Is electric really the answer?

[Kimbers]

But the ZEV mandate is a massive thorn in their side. All of them. Both in Uk which is even stricter and EU which has already extended their mandate to 2035.

Like the Sky News article says, one of the biggest problems is that Chinese companies can make the cars at half the price of European companies. So they are currently taking half the orders in Europe away form the existing manufacturers who then can't get anywhere near their mandate.

That being said the UK Govts Mandate is rediculous. Such a high % increase year on year. They keep asking us to take 20% EV and all the fleet companies refuse and they still do the deal for ICE cars anyway as they need to sell cars! 

I keep saying it. Massive changes coming!

[Kimbers]

Fiat boss warns Government of ‘electric vehicle crisis’ (fleetnews.co.uk)

[Mark Blanchard]

 

[DarrylV8]

Part of the Tesla tool kit 🤔

[mayevora]

I'm getting fed up of comments from people ridiculing EVs. They don't know what they're talking about.
Personally, I drive two top of the range EVs, a Jaguar and a Porsche.
Their acceleration and handling is fantastic. They look brilliant and they're really cheap to run. They need hardly any maintenance and haven't depreciated since I bought them. 
Literally the only criticism I could make of them is sometimes, if I really push them into a corner, they can fly off the track and get stuck under the sofa....

[Escape]

Sounds like you have one of these:

[exeterjeep]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c90zjne2v0jo

Electric car driver turned away from hospital car park told to park next to nearby grass because his car "could explode.

temporarily banned access to the car park while it improves its sprinkler system.

[jonwat]

Today's Times report:

One in ten electric cars are being sold for a discount of 20 per cent — and carmakers are so desperate that they are about to start offering free chargers worth £1,000 too.

A Honda that cost £37,052 a year ago is selling for £29,656, a reduction of 20 per cent, according to the marketplace Auto Trader.

Manufacturers are under pressure because rules that came into force in January mean they will be fined if 22 per cent of their car sales this year are not electric. The penalty is £15,000 per vehicle, although they can soften the impact by buying credits from rivals such as Tesla or if they exceed the quota in future years.

[jep]

It's a con. Now the government subsidies have finished in most territories, low and behold, manufacturers prices drop. 

Yet again, taxpayers have filled the bank accounts of the car companies. It happened with diesel, twice, and now electric. 

Justin 

[Mark Blanchard]

[Kimbers]

Your update from my trade Press. As you know I am not an advocate of EV's but especially the idiotic plan to Electrify Commercial vehicles with the load limits, mileage restrictions and lack of range that all that entails. Seems like the Trade are starting to agree with me after many trials have failed abysmally. You can't flog a dead horse and the politicians need to start listening to knowledgable people in the trade rather than the manufacturers who just pander to the politicians to get more money. If all Manufacturers just said "Nope, we refuse to make them anymore" and overnight stopped EV manufacture until the infrastructure, range, useability and technology is further reasearched (and they are honest about how bad they are for the environment) then what could the govts of the world do? Stop their economies? Pffft!:

 
Electric van demand falls
Deliveries of zero emission LCVs were down 42.4% in April, with the SMMT warning the ZEV target for 2024 will be missed.

[Escape]

1 hour ago, Kimbers said:

If all Manufacturers just said "Nope, we refuse to make them anymore" and overnight stopped EV manufacture until the infrastructure, range, useability and technology is further reasearched (and they are honest about how bad they are for the environment) then what could the govts of the world do? Stop their economies? Pffft!:

Import more state owned cr@p from the PRC?

[exeterjeep]

https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/ineos-boss-says-ev-demand-has-dried-up-as-he-calls-on-governments-to-rethink-electrification-plans/301561

Ineos boss says EV demand has ‘dried up’ as he calls on governments to rethink plans

Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes major swipe at EVs

Ineos owner calls for a ‘transition period’ between fossil fuels and greener alternatives

He also claims ‘you can’t give a second-hand electric car away in the UK’

[C8RKH]

On 08/05/2024 at 11:27, Kimbers said:

Your update from my trade Press. As you know I am not an advocate of EV's but especially the idiotic plan to Electrify Commercial vehicles with the load limits, mileage restrictions and lack of range that all that entails. Seems like the Trade are starting to agree with me after many trials have failed abysmally. You can't flog a dead horse and the politicians need to start listening to knowledgable people in the trade rather than the manufacturers who just pander to the politicians to get more money. If all Manufacturers just said "Nope, we refuse to make them anymore" and overnight stopped EV manufacture until the infrastructure, range, useability and technology is further reasearched (and they are honest about how bad they are for the environment) then what could the govts of the world do? Stop their economies? Pffft!:

 
Electric van demand falls
Deliveries of zero emission LCVs were down 42.4% in April, with the SMMT warning the ZEV target for 2024 will be missed.

And yet when I clicked on the link above for the Ratcliffe story this pooped us as the next story!  Part of the issue is this confusion in the market place....

https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/could-electric-vans-be-the-next-big-revenue-stream-for-your-dealership/301381

[Kimbers]

A lot of it is a "Positive Spin". I know several Journo's (well people around me do) and they are constantly being bombarded by requests from Manufacturers and Govt organisations to only publish positive things about EV's.

I pity those who believe them, though they only tend to do it once, but for Vans its an income stream they get shafted on.

Incidently, My new Peugeot Partner Diesel 1 ton van, fully laden averaged 57.6mpg and did 600 miles without missing a beat or needing any fuel!

Conversely the E-Partner we tested had a "Claimed range" of 170 miles (Empty with the wind behind us) and actually managed a staggering 107 miles on a motorway with a half load. 

On my 600 mile trip that means I have to add another just under 5 hours to my trip Just for charging!! And that's if the charger is free!

How useable is that in real life?

Oh and here's an article backing up my figures (nearly). They say 120 miles but subject to conditions.

https://www.drive-electric.co.uk/electric-van-leasing/peugeot/e-partner/

[Bibs]

Long distance - Diesel

Local - Electric

Job's a peach. 

[Kimbers]

I don't know any companies who use vans who do under 100 miles a day even multi drop deliveries. 

Commercial EV isn't viable for 99% of uses.

[C8RKH]

I agree @Kimbers hence the "irony" in that article and my comment re the disinformation that is being constantly spread.