You're right! , I tell people when they ask me about chargers that I've never used them & they look at me in disbelief. I've been driving BEV's for just over five years now & still haven't used a public fast charger yet. I'm retired & we don't use the car everyday so can get by with a 7kW home charger perfectly.

@philiptaylor7902

4 ай бұрын

Same here. I've been driving an EV for 2 years now, and I have only ever charged at home or at work.

@paulhetherington6022

3 ай бұрын

11 years for me with no problem. Even took the 40kw leaf to Belgium.

I avoid charging at rapid charge wherever possible, knowing that I can charge overnight at home for 7.5p per kWh. Not many of my trips require a top up, but where they do , I keep the cost as low as I can, by only topping up with enough to get me back home, or to the destination that may offer cheap or even free charging.

@jamesbowskill362

3 ай бұрын

hope you have good home insurance ? & does your neighbour know they live next to a fire hazard !

@Jaw0lf

3 ай бұрын

You are really still saying EV batteries burst into flames? If you park an ice car next to the house that can be very flammable. You no doubt have gas piped into your home and that can be explosive. I have neither of those risks and far less with batteries. Any electrical item needs to be properly fitted to reduce risks in the home.

Have tried to talk on BBC 4 but they don't like talking to professionals.So really please Dave is getting the word out

@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834

4 ай бұрын

The Today programme is good, but you need to contact their business affairs reporter.

The parking garage seems to be designed as a 'faradays cage'. That might be the reason the mobile phone had problems.

Dave, a visit to Liverpool might be fun - the Council have rolled an impressive street charging infrastructure at a very reasonable 32p. Shame Shell are involved!

@PaulMcCormack1968

4 ай бұрын

I always avoid the fossil fuel companies, partly on principle, but also, they are so unreliable. It's almost as if they want to put people off switching to electric by making chargers look bad.@@foppo101

@johniooi3954

4 ай бұрын

@@foppo101 Look at how they price their fuel compared to supermarkets.. 1.39, shell 1.56.. same for their EV chargers..

Dave states the bleeding obvious about motorway chargers…….

I have had an MG4 for 18 months and have NEVER used any public charging point. I always charge at home.

@Mezman999

4 ай бұрын

When Octopus are to told to pull their subsidy then the expense begins.

I live in rural France and have owned the Kia e-Niro since March 2019, so coming up 5 years. France is a big place but even so we can do trips to the beach and back (120 km each way), airport runs to Bordeaux and back (380 km) and to our nearest towns of Niort and Poitiers (120 km round trips) easily....but we do use rapid charging on longer trips which in 2019/2020 was sometimes tricky but in the past 18 months or so has been so easy I don't bother using the app any more...there are plenty of chargers at all major services now. Costs are nowhere near as expensive as in the UK. We make an annual trip to the UK to see family and have to say the facilities and prices are a bit of a nasty surprise. We also have family in Switzerland and on runs over there (1,000 km each way)...we always manage to find a hotel which offers free charging overnight. Public charging in France has come down in price since Tesla opened up their network. We have used Tesla @ €0.43/kWh, Total, Ionity, Engie etc are typically under €0.60 but were €0.70 and more until Tesla came along. Never had to queue to get on to a charger, just coming up to 100,000 km on the clock

We have the luxury of charging at home, but on the rare occasions that I go into the office (no more than twice a year), travelling from Chester to Haywards Heath in West Sussex, I have to stop half way through the journey as our car only has a 38kW battery, but it’s a nice time to stop to use the facilities. I usually stop at Stroud Park, Banbury with around 12% remaining. It took around 45 mins to get back to 80% and then I completed my journey. It’s only on these longer journeys that we use rapid charging.

In 2 years I have yet to use a public charger

*Quite agree with all your comments, a few years ago did consider buying an EV as were stated to be the best thing since **_sliced bread_** however now so glad I opted instead to get a Mercedes (W247) B200 CDi AMG 8 Speed [Diesel] with 81 miles on the clock (ex Demo) with all the latest tricks etc - and got a massive discount of nearly 10k from list price. This has absolutely amazed me, so so quiet, incredible range and over 35 mile journey (A6/A46) to Newark in Eco Mode [Freewheels when lifting throttle] did nearly 90 mpg - hit traffic near end. This car will no doubt still be running in 20 years time and still giving good sensible practical use. I don't make many journeys outside most EV's Range, but during summertime take generally a trip every week of between 150-300 miles Cotswolds, Wales or Cromer - I start to RangeAnxiety when see only have 60 Miles left in tank and warning light comes on !*

Love the channel, love the Tesla supercharger network, it’s just a pity the none Tesla owners only get to use the odd one. We used one in Northumbria with our Enyaq it was the easiest rapid charge we have ever had. Sadly the rest of the EV manufacturers haven’t showed the real commitment to EV’s that Tesla did originally and more importantly continue to do by upgrading their already superior network. Ps, what’s the title of the Lancaster picture behind you please?

Have you visited Cardiff West services...planning a trip there

Here in Spain some local town halls supply free charging

All early Teslas had free supercharging remember. A lot of the people who got that still have it. Many of them supercharge 100%.

I want to see more chargers at Warwick services, nth bound and at the top of the m6 toll!

I can't even drive but I like the new technology

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

I love ❤️ Tesla Frunks! - And I can’t drive either. I’m a doll!

I always charge at home too. Will have to if I need to go more than 130 miles each way or away on hols in UK. Don't normally do that in either case.

Home tariffs at 7.5p per Kwh means that electricity is being subsidised which is wrong. Why should EVs fuel be subsidised when all other road fuels are taxed to the hilt?

Thanks Lee, there's a few Tesla apps on the Android app store, it's unclear which one I need. I haven't got any trips planned for a while so plenty of time to learn.

@djtaylorutube

4 ай бұрын

Tesla only publish one. That's the one you want, not any of the third party ones that do other stuff.

Dave. I charge at motorway services when I’m on a long business trip further than the range of my car. Though I don’t like it I prefer to have reliable very fast chargers with enough bays capacity in a mini or super hub of 6-12 super chargers as I’m on company time with meetings etc to get to. Gridserve and similar alas still 79p/kwhr or so 😕.

Honestly I didn't belive you when you said most people that own a tesla in the uk have solar panels so I did a fact check and to my supprise you are correct. According the source I used 52% of Tesla owners in the UK have solar 🤯,but even more shocking (at least to me) only 32% of Tesla owners in the USA have solar. Considering most of the US gets more sun than us and having larger houses I was expecting more .

@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834

4 ай бұрын

absolutely, here in South Australia Solar abounds...

@stuartburns8657

4 ай бұрын

Think what the OP says explains why EV private sales are faltering (excluding fleet due to green tax benefits) The 1st wave of EV owners where without exception quite well off, with a home with driveway for self charging. Generally able to replace their car every few years, so where used to a regular outgoings. Moving to an EV for that demographic wasn't much of a stretch financially. Now those 1st wave zealots have their EV's, the mainstream ICE motorist who DOESN'T typically pay >£450 pm for a lease, and owns a 2nd or 3rd hand car (brought for 7-13k) isn't exactly repleat with options? At least from a like for like size and spec of ICE to EV. Then are they lucky enough to be able to home charge? I keep hearing 'only' 40% can't, but when you factor in many homes which may have a driveway are rented properties, that will often make that unviable. After all, as a tenant, are you going to pay £750 (if the LL gives you permission) only to move or be evicted a couple of years later?

@bordersw1239

4 ай бұрын

Solar is now expensive to install in the U.S.

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

Electricity is very cheap In North America. Californians bitch, but hey!! they’re Californians. Quebec E rates are shockingly low. Quebec Gov. facilitated development of LFP batteries for cars…

I’m still waiting for a simple explanation and comparison of the best home chargers to use, as my EV is on order, and it seems like a minefield…..can anyone point me in some directions?

How about doing a video on using a Tesla charger in a non Tesla EV? Do I need an app, if so what app. I understand that V4 chargers are contactless payment but how do I find out which ones are open to all?

@leejonesNPT

4 ай бұрын

You need the Tesla app to access most Tesla chargers, the app will show what chargers are available, however the V4 chargers can also be accessed by non Tesla’s just paying at the contactless pad on those chargers. You can also see on the App what chargers allow non teslas.

@davetakesiton

4 ай бұрын

Video already out, how to use the Tesla app

North Wales is a Tesla supercharger desert with only one station covering 3,900 square miles.

@davetakesiton

4 ай бұрын

Bangor is opening soon

Hello mate

I recently reviewed my first 5 and a bit months and about 4500 miles with a small EV. I mostly charged at home at 7p/kWh with just 2 charges at Fast public chargers. Charging away from home represented 37% of my spend but only 5% of the miles - 17.2p/mile vs. 1.5p/mile. Public chargers cost me significantly more per mile than the frugal diesel car I had before the EV.

@stuartburns8657

4 ай бұрын

And this is the uncomfortable reality which will face the 10's of millions ICE motorists, who neither typically buy new vehicles, or are spending >£450pm on somekind of lease. Then those poor buggers who can't home charge..

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

What “small EV?” Experience with an EV may not generalize …

Business users who don't care how much it costs...it's all written off their tax bill

Great video Dave, this is another dose of timely common sense. It won't be that long (maybe next 5 years or so) before local filling stations start to struggle as demand falls and closures will follow. Who's going to be suffering from refuelling anxiety then, I wonder?

These rapid chargers are far too expensive, most I go to are between 79p and 85p per kW. I have a 3 year old electric car and ranges then were not as good as they are today so road trips are very expensive. Saying that 90% of my travelling is charging at home. I am currently renegotiating my home tariff and the number of cheap hours have significantly reduced meaning it costs significantly more to fully charge which I need to do for my daily commute. It feels to me that everyone is out to penalise EV drivers.

just plug it in your ring main. 2.4kwh

@djtaylorutube

4 ай бұрын

Too slow depending on how much charge is required, especially if the user has a time based tariff and only a set number of hours for cheap rate.

I get my first EV, a Volvo EX30 in 3 weeks time and I'm finding your videos really helpful Dave. I have had a home charger installed but sadly can't benefit from any of the cheap EV tariffs as none of the 3 Smart meters I've had fitted can connect to the DCC as I live in rural South Cumbria and the local signal is intermittent at best. Still, 29p/kwh is a lot better than the local Instavolt prices at 85p/kwh!!

@mdshovel

4 ай бұрын

Are you on "Volvo EX30 UK" or any other EX30 Facebook group?

@mdshovel

4 ай бұрын

With a new Volvo you get the VPCS card and app for Volvo Public Charging ... Instavolt is 47p/kwh using that. If the local signal is poor - you may have issues with the car as it pretty much runs via the Internet on Android Automotive.

@mickinmerton8053

4 ай бұрын

It may be worth looking around for a supplier that does Economy 7 which may not need a smart meter. That was the case for EDF but I don't know whether they have changed, this will give you a discounted rate overnight.

@christinelim4447

4 ай бұрын

@@mdshovel I am indeed!

@christinelim4447

4 ай бұрын

I am indeed @@mdshovel

Stating the obvious really.

if the main stream media like the BBC told the truth about EVs you wouldnt need to make these videos Dave .

@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834

4 ай бұрын

Even R4 gets it wrong occasionally.

@rodden1953

4 ай бұрын

@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 its about time there was a serious motoring programme on TV . Robert Llewellyn said he wouldnt have his show on TV because they tell you what to say .

@roxter299roxter7

4 ай бұрын

The mainstream is trying to prolong the petrol infrastructure and profits as long as possible before the go defunct. You can only feed people lies for so long before the truth becomes apparent. It’s like the Garry Larson cartoon where the cow finally realizes that he is eating grass.

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

Lucky for Dave that folks at The Beeb are such boobs ❤

Harrys garage has turned anti EV, take it on Dave

@dVb9

4 ай бұрын

I've watched Harry's latest video and I don't think he's anti-EV at all. He's not going down the route of indiscriminately rubbishing them or claiming that they're a fire risk, like so many others who I won't mention. He's simply making some very rational points about his specific use case (frequent long trips, towing, etc) and the genuine issues of battery degradation, falling used values and inflated insurance premiums for high-end EVs. He's also right to suggest that the incentives offered to company car buyers should reward efficiency rather than purchase price.

@Ifitwerks

4 ай бұрын

@@dVb9 Yes in fairness Dave has already covered battery degradation, falling used values recently and debunked them both, good stuff

@chrissmith486

4 ай бұрын

I don't think he's "anti" EV at all - they just don't fit his use-case, and that's the point isn't it, cars are all about use-case. I recently got an EV because I found one that is compatible with my requirements. Harry is towing shit (probably literally!) around, doing long journeys with a car full of family who probably don't want to be hanging around motorway chargers every few hours. I get it. It's incumbant upon EV manufacturers to drive forward the tech so that more and more EV models match up with more and more people's use-cases.

@davetakesiton

4 ай бұрын

Not exactly, he’s owned several and driven them for years and finally concluded they are not for him at the moment. I respect that, EVs are not for everyone. For other people they are ideal and very happy with them. I can’t understand why you have to try to turn this into a100% for or against battle.

Dave Kirbo going on Dragons Den 15th Feb 8 pm BBC 1 . After I emailed them to and to get a patent number .Please put it out Dave

Disagree with the comment about not charging every night. The scientific studies on batteries state that the least stress is when keeping within a small range of charge such as 40-60%. Since it's no effort to do that if you plug in at home, why not do that? Further, if the car is plugged in already, it's capable of battery heating if required and precondioning before a trip. I'm not referring to never going below 20% bullshit and never going above 80% that one particular KZread insists should be adhered to, simply that since it's not a challenge to plug in at home, no reason to not keep the battery happy. It makes no difference whether 1kWh is added per night or 7kWh once a week, there's no additional time or effort, which there clearly is if someone were to add half a gallon every day.

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

Research on batteries is chemistry-specific: each battery maker has specific guidelines for each genre.

@ab-tf5fl

4 ай бұрын

When charging at home, there is absolutely no reason not to charge every night. But, I think Dave's comment was referring to public charging for those that can't charge at home. Public charging is more of a hassle than home charging, so it's not worth doing that every night, just for the small benefit to battery health compared to doing it every several nights.

IMO one of the best cars to own if you don't have home charging is the Renault Zoe or the Scenic if you need a bigger car. With the 22kW onboard charger, a 30-minute top-up on a 3-phase charger will give you an extra 35-45 miles of range. Fast chargers are normally under 50ppkwH and will be much cheaper when energy prices come back down.

80% of EV drivers can charge at home? The other way of looking at that is that most people that buy an EV are wealthy enough to own a home with a drive. As for charging at home, my DNO has projected that when everyone has an EV there will be enough capacity in the local distribution network to put in 125-150 miles of range at home, once every 6 days. That's 21-25 miles per day per household, not per car. This is consistent with ENA standards for sizing transformers and street cables. The only reason you can plug in an EV today and charge it all night at 7kW is because hardly anyone else is doing the same.

@davetakesiton

4 ай бұрын

I suspect some people living in posh mews houses or plush apartments in central London may disagree with you. And to get to 100% EVs will take more than a decade so your friendly DNO plans to do absolutely nothing for the next 10 years? What a sad attitude

@brendanpells912

4 ай бұрын

@@davetakesiton That DNO projection is forward looking, and is consistent with projections from Ofgem for 2050. It doesn't say by the time everyone has an EV we will have upgraded the network so that everyone can plug in at night and have a full battery in the morning. The government isn't going to spend the money required to upgrade local networks, not when it's much cheaper to choke off demand by pricing mechanisms. They don't expect EVs - on average - to add more than 7kWh per day to grid demand, although it doesn't take into additional charging for those with their own solar panels & storage batteries.

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

Grid demand will decrease as nations electricity transport. Coal-fired power plants use massive amounts of electricity - same for refineries…

If you can't charge at hom, don't bother. If you ad up all the costs buying it, charging it, insuring it, The running costs will not get you your money back in five or more years, probably 10 years. When you come to sell it you will lose a fortune. Keep your petrol car for ten years, you will be quids in.

Watch Harry's Garage, I'm back in a diesel. Great points, very enlightening.

@FrunkensteinVonZipperneck

4 ай бұрын

Harry is back with diesels - so he can make a living! He repairs cars. EVs don’t need repairs. EVs don’t need Harry! 😂

@paultaylor1820

4 ай бұрын

You have clearly not watched Harry's youtube video, suggest you do.

@davetakesiton

4 ай бұрын

I have a lot of time and respect for Harry, he’s been there done that owned an EV and decided an EV is not for him. I hate the armchair experts who have never driven an EV or even sat in one yet tell everyone even EV owners they are no good. No time and no respect for them

@paultaylor1820

3 ай бұрын

@davetakesiton, why not address the issues Harry raises, instead of belittling those that have an opposing view to yours. I have a PHEV, which I consider far more practical than a full EV. Each to their own.