Diesel & petrol alternatives? Your thoughts please

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I think the point is having an electric car is not necessarily a barrier to making emergency journeys. Boff was pointing out that with his car, with 75% state of battery it’s a journey that might take 15 mins longer than a petrol car. Of course there may be a host of other reasons why such a journey might not be sensible. 

On Sunday my daughter was coming from Manchester to Milton Keynes by train. Her train turned round and returned to the station just after leaving because of a “serious incident “ at Stoke. Even though my car was on around 70% having used it that morning, I was ready to get in an go and get her if needed (a 270 mile round trip). However, our first choice would have been to use then train network if at all possible, because it would have meant a 2.5 hour wait in Manchester while I drove to get her. 
As it was the incident was cleared quite quickly and the train journey was able to resume. 

Now if my car was a 7 year old Leaf or ZoE with only 80 available miles, and so was only on 50% SoC, it would have taken rather longer to get there and back - making other options preferable - but would still have have been possible.

"We are coming to visit you today it will be OK to use your electric to charge our car when we get there?     "rather than find a charge point 

Not that that scenario would be applicable where we live,they would have to find a working charge point

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Same may well apply to any  EV motorcaravans, who at this time can  hope to stop anywhere

"We are coming to visit you today it will be OK to use your electric to charge our car when we get there? "

If I need to charge when visiting friends or family, that is exactly the question I ask, along with the statement "I will pay for it". Though, so far, I have never need to charge on arrival, and mostly my friends are keen to see how it works so they can judge for themselves if it is viable for them. 

I would always plan to get a charge on route if needed, so that I was not reliant on their infrastructure to help me out. 

You make a good point but I think its even more pertinent with that cross Europe journey I described to Northern Croatia. I wonder how many of the 5 night halts use would be willing or able to charge me up again for the following day.

Ask them, and indicate you are happy to pay. Again - exactly what I do. I have just booked a few nights at a CL near Rutland water, and that was a question we asked the owner. "We tow with an electric car. Is it ok if we charge while on site and pay extra for what we use?"

I will probably public charge wile we are away on that trip too, but its not a hard question to ask. 

 

CT writes: 

Ask them, and indicate you are happy to pay. Again - exactly what I do. I have just booked a few nights at a CL near Rutland water, and that was a question we asked the owner. "We tow with an electric car. Is it ok if we charge while on site and pay extra for what we use?"

Whilst searching through the information for many CLs I was surprised by the number that stated "No Electric Vehicle Charging" This is probably not solely down to the cost but their electric infrastructure may not be suitable, especially if more than one vehicle wanted to charge up.

Yes - its becoming more known, and that is why I ALWAYS offer to pay. I don't expect the CL owner to foot my bill for charging, but on the other hand, If I need to charge at a location I am going to (not always the case) I will make it clear that if I can't charge (and pay) then its not the site for me. 

I suspect infrastructure is not the issue. I plug the car into the external socket on the caravan, so I am charging through the regular hookup. That means I am using a part of the van's power allowance. The site would have to cater for all 5 vans to be potentially running 16A (or 10A if a 10A site) all at once. What the source of that load is (kettle, heating, fridge, lights, TV, hair dryer, toaster, electric griddle, car charger) is immaterial. 

 

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Well not my problem if they chose the wrong EV.   They did however tackle the situation 2 buses and a train if I remember correctly was what you claimed.    It is bit strange whenever I have been on a diverted a flight transport has always been laid on to get me to the original destination. 

I am truly sorry if you thought I was insulting your daughter and her partner it really wasn’t my intention.    However you really don’t like people answering you back with your my way or the highway attitude, that you have frequently displayed now and in the past.