Electric Vehicles: What have you spotted?

[Mandrake]

Spotted a Nissan e-NV200 for the first time in the wild this morning - I saw it coming towards me and looked for the charging flap at the front to recognise it. Also spotted a white Tesla. Strange that I see more Tesla's on the road than other EV's in my parts! I see about 3-4 per week on my daily commute. Perhaps they're more obvious than some of the other EV's but I am familiar with most of the common models of EV and do look out for those as well. My next most common sighting is the ubiquitous Leaf.

[CitroJim]

Seen none at all down here on holiday... I also see very little, if any, installed infrastructure for them down here which may have a bearing although the holiday caravan park I'm staying at has a token charging point but the parking spaces by it are continually occupied by ICE cars...

[Mandrake]

Seen none at all down here on holiday... I also see very little, if any, installed infrastructure for them down here which may have a bearing although the holiday caravan park I'm staying at has a token charging point but the parking spaces by it are continually occupied by ICE cars...

Do they not have outdoor 16 amp commando sockets at the caravan park for each caravan ? You can use those to charge an EV using the normal 3 pin plug EVSE with just an adaptor plug... or just plug it into a 3 pin plug in the caravan! Not as fast as dedicated EV chargers but still perfectly good for an overnight charge.

I still don't have a dedicated EV charge point installed at home (hopefully next month) so have been making do with a normal 3 pin plug all this time.

[MikeT]

Seen none at all down here on holiday... I also see very little, if any, installed infrastructure for them down here which may have a bearing although the holiday caravan park I'm staying at has a token charging point but the parking spaces by it are continually occupied by ICE cars...

List of points and locations. Seems there's quite a few but as you say, it brings it's own issues. In the US they've already termed it being ICED by Gasholes

https://www.zap-map.com/locations/chris ... ng-points/

[elma]

I've just had my first proper look at a Tesla. It was a 16 plate Model S 85d (the 4wd one)
I was examining it from the outside when the owner arrived and they were only too happy to show me around it.

My impression of the exterior was not so good, the panel gaps were all over the place and the wings were sat at different heights relative to the bonnet. I was only too happy to get a look at the inside in the hope that it would impress. But, disappointingly, it did not as the build and material quality is comparable to my old LDV. It's full of gadgets but really lacks quality or any sort of charm. I am actually astounded that such a poorly constructed car, even by American standards, is taking the market by storm. On paper the S is one of my top dream cars, in the flesh well I wouldn't pay £500 for one.

The owner told me some interesting things as well which made a lot of sense considering how new Tesla are. He thinks their customer service is second to none but their actual mechanical services are poor. The aforementioned wings had been adjusted several times but still sat at noticeably different heights. Overall he said he did really like the car but would not have another one and that the Audi R8 it replaced was a much better vehicle as the Tesla is too flimsy albeit good to drive. I'm inclined to agree, my bosses i8 is a much more desirable vehicle for me now I've met a Tesla and I wish I hadn't met one and I could continue to dream about owning one in the future.

Having now seen one close up and personal I wonder if Tesla would be better off licensing out their Battery technology rather than continuing to make cars. At almost £70k for what I saw I imagine they have quite a few disgruntled customers.

[RichardW]

Leafs are obviously working for the local taxi firm - as he's got some more, saw a black one on a 17 plate coming into the works car park the other evening.

Friend is thinking about buying a Leaf - there is a place in Edinburgh that appears to have quite a few at around the £10k mark where the ad implies this includes the battery - seems not too bad for a 2-3 year old car.

[Hell Razor5543]

Apparently Maserati have followed Volvos' lead, and from 2019 all Maserati models will have some form of electric propulsion, if this article is to be believed;

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/all- ... spartanntp

[lexi]

70K for a Tesla kit car then? Ooooh...........but what a battery!

[elma]

One ugly vauxhall yesterday in aldi.

Own work

Fits in nicely with most if the current psa range, mayme thats why psa bought vauxhall.

[white exec]

That's disappointing to hear about poor Tesla build quality. Not something you'd expect at that price.
You could be right about getting someone else to fit the platform out.
Wonder whether they are currently robot constructed, or hand assembled? If the latter, by American hicks, then maybe QC is a bit so-so.

[Peter.N.]

I had never seen one, or at least recognised one until last Thursday when I nearly walked in front of it crossing the road in Axminster.

Peter

[elma]

The first few I saw on the road I thought were new Maseratis, it took a little while to realise that they were actually Teslas.
The S isn't so different from a Maserati and neither is the badge.

[white exec]

I had never seen one, or at least recognised one until last Thursday when I nearly walked in front of it crossing the road in Axminster.
Peter

Had similar narrow escape with a few Priuses. If it were't for the squeaky tires...

[bobins]

Just followed a Model S onto the Eurotunnel. Jeez that was tight !!!

[CitroJim]

Seen a white Tesla here at work today... Not sure what model as it was parked tight against a hedge but on the rear of it I could see a badge that looked a bit like it said 'god'

Not sure if that applies to the driver or something else

All I know it that is by far the fugliest and most hideously styled car I have ever had the displeasure to see; it is truly bloody revolting