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[Kevin Wood]

Maybe one of these?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/fisker/karma-2011-2012

Hmm. Think I'd only go for fully electric. "Range extender" is the worst of both worlds, IMHO. Using electric power to lug around a petrol engine and a tank of fuel that you rarely use. Might as well use that weight to give it more electric range. Unless it's going to replace the Omega I only need it to have 70 miles of range.

Besides, it's had a good beating with the ugly stick, IMHO.

[aaronjb]

Yep. We're in the same boat. A leaf would be fantastic for my commute. 20 miles each way, little bit of urban but mostly A/B roads. Rarely exceed 60 unless I get an unusually clear run.. like I did this morning.

Lucky you  I hit every conceivable traffic jam this morning - lorry broken down on the A322 caused a tailback from the Swinley roundabout to Bracknell, then a broken down mummywagon at the lights by the M3 caused a tailback from there to .. almost the Swinley roundabout - just enough clear traffic to get your hopes up. All that dumped us right into rush-hour gridlock for the rest of the journey. Left home at 7.30 and got to work at 9.15 - it's only 20 miles!

I reckon I* could have cycled it faster.

(*Clearly a lie.. Guffer probably could have, though!)


Anyway.. we really ought to be able to do with just the M3, Omega and an EV, but insurance for Amy on either of my cars is prohibitively expensive (basically doubling my insurance costs!) so it's a no-go for now.. plus I'm a bit, erm, precious about my cars and who drives them 

So Omega, M3, Micra and Leaf? Oh and half a kit car in the garage..

[Kevin Wood]

I reckon if they did an electric Micra it would do well.

[henryd]

I reckon if they did an electric Micra it would do well.

Vw are doing the "e" Up

[Gaffers]

Just a little update.

So far no issues.  I took it in to London yesterday.  Dropping the wife off at work before heading to Ikea where they have a rapid charger (bonus).  Then drove to Earls court before going to Westfields in Stratford for a spot of shopping and meet up with a friend.  Unfortunately I don't have the 7KW charger so I couldn't juice up while shopping.  After driving around a little I set course for home and the sat nav said 46 miles, battery said 42.

I was a little nervous but I thought sod it lets see what happens.  Long story short, I got home without running out of juice although once you get to the last bar on the gauge the range estimation disappears which is a little disconcerting.

[tunnie]

Sounds good, I think there are charges here at Sky. There has been an electric Smart car parked at a charging spot for last 12 months 

Not sure what kind of adapter it is though 

From watching Top Gear, I remember they said it cannot be towed as it will damage the electric motors. Does that mean also it cannot be pushed?

What is the process if you do run out? Flat bed truck?

[Marks DTM Calib]

No good for my needs sadly, range is way to low and the carrying capacity also way to low.

[Gaffers]

There is a Neural gear, so I assume it can be pushed short distances, and there is a towing eye......

Normally though running out of juice means recovery (a year's free unlimited breakdown cover is included )

[Gaffers]

No good for my needs sadly, range is way to low and the carrying capacity also way to low.

Aye, it's not for everyone or indeed most.  But if fits our needs perfectly

[tunnie]

There is a Neural gear, so I assume it can be pushed short distances, and there is a towing eye......

Normally though running out of juice means recovery (a year's free unlimited breakdown cover is included )

Once I get the new place, if you are ever on the limit, welcome to stop by 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Could you put a small generator in the boot for emergencies?   

Or tow a small trailer with a generator charging as you go?      

[Gaffers]

Could you put a small generator in the boot for emergencies?   

Or tow a small trailer with a generator charging as you go?      

Would that not be worse than having a hybrid, which Kevin rightly pointed out is pointless?

Besides I already checked and you cant get a towbar for the Leaf, I already asked

[Sir Tigger KC]

Could you put a small generator in the boot for emergencies?   

Or tow a small trailer with a generator charging as you go?      

Would that not be worse than having a hybrid, which Kevin rightly pointed out is pointless?

Besides I already checked and you cant get a towbar for the Leaf, I already asked

Ha ha dunno Guffer, the trailer remark was made as a joke really!   

But when you think about it if a suitable gennie could charge as you go, say on a long motorway run at a steady speed it would certainly worth looking at....    A gallon of fuel would last a few hours I'm sure.....     You'd get a few funny looks though pulling into the services!! 

As to the towbar, even though the dealer might not fit them, I bet you could get it done elsewhere. Might cause warranty problems though.... 

[Kevin Wood]

Guessing it's not type approved for towing, so you could get in hot water if you tried.

It'll be a while before it'll do what my Omega did last week (550 mile journey with a glider trailer behind it).

[Sir Tigger KC]

Didn't really have that sort of thing on my mind, nor Pikey Palaces either! 

Just a little trailer with a small gennie.....    Maybe you could run a small gennie in the boot, venting the exhaust out the back somehow!!!