– FACTS NOT FICTION LARGER EV VEHICLES
The real problem with EVs is when you want a larger minibus size vehicle. The vehicle purchase price doubles and as more weight is added there is less battery range. Further, as the battery in EV’s is fitted underneath the vehicle, it makes the height differential from kerb to door frame high which contravenes most licensing criteria.
Therefore, full electric minibus size vehicles similar to the Ford Galaxy 7-seaters are extremely hard to find and are really too expensive to buy to use for our trade unless you are licensed in a zero-emission town or city.
HOW DO PLUG-IN HYBRIDS WORK?
I personally own two Hyundai’s - an Ioniq 5 Full Electric saloon and a family EV plug-in hybrid Santa Fe 7-seater.
However, you must have a driveway to charge a plug-in hybrid or access to a charging option such as our ACO charging solution, as you cannot rapid charge a plug-in vehicle. Charge times: 7 kw charger - 2.5 hours, 3 pin normal plug - up to 8 hours. The cost to charge plug-in hybrid is from £1.80 to £4.50 depending on tariff.
For example: 40-mile full electric range - I always regen but taxi drivers wouldn't drive full electric unless going into no engine zones like London or at the end of a shift.
However, if a driver had a 40-mile school contract he could charge in-between and drive 80 miles a day in full electric; or if his shift was 100 miles the mpg would improve up to 20 mpg so 75 mpg in urban driving.
Plug-in hybrids have three drive modes: Hybrid, Full EV and Multifunction. Taxi drivers would drive in multifunction mode and spread electric range over a 200-mile shift improving mpg by 10 miles per gallon in urban areas.
For example: I drove my Santa Fe from the Wirral to London and back for £50 - my average mpg overall was 48 mpg that's 15p per mile for a large 6 passenger vehicle.
If you don't have a drive way to charge, then the mpg from two-wheel drive self-charging hybrid on the same journey would be 40 mpg motorway and 48 mpg in urban driving.
Personally, I only turn the engine to multi-function mode for long distances or towing. The Santa Fe is a fantastic executive a self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid ride with plenty of room and storage. Currently Car N Cab Care are offering £7000 off rrp and taxi drivers should consider both options of either.
PHTM MAY 2023 SOLAR INVESTMENTS
In the UK only 35% of people are able to install solar panels on their roof as not all residents own their own homes or their properties are not south facing.
In order to address this issue, I have designed a new innovative product - solar fence brackets that can be fitted to both outside wall fences and posts.
This option will provide maximum energy for homes or businesses already using solar or can be used as a stand- alone solution to help power your property or fully power your vehicle or garden.
These brackets are a cost effective, easy to fit and easy to clean solution. They can also be easily transferred when moving property - keeping properties looking attractive as well as saving thousands of pounds in scaffolding and installation costs.
WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST INVESTMENT?
As members of our trade can claim 100% tax off electric vehicles, the same applies to solar installation costs - putting value on your property and all payments will be tax deductible as fuel costs.
If installing solar panels on roof - have as many panels as possible. If you want to store energy and not sell back to the grid, try storing what you use at night so 20kw of battery storage off a 10-15 panel system would be fine.
My home has 80 panels and 80kw of storage. As gas is much more expensive and will remain so as it is imported to the UK, I intend to also change my gas boiler to an electric boiler and air heat pump.
If you want to consider which option is best you - you should look at your garden or yard space. If you have an area that gets the sun or good light that will be suitable for a solar fence system.
At this year’s PHTM EXPO, we have teamed up with SolaX Power and have a large display van on our stand showing a range of solar panels and charging solutions for terrace housing.
By adding the installation of EV chargers to the services we offer CAR N CAB CARE, the trade’s one stop EV shop is leading the way to a brighter future that’s cleaner and smarter, helping you to pay less tax whilst protecting the health.
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