Shore supply electrics

[Lewis McColl]

I live 75 miles from Bordeaux and really it is now the most travelling we do in the car, twice a week to see the kids. We are thinking of getting a second car so went into a Renault dealer to have a look at the new and improved Renault Zoe. Nice little car, so the sales man is giving the rundown on the car. I asked him can I take one for a test run as they had a demo model. I will just bring it round he came back red faced um!!! sorry we forgot to put it on charge last night.
I asked him what the range was he said Renault are claiming with the new uprated battery 300kms.I have just been reading some blogs, that range is in warm weather.
Considering my round trip that is 240kms, also taking into account costs, I will quote UK prices Cheapest Zoe is This model Dynamique Nav R110
From
£18,420 after PiCG†
Model shown has optional metallic paint at £650

Additional mandatory battery hire from £59 per month required†
3 years warranty & Renault Assistance††
Free domestic wall-box fitted at your home by Chargemaster^^

Then there is this and it has a fuel range of probably 600 miles okay it is petrol
Expression SCe 70 Stop & Start
Price Now
£8,495
Model shown has optional paint at £250

Cash price £8,495 (includes a Renault customer saving of £1,500)
EasyLife Pack at £99**
For finance options please speak to your local dealer

I know the post is a bit allover the place but in all seriousness who in there right mind is going to go down the Electric car route, to me only those who have a lot of disposable income. I would like to go down the green route but someone somewhere is taking the piss. Sorry if the post is a bit disjointed but I am sure you get my drift.

[Keith Tindell]

I think it will be a long time before we see ALL electric cars in any great number, but the hybrids are already seen fairly often , even on this little outpost here, but they will of course have to hook up to the electrics just the same. Unless of course we all go similar to the old rarely now seen milk floats, travel at 15mph everywhere, i don't know what range they had, but the batteries to replace must be horrendous, kt

[Lewis McColl]

Keith I think the concept of the hybrid is electric power assist the likes of the Toyota Prius does not require a hook up to a power point or at least that is my understanding.

[vic mcclymont]

Story in the papers this week. Guy bought a Volvo electric car. Paid £850 to have the charging point installed at his home by Volvo personnel,by the way UK Government gave in £500 contribution.
Plugged the charging plug into the socket, went indoors,smelled burning car had caught fire, burnt out.
Volvo sending an engineer to investigate.
Vic

[Keith Tindell]

You are correct Lewis, i have just looked that up, the Toyota Prius charges the battery while driving via the engine, does not use the usual alternator system. kt

[vic mcclymont]

Sweden are trialling an electric road, which will charge the batteries of electric cars.
Sunk in the road are power rails, as the electric car drivers over the rails a charging arm is dropped down and connects to the rails.
A meter is fitted to monitor consumption.
Vic

[Ivan Cloherty]

Sweden are trialling an electric road, which will charge the batteries of electric cars.
Sunk in the road are power rails, as the electric car drivers over the rails a charging arm is dropped down and connects to the rails.
A meter is fitted to monitor consumption.
Vic

Upsidedown trams spring to mind!

[happy daze john in oz]

Upsidedown trams spring to mind!

Yes we had such in London way back in the age of the tram.
But in China they have developed a bus that runs on electric pads set in the road.

As to the hybrid style of car, when they first came out were very popular here in Oz but very few around now.
More diesel cars now particularly in the SUV class which is the second biggest here now.

[vic mcclymont]

Lewis, the all electric car batteries are based on the Lithium cell batteries of the mobile phones, these batteries have a finite life, on average about 1000 charges / discharges.
Vic

[robpage]

When you look at how Green electric cars are you'll never see the disposal of the spent batteries in the calculation and because it seems to be deliberately missing it makes me high the suspicious I've actually how wonderful and ecologically friendly electric cars are