Do you think that the UK switching to electric vehicles is realistic?

[Noddy]

You wouldn't need to do anything if there was on street charging. People want their own charger to save money but if they can't and the Government wants to reduce reliance on fossil fuels it makes sense to fund solutions like this.

Who pays? Society in general. If you don't own a car, you presumably breathe the same air as everyone else.



I wouldn't just run a cable over a footway as someone visually impaired could trip, or just someone not paying full attention. I'm sure if someone had an injury they'd make a civil claim which is another good reason not to do it.

Thanks. Although the advice varies between the two councils I would not risk liability even as inferred by the more lenient Hampshire County Council. I think a trend could be more and more caution as time goes by - I certainly would not buy an EV on the assumption that the advice would not get stricter. Also I assume a Town Council s rules could override the County Council's rulse ?.

Yeah if you are just running a cable out you are clearly creating a hazard and (for example) you have not ‘taken all necessary means to give adequate warning of the danger’. But if you (safely) use one of the systems available (the one I linked to is high visibility and also has a sign you can attach) you it would be virtually impossible to prosecute.

 

[jon0844]

Thanks. Although the advice varies between the two councils I would not risk liability even as inferred by the more lenient Hampshire County Council. I think a trend could be more and more caution as time goes by - I certainly would not buy an EV on the assumption that the advice would not get stricter. Also I assume a Town Council s rules could override the County Council's rulse ?.

I've seen some ridiculous charging on my estate, albeit not recently perhaps because someone had a word.

One was a cable along the floor of a pavement and a trip hazard, the second the cable actually off the floor at about waist height to go into a kirchen window. I suppose you could limbo under.

The owner must have assumed people would cross the road to pass it, just as people park on pavements.

Some people lack common sense and may need to be 'told' what is safe or not. God knows how they drive.

 

[Krokodil]

Some people lack common sense and may need to be 'told' what is safe or not. God knows how they drive.

I think that we've all encountered many motorists who really shouldn't be driving.

 

[jon0844]

I think that we've all encountered many motorists who really shouldn't be driving.

But some seem to want to be capable of injuring others even when not in their car!

 

[stuu]

When I lived in Fulham and then London Docklands, local car ownership was high. Not just owners / renters of apartments but also of terraced town houses (whether as a single owner, or split into multiple apartments).
We had on street parking; however, Hammersmith & Fulham Borough's permit didn't guarantee a space outside our house, merely "on a designated permit parking road within all H&F".
In Docklands, car parking was either underneath apartment blocks (both for new-builds and for warehouse conversions), or located in a completely separate area to residences - and no way to run charging cables to flats.

On that premise, I don't see how folk living in such properties, could realistically expect to home-charge an EV.

According to the 2021 census, the ward with the highest percentage of households with cars in Fulham is at 55%, most are less than 50%. Nowhere in Docklands is close to 50% of households having a car

 

[jon0844]

According to the 2021 census, the ward with the highest percentage of households with cars in Fulham is at 55%, most are less than 50%. Nowhere in Docklands is close to 50% of households having a car

Docklands is very mixed in terms of housing with the gentrified areas probably having more car owners (expensive ones at that) just like parts of the west.

 

[stuu]

Docklands is very mixed in terms of housing with the gentrified areas probably having more car owners (expensive ones at that) just like parts of the west.

The census data is very granular, not quite at individual building level but enough to see that the areas where the new residential towers are don't have many car owners

Number of cars or vans - Census Maps, ONS

Census maps is an interactive tool to explore Census 2021 data across England and Wales for different topics down to a neighbourhood level.

www.ons.gov.uk

 

[Bletchleyite]

Local authorities have the enforcement powers and their opinions differ.

Hampshire say can be OK:
https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/electric-vehicles/ev-charging-guidance


Oxfordshire say never OK:
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/resi...g/energy-and-climate-change/electric-vehicles

The main issue with this is that it furthers parking wars by implying an entitlement to park outside one's home. For this sort of street providing communal charging (and not profiteering from it by charging well in excess of domestic rates) is the best plan.

 

[renegademaster]

The main issue with this is that it furthers parking wars by implying an entitlement to park outside one's home. For this sort of street providing communal charging (and not profiteering from it by charging well in excess of domestic rates) is the best plan.

That's not going to stop parking war's though, everyone is just going to fight over whose turn it is on the lamppost.
Numbered spaces would be a better solution

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's not going to stop parking war's though, everyone is just going to fight over whose turn it is on the lamppost.
Numbered spaces would be a better solution

I am totally fine with the idea of renting specific spaces to specific households, but if this is done it should be at the going rate for that area of land in that location (so much, much more than a typical resident's permit at present).

With regard to lamp post charging I mean with enough sockets for everyone. 13A would be fine.

 

[renegademaster]

(so much, much more than a typical resident's permit at present).

Any council who'd do that the governing party would end up loosing every seat

 

[Bletchleyite]

Any council who'd do that the governing party would end up loosing every seat

Doubt it. Something like 60% of homes have driveways or other off road parking, and others may be happy to pay more to guarantee their own space.

 

[renegademaster]

Doubt it. Something like 60% of homes have driveways or other off road parking, and others may be happy to pay more to guarantee their own space.

Having to pay £400 a month plus to have guests round will not be popular. Even if it was , the 40% is still relevant, 90% of cars are ULEZ compliant but that didn't stop Labour failing to win seats where the national trend suggested they should

 

[Bletchleyite]

Having to pay £400 a month plus to have guests round will not be popular.

Pay and display/pay by phone guest bays with commercial rate charging would be part of the provision.

 

[Bald Rick]

So who pays for all this new infrastructure. People with no car.

Who pays for almost all infrastructure? we all do.

 

[E27007]

Still no update from the dealership (who have had it since 22nd July). Could be that they are procrastinating over what to do - or that they genuinely just don't have enough people suitably qualified to diagnose and fix the problem.

A very poor show, six weeks and no resolution
1) a car which may catch fire is a serious safety issue, surely VW ought to be treating the fault with top priority for safety concerns and corporate liability
The VW id4 has over the air connectivity with VW the manufacturer, if the id3 is similarly connected, then VW support may perform remote diagnostic processes without a direct attendance by a vehicle technician.
3) the decision to replace the high-cost battery will not be made by the dealer , the decision and authority will be from VW support HQ based on a process of investigation between VW and the dealer.

Have you considered rejecting the vehicle as unfit for purpose?
?

 

[jon0844]

I noticed in Hatfield station car park, which Grant Shapps proudly used to announce a large number of EV charging bays on one of the higher levels (I can't remember if this was also around the time that we got the green number plates launched?), has removed over half of them and seemingly reverted them to normal spaces. Earlier this year, they went from free charging (which was fantastic for commuters who could offset the parking charge by getting their vehicle charged up after a full day) to being chargeable, so I am quite surprised to see this.

Meanwhile, another car park near Welwyn Garden City has expanded the number of EV charging bays. However, these are rarely anywhere near full, but on some occasions it was impressive to see almost all the EV charging bays at Hatfield in use by EVs. They were certainly popular and the remaining bays seem to be well used still.

The car park can get busy in the week now passenger numbers are pretty much back to pre-Covid levels, but I am not aware of it ever becoming full - there are more levels above that are usually pretty empty and especially the uncovered roof level. So I am not sure if the EV bays have been removed for capacity reasons or something else, but it certainly seems like a backward step.

 

[paul1609]

I noticed in Hatfield station car park, which Grant Shapps proudly used to announce a large number of EV charging bays on one of the higher levels (I can't remember if this was also around the time that we got the green number plates launched?), has removed over half of them and seemingly reverted them to normal spaces. Earlier this year, they went from free charging (which was fantastic for commuters who could offset the parking charge by getting their vehicle charged up after a full day) to being chargeable, so I am quite surprised to see this.

Meanwhile, another car park near Welwyn Garden City has expanded the number of EV charging bays. However, these are rarely anywhere near full, but on some occasions it was impressive to see almost all the EV charging bays at Hatfield in use by EVs. They were certainly popular and the remaining bays seem to be well used still.

The car park can get busy in the week now passenger numbers are pretty much back to pre-Covid levels, but I am not aware of it ever becoming full - there are more levels above that are usually pretty empty and especially the uncovered roof level. So I am not sure if the EV bays have been removed for capacity reasons or something else, but it certainly seems like a backward step.

I'd guess it's almost certainly a capacity issue on the local distribution grid. Leicester Forest North Services are the most famous case where the chargers have had to be taken out of use but there's also a services further north on the a1m where the fast chargers are powered by large diesel generators.

 

[AM9]

Leicester Forest North Services are the most famous case where the chargers have had to be taken out of use but there's also a services further north on the a1m where the fast chargers are powered by large diesel generators.

Frankly, unless a short-term arrangement following a failure, that should be illegal.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Frankly, unless a short-term arrangement following a failure, that should be illegal.

Diesel generators are used to top up the grid too. There's a set here for example:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

It's not ideal, but at least it keeps burning dead dinosaurs out of city centres where it causes most harm.

(Locally, the karting track causes far more pollution, though I'd expect karting to switch to electric soon enough to be honest)

 

[AM9]

Diesel generators are used to top up the grid too. There's a set here for example:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

It's not ideal, but at least it keeps burning dead dinosaurs out of city centres where it causes most harm.

(Locally, the karting track causes far more pollution, though I'd expect karting to switch to electric soon enough to be honest)

Non-green generation is used to provide power to the grid, but to create a new source of CO2 generation soley for a commercial energy supply should only be for a limited period until a permanent compliant source is installed. How long will this setup be permitted.

 

[Noddy]

I'd guess it's almost certainly a capacity issue on the local distribution grid. Leicester Forest North Services are the most famous case where the chargers have had to be taken out of use but there's also a services further north on the a1m where the fast chargers are powered by large diesel generators.

Frankly, unless a short-term arrangement following a failure, that should be illegal.

My understanding is that the Gridserve generators are powered by vegetable oil/bio fuel (and batteries charged at times of low demand) so while not clean it is better than diesel (less carbon and renewable bi-product). And yes this solution is short term while waiting for a proper grid connect.

Gridserve using second-life batteries and biofuel to power rapid chargers

Gridserve is using second-life batteries and biofuel to help speed up electric vehicle charger activation.

www.fleetnews.co.uk

I’ve just checked and 12 Gridserve chargers are available so presumably they’ve got a full grid connection now and the generator is stood down.

 

[paul1609]

My understanding is that the Gridserve generators are powered by vegetable oil/bio fuel (and batteries charged at times of low demand) so while not clean it is better than diesel (less carbon and renewable bi-product). And yes this solution is short term while waiting for a proper grid connect.

Gridserve using second-life batteries and biofuel to power rapid chargers

Gridserve is using second-life batteries and biofuel to help speed up electric vehicle charger activation.

www.fleetnews.co.uk

I’ve just checked and 12 Gridserve chargers are available so presumably they’ve got a full grid connection now and the generator is stood down.

I haven't been there for nearly 2 months now but when I was last there it appeared that the 4? original chargers had a normal connection and the rest shared 1 between 2 chargers an aggrecco diesel generator of the sort you'd hire for use on a building site. Those chargers in use appeared to have their diesel generators running, it may well have been biodiesel, it's obviously impossible to know.

 

[AM9]

I haven't been there for nearly 2 months now but when I was last there it appeared that the 4? original chargers had a normal connection and the rest shared 1 between 2 chargers an aggrecco diesel generator of the sort you'd hire for use on a building site. Those chargers in use appeared to have their diesel generators running, it may well have been biodiesel, it's obviously impossible to know.

But either way it is a cO2 generator.

 

[jon0844]

I'd guess it's almost certainly a capacity issue on the local distribution grid. Leicester Forest North Services are the most famous case where the chargers have had to be taken out of use but there's also a services further north on the a1m where the fast chargers are powered by large diesel generators.

Is that common, as in a service is provided and has to be scaled back due to supply issues? I'd have assumed it would just result in future expansion being delayed until the grid supply is upgraded.

Plus wouldn't you just turn off the equipment instead of physically removing it? The pods or whatever they're called at Hatfield are gone and blanked off now.

 

[GusB]

The Fully Charged Show has a review of the Kia EV3:

If I could afford it, I'd certainly be tempted!

 

[Harpers Tate]

But either way it is a cO2 generator.

If that's a comment on bio-fuel (vs fossil) then, whilst what you say is absolutely true, the difference is that - because bio-fuel is made from recently grown bio material, it is considered carbon neutral since the CO2 produced is offset by the recent CO2 absorption of the plants used. "New Carbon" if you like. Whereas fossil fuel is releasing carbon that was captured millions of years ago.

 

[AM9]

If that's a comment on bio-fuel (vs fossil) then, whilst what you say is absolutely true, the difference is that - because bio-fuel is made from recently grown bio material, it is considered carbon neutral since the CO2 produced is offset by the recent CO2 absorption of the plants used. "New Carbon" if you like. Whereas fossil fuel is releasing carbon that was captured millions of years ago.

The captured CO2 during it's growing phase may arguably cancel out the release when burnt, but the harvesting, processing and transportation is far from offset anywhere.

 

[E27007]

If that's a comment on bio-fuel (vs fossil) then, whilst what you say is absolutely true, the difference is that - because bio-fuel is made from recently grown bio material, it is considered carbon neutral since the CO2 produced is offset by the recent CO2 absorption of the plants used. "New Carbon" if you like. Whereas fossil fuel is releasing carbon that was captured millions of years ago.

A puzzling argument, biofuel carbon has been stored short-term and is then released again , would it not desirable to store the carbon long-term?

 

[Harpers Tate]

The captured CO2 during it's growing phase may arguably cancel out the release when burnt, but the harvesting, processing and transportation is far from offset anywhere.

Sure. But (as I said) the assumption is it's a comparison against fossils, to which those secondary factors apply - perhaps to an even greater degree.

A puzzling argument, biofuel carbon has been stored short-term and is then released again , would it not desirable to store the carbon long-term?

Yes, of course. Hence "neutral" as distinct from "negative".