- Nov 11, 2009
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It’s been around quite a while now. My daughter has one on order for delivery late January. It also recoups charge by regeneration during braking.
Toyota are a bit later to the party than most which is surprising given it’s over 10 years since the Prius was introduced.
PS The point is it was a very good deal via NHS leasing, it allows her to act as chauffeur evenings on electric, or pop to the shops without starting the engine, and do her community nursing on petrol without having to look for charging points. So not a total waste.
Toyota are a bit later to the party than most which is surprising given it’s over 10 years since the Prius was introduced.
PS The point is it was a very good deal via NHS leasing, it allows her to act as chauffeur evenings on electric, or pop to the shops without starting the engine, and do her community nursing on petrol without having to look for charging points. So not a total waste.
- Jul 18, 2017
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The new one is not yet on the show room floor so I think you might be referring to the older model?
- Nov 11, 2009
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Okay so the one on order may have a few less miles on electric. When she was loaned one by the dealership she got about 8 miles on electric. Be interesting to see what arrives.
A question does it actually use its engine to recharge the battery. Seems inefficient use of fuel other than to keep emissions down in urban areas? Regeneration comes for free.
- Jul 18, 2017
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I think the new one you can plug in. I posted about it in the tow cars section?
- Nov 11, 2009
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That’s not a self charging hybrid it’s a PHEV. Since Toyota introduced a later version of its Corolla hybrid in 2021 my daughters will be pretty up to date as far as the SC model is concerned.
- Jun 20, 2005
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I wonder where this is taking us and EVs long term?
The expansion of the GWR line to Bristol via Bath has been abandoned due to cost as indeed has part of HS2.
As one who has warmed to the idea of EVs the question now is this the correct economic way to go🤔🤔or is something green wagging the wrong tail🤔🤔
As one who has warmed to the idea of EVs the question now is this the correct economic way to go🤔🤔or is something green wagging the wrong tail🤔🤔
- Jul 18, 2017
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I wonder where this is taking us and EVs long term?
The expansion of the GWR line to Bristol via Bath has been abandoned due to cost as indeed has part of HS2.
As one who has warmed to the idea of EVs the question now is this the correct economic way to go🤔🤔or is something green wagging the wrong tail🤔🤔
The take up on EVs outside the EU is almost negligible as the majority of the world is not ready for EVs and do not have the infrastructure for EVs.
Africa with a population of 1.2 billion has only 1509 EVs and they are all in South Africa. South America, with a population of more than 420 million registrations for EVs were below 18 000.
Why would any car manufacturer in their right mind drop the manufacture of fossil fuel vehicles when there will be a demand for a couple of decades or possibly centuries?
It is our government and others in the EU that are killing off the manufacture of ICE vehicles even though the infrastructure will not be in place by 2030 or even 2050. EVs are going to come at a high cost to run in comparison to ICE vehicles unless something drastic is done with the supply of electric and prices lowered.
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- Nov 11, 2009
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I think the problem with the electrification of that line and the one into South Wales was the substantial escalation in costs way above budgets. Like the HS2 and the new Cross Rail line under London that is over budget and over time. Our problem seems to be an inability to estimate, plan and undertake major infrastructure projects of this type. I just get very disappointed when visiting countries with far less resources and wealth than UK and find their rail infrastructure is electrified and has been for a long while. Yet it has been well known even before emissions became a topic that electrified rail has lower life cycle costs than diesel.I wonder where this is taking us and EVs long term?
The expansion of the GWR line to Bristol via Bath has been abandoned due to cost as indeed has part of HS2.
As one who has warmed to the idea of EVs the question now is this the correct economic way to go🤔🤔or is something green wagging the wrong tail🤔🤔
- Nov 11, 2009
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You seem to have omitted the 1.2 million electric vehicles produced in a China in 2018., and the continuing growth of their market.
Whilst I can understand some car makers reluctance to cease ICE production because some areas of the world don’t have the infrastructure to support EV, it should not diminish the efforts of other countries to support their introduction , or vehicles running on hydrogen perhaps. It’s naive to expect the world to move at one pace but why should doing nothing be an attractive option. Regarding the supply of charging points what isn’t well publicised are the large steps being taken to install them. Take Surrey council for example they have ordered 17000 to be installed by 2030, in addition to those being installed elsewhere by supermarkets, leisure centres, fuel stations etc. Until large amounts of electricity are generated by renewable resources there's probably going to be a link between oil, gas , nuclear and renewable energy prices for some times to come. Will energy prices come down to the low prices we have had for years? Probably not and it’s something we may have to live with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elect... plug-in,in China for the entire year of 2018.
Whilst I can understand some car makers reluctance to cease ICE production because some areas of the world don’t have the infrastructure to support EV, it should not diminish the efforts of other countries to support their introduction , or vehicles running on hydrogen perhaps. It’s naive to expect the world to move at one pace but why should doing nothing be an attractive option. Regarding the supply of charging points what isn’t well publicised are the large steps being taken to install them. Take Surrey council for example they have ordered 17000 to be installed by 2030, in addition to those being installed elsewhere by supermarkets, leisure centres, fuel stations etc. Until large amounts of electricity are generated by renewable resources there's probably going to be a link between oil, gas , nuclear and renewable energy prices for some times to come. Will energy prices come down to the low prices we have had for years? Probably not and it’s something we may have to live with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elect... plug-in,in China for the entire year of 2018.
- Jun 20, 2005
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I agree Clive.
The problem is we want to be green but at what cost? If the rail companies can’t make it work is there a chance for us mere mortals?
The problem is we want to be green but at what cost? If the rail companies can’t make it work is there a chance for us mere mortals?
- Nov 11, 2009
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Dusty
We take the view that irrespective of what legislation will or will not bring as individuals every little bit helps. Making small changes, and then a succession of such changes eventually begins to count especially if it is magnified through populations.
Am I naive?
- Mar 14, 2005
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No I don't think you are naive, Clive. Historically similar problems of infrastructure and cost beset virtually all major new developments including the first ICE vehicles. We are at the very early stages of having to juggle between the convenience of ICE vehicles, and the green credentials of EV's, and other low carbon/emmision transport solutions.
Because there is no one size fits all solution, differnt technologies and models will evolve to the meet the myriad needs of the world markets.
Even looking at ICE vehicles now century or more on from the first motor vehicles, the diversity of models and specifications available shows that even over 100 years we have not yet produced the universally ideal vehicle, and I think its fair to say the market has had more than enough time to do that if it were a realistic possibility. So I don't see EV's managing it either.
Because there is no one size fits all solution, differnt technologies and models will evolve to the meet the myriad needs of the world markets.
Even looking at ICE vehicles now century or more on from the first motor vehicles, the diversity of models and specifications available shows that even over 100 years we have not yet produced the universally ideal vehicle, and I think its fair to say the market has had more than enough time to do that if it were a realistic possibility. So I don't see EV's managing it either.
- Jun 20, 2005
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Not naive at all Clive. As the owner of two EVs I can appreciate the end of use pollution from performance. It does seem however that there has to be a balance between cost and pollution. Have our railways got it wrong? The Jury’s out😉
Going back to the electrification of the west rail line, the cost of the electrification through the Severn tunnel was a childish mistake. The tunnel wasn't tall enough for the overhead structures. Bridges have been demolished and rebuilt along the line, and the line is near enough ready for use. The lions share of the cost has been spent. I suspect there is an ulterior reason for electrification not being introduced. After all the fuss in Bristol and Bath with the low emission zones for motorists, I am surprised they are allowing dirty diesel trains in the city. Perhaps it's just the carbon emission from cars that is responsible for climate change and not from trains.
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- Jan 31, 2018
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And here I am wondering if we should sell our Buc and the Navara and go for a Ioniq ev 6 and a 1600kg caravan-not sure we would want to be without the underfloor heating (ever again) though-or the luxury but there are some nice vans out there and we could get electric underfloor maybe!
- Nov 11, 2009
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Your EV could supply the underfloor heating when off grid. Then call Green Flag for a quick boost to get you to a charging point 😂
We had an Adria with electric underfloor heating (which was unexpected as it wasnt in the advertised spec). Why it was there I dont know, but it was absolute rubbish. It worked off 230v but was 24v heat panels in the floor. We never bothered with it. There was conventional gas/electric heating too.
- May 7, 2012
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I am not convinced there is any point at the moment as the charging network is not reliable or good enough at the moment with only a handful of sites that can take a car towing a caravan. I think that things will change as EV's move up the size scale but that is someway ahead. The range of any EV towing still seems to be little more than 100 miles so that has to increase as refuelling twice on a longer journey is not acceptable to me.
I am seriously thinking that when we change we might go for a hybrid which should give cheaper day today running though. At the moment this is just a thought, but a comprehensive look at what is on offer and could work as a tow car would help me if the magazine wants to print one.
- Jun 16, 2020
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After a recommendation by Buckman some years back I bought one of these matts. It fits nicely into the lounge area. It’s the very best extra I have purchased for the van and makes it so much more comfortable under foot. Highly recomended, though they have gone up in cost.
Though they are only 80 watts, it got a bit too warm. I fixed that with one of these.
John
- Jul 18, 2017
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I don't suppose it will be much fun arriving on a site and then having to "book" a slot to charge your vehicle and you are at the back of the queue and you are leaving the next morning. I cannot see many caravan sites installing individual charging posts on pitches as it will take them a very long time to recoup that outlay never mind the cost of the electric.
- Jan 31, 2018
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I don't think there is a lot of outlay-am sure there are big incentives for businesses to install them -as we're going to be getting one at work I am told-and it's a no brainer for the company apparently-only repeating what I've heard here. But I'm the only one with an ev at the mo so happy days!
Caravan site charging of EVs will be best done overnight at a slow charging rate - but that'll still need site electrics upgrading especially if caravans are all-electric.
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