revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Why I am giving up on plug-in hybrids.

I have been running a PHEV for nearly two years. When I bought it I was expecting to be able to use an overnight charging electrical tariff which would make a reasonable saving per mile compared to petrol. This has not happened for two reasons. First EON Next insisted in installing a smart meter but have consistently refused to make it work, it has literally never worked! That has ruled out lower off-peak electricity charges. Then finally huge price increases made the effort of continually plugging in and recharging only marginally worthwhile. In summer I can run in hybrid mode ( no net use of electricity) and the SUV will achieve 45 mpg but in winter this can drop to below 40 mpg.

My next car will be a non-plug in hybrid and it remains to be seen whether the advances in engine and hybrid technologies will do better.

Smart meters would be my problem as well. I have a 1st gen meter that only works with BG, e.on have refused to swap it for another. I guess the smart meter box is ticked and they don't care if it works.

Taipan wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:33 pm Looking at an Artura and I must be missing the point of hybrids as that full electric range seems as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike!

TBH, that would be ideal for us. Big batteries are heavy and expensive, so they quickly become expensive to run.

We live 5 miles from our local town, so a significant number of our car journeys (shopping, kids to school, drive to station for work etc) are around 10-15 miles. Having an ICE engine for the big journeys, but a small and light battery/motor for the other 80% of our journeys would work out well. I don't think this is atypical tbh.

Horse wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:25 am As an aside, @636mick will be able to tell you the potential knock-on effects of major petrol and diesel spills on the road after collisions.

Often, a road will be shut for the clean-up. Sometimes needing resurfacing (and painting new lines, etc).

Yep, had to close a chunk of the M1 last week after a bin truck went up. It also split the diesel tank which was then on the road surface for 5 hours plus. Although it looks ok after being treated and cleaned, within a couple of weeks the surface breaks up, massive potholes and areas with no top surface left. Very expensive insurance claim against the bin truck owners policy.
Mick

roadster wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:58 am Why I am giving up on plug-in hybrids.

I have been running a PHEV for nearly two years. When I bought it I was expecting to be able to use an overnight charging electrical tariff which would make a reasonable saving per mile compared to petrol. This has not happened for two reasons. First EON Next insisted in installing a smart meter but have consistently refused to make it work, it has literally never worked! That has ruled out lower off-peak electricity charges. Then finally huge price increases made the effort of continually plugging in and recharging only marginally worthwhile. In summer I can run in hybrid mode ( no net use of electricity) and the SUV will achieve 45 mpg but in winter this can drop to below 40 mpg.

My next car will be a non-plug in hybrid and it remains to be seen whether the advances in engine and hybrid technologies will do better.

In fairness, this does sound more like an issue with your energy provider rather than any inherent issue or factor with PHEVs.

636mick wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:14 am
Very expensive insurance claim against the bin truck owners policy.
Mick

Can't remember the cost per metre of surfacing, but it's something like £1k per metre for barrier repairs.

Ford just pulled $12B away from EV development, Chevy just interested $1B in new V8 platform....

ZRX61 wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:27 pm Ford just pulled $12B away from EV development, Chevy just interested $1B in new V8 platform....

Aye, s'only $38bn they're spending now

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:28 pm

ZRX61 wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:27 pm Ford just pulled $12B away from EV development, Chevy just interested $1B in new V8 platform....

Aye, s'only $38bn they're spending now

They lost $12B on EV's, so I guess they decided to cut investment by the same amount to cover the loss.

Ford just stopped sales of hybrid Explorers & Lincoln Aviators to the general public:

https://www.motor1.com/news/697122/ford ... ng-around/

ZRX61 wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 5:43 pm Ford just stopped sales of hybrid Explorers & Lincoln Aviators to the general public:

Because they're selling so many to the police that they can't keep up with demand.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:03 pm

ZRX61 wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 5:43 pm Ford just stopped sales of hybrid Explorers & Lincoln Aviators to the general public:

Because they're selling so many to the police that they can't keep up with demand.

General public in the US wasn't buying them. I've never seen one & there aren't any on dealer lots... & I haven't seen any cop versions either. Gen 6 Explorers are still a rare sight after 3 years of production. Apparently ST's are 10% of sales. but around 35% of the Gen 6's I see.
Have only seen a single Gen 6 cop version in LA & it wasn't the hybrid.. they gotta be out there someplace.

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 8:25 am Isn't it meant to be powder or CO2 on electric fires? These guys clearly not done the 45 minute fire marshal training course.

Water. Vast amounts of water then pick it up with a crane and dump it into a skip full of water.

McSatan wrote: Wed Nov 22, 2023 11:13 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 8:25 am Isn't it meant to be powder or CO2 on electric fires? These guys clearly not done the 45 minute fire marshal training course.

Water. Vast amounts of water then pick it up with a crane and dump it into a skip full of water.

Search here for 'brine'

Kerbside charging from your house.

https://www.kerbocharge.com/

Horse wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:03 pm Kerbside charging from your house.

https://www.kerbocharge.com/

As you are guaranteed to get the space back when you return.

Horse wrote: Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:03 pm Kerbside charging from your house.

https://www.kerbocharge.com/

Assuming you can park right outside your house - how often will that happen?

I didn't say it was a perfect solution, but it's another method to charge vehicles that has previously been an objection/obstacle to adoption.

The flap may be able to cope with an artic driving on the kerb (how many do that?), but how about the young lady shown, in her stilettos (frequent). Remember your maths - 2 ton elephant vs 8st girl.... Broken ankle >> claim.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... r-AA1kOgst



Electric cars are far less reliable than traditional petrol vehicles, bombshell study finds
Story by Brett Lackey For Daily Mail Australia •


US publication Consumer Reports surveyed owners of cars built between 2021 and 2023, along with a small number of 2024 models, and found electric cars had 80 per cent more problems than cars propelled by internal combustion engines (ICE).

Among the most frequently reported troubles were battery and charging system issues as well as flaws in how the vehicles´ body panels and interior parts fit together.
Over the three model years, EVs had 79 per cent more problems than ICE cars, while plug-in hybrids had 146 per cent more issues.

Consumer reports found that EV vehicles had 12 potential problem areas, while hybrids had 19, plug-in hybrids had 20 and ICE vehicles had 17.

But the study also found that despite new EV cars having simpler drivetrains, petrol vehicles had been finely tuned over the years to be highly reliable.

The magazine and website noted that EV manufacturers are still learning to construct completely new systems, and it suggested that as they do, the overall reliability of electric vehicles should improve.

'This story is really one of growing pains,' said Jake Fisher, senior director at Consumer Reports.