Issues when moving to all electric towcars
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😉
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But then he says he understands the problems affecting millions of the frustrations the UK population have with EV ownership and charging of them
He has a Tesla,
that has been fitted with "Green number plates at our local Halfords Service centre
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That’ll come under the banner-‘more money than sense’ owner🤷🏻♂️
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25 miles is typically the range of a PHEV in Electric only mode, the Range Rover has a 2ltr petrol engine any can hit 80mpg in hybrid mode with 84 g of CO2 which compares with the standard V8 19mpg and 325 CO2. EV's and PHEV's are different species in the evolution to a usable zero at the point of use emissions vehicle.
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80 mpg from a RR hybrid, do you seriously believe those figures? I drive a diesel PHEV so have a good idea of the pro’s and many cons and as a result it will be a long time before i drive a BEV, if ever. Remain to be convinced this push for BEV is not another diesel gate in the making.
JVB, the engine doesn’t cut in to charge the batteries, it cuts in to power the car. Charging the battery is a secondary benefit. Running the battery flat before switching over to ICE is not the way to get the best out of a PHEV.
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The issue with electric cars as tow vehicles is that because the heavier the load on the motor, the faster the battery will drain and electric cars already suffer from limited range.
Chipboard isn’t used anywhere on touring caravans. All panels are made from lightweight plywood or composites. Chipboard is far too heavy.
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Well I can confirm that towing a medium distance on a BEV is possible and works just fine. I just got back from 8 nights on a non-hookup CL with my Polestar 2 EV and Bailey Vigo. There were 4 of us went with awning, pup-tent and all the usual gear, including 15 kg of gas as refilling a gas-lite bottle is harder than refilling an EV.
Range was about 50%-60% of solo (ie 40% to 50%) down. Round trip from south Northamptonshire to Brecon was about 280 miles. We stopped to charge on the way in Hereford for about 35 mins and on the way back in Stratford on Avon for about the same. On the way back, I would like to have stopped sooner but wanted to test out a new charger in Stratford.
Actual towing with the EV is effortless. The low down torque makes even steep hills very simple (over the Malvern hills) 4wd is sure footed and performance is - well, electric.
Having the EV available while on site was also fine. We never went out of our way to charge, just topped up when available, including a few times in Brecon while shopping or eating out, once in Hen Goed and once in Cardiff on days out. This was the second trip, the first in Uppingham. Looking forward to the next in Whitby next month.2 -
@Chocolate Trees ... We stopped to charge on the way in Hereford for about 35 mins and ...
It could take a while to get anywhere if you're 3rd or 4th in the queue for the charging point
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Just out of interest CT, were you able to get on a charger with the caravan attached?
On the way out, no. We parked the van about 30 meters away. On the way back, yes, but I chose to un-hitch to better place the van for leaving.
It could take a while to get anywhere if you're 3rd or 4th in the queue for the charging point innocent
Well - yes, but one advantage of electric chargers over Fossil fuel pumps is you can check to see if they are in use remotely before you get to them. I looked and both showed free. Had they been in use or discovered a a queue, I would have moved on to another one. I had 4 locations in Hereford to choose from, and 5 in Stratford. I also didn’t use to my last drop in case there was an issue and needed to move to the next town. It’s amazing how just a little planning takes the stress out of potential situations.
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CT, thanks for the feedback👍🏻. It’s great getting info from those that are actually doing it rather than biased ‘Frank down the pub said’ types, that’s excellent news. I hope it continues positively for you👏🏻👏🏻
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Rocky, as with all these things, you don’t really know how it will be till you try. The first time I used a public rapid charger, I was nervous, so so I was the 1st time I filled up with petrol.
Was I nervous having to recharge with the caravan, a little, but no more than either towing for the 1st time or filling with diesel while towing the 1st time. I was also very nervous the 1st time I went to a non-hookup CL for a week, and that was fine too.It’s a learning curve. Everyone has a 1st time at some point, and afterwards you can look back and say “well that was easy”.
Is it the most convenient thing? No - it would be better not to have to un-hitch, but it’s not really an issue. Did it take longer? Maybe 5 to 10 mins per stop, but that will come down as the routine gets slicker. Was it worth the “hassle” to be able to use the EV as my normal car, and as the tow car, and when on site? Absolutely yes. 😁
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I don't think it's for me but it's good you're happy, CT. Thanks for the feedback.
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Can't quite identify the tow car. Can you post details plus MPTLM of the caravan.
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See CT's earlier posts, CY.
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Spot on👍🏻, you are helping dispel some of the myths, like with all new tech-the detractors are always the most vocal. Having someone like you giving real world opinion & help is a refreshing change for many of us. Thanks again🙂
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Polestar 2.
Max Gross Weight 2600kg (+100kg when towing) , Max train weight 4100 giving a max towed weight 1500kg
Bailey Unicorn Vigo MTPLM 1550 with max wight plate upgrade.
The caravan is at the edge of the cars permissible limit, so careful weighing and loading is needed, but that is of course no different to a fossil fuel car, or indeed just loading a caravan! :-)
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CT, I hope you keep us updated with how things go with the car over the coming months.
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On 12 March 2021 Mr H wrote:
" I would still prefer a caravan to have the flexibility of going anywhere off site without a major upheaval, and who wants to sit in the same seat in the evening as you have sat all day driving."
I know this was written more than 3 months ago, but I only just read it and I had to respond.
On the first comment, Mr H has a point. Once I am pitched up I never move my motorhome; he's right that it is an upheaval, if not exactly a major one. It is much quicker to be ready for the road than it is with a caravan. I often think it would be nice to have a car, but I deal with it by using my bike - which helps to keep me fit - and mostly staying near bus stops or rail stations to get further afield. For me it is the price to pay for (a) not wanting the hassle of towing and (b) the speed of pitching up and not needing external tanks (I know some caravans have in built tanks). This is especially as I am on my own. I would not tow a car, because otherwise I might just as well buy a caravan and tow that with my car instead.
But the second comment literally made me laugh out loud. What the heck difference does it make what seat you sit in. Firstly this implies that motorhomes do not have any other seats; in fact the overwhelming majority do. But secondly, and more importantly, the driver and passenger seats tend to be much better designed - ergonomically - and hence far more comfortable than lounge and dinette seats be they in caravans or motorhomes. When relaxing in my van, I mostly sit in the passenger seat (swivelled around of course). I can recline it and, in my case, it buts up to my settee so I can stretch my legs out.
Surely any thoughts of not wanting to sit in the same seats can only be psychological. I just found that comment hilarious.
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Sounds like it is ok for 140 mile journey if you want to stop to re fuel (re charge). I don’t even consider stoping on a drive that short. I don’t think it would suit myself for a journey of 320 miles from Preston To Dover to catch a ferry. I would have to have an overnight stop.
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It won’t be for everyone. I don’t stop to charge, I stop because I need a break after 2 to 2 1/2 hours towing depending on terrain. I used to stop after that long pre-EV. 320 miles could be done in my rig in 2 stops, adding around 50 to 90 mins (depending on the speed of the charger) to the journey without stops at all or (for me) adding 10 to 20 mins to the. Stops that I had already planned. So for me a 320 mile journey would take about 7-8 hours with charging, depending on traffic.
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500 miles solo is becoming real on very high end EVs today, that would equate to over 200 miles towing. It will be here a loooong time before hydrogen for personal vehicles (if that ever happens - my bet is it won’t, it’s just too costly).
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