EV Discussion thread

JKenH

Rise of tactical registrations could damage residual values

Used car values are under threat from a rise in manufacturer-backed tactical registrations, warns Indicata.

The company’s latest Market Watch report highlights the significant role tactical registrations played in the April used market. Sales of sub-12-month-old cars increased by 39% year on year.

Currently a number of nearly new used cars, in particular electric vehicles (EVs), are being registered but are failing to be wholesaled as dealers continue to limit the number of used EVs they are buying to add to their forecourts.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/rise-of-tactical-registrations-could-damage-residual-values

JKenH

Interesting statistic.

There are now over 100 different EV models on sale in Britain

The UK's automotive trade body states that almost a third (29.3 per cent) of models on the market in 2024 are electric.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/electriccars/article-13451413/00-different-EV-sale-Britain.html

CKhalvashi

JKenH said:

Rise of tactical registrations could damage residual values

Used car values are under threat from a rise in manufacturer-backed tactical registrations, warns Indicata.

The company’s latest Market Watch report highlights the significant role tactical registrations played in the April used market. Sales of sub-12-month-old cars increased by 39% year on year.

Currently a number of nearly new used cars, in particular electric vehicles (EVs), are being registered but are failing to be wholesaled as dealers continue to limit the number of used EVs they are buying to add to their forecourts.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/rise-of-tactical-registrations-could-damage-residual-values

Sales of sub-1y cars may or may not indicate a rise in this though.

Many fleets (hire, some driving schools etc) replace their fleet at about the 9 month mark. We have had vans rented from a company that changes their fleet at about 6 months old (some of these were changed every 3 months), making their money between new price discounts and the amount they sell them for, for various periods in the past.

JKenH said:

Interesting statistic.

There are now over 100 different EV models on sale in Britain

The UK's automotive trade body states that almost a third (29.3 per cent) of models on the market in 2024 are electric.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/electriccars/article-13451413/00-different-EV-sale-Britain.html

We noted that there's still no proper convertible. MG are likely to be the first and the offering looks very competitively priced compared to other models from other manufacturers in the pipeline.

Wouldn't be practical for us, but our fleet manager (who has an LPG converted Mercedes SL350 currently) doesn't want to change from a convertible car. She also needs a reasonably long range as while her day to day drive is quite short, that car goes to Lithuania with her a few times a year. They also have an Electric Jag (purchased used) and are waiting for the new model range to come out before upgrading this.

lordmountararat

We noted that there's still no proper convertible

There is a Fiat 500e with a roll back roof, but of course it is very small and has a limited range.

JKenH

HMRC cuts AER electric car reimbursement rate to 8p per mile

HMRC has cut the Advisory Electric Rate (AER) for fully electric cars by 1ppm as it also announces new Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) for the upcoming quarter.

The AER falls to 8ppm from 1 June 2024 

The rates are HMRC’s recommended amounts to reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars. Employers can pay higher rates where employee costs exceed them but must prove this is necessary to avoid the excess being subject to tax.

https://fleetworld.co.uk/hmrc-cuts-aer-electric-car-reimbursement-rate-to-8p-per-mile/

JKenH

Toyota Is Working Backwards To Stuff Engines Into EV Platforms

It's worth noting that news of Toyota and the other Japanese automakers doubling down on ICE powertrains after making a big show of their electric future just last year may be disappointing; after all, Toyota in particular has lobbied hard against EVs globally. At the same time, smaller and less polluting gas engines will be needed and useful in many places, and the plan has some implications for EVs as well.

In fact, the automaker is reversing an age-old trick of hacking battery power into an ICE platform and instead finding unique ways of developing its future combustion powertrains into purpose-built EV platforms meant to house battery-electric drivetrains.

We're seeing similar moves across the board, from Mercedes to Stellantis, and turning engines into, essentially, range-extenders for EV platforms may represent a near-term future for the technology. 

https://insideevs.com/news/721237/toyota-subaru-mazda-ice-ev/

JKenH

Somewhat bizarre regulation being introduced in Greece. Can anyone explain the logic behind it? Does the state of charge affect the likelihood of a battery catching fire or make it burn longer/more fiercely?

You Can't Use Ferries in Greece if Your Electric Car Has More Than 40 Percent Battery

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/you-can-t-use-ferries-in-greece-if-your-electric-car-has-more-than-40-percent-battery-234555.html

zxzxzx

No it’s not fire risk, it is because of the danger of sinking due to the excess weight of a fully charged battery.😉

MeteredOut

zxzxzx said:

No it’s not fire risk, it is because of the danger of sinking due to the excess weight of a fully charged battery.😉

I'd wager there's a 40% chance this "fact" will end up in a Daily Mail report  

EDIT: Apparently, a charged battery does have more mass!

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/34421/does-the-mass-of-a-battery-change-when-charged-discharged

(spoiler alert: not by much though)

zxzxzx

MeteredOut said:

zxzxzx said:

No it’s not fire risk, it is because of the danger of sinking due to the excess weight of a fully charged battery.😉

I'd wager there's a 40% chance this "fact" will end up in a Daily Mail report  

EDIT: Apparently, a charged battery does have more mass!

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/34421/does-the-mass-of-a-battery-change-when-charged-discharged

(spoiler alert: not by much though)

….actual LOL, thanks!

“I knew that, he lied unconvincingly.”