TWO THINGS YOU NEVER HEAR IN ELECTRIC CAR ADS:

[FRANKIE]

It just busts my tail that they never talk about 2 things when they advertise electric cars.
1. You NEVER hear them say just how long it takes to recharge the car. If you're driving a gas car and you're running low, you just pull into the gas station and refuel. 5 minutes? What if you're on a trip and you need to recharge? 2 hours????? Could you see 12 of us on a cruise and we all have to pull over for a few hours 'till one of us recharges?
2. They're not about to tell you how much it costs for 1 BATTERY if you need to replace it. And just HOW MANY batteries are there in your new electric car. Not one of the ads will tell you how many or the price of each.................................Frankie

 

[Mike Fishwick]

It's a conspiracy of silence! Another interesting piece of info would be the repair philosphy - is the control system based around small modules, which can be replaced 'cheaply' or is everything combined into one multi-purpose lump? You can bet the answer! Costs for such modules would also make interesting reading.

You can imagine the way in which faults will be corrected by the average garage mechanic (sorry - technician) you will pay £150 or so to have a computer plugged in, then more to have the ambiguous fault codes interpreted (such codes are opaque enough on an orthodox petrol engine!) only to be told that 'We do not support that module any more, Sir - perhaps a new car would be the answer . . '.) Alternatively, the garage will fit a new and expensive module in the hope that it will cure the problem - and if it does not, the customer will still be charged for it!

Of course, most modern cars are leased, which should remove much of the risk associated with such vehicles, but I feel sorry for people who buy them second-hand - and that is before we think about replacement batteries!

I'm glad that my Z3 and Golf TDI will outlast my driving days.

 

[BUZBY]

As an electric van driver ( for work ) I often spend 40 minutes sometimes twice a day parked up waiting for my van to charge. Luckily a lot of these charge points are close to shopping centres so my time can be used constructively working through the list I have been given for home. Re plugging in I have a technician coming to visit me later this month to fit an OBD cable as the van did not have one when first produced which confused the RAC man. They have now found a way of fitting one. MILEAGE at this time of year is half the manufacturers claim at about 70. Ideal for rural Lincolnshire.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Not to mention the way that charging cables are being stolen, just too easy I guess.