perhaps see life boring without them. Having said that, with practice, it’s amazing how much joy you can get out of doing things which don’t wreck the planet. My favourite mode of transport these days is walking. You have so much more time to take in the surroundings. I can also spend a good few hours sat beside my boat observing nature and chatting to occasional passers by. Ok, maybe I’m no longer adding much to our capitalist system these days, but I am pretty happy.
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Post by patty on Oct 4, 2019 17:50:42 GMT
Thanks everyone for your input.... I think I'll sell what I have as planned and on my return see what I actually need car for It may be that using train and then getting small whatever for here..I will need one of some description as the public transport won't get me to places like the Worms Head at the right times. I am getting tired of long distance driving, also getting a bit weary of expectations. If I get a small car I will have to stop the lugging and lifting as there will be no room. So Patty you can get a government grant for your electric point. I have two hybrids and a full electric truck so I sort of know what I am talking about, I would buy a Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet volt these are range extenders, my daughter has one which I advised her to buy and it is saving her a fortune, in summer it has a range of 50 miles on petrol then it uses the petrol motor for driving and charging the batteries, secondhand low mileage budget on 11K for one maybe less if like us you get lucky. Pure electric Tesla model S 2014/5 about 30K good range well built and in a lot of cases free supercharging from Tesla for life, my magistrate friend Niel bought one a few months ago he goes to London twice a week as yet he has not paid to charge his car, also he is being paid 45 pence a mile to use it, the Ampera and Tesla are allowed in London for free.
I am looking at Tesla model s at the moment and have 3 friends with them so know what issues they have had which is none!! the daughters Ampera has been good as well she works in Leeds so her daily commute can be done just on electric saving her and the human race at the same time. I forgot one of the real good points of a lot of electric cars, in winter push of a button it can heat the car up to running temps on the house electric so you drive off cosy and warm, in summer you can do the same with the aircon as well, if you are going to do it next year will be a good time to do it, before everybody realises that it the future and diesel and petrol is the past
I knew about the grant..the electrician told me. Hes gonna do the course so he can sign the certs..I'm not going to make any hasty decision as to what car yet.. I'll prob go and talk to the dealers ..takes me ages to sort in my own mind whats best...not sure I understand what you are saying about the Ampera...but I will do some more research
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 17:59:34 GMT
So Patty you can get a government grant for your electric point. I have two hybrids and a full electric truck so I sort of know what I am talking about, I would buy a Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet volt these are range extenders, my daughter has one which I advised her to buy and it is saving her a fortune, in summer it has a range of 50 miles on petrol then it uses the petrol motor for driving and charging the batteries, secondhand low mileage budget on 11K for one maybe less if like us you get lucky. Pure electric Tesla model S 2014/5 about 30K good range well built and in a lot of cases free supercharging from Tesla for life, my magistrate friend Niel bought one a few months ago he goes to London twice a week as yet he has not paid to charge his car, also he is being paid 45 pence a mile to use it, the Ampera and Tesla are allowed in London for free.
I am looking at Tesla model s at the moment and have 3 friends with them so know what issues they have had which is none!! the daughters Ampera has been good as well she works in Leeds so her daily commute can be done just on electric saving her and the human race at the same time. I forgot one of the real good points of a lot of electric cars, in winter push of a button it can heat the car up to running temps on the house electric so you drive off cosy and warm, in summer you can do the same with the aircon as well, if you are going to do it next year will be a good time to do it, before everybody realises that it the future and diesel and petrol is the past
I knew about the grant..the electrician told me. Hes gonna do the course so he can sign the certs..I'm not going to make any hasty decision as to what car yet.. I'll prob go and talk to the dealers ..takes me ages to sort in my own mind whats best...not sure I understand what you are saying about the Ampera...but I will do some more research The Ampera is just a hybrid vehicle. So basicly on a fully charged battery it will run for (a claimed) 50 miles on that charge. No need to use any petrol what so ever. To go further without another charge you will need to use the petrol engine, or both petrol and electric.
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Post by samsam on Oct 4, 2019 18:46:28 GMT
Consider that external charging point. It will be on off peak electricity. This means that your normal day rate electricity will be higher than it is now, substantially.
Did they advise you of this?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 18:52:47 GMT
Consider that external charging point. It will be on off peak electricity. This means that your normal day rate electricity will be higher than it is now, substantially. Did they advise you of this? Surely that only applies if you go for a day/night rate. If it works out best then go for it if not you don't have to.
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Post by patty on Oct 5, 2019 5:41:27 GMT
Consider that external charging point. It will be on off peak electricity. This means that your normal day rate electricity will be higher than it is now, substantially. Did they advise you of this? Surely that only applies if you go for a day/night rate. If it works out best then go for it if not you don't have to. I don't have day/night rate as I didn't want to feel I had to use washing machine overnight... I plumbed it in..tis best for all concerned if its used whilst Im up and around
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Post by peterboat on Oct 5, 2019 11:08:33 GMT
I knew about the grant..the electrician told me. Hes gonna do the course so he can sign the certs..I'm not going to make any hasty decision as to what car yet.. I'll prob go and talk to the dealers ..takes me ages to sort in my own mind whats best...not sure I understand what you are saying about the Ampera...but I will do some more research The Ampera is just a hybrid vehicle. So basicly on a fully charged battery it will run for (a claimed) 50 miles on that charge. No need to use any petrol what so ever. To go further without another charge you will need to use the petrol engine, or both petrol and electric. It isnt martin its a range extender which is a different beast and its a very clever car made by Cadillac, twin electric motors and a 1400cc engine which is basically a generator altough it has a direct drive system at speed over 65 MPH
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Post by patty on Oct 5, 2019 11:40:10 GMT
I read that they are discontinuing production of the Ampera this year..does this mean a better model has been invented?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 12:33:22 GMT
The Ampera is just a hybrid vehicle. So basicly on a fully charged battery it will run for (a claimed) 50 miles on that charge. No need to use any petrol what so ever. To go further without another charge you will need to use the petrol engine, or both petrol and electric. It isnt martin its a range extender which is a different beast and its a very clever car made by Cadillac, twin electric motors and a 1400cc engine which is basically a generator altough it has a direct drive system at speed over 65 MPH Basicly the same, just different name for something that has a hybrid power train. Both Autocar and Top Gear refer to it as a 'plug in hybrid' but then what would they know? Admittedly Vauxhall dont like the term though.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 12:35:45 GMT
I read that they are discontinuing production of the Ampera this year..does this mean a better model has been invented? Personally I wouldnt touch a Vauxhall/General Motors with a very long barge pole, but admittedly that opinion is swayed by my very bad own personal experience of owning one, not a hybrid though.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 13:01:31 GMT
I read that they are discontinuing production of the Ampera this year..does this mean a better model has been invented? I think they have already ceased production a while ago. My understanding is the replacement is due to be a smaller pure electric version, not a hybrid.
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Post by patty on Oct 5, 2019 16:38:58 GMT
I read that they are discontinuing production of the Ampera this year..does this mean a better model has been invented? I think they have already ceased production a while ago. My understanding is the replacement is due to be a smaller pure electric version, not a hybrid. thank you... I have a few months before any decision..
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Post by peterboat on Oct 5, 2019 20:31:32 GMT
It isnt martin its a range extender which is a different beast and its a very clever car made by Cadillac, twin electric motors and a 1400cc engine which is basically a generator altough it has a direct drive system at speed over 65 MPH Basicly the same, just different name for something that has a hybrid power train. Both Autocar and Top Gear refer to it as a 'plug in hybrid' but then what would they know? Admittedly Vauxhall dont like the term though. The difference between a hybrid of which I have two of and a range extender is simple, a range extender uses the electric motor all the time whereas a Hybrid has an ice engine and an eletric motor that work in ether tandem like on my Honda's or either the ice engine or electric motor. Examples of range extenders are Vauxhall Ampera, BMW I3 rex and BMW I8. Amperas went out of production a few years ago, they were very expensive but very well built by Cadillac in the USA, My daughter has one and a friend called James who has the chevy version they are seriously good cars and worth buying secondhand with low mileage If pure electric is wanted for me its the Tesla model S it is the best electric car made, and well worth buying seconhand
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