Electric vans

[BruceB]

Details of the plug in van grant here:
Plug-in Van Grant - Department for Transport
Anyone taken the plunge?

Regards
Bruce

 

[oldtimer]

I would take one in a heartbeat Ido a lot of driving around town so what is stopping me well that fact is tey are costly plus the manufacturers are wanting to rent out the batteries on a monthly charge and this too is costly so its putt putt putt for me

 

[DurhamSparky]

quite fancy one my self however still think its early days!

 

[mogga]

as was said on T.opGear the other week Wee scrotes running round unplugging electric cars lol

Price is the key in everything till they become more widley used and costs are below normal fueled vehicles I dont see a big uptake

 

[babba]

I would love one 50 to 80 miles would not get you to far...the government have to much interest in petrol, tax wise to ever try and make this work...dont see mr eco friendly cameron take his bike out now that he has got his position...slimy git

 

[alarm man]

got the roof now get the car,

 

[finchy]

I love the idea of having an electric van for our Solar division, it would truly show our green credentials and commitment. However reliability and economy is key with margins/business on a squeeze this is a luxury.

 

[alarm man]

I love the idea of having an electric van for our Solar division, it would truly show our green credentials and commitment. However reliability and economy is key with margins/business on a squeeze this is a luxury.

nail on head man,this solar thing isnt about the green its about the money..and green seems to go out the window if its not cost effective..

 

[needasparks]

Hate the things, nearly got knocked down twice by them crossing the road. You don't hear them coming and both times being driven by a ####.

 

[oldtimer]

The European Union are in discussions on what sound these should emit (I kid you not) as they have agreed that they are just too quite

 

[BruceB]

I agree with the thoughts so far that they are expensive. I am still trying to make the numbers work before going that route. A few points in their favour:
- there is no £3,000 van benefit charge on them for personal use;
- road tax is zero
- my 8kW solar array at home could contribute to its running costs (but not much use when working during the middle of the day away from home)

 

[daytona600]

plug it into a solar carport

 

[moggy1968]

they aren't particularly environmentally friendly.
they charge from mains electricity, usually overnight (so no solar benefit) which in this country mostly means electricity generated through fossil fuels.

They're extremely polluting to make and scrap because of the batteries.
The batteries are extremely expensive and don't last very long meaning that the depreciation is catastophic and the van will become economically non viable and be scrapped before most other vehicles.
The majority of polution a car makes in it's lifetime (average of 12 years) is in it's production and subsequent destruction so if you really want to be environmentally aware drive an old but well maintained vehicle and save a new one being built!!

Thats why the scrappage scheme was such utter nonsense and an environmental disaster, typically dressed up by a Government with a hidden agenda as being an altruistic environmental measure!!!

the earth saving characteristics of vehicles such as the Toyota Pius (sorry, Prius) are just another example of the sort of rubbish that gets touted around as environmental fact.

A caddy blumotion will have a significantly lower carbon footprint over it's lifetime than an electric van, will cost you less to buy and run and will last a great deal longer if well looked after.

 

[finchy]

lol - Imagine turning up at a customer to install Solar and ask if you can plug your van in ! You might need to factor the charging costs of your van during the install on the customers pv payback model ......

or Sorry we're late our van run out of electricity, my Solar array didn't charge my batteries (it was a bit cloudy)!

I'm joking about it but to be honest I haven't looked into the range and loads these vans have. I guess the more loaded "heavier" the van is the more energy it uses. As I said before it comes down to the cost benefit, business is tight, yes to have an electric van is good promotion but is that an expense you can afford above more effective forms of promotion.

I would sooner but the money towards training ...

 

[moggy1968]

I'd rather remove my own testicles with a spoon formerly used for shoveling elephant poo!!

I am spending my money on a gas guzzling 4x4 actually.
Oh no, hang on a minute, according to the spec here it's got lower emissions than both the BMW diesel and tranny van I already have that it will replace (never mind thats it's also one vehicle replacing two), but thats not what the papers say about running a 4x4, thats no good, either I'll have to give up my deposit or go out and pull up some wild flowers to compensate!!! I don't know, fancy the papers jumping on a bandwagon and not telling the truth, whatever next!!
Oh well, off to shoot some cute fluffy animals now.