I must be mad - I mean seriously mad!

[David]

Just got back from Toyota having done the deal on a new all electric car. I mean it's a nice car but common sense has gone out of the window. Pick it up in October. I've convinced myself that the availability of charging stations must improve and the cost of electricity makes it much cheaper to run even though the extra cash I'll be shelling out would keep me in petrol for years.

Anyway, the itch has been scratched!

 

[kateincornwall]

Oh wow, braveheart We had been thinking of getting one but here in our very rural corner of south east Cornwall , charging points are thin on the ground , we wait and see x

 

[David]

One thing that worries me is exactly that. We holiday every year in Cornwall near Stithians. Truro seems to be the best bet but.....

 

[Granca]

I've convinced myself that the availability of charging stations must improve

Well done for taking the plunge! My neighbours have an electric car and have had a charging point installed at the front of their house. Their car has a range of about 260 miles.
I would like to go green, but maybe a hybrid would be a step in the right direction, although most of my journeys are very local. It must be expensive to have a charging point installed.

 

[David]

It must be expensive to have a charging point installed.

Toyota has a deal going at the moment and the car includes a fitted charging point. It's fitted by British Gas which is a bit odd.

I have to say the car is lovely to drive. We booked a test drive. The salesman put me straight in the driving seat.

"So how do you turn it on? Foot on brake and then what?"
"Push that button"
"OK, thanks. So how do you get it to go forward?"
"Turn that nob to Drive"
"Ta"



We've already got a Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid and it's actually pretty similar including the gearless driving experience. We did a bit along 30mph town roads then got onto the dual carriageway and he said it's OK to drive at speed. So I prodded the accelerator just as I would in the RAV and "WHOOOAH!!!". My goodness it had a fantastic acceleration capability. At 70mph it was lovely and relaxed though and quiet. So time will tell. I really hope I haven't made a huge mistake. It's kind of a last hurrah in many ways. I have to consider I won't be driving at some point - 73 at the moment - so really this car will probably have to be my last.

The boot is not quite as big as the RAV 4, but it is Labrador capable just a bit less headroom for the Pop dog. She likes to sit up and look out of the back window. There is not much room over the back seats so we won't need a dog gate.

Also we have to fit a couple of A0 sandwich boards, 2 folding tables, 4 folding chairs, a sun umbrella including base, a box of portable radios and a filing box with the paperwork in the boot when we are running a track day, so fingers crossed there as well.

On the upside I take a portable fridge in the car and of course it now has a huge battery to keep it going when we stop.

 

[Stacia]

i might consider a hybrid! Will there be enough electricity if we all have electric cars. However @David, am excited for you ordering a new and exciting car.

 

[Jacqui-S]

I would be tempted if it weren't for the initial outlay ( frugal scot and all that) and the fact we have no easy access point at home. We would have to park our car on our "front garden" to charge. Our neighbour has one, but I think we would struggle for space. You can't run it over the public footpath.

 

[kateincornwall]

I would be tempted if it weren't for the initial outlay ( frugal scot and all that) and the fact we have no easy access point at home. We would have to park our car on our "front garden" to charge. Our neighbour has one, but I think we would struggle for space. You can't run it over the public footpath.

Exactly the same here Jac xx

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Congrats on your new car!

Truro seems to be the best bet but.....

Well, if you're in Cornwall and go anywhere that's not your back garden, you go through Truro, so...

The Tesco in Padstow has 4 charging stations, so come for the Rick Stein food and stay for the charge.

i might consider a hybrid! Will there be enough electricity if we all have electric cars.

Most hybrids don't need to be plugged in - they generate their own electricity with the petrol motor. At least that's the way my Honda works. If I'm coasting or breaking, it's charging the electric battery. Or at least that's what the little green light on my dashboard claims. Maybe I just have a 100% petrol car with a really TINY tank?

 

[Jacqui-S]

^^ not much room

 

[Granca]

I have to consider I won't be driving at some point - 73 at the moment

My mother carried on driving locally until she was about 90. When she was in her late eighties my youngest son gave her his Yaris when he had his sports car phase and she gave her Fiesta to her friend’s grandson. She had driven from an early age and was driving ambulances in Portsmouth during WWII for the Civil Defence.

So your new Toyota may need to last a few years, David!

 

[Granca]

Toyota has a deal going at the moment and the car includes a fitted charging point. It's fitted by British Gas which is a bit odd.

That sounds worth looking into, but I’ve never bought a new car. We’ve always had ex-demonstrators or second hand - and only when the existing car wasn’t worth repairing any more!

 

[Lisa]

Congrats!! Sounds very nice.

There’s no point doing electric here at the moment.
a) too cold in the winter - batteries would find it difficult to keep a charge unless they change the technology. we routinely drive long distances here to get from point a to point b and to have to continually stop to recharge (assuming you could find a charging point) would be really irritating).

There are some around, in the cities. I imagine they are used mainly in the summer. Out here in the middle of rural Alberta they are not very practical.

Hybrids are very popular, though!

 

[SteffiS]

Sounds good @David , we’re definitely thinking our next car will be electric but not for a couple of years probably, but looking at prices the outlay is quite a consideration.

A couple of the houses we looked at when we were moving already had dedicated chargers and that was definitely a selling point for us (unfortunately lost out on the house we wanted with the charger), so that could be a plus for house value. However charging at home looks as if it will be impossible for many people for years to come, so a better infrastructure of charging points is needed.

 

[David]

I would be tempted if it weren't for the initial outlay ( frugal scot and all that) and the fact we have no easy access point at home. We would have to park our car on our "front garden" to charge. Our neighbour has one, but I think we would struggle for space. You can't run it over the public footpath.

Yes the "no place to have your own charger" is definitely a problem at the moment. 90% plus of my journeys I should think will be well within the range of the car so getting home and charging there is the answer for me, but if that option's not there, electric cars won't work at the moment I don't think.

Congrats on your new car!



Well, if you're in Cornwall and go anywhere that's not your back garden, you go through Truro, so...

The Tesco in Padstow has 4 charging stations, so come for the Rick Stein food and stay for the charge.



Most hybrids don't need to be plugged in - they generate their own electricity with the petrol motor. At least that's the way my Honda works. If I'm coasting or breaking, it's charging the electric battery. Or at least that's what the little green light on my dashboard claims. Maybe I just have a 100% petrol car with a really TINY tank?

I think we'll look for a holiday place with a charger already installed. Failing that - yes Truro or Falmouth. Stop and have a coffee while it laps up the jungle juice.

There’s no point doing electric here at the moment.
a) too cold in the winter - batteries would find it difficult to keep a charge unless they change the technology. we routinely drive long distances here to get from point a to point b and to have to continually stop to recharge (assuming you could find a charging point) would be really irritating).

There are some around, in the cities. I imagine they are used mainly in the summer. Out here in the middle of rural Alberta they are not very practical.

Yes I think the "big country" problem hasn't been solved yet, although I think the North Coast 500 scenic route in Scotland has got charging points around it.

Re cold weather, I don't know what the situation is. A couple of years ago we were on holiday in Alta, Finmark, Norway and it was well below freezing and there were elkectric cars all over. Maybe they have a cold weather solution.

Sounds good @David , we’re definitely thinking our next car will be electric but not for a couple of years probably, but looking at prices the outlay is quite a consideration.

I looked at second hand but they just aren't available at anything much less than buying new at the moment.

 

[Stacia]

Emily, that is what I meant about a Hybrid, it doesn't need plugging in, but if most people go electric then we have to produce enough!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Emily, that is what I meant about a Hybrid, it doesn't need plugging in, but if most people go electric then we have to produce enough!

Very true about the electricity for all the electric cars! My dad always grumbles about this as in California there are tons of campaigns about not using any electricity between 1pm and 10pm because the grid is so overloaded.

 

[David]

Grid and local supply must become an issue here in UK as well. I hope the powers that be are putting plans in place.

 

[Stacia]

Grid and local supply must become an issue here in UK as well. I hope the powers that be are putting plans in place.

I don't think they think ahead! Have a brilliant idea but don't think it through or the consequences!

 

[David]

It's typical of government short term ism. They often only look as far forwards as the next election, it seems sometimes.