[Misc] Electric Cars

[Greg Bobkin]

Yep. Seems simple but try this on a penshioner and you’ve lost a sale in most instances. Any barrier, large or small, is still a barrier and puts people off.

Just use Gridserve – there are loads of them around. Connect the car, tap the screen with your card (assuming you have a contactless card) and away you go – the car is charging

 

[alanfp]

What exactly is it that you think they can't cope with? Remembering that these are people that already drive cars, of course, and accepting that EVs aren't practical in certain circumstances.

Remembering passwords, which you don't need to drive a car. Can you honestly say that you've never had to click on "Forgotten password?" ?
Phone battery going flat.
Not getting a mobile signal when it's needed.
Phone having an intermittent technical issue (eg arriving at the Amex turnstile with the tickets on my son's phone and he says "Ah, yes, the NFC thing has been playing up recently and doesn't always work").
Having to prematurely buy a new phone as the old one has run so short of memory that it can't download a new app.

That's why I'm pleased to see the new charging forecourts that work like a petrol station - no membership/app required.
Edit: Greg beat me to it regarding Gridserve!

 

[portlock seagull]

Of course I don't represent all of them - I didn't claim to, but I'm a fairly typical pensioner.

Your claim is "try this on a penshioner and you’ve lost a sale in most instances", which has now become "some".

What exactly is it that you think they can't cope with? Remembering that these are people that already drive cars, of course, and accepting that EVs aren't practical in certain circumstances.

Sake…. I was just making a general point that small things like having to find an app to drive a car can put certain or some types of people off change. It’s seen as hassle in comparison to the established norm. That’s is all. Stop being so picky and personal. Move on. It’s not a dig at you or anyone category. It’s human behaviour. And if you think is all so damned easy and straight forward ala “simply do x” or “just click on y” then pop over to Spain and Portugal and ask them how was Monday and Tuesday?

 

[portlock seagull]

Just use Gridserve – there are loads of them around. Connect the car, tap the screen with your card (assuming you have a contactless card) and away you go – the car is charging

Not me that needs convincing. Was just general point about some people get put off by such things / against change

 

[chickens]

Can anyone recommend the best app/s for finding/paying for charging points? I'm seeing a wide variety in the Apple Store, and I don't know if I should download one specifically or multiple!

Zapmap and/or Octopus Electroverse.

Electroverse is my go-to, it’s the only charging system I have used in the last six months, but Zapmap will show you others.

I’ve just had 100% reliability with the Octopus Card/App and there is absolutely no shortage of places to charge.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Not me that needs convincing. Was just general point about some people get put off by such things / against change

Well it can be a general point to anyone who might need convincing purely around the ability to charge. I misread your 'This is part of the problem. I shan’t be converting anytime soon. Hybrid still way to go,' comment is it being the deal-breaker for you.

In reality – as someone who has been there (but, admittedly not a pensioner) and someone who has encountered people faced with App-related issues – it's not that much of a big deal. Generally drivers stick with the outlets they prefer and then they just need one or two Apps. Or use the aforementioned Gridserve and not bother with any of them...

 

[portlock seagull]

Well it can be a general point to anyone who might need convincing purely around the ability to charge. I misread your 'This is part of the problem. I shan’t be converting anytime soon. Hybrid still way to go,' comment is it being the deal-breaker for you.

In reality – as someone who has been there (but, admittedly not a pensioner) and someone who has encountered people faced with App-related issues – it's not that much of a big deal. Generally drivers stick with the outlets they prefer and then they just need one or two Apps. Or use the aforementioned Gridserve and not bother with any of them...

Not much of an issue is a gross lie in many ways. For nearly a century powering a car has been established. The period we’re in now is one of change, and a lot of people still need convincing, even if they had money, for all sorts of reasons - including needing Apps and so forth to “just” and “simply” power their cars. However small that issue might appear to you and I, it’s enough to put some people off. Same arguments appear on here about transferring ST’s and taking guests. It’s just soooo easy to do!! Yet moving a finger across a smart phone screen is enough to prevent some doing so

 

[Rambo]

I absolutely love it (as you can tell by my previous posts on this thread). We've moved from a hybrid Q7, as the Q4 better suits our needs (as both daughters have cars of their own).

Plus points:

• Build quality
• Ease of use - it's ridiculously simple
• Driving position
• Amount of room inside
• Handling and comfort (even on the horribly potholed tracks which masquerade as the UK's road network)
• Whisper quiet
• Regeneration capability, meaning I can finish a journey with more charge than I started with
• Connection with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is a synch

I could bore on, but I'll just go with the aforementioned highlights.

I've not found anything to dislike.

The only element that caught my eye is under the bonnet - there aren't any gas struts to hold it up, just a traditional metal retaining rod that clips down when not in use. I presume that's because the bonnet isn't anticipated to be opened as regularly when compared to a normal petrol/diesel/hybrid engine.

Thank you.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Not much of an issue is a gross lie in many ways. For nearly a century powering a car has been established. The period we’re in now is one of change, and a lot of people still need convincing, even if they had money, for all sorts of reasons - including needing Apps and so forth to “just” and “simply” power their cars. However small that issue might appear to you and I, it’s enough to put some people off. Same arguments appear on here about transferring ST’s and taking guests. It’s just soooo easy to do!! Yet moving a finger across a smart phone screen is enough to prevent some doing so

Sorry, I was talking about the whole charging/Apps thing – in the grand scheme of things.

Of course, the transition to EVs is the biggest change that the motor industry has ever seen. That's the reason why I'm quite philosophical and forgiving about the perceived issues around 'range anxiety', charging infrastructure and the performance/sound/ability of the cars themselves. It's a MASSIVE learning curve – one that some drivers won't get on board with now, or ever, possibly.

There are clearly many barriers to entry for some people when it comes to EVs. All I'm saying is that with a bit of planning and research (something you obviously have to want to do in the first place), charging/paying to charge is the huge issue people believe it to be. Mind you, I'm someone that boycotts those stupid touchscreen ordering machines in food places, so I'm a hypocrite Some people in the media don't help either. I heard today about a motoring journalist for one of the nationals who wrote a scathing piece about EVs, purely off the back of his own incompetence of not charging the car he was in to 100% before he left home and then complaining when he had to charge when out and about. People like him should know better – but part of me thinks he did it/wrote about it on purpose...

 

[Fungus]

Sorry, I was talking about the whole charging/Apps thing – in the grand scheme of things.

Of course, the transition to EVs is the biggest change that the motor industry has ever seen. That's the reason why I'm quite philosophical and forgiving about the perceived issues around 'range anxiety', charging infrastructure and the performance/sound/ability of the cars themselves. It's a MASSIVE learning curve – one that some drivers won't get on board with now, or ever, possibly.

There are clearly many barriers to entry for some people when it comes to EVs. All I'm saying is that with a bit of planning and research (something you obviously have to want to do in the first place), charging/paying to charge is the huge issue people believe it to be. Mind you, I'm someone that boycotts those stupid touchscreen ordering machines in food places, so I'm a hypocrite Some people in the media don't help either. I heard today about a motoring journalist for one of the nationals who wrote a scathing piece about EVs, purely off the back of his own incompetence of not charging the car he was in to 100% before he left home and then complaining when he had to charge when out and about. People like him should know better – but part of me thinks he did it/wrote about it on purpose...

I assume you mean "isn't"

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I assume you mean "isn't"

I do!

 

[Blues Guitarist]

Can anyone recommend the best app/s for finding/paying for charging points? I'm seeing a wide variety in the Apple Store, and I don't know if I should download one specifically or multiple!

Octopus electroverse gives you loads of options.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I knew and understood that the effect of the temperature on the battery was a thing - but I am astonished by the extent of it.

The range of my fully charged Audi Q4 has increased from 220 miles in January, to a very healthy 296 this week. I'll charge it fully tomorrow if its still roasting, and see if I can see the magic 300!