Electric vans

[bigspark17]

Any body have or thinking about getting an electric van?

im considering the vivaro e. The 50kw battery will do 143 miles which is more than enough for me. With the goverment grant of 20% off zero emmisions vans up to £8000 its coming out at onlu a few grand more than a new vivaro diesel. British made and also a good usefor the BBL. any views?

 

[Mike Johnson]

I think at this early stage in the development of electric vehicles it would be fool hardy to buy one, the better option, if you really want to go that route would be to lease on a three year option, full service cost and maintenance included, in fact you just have to pay for insurance, no road tax?

 

[UNG]

I think at this early stage in the development of electric vehicles it would be fool hardy to buy one, the better option, if you really want to go that route would be to lease on a three year option, full service cost and maintenance included, in fact you just have to pay for insurance, no road tax?

EV development is hardly in the early stages, development has been ongoing since the 1970's with range still being one of the biggest issues to overcome along with battery longevity

 

[Mike Johnson]

Is that an oxymoron?

 

[UNG]

Take it as you want

Look up Chloride Silent Power they were one of the leading companies in the development of batteries for electric vehicles when they closed in 1996 the company assets were sold at auction but all the batteries and any other commercially sensitive equipment relating to the battery manufacture had been removed to storage at the parent companies HQ for future use and parts of the factory where also off limits during the auction
If the American oil companies lobbying of the US government had failed back in the mid 90's EV history may have been radically different to what it is now as Silent Power were ready to go to market only to be thwarted by the oil companies

If you go back in history the electric vehicle has been around since the mid 1900's it was another 100+ years before they started to develop the technology further to compete with the internal combustion engine

 

[Wilko]

If you go back in history the electric vehicle has been around since the mid 1900's it was another 100+ years before they started to develop the technology further to compete with the internal combustion engine

I had the thrill of riding in this little beauty, a 1959 Ford Prefect that was converted to battery power by my neighbourhood auto electrician, Mr Doring. I recall (probably faultily) that it had 25 HP and a range of 40 miles. It was Sydney in ... err ... well a long time ago.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

the electric vehicle has been around since the mid 1900's it was another 100+ years before they started to develop the technology further to compete with the internal combustion engine

I understand the point you are making and in today's context that is true, but arguably it was competing from day one. Fully functional electric vehicles were around in the mid 1880s and the first racing vehicle to reach 100km/h was electric. Electric cabs and buses were in commercial use in the first decade of the 20th century, before rapid developments in internal combustion performance and economy overtook those of electric vehicles.

 

[Moley]

Only 143 miles range? That's not much of an advance over the years. Bedford (ok, how many remember Bedford?) were selling an electric CF back in 1984 with a range of 50-60 miles. Okay, it did take 8-10 hours to charge but just doubling the range in 36 years isn't much of an improvement. If you want to see the Bedford sales brochure follow this LINK

 

[Mike Johnson]

What was the range of the old Milk Floats?

 

[suffolkspark]

@bigspark17 if your considering a vivaro take a look at the fiat talento.... it's the same van but drastically cheaper, engine and trim vary but it's essentially the same, mate of mine got his for 17k brand new from dealer on 2017.

 

[jackhammerJIM]

With the amount of pushing the electric car is getting I am just concerned that our infrastructure will not be able to keep up, no matter how many monstrous wind farms are used to blight the landscape, I understand from a post on here somewhere that Bristol already has a problem.

Just to add insult to injury, Eurotunnel has priority parking and free fuelling points for electric cars, I have asked where I can fill up my conventional car for nothing, hmmm still waiting for an answer.

We will have a serious problem after 2025 when gas is banned from new build houses .

 

[Mike Johnson]

Well the problem could be solved with new power stations to produce more electricity, being a bit of a cynic I wonder if the push for electric everything is a precursor to the Government implementing a push on Nuclear power without too many objections.

 

[DPG]

Well the problem could be solved with new power stations to produce more electricity, being a bit of a cynic I wonder if the push for electric everything is a precursor to the Government implementing a push on Nuclear power without too many objections.

Hope so. We need more nuclear power. I'm all for renewables, but it needs to be in conjucntion with something more consistent.

 

[UNG]

Well the problem could be solved with new power stations to produce more electricity, being a bit of a cynic I wonder if the push for electric everything is a precursor to the Government implementing a push on Nuclear power without too many objections.

Please explain how producing more electricity will help (see post #12) when the DNO networks are on the limit now

 

[cloverman]

With the new government initiative, We will all be on pedal power becoming a fit and slender nation.
No more cars required !

On a serious note, I feel we are a long way off in the push to make everyone go down the route of electric vehicle, perhaps in the big cities they may be more common place, But I can't see it anytime soon in the rural areas of the UK

 

[DPG]

With the new government initiative, We will all be on pedal power becoming a fit and slender nation.
No more cars required !

On a serious note, I feel we are a long way off in the push to make everyone go down the route of electric vehicle, perhaps in the big cities they may be more common place, But I can't see it anytime soon in the rural areas of the UK

I agree, it makes sense for town and city commutes. The cars can cope with the shorter journeys, there are charge points available, and it keeps pollution down in urban areas.