Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

JKenH

Strong demand for EVs sees new vehicle registrations in Europe hit highest level since pandemic

JATO said a lot of the growth in Europe’s new car market was thanks to electric vehicles, which accounted for 15.7 per cent of the total market share with 2,011,209 registrations – the first time it surpassed tw million units.

That figure nearly equalled the number of diesel cars registered at 2,049,157 units.

https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/strong-demand-for-evs-sees-new-vehicle-registrations-in-europe-hit-highest-level-since-pandemic/297781

Martyn1981

Nice to see the UK getting a mention for BEV's, and in this case it's for buses. I do hope that commercial BEV's act as a great advertisement for BEV's, when folk see them go past, or carrying out local roles.

Popped to our local tip/recycling centre last Sunday, and drove slowly (trying not to hold folk behind me up) past a parking area for rubbish trucks. All of them (in that area) had green stripe plates, and I counted about 15. We live in a triangle of roads, 2 of which are very steep - so it's fascinating on the days when we get a BEV rubbish truck, to hear how quiet they are. Normally, the diesel is revving hard in low gear to climb the hill(s), with extra noise, when the mechanicals at the back need to operate. Plus, all that lovely re-gen, as they stop/start their way down the hills every 5-10 metres.

We are also on a BEV busroute, and if the road is slightly wet, the tyre slapping noise is more than the leccy motor, and reminds me of the sound of cycling ..... albeit with slightly larger tyres.

Next Stop, Net Zero: Britain Boasts Europe’s Biggest New Zero Emission Bus Market

Buses are also at the vanguard of Britain’s net zero journey, with electric or hydrogen vehicles accounting for a phenomenal 45.1% of new single and double decker bus registrations — almost treble the new car market share. With 1,159 ZEV buses of all types entering service last year, the UK is Europe’s biggest ZEV bus market by volume.

Given their depot-based, circular routes, decarbonising bus fleets can be less complex than some other use cases — plus, the added halo effects of mass zero emission mobility, lower noise and improved air quality all prove highly attractive. Conversely, the minibus market, which often provides transport for schools and the health and social care sector, is struggling to invest in zero emission options, due in part to licensing restrictions.

Netexporter

I'm looking forward to a BEV artic delivering stock to my Local Spar for Local Pobl, in a couple of months time, when the transport company responsible takes delivery of the new vehicles.

JKenH

Is this the EV the private buyer has been waiting for?

New Dacia Spring to be revealed in full on 21 February

The Spring has been offered in other markets since 2021, and we’ve already driven it in European specification. But Dacia has now revealed the sub-£20k small car will go on sale in the UK later this year.

The Spring costs as little as £10,500, depending on individual countries’ EV incentives. We expect UK models to cost more, but at around the £16,000-mark it’ll be one of the cheapest cars, let alone EVs, on sale in the UK.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/dacia/109132/new-dacia-spring-be-revealed-full-21-february

Martyn1981

Nice compliment/compromise for trains running on leccy from overhead or 3rd rail - batts to supplement parts of the network not electrified. I'm a bit surprised to hear they already have ranges of around 100 miles, I would have assumed less, so a pleasant surprise.

Battery-powered GWR train 'breaks UK record'

A battery-powered train is thought to have broken a UK record during a test journey.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has been trialling its FastCharge battery, which it hopes will eventually eliminate the need to use diesel.

On 14 February, a test train travelled 86 miles on battery power alone without charging, through Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

A few days later, it travelled 70 miles on 45% of its battery capacity.

ABrass

BEV trains are a surprisingly brilliant solution. If you can run on batteries through tunnels then you can electrify routes without having to rebuild them at insane expense with only small batteries.

Larger batteries would mean you can just electrify the station, saving even more up front costs.

ABrass

Electric diggers!

https://electrek.co/2024/02/20/volvo-skanska-piloted-a-huge-electric-excavator-in-la-heres-how-it-went/

Martyn1981

EV range test by What Car. I think this one was particularly interesting for several reasons.

First, it was cold (but not extremely cold) but wet and raining, so more akin to UK weather/range concerns. I've certainly found that wet roads and strong winds seem to affect range more than cold, but a combination of all can be interesting, with wind also potentially boosting efficiency (well .... in one direction).

Secondly, all the vehicles did pretty well (obviously apart from the Toyota/Lexus offerings) with close to 70% of claimed range, up to 80% for the Mercedes EQE. Seems reasonable(?)

Thirdly, the Tesla 3 Highland still amazes with a measured 3.9m/kWh (in these conditions).

Lastly, two ID7's were tested, one with, and one without the heatpump option - the heatpump option was more efficient at 70.34% of range, with the other at 66.32%. So HP's are definitely great ..... however, if you have to pay extra for one, then the £1,050 for the ID7 HP, works out at around 85k miles to pay back on public chargers, and around 500k miles if charging on cheap rate.

How far can electric cars REALLY go?? – we drive 12 until they DIE! Tesla, BYD & more | What Car?

NigeWick

Martyn1981 said:

EV range test by What Car. 

My 2019 64kWh Hyundai Kona would do 200 mile at 70mph in 28f freezing fog with heating & aircon on. I've now got an April 2023 version and I don't know if it is quite as economical. But, it'll do me as I get bladder anxiety after about 150 miles.

Coastalwatch

Left 6.10am last Friday morning for a weekend away in Swanage, 5 degrees C outside, cabin warmed to 22 C so no scraping/wiping of windows required. The forecast was awful, strong head winds and heavy rain for the 220 mile or so journey there. Little rain until approaching the M25 then heavens opened so poor visibility especially amongst the convoys of heavy haulage with speed sometimes down around 50 mph as opposed to mid sixties otherwise. Two and a half hours and 120 miles later saw us at Cobham extra services having used over 50% of the battery's charge, initially estimated at 265! A fresh bank of Ionity charges had been installed since our last visit but made our way to the Gridserve pumps where only two of the six were in use. I guess not surprising at 79p/kWh. Hooked up and set car to charge up to sixty% only. Went to loo, purchased coffee and breakfast then out to check on charge status, all complete so freed up charger space. 

Further heavy bouts of heavy rain along M3  and sadly stationary traffic in opposing carraigeway following a prang in the outside lane with at least one car bonnet bent up like an A frame tent with emergency services in attendance. Once on A31 sky's began to lighten up with sunshine greeting us at Sandbanks ferry in time for the 11.30 crossing. A short drive to Swanage ensued and with checking in at BB from 5 - 7pm we headed for mainbeach carpark, £1/day until end of March, complete with Pod Point chargers at a reasonable 35p/kWh. Don't believe we would have made it without the top up at Cobham, not helped when bypassing the one and a half mile queue to join the shorter A3 route in favour of the distant M3 junction.

Saturday was mostly dry if fresh while Sunday was just glorious. Took the bus to the ferry terminal then walked the popular coastal path back to Swanage, some 8 - 9 miles with one loo break and one for a swift half at The Bankes Arms, arriving back some four hours later. Aching limbs making the £2 bus fare seem a real bargain.

A great weekend of music, food and real ale. The former being ostensibly Blues but with other genres thrown in for good measure.

Departed Monday 8.30 in time for the 8.50 ferry crossng with sat nav indicating the need to stop at Chelmsford in order to charge before making it home. For the first time in a decade we opted to take the northern circuit of the M25 as opposed to southern, planning to stop at South Mimms. Clear sky's, a tail wind and free moving traffic saw good progress and before too long the Chelmsford stop disappeared to show only our final destination. Pulled in to South Mimms, not our favouite, but surprisingly not being crowded showed it in a different light making for a pleasant break. Two Octopus vans charging in the lane opposite greeted our arrival while the lack of queueing inside made for a quick visit. Just the usual, plus tea/coffee. As we left the carpark I glimpsed a bank of Tesla chargers, perhaps as many as two dozen, recently installed yet still behind barriers. Didn't need them on this occasion, nor indeed for the rest of the journey arriving home with forty miles to spare. It does seem to suggest that wind direction, along with temperature and elevation does have an influence or range.

Just waiting for the sun to shine now so I can top up FOC once again.