Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

Grumpy_chap

Grumpy_chap said:

A neighbour of mine appears to have acquired a TM3 - that is I've seen one parked in roughly the same place for the past few evenings.  (It is possibly a guest at the "pub with rooms".) 

I find it a bit intriguing as, where they are parked (assuming not the pub, or short-term visitor) suggests they are one of a strip of houses without off-road parking and, hence, no at-home charging.  We have no on-street charging in our road, nearest is 1/4 mile away to the best of my knowledge.

I'll watch and try to find a way to chat with them about how they get on if they are, indeed, a resident without home charging facilities.

This TM3 is, indeed, the transportation for one of my neighbours.  I have no information on how they are getting on with charging and no at-home charging, but they have submitted a planning application for off-street parking and EV charge point so it looks like they certainly see that need.  No information on whether they see it as an essential need or a nice-to-have need.

On another note, I saw a Mercedes EQS today and thought it was competitively priced against the regular Mercedes S-Class.  It quotes a 450 miles range and efficiency of 17 kWh / 100 km (= 5.8 km / kWh = 3.6 miles / kWh) and, frankly, seems to offer all the car anyone could need or want.  There are certainly competitor models available but, for anyone (clearly not most people) spending £100k on a car, the case for ICE seems jolly difficult to make against this type of benchmark.

shinytop

I saw this in one a bike mag; nothing new but caught my eye.  A bit pricey but 80 miles range is plenty.  The best thing IMO is a removable battery.  If I had a city commute I might consider one.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/seat-mo-escooter-125-review-–-move-electric/n23814

Verdigris

II wonder if it would qualify you for an Octopus Go tariff, whilst waiting to get a decent secondhand battery car at a reasonable price?

JKenH

Hands-on with Vehicle-to-Load in the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5

I should add that the new MGZS EV has V2L as well. That does appeal to me, having waited (im)patiently for Nissan to offer a simple V2H solution for the Leaf. 

With the V2L adapter, Hyundai's new E-GMP electric vehicles can output AC power to run tools and gadgets or, in an emergency, even power appliances and charge other EVs.


https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/hands-on-hyundai-kia-v2l/

shinytop

JKenH said:

Hands-on with Vehicle-to-Load in the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5

I should add that the new MGZS EV has V2L as well. That does appeal to me, having waited (im)patiently for Nissan to offer a simple V2H solution for the Leaf. 

With the V2L adapter, Hyundai's new E-GMP electric vehicles can output AC power to run tools and gadgets or, in an emergency, even power appliances and charge other EVs.


https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/hands-on-hyundai-kia-v2l/

Now we're talking.  The Kia wouldn't quite power my ASHP but this would!  

Ford's upcoming F-150 Lightning, which arrives later this year, would probably make a better EV roadside assistance platform -- its Intelligent Backup Power System will be rocking 9.6 kW and outputting 240 volts. 

Martyn1981

OK, firstly I think this 'win' should come with a tonne of caveats, the big three being that:
1. It's Cali, not the US.
2. The Y is barely an SUV, just a fat three.
3. If needed, then the practicality of a pickup is entirely different to a CUV/SUV.

But still, a massive win, since I think it shows that the demand for BEV's is there for all roles, and as they prove their worth, this acceptance should spread across the US as a whole as supply of vehicles in all shapes and sizes starts to expand. I think Ford's shock at the massive demand for the F-150 Lightning, and their subsequent doubling up of production plans, twice, is further evidence.

Tesla Model Y = Top Selling SUV In California In 2021

It’s hard to believe, even as someone who has been placed firmly on the Tesla bull list for a decade, but the Tesla Model Y ended 2021 as the top selling SUV or truck in California! That is across all types of SUVs and trucks.

The Model Y outsold the #2 Toyota RAV4, a much cheaper vehicle. It also outsold the wildly popular Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado, as well as the pickup truck that so many Californians love — the Toyota Tacoma.

Of course, that also meant the Tesla Model Y was the leader in the luxury compact SUV — by far! It had almost 5 times as many sales as the #2 Lexus NX.

JKenH

Martyn1981 said:

OK, firstly I think this 'win' should come with a tonne of caveats, the big three being that:
1. It's Cali, not the US.
2. The Y is barely an SUV, just a fat three.
3. If needed, then the practicality of a pickup is entirely different to a CUV/SUV.

But still, a massive win, since I think it shows that the demand for BEV's is there for all roles, and as they prove their worth, this acceptance should spread across the US as a whole as supply of vehicles in all shapes and sizes starts to expand. I think Ford's shock at the massive demand for the F-150 Lightning, and their subsequent doubling up of production plans, twice, is further evidence.

Tesla Model Y = Top Selling SUV In California In 2021

It’s hard to believe, even as someone who has been placed firmly on the Tesla bull list for a decade, but the Tesla Model Y ended 2021 as the top selling SUV or truck in California! That is across all types of SUVs and trucks.

The Model Y outsold the #2 Toyota RAV4, a much cheaper vehicle. It also outsold the wildly popular Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado, as well as the pickup truck that so many Californians love — the Toyota Tacoma.

Of course, that also meant the Tesla Model Y was the leader in the luxury compact SUV — by far! It had almost 5 times as many sales as the #2 Lexus NX.

I wonder how many of the Toyota RAV4s which came second behind the TMY were the Prime PHEV.

Grumpy_chap

I think I saw a Ford Mustang Mach E this morning and surprised how similar to the iPace it seemed. 

Not sure if I was totally mistaken as the vehicle was moving and behind a bus, briefly crossing my path on my run.  Not the best set of circumstances for a proper look.

As for:

Tesla Model Y = Top Selling SUV In California In 2021

I don't conclude this as evidence that EVs can make it in any role.  EVs at present seem to be unduly dominated by SUV type cars.  I'd much prefer a proper car that happens to be an EV, so a Mondeo equivalent by way of example.  

michaels

Grumpy_chap said:

I think I saw a Ford Mustang Mach E this morning and surprised how similar to the iPace it seemed. 

Not sure if I was totally mistaken as the vehicle was moving and behind a bus, briefly crossing my path on my run.  Not the best set of circumstances for a proper look.

As for:

Tesla Model Y = Top Selling SUV In California In 2021

I don't conclude this as evidence that EVs can make it in any role.  EVs at present seem to be unduly dominated by SUV type cars.  I'd much prefer a proper car that happens to be an EV, so a Mondeo equivalent by way of example.  

I think Ford have stopped selling 'proper cars' in the US due to lack of demand.

Why Ford Stopped Selling Sedans - VehicleHistory

In the UK I think the Puma mini SUV (worth noting that previously the Puma had been a fiesta coupe) may now outsell the bread and butter fiesta of the same size.

Grumpy_chap

michaels said:

I think Ford have stopped selling 'proper cars' in the US due to lack of demand.

Why Ford Stopped Selling Sedans - VehicleHistory

In the UK I think the kuga mini SUV may now outsell the bread and butter fiesta of the same size.

I suspect that the Mondeo has only a finite time - it is no longer the default fleet car against options such as the Insignia.  Other "mid-market" models of this category such as the Laguna, i40, Optima and so on have also fallen by the way-side.  Those that do persist either share parts, Passat, Superb or sell in low numbers that make them "exclusive" (Peugeot 508), more so than the "exclusive" premium options of the same type - A6, 5-series, XF.

Before COVID, I was assessing options for a new car and really liked the Mondeo, but it was a difficult choice to justify given that both 5-Series and Lexus ES were available for lower discounted OTR price than the discounted Mondeo.  It seems certain that either of those "premium" vehicles would have held value far better than the Mondeo.

Current sales league tables are possibly distorted by supply constraints.  It is also a bit "chicken-and-egg" - the Fiesta and Focus were top-sellers so advertising promotion goes into the Puma / Kuga, so the sales follow where the investment went.

All of that is nothing to do with EV's.

The impact on EV's is that manufacturers are developing these as large SUV-style vehicles which will never be as energy efficient as their equivalent car models.  Possibly that is because EV's command a market-price premium that makes it easier to mask the uplift of being an EV versus ICE.  Look at Mercedes smaller family car as can example:

• A-Class hatch, from £26k
• A-Class saloon, from £28k
• GLA SUV, from £32k
• CLA coupe, from £32k
• CLA estate, from £33k
• EQA electric SUV, from £45k