The New All electric California due in Autumn 2019. What are you thoughts?

[Digger]

Not from having a gas stove in the general proximity which is what was inferred

What was inferred was what would the insurance risk be as regards cost. I asked my broker and he said there would invariably be a cost implication.
I know that our insurance for an e car was greater than that of the petrol version. I also know that they are normally safe but I have more confidence with my diesel California. My choice and my opinion.

 

[johnyboy]

Interesting!
There are over 300 vehicle fires a day in the UK, EVs get disproportionately reported in the press (IMHO also!)

 

[soulstyledevon]

For anyone interested in electric cars.
ID Buzz

 

[reserves]

Test facility outside of Hanover apparently.

 

[reserves]

Test facility outside of Hanover apparently.

View attachment 42987

Though it is April 1st

 

[EddySPalm]

Could someone please post a link to whoever says there will be a California this autumn? Cheers

I will definetely be in for one if the range of 400 miles is realistic.

 

[Digger]

Could someone please post a link to whoever says there will be a California this autumn? Cheers

I will definetely be in for one if the range of 400 miles is realistic.

I don't think there will be one for a while yet. The april fools picture was just a prank but I have no doubt there will be an e version in the next few years. Diesel will reign for some time to come.

 

[reserves]

I will definetely be in for one if the range of 400 miles is realistic.

You’ll be in for a very long wait.

 

[motacyclist]

You’ll be in for a very long wait.

Because the batteries are flat at the moment .... and there’s a long queue at the charging point.

 

[Quentin SF]

I presume we all know about the ID Buzz, coming in three years' time - but just in case not...

Volkswagen ID. Buzz | Electric Campervan | Volkswagen UK

With the ID. Buzz, Volkswagen takes the campervan back to the future. Equipped with advanced technology & flexible space concept. Find out more today.

www.volkswagen.co.uk

 

[Borris]

Could someone please post a link to whoever says there will be a California this autumn? Cheers

I will definetely be in for one if the range of 400 miles is realistic.

You'd probably have to stay on the average campsite for a fortnight to recharge it!

 

[babble]

very interesting thread, thanks everyone. i was fairly skeptical about the realistic possibility of an all electric california being a viable purchase until the last few days spent talking to a Norwegian energy expert. Sure, it's not going to happen right now, as the infrastructure isn't there and the van is not made, but two things have become clear to me: (1) it is already almost possible to make the van with a 350+ mile range, and (2) developing a workable charging network is also not far away (one that combines slow, managed, overnight charging, and very very fast charging options (the all electric bus network here (where i am in Umea, Sweden right now) has a recharge time of five to ten minutes..for a bus.)

Things can and are changing fast, and i think we might find that in much less than a decade e-calis are standard. Long journeys with fast charging en-route and overnight trickle charging on a standard hook-up.

I also think that retro-fitting our lovely new diesel californias will be mainstream. The van is a perfect platform for it. I imagine it will cost 10k or there abouts, but probably only a few days labour. Look at what is already possible (and this is cowboy stuff):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[babble]

By the way, that was my first post! Hello everyone! I've just ordered my van. Probably going to have to wait until September to pick it up, but soooooo very excited. A California Coast all red, ordered in Belgium. Got myself a manual roof, Heater, DSG, errrr, and lots of other nice bits and bobs.

 

[willwander]

This post keeps following me around on Facebook

 

[soulstyledevon]

Seems to be a few laughing emojis...

 

[Borris]

Am I the only one that's feeling a bit uneasy about this headlong race towards electrifying anything that moves? I'm all for saving the planet but what if it doesn't turn out to be the answer? It seems to me that there are many issues with the wholesale use of EVs that are being convieniently ignored at present.

 

[willwander]

Something else I spotted today...

You can now pre-order an ID 3 hatchback £750

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/app/prebooking/vw-gb/en

Volkswagen has opened registrations for its ID 3 electric hatchback in Europe ahead of deliveries starting in mid-2020 - and has said the entry-level version will cost less than €30,000 (£25,500) in Germany.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/volkswagen-id-3-pre-orders-begin-electric-hatch

According to Bloomberg...
Volkswagen Sells Out One-Third of New Electric Model in 24 Hours

(Bloomberg) -- More than 10,000 people paid 1,000 euros ($1,120) each to be the first to own a limited-edition version of Volkswagen AG’s ID.3 electric hatchback.
The company’s IT systems were at times overloaded by the number of requests, Volkswagen said Thursday, with the number far exceeding expectations

 

[Digger]

Am I the only one that's feeling a bit uneasy about this headlong race towards electrifying anything that moves? I'm all for saving the planet but what if it doesn't turn out to be the answer? It seems to me that there are many issues with the wholesale use of EVs that are being convieniently ignored at present.

Agree. Some smaller countries with small populations may be first but realistically we are years from being capable. Fast charging shortens battery life and we struggle to make enough electricty now. The green lobby and those with financial gain have pushed an agenda that is rushed and creating uncertainty. Yes we have to be less polluting but in a positive manner. Society seems to be less tolerant and subject to hysteria much more today than ever before. Sorry about the response but we have poor services in health, education etc and money does not grow on trees. We need to take stock and be realistic.

 

[johnyboy]

https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-world-blows-over-5-trillion-a-year-on-oil-and-gas-1834624546

I don't care if electric is the answer or not (Hydrogen cool by me too) but its still better than doing nothing

 

[Bellcrew]

https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-world-blows-over-5-trillion-a-year-on-oil-and-gas-1834624546

I don't care if electric is the answer or not (Hydrogen cool by me too) but its still better than doing nothing

We seem to have a something must be done mentality, whilst the precautionary principal is fine some balance is required, the millennium bug debacle springs to mind, many countries did nothing and amazingly the sky failed to fall in.

 

[Borris]

https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-world-blows-over-5-trillion-a-year-on-oil-and-gas-1834624546

I don't care if electric is the answer or not (Hydrogen cool by me too) but its still better than doing nothing

Doing nothing isn't an option. My point is that this issue is far too important for users to be sent off down another blind alley. Not so long ago Diesel was heralded as the best way to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Now it's demonised.

I just hope that we won't be looking at an EV scrapage scheme in a few years time.

 

[johnyboy]

Agree - it is important that the manufacturers misled both the pubic AND governments though
*goes off to cave and see what happens*

 

[Wongo]

As a London Taxi Driver , all new cabs are zero emissions capable so they have electric with a petrol back up.
Drivers are wasting time (and money) sitting on or waiting for the scarce charging points or running on petrol which defeats the purpose.
Advertised ranges are NEVER achieved, London Cabs are similar in weight to a Cali.
Fuel Cell or super Bosch Diesel system the way to go, trouble is no one is listening and electric vehicles are the new religion and your a heretic if you question anything, they'll probably want to burn me at the stake but it isn't carbon neutral is it!

 

[MattBW]

Am I the only one that's feeling a bit uneasy about this headlong race towards electrifying anything that moves? I'm all for saving the planet but what if it doesn't turn out to be the answer? It seems to me that there are many issues with the wholesale use of EVs that are being convieniently ignored at present.

Not as big as the headache that the National Grid have trying to secure the supply. We need to be careful the growth of EVs doesn't overtake the growth of supply.

 

[Digger]

Not as big as the headache that the National Grid have trying to secure the supply. We need to be careful the growth of EVs doesn't overtake the growth of supply.

The government want to stop gas fired boilers and ban log burners. Alternative fuel source - electricity! The mad rush probably a result of panic after the VW dieselgate has made the hysteria 10 times worse. Yes we need to do something but in a sensible and realistic manner. I don't think electric is ready yet but maybe there will be an answer soon.