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[STEMO]

I heard yesterday that Birmingham is considering holding a grand prix on its streets for electric cars. A milk float grand prix in my book; I think the drivers should dress as milk men, be required to drop off bottles every 2 laps.
More seriously, I wonder how many laps they would cover before their batteries went flat, and would they allow refuelling - battery pack changing - every 10 laps?

They change cars halfway through the 'race', Terry, jump out of one and straight into another. There are some very familiar names in the drivers list, mainly sons of former F1 drivers.

[chrisio]

Having driven a Leaf for 3 years

Totally OT, but how have you found it? I keep toying with the idea of an ev solely for my commute (50miles each way, free charging at work) once we move and having something more fun for all the other times I want a car.

I had a leaf for 3 years as well and I never got over the range anxiety.  50miles each way is fine as long as you can charge at both ends and is the sort of range I think the cars were designed for.  Despite the claimed range of my leaf I never got ANY where near it and on occasion could empty the "tank" in as little as 45 - 50 miles (70-80 is more normal depending on the driving style and terrain)

We were sold on the range being in excess of 100 miles and that's what the dealer told us so we always thought we would drive over to Newcastle from Penrith and charge it at my parents before coming home again  - we never once attempted that because of the lack of charge points on the A69 (other than Hexham which never seems to work when checking).

Would I have one again - yes but only when the range get MUCH better because for knocking round the doors and local commutes etc its brilliant and there is nothing like sneaking up behind a workmate and blasting the horn.

Cheers

[Gaffers]

Having driven a Leaf for 3 years

Totally OT, but how have you found it? I keep toying with the idea of an ev solely for my commute (50miles each way, free charging at work) once we move and having something more fun for all the other times I want a car.

I had a leaf for 3 years as well and I never got over the range anxiety.  50miles each way is fine as long as you can charge at both ends and is the sort of range I think the cars were designed for.  Despite the claimed range of my leaf I never got ANY where near it and on occasion could empty the "tank" in as little as 45 - 50 miles (70-80 is more normal depending on the driving style and terrain)

We were sold on the range being in excess of 100 miles and that's what the dealer told us so we always thought we would drive over to Newcastle from Penrith and charge it at my parents before coming home again  - we never once attempted that because of the lack of charge points on the A69 (other than Hexham which never seems to work when checking).

Would I have one again - yes but only when the range get MUCH better because for knocking round the doors and local commutes etc its brilliant and there is nothing like sneaking up behind a workmate and blasting the horn.

Cheers

I had a different experience.  I got over the range anxiety by planning ahead for trips.  I ended up taking it on journeys from Farnborough to Sheffield or Tenby.  You had to plan your stops which often coincided with breaks to eat or water the roses/drop the kids off.

The range keeps getting better and once I move to the US a Tesla Model 3 or S is on the cards.

[chrisio]

I think that it comes down to where you live with the electric cars.  I live in Penrith so apart from my charge point on the drive there is a free one at the Nissan Garage in Penrith (normal house hold charger) or one on the m6 at southwaite services which is 10 miles (ish) out and reghead (5 miles out)  Every other charge point seems to be heading away from where we ever wanted to go.  Like I say to get over to Newcastle (well Whitley Bay) we would have to charge at Hexham which on checking was rarely working which then scuppered the whole plan.

It wasn't for the want of planning - there just wasn't the infrastructure available (in suitable locations) for our planned journey's as I say for the local stuff it was great.  The Tesla on the other hand has the range that means most of our problems wouldn't be problems however the price point is slightly more than I would like!

[aaronjb]

*looks up where Penrith is*

I didn't know you had electricity that far north!?

[chrisio]

*looks up where Penrith is*

I didn't know you had electricity that far north!?

it's only just been discovered to be fair - but it is strange how what is suitable in one location just doesn't work else where,  if we lived in a reasonable sized town/city there would be a charge point on every other lamp post etc and charging would be a non issue. 

[TheBoy]

Let's have REAL milkmen, horses and all - their exhaust was ecofriendly and good for the roses!

Ron.

Ernie would win, because he had the fastest milkcart in the West.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e1xvyTdBZI

[TheBoy]

*looks up where Penrith is*

I didn't know you had electricity that far north!?

it's only just been discovered to be fair - but it is strange how what is suitable in one location just doesn't work else where,  if we lived in a reasonable sized town/city there would be a charge point on every other lamp post etc and charging would be a non issue.

I work in MK, which must be one of the better places for plug-in EV, but leave the grid, and you'd have range problems again.  But not an issue for most Kilton Keynees, as the world ends if you go beyond V1...

[Omegatoy]

*looks up where Penrith is*

I didn't know you had electricity that far north!?

it's only just been discovered to be fair - but it is strange how what is suitable in one location just doesn't work else where,  if we lived in a reasonable sized town/city there would be a charge point on every other lamp post etc and charging would be a non issue.

I work in MK, which must be one of the better places for plug-in EV, but leave the grid, and you'd have range problems again.  But not an issue for most Kilton Keynees, as the world ends if you go beyond V1...

Had to o to MK last week,first time in ten years,it has certainly grown, used to know me way round quite well,but must admit i had a few wtf moments in there!

[TheBoy]

*looks up where Penrith is*

I didn't know you had electricity that far north!?

it's only just been discovered to be fair - but it is strange how what is suitable in one location just doesn't work else where,  if we lived in a reasonable sized town/city there would be a charge point on every other lamp post etc and charging would be a non issue.

I work in MK, which must be one of the better places for plug-in EV, but leave the grid, and you'd have range problems again.  But not an issue for most Kilton Keynees, as the world ends if you go beyond V1...

Had to o to MK last week,first time in ten years,it has certainly grown, used to know me way round quite well,but must admit i had a few wtf moments in there!

Hasn't changed that much TBH, but has grown out East towards M1 and West towards Buckingham. It can't expand North as that's a different country, and Fenny/Water Eaton is the defined South border.

The centre changed 10-15yrs ago, with the extension to the shopping centre, blocking some of the roads.

The mongs are still the same though.

[Doctor Gollum]

We have three Leafs (Leaves?) at work. Typically getting 85-95 miles from them.

Love or loathe, they serve a purpose 

[BazaJT]

I don't think the Leaf[Mk1]is a bad car to drive.Trouble for me if I were tempted would be nowhere to charge it up!Range could certainly be a bit "hit and miss" as to how far any given driver could get from it.Are the new ones better on range?As far as I can remember according to the "rules" you can stop at any Nissan dealership at any time and charge it up for free,the local dealership to me[now no longer a Nissan dealership]had to have 2 charging points on the outside wall of the showroom for this very purpose.

[ronnyd]

The guy across the road from me took delivery of his new Leaf today. When i asked him about the range before it needs a charge he reckons it,s good for 150+. Is he deluded or has the local dealer been telling him porkies?

[Doctor Gollum]

Ask him on Friday 

[chrisio]

The guy across the road from me took delivery of his new Leaf today. When i asked him about the range before it needs a charge he reckons it,s good for 150+. Is he deluded or has the local dealer been telling him porkies?

Nope.  The new leaf is claimed to have a range of 150 miles which in real life will translate to around 120 miles or so if it's anything like our old one.