Must try harder!

jwil

The thing with EVs is people often misjudge how much they actually drive, and how often they go long distances in a single day.  Many EVs have a range of around 300 miles now, so you could get a fair way around the country before needing to stop for a break and charge.  For many people, a single charge would last the best part of a week.

Charging infrastructure definitely needs to improve though.

KajiKita

I think EVs vary a lot by brand as well. My friend had a company car EV so it was brand new c. 2 years ago and the range on that was hopeless - c. 120 miles! 😳 But how would you know which are good and which not? 

The other thing that the chap next door (industrial electrician) pointed out is that the power grid transformer at the bottom of our garden that supports our entire hamlet, wouldn’t be able to cope if every household here got an EV …. 

KK
 

PennysIntoPounds

Mr WW can bloomin chip in for safety net spends if it's for both of you!
I'm so pleased you met your new friend again, what a nice boon to your day to day life. What's the goss in your manor?!
My nails always look a bit rubbish, they fall apart when it's my period then once they've recovered and grown out a little it's time for them to be proper frail again 

WinterWarrior

My fam are over 500 miles away. In an emergency I could do it in a day, but not if I had to kick my heels charging an EV half way down. I had also read somewhere that the country couldn’t cope if everyone had one. Just imagine the amount of charging points needed at every single service station 😖 Or if there was a disaster and the infrastructure went down. 

Thinking of disaster in general what did you all think of the advice about having 3 days worth of food in at all times? Apparently other countries (Finland, Germany, etc.) have advised people for a long time to have more than this. We never have bottled water in, but we’d be fine with pop, wine and random food. It does make you wonder what we should be anticipating. 
PIP I am still using sassy saints and they have allowed my nails to grow long as it’s rock hard, they are pretty shoddy underneath. I struggled to get the last colour off completely and my new attempt is a bit rocky because of that. I thought I’d be ok to file it smooth, but something didn’t quite work. I might have another go at saving them tomorrow. A bank holiday challenge 😅

jwil

I think it's generally good advice to have a few days worth of food in.  Just think if you are ill and can't get out.  However, with this government, I wouldn't trust them!

You'd be unlikely to drive 500 miles without stopping for a break.  You just charge then.  A fast charger will charge in around 30 minutes - plenty of time to use the loo and get a drink.  Obviously it relies on access to decent chargers.  The network is being upgraded to allow for electrification.  Technology in EVs is changing so rapidly, the world will be a different place in 2030, let alone 2035.  And in any case, petrol/diesel cars will still be around, it's only new cars that are going to be banned, but as more people electrify it will likely be harder to get fuel so it's swings and roundabouts.  

There are so many myths around EVs, mostly based on outdated technology or being spread by those with a vested interest in fossil fuels! https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/journey-to-net-zero/electric-vehicles-myths-misconceptions

WinterWarrior

I always did @jwil. 10 minutes for fuel and a wee 🤭 About a 9 hour trip and I didn’t want to prolong it.
It is a worry that everything moves so fast, you don’t want to buy the next ‘betamax’ or ‘8 track’ and completely waste your money. Setting up for home charging seems pricey and I know the government keep changing the goalposts on free road tax, etc. I’ve seen reports about them catching fire and others that when they break down/run out of juice a diesel breakdown truck comes to get them. such a big change it feels like a scary leap into the unknown. I will read your link with interest. 

foxgloves

My worries around EVs isn't so much availability of chargers (though that needs to improve) but more the tech side of things.....having to have multiple apps on phones because different charging companies being involved, machines or payment functions bring 'down' or not talking to each other, phone problems, all that sort of faff. And the cost of EVs is still too high. I refuse to borrow to buy one, so the only option would be to eat into our general savings. When we bought our current car (a mild hybrid), we started saving towards our next one so as to avoid this, but our target amount plus what we get for part-ex won't cover the purchase of an EV. I'm sure many people will continue to use car finance or loans, but as a household, we have finished with that particular route.
Interesting topic as 2030 looms nearer.
F

WinterWarrior

@foxgloves another interesting point. I’ve not yet dared to put Apple Pay on my phone 😬 I have also finished with the loan route and cars in general are rising in cost faster than I can save 😖

WinterWarrior

I hope everyone has had a good bank holiday Monday. I didn’t manage to take my car out, which is very annoying to me, as it’s something I enjoy, but MrWW had arranged for the mower to be collected to mend something they were supposed to mend a few weeks ago and failed! The pick up was planned for this morning, so I stayed in all morning and they didn’t show. In the end I pushed it out of the garage and parked it around the side for collection, went for my walk, came back just as it was starting to bounce down with rain. I dragged all the washing in and then had to push the mower back in the garage 😖 They finally turned up for it at 3pm and are still messing about in my drive trying to manoeuvre the lawnmowers in the van and trailer! He’s had the trailer unhitched once and everything unloaded, then everything getting put back. the ring doorbell has chimed a million times as he bumbles around and it’s driving me mad. I can’t leave while he’s blocking the drive and guess I won’t really have time after. I’m worried he wants to stay for tea 😅
i have managed nearly 12k steps so far and the weather was glorious…until it wasn’t. So half a good day and half very frustrating 😣

jwil

You're doing really well with your steps!