Summertime and many EVs on the road

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RobertArthur
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#1 Post by RobertArthur »

It was the first time I’d seen people having to wait their turn to charge their EVs, here in the French Ardennes (Woinic). Headlines in the French press and on France Inter. The French operators of major motorways are urging drivers to charge their vehicles efficiently. Their advice: charge to around 80 per cent. This is because the final stage of the charging process is much slower than the first, meaning other motorists can be served more quickly. APRR, which is responsible for the link between Paris and Lyon, has also drawn up scenarios. If necessary, drivers can be given a queue number and wait in a separate waiting area until a charging point becomes available.

Outside the holiday season, there’s in Woinic sometimes only one in use. And, not entirely unusually, not all the charging points are working. Another familiar sight: foreigners, but also French citizens, struggle to navigate their way through a menu system on a display. And sometimes discovering, not here in Woinic, at the end of that ordeal that their payment card isn’t accepted by the operator of all that fancy equipment...Spring and autumn in rural France: different pictures.



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L Austin France
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#2 Post by L Austin France »

When all you want to do is to put some 'fuel' in the motor & get on your way.
What a flippin' faff.

Polarengineer
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#3 Post by Polarengineer »

No wonder some units are not working when some fool takes a pee against the green painted transformer shed.

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Blaze
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#4 Post by Blaze »

All part of the reason why we have no interest in going electric. We want to wait and see whether they really are as green as the government are trying to push. Still many questions for us : whether the recycling of batteries will be economical, how well an EV holds its value - more than a thermique car ?, how easy to sell afterwards, how long batteries last and replacement cost .....

What about larger vehicles and HGVs ? And camping cars which are on the increase and which we are seeing more and more all year round ?
There are a few electric delivery vans - are they more economical ?

Over the last 2 or 3 days, we've been behind some really smelly exhausts - one big advantage of EVs is that you don't get that !

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Hotrodder
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#5 Post by Hotrodder »

A different story when they catch fire.
On my headstone it will say: Please switch off mobile phones. I'm trying to get some sleep.

L Austin France
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#6 Post by L Austin France »

Polarengineer wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2026 7:37 am No wonder some units are not working when some fool takes a pee against the green painted transformer shed.
Presumably rain but not pee proof.

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RobertArthur
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#7 Post by RobertArthur »

Or just walking the dog for daily exercise and a bathroom break?

Polarengineer
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#8 Post by Polarengineer »

Blaze. I think you will find that there are very few downsides to the EV. Myself, I have leased an EV Renault 4 as it fits my use for shopping (15km away). It has a useful range of more than 250km and costs less than €2 per 100km when charging at home. EVs are so easy to drive, no stalling the engine, you get regenerating power on the downhill run, connect your phone for music and sat-nav. speed limiters to hold you at the correct limits (can be switched off) and avoid fines. No smelly exhaust, oil leaks, petrol or worse gas oil. no warming up the engine, Lots of automatic bells and whistles (hotrodder do not cry) that actually work. Take a 3 year lease then change it for a new one with even more whistles and bells.
Downside.. Well some ferrys will not carry EVs and some request they have only 40% charge if they do take them. I’m sure, ferry designs will have EV tanks where, if on fire, the tank can be flooded. Fires on EVs are probably no more than normal cars, they are just very difficult to put out, so avoid accidents- drive carefully like always. As for battery life, they are guaranteed for 8 years and if you lease for 3 years, who cares? If you do the sums, I think leasing is the cheapest way to own a good car.

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DaveW
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#9 Post by DaveW »

I’m with you on the leasing, best way to go for the reasons you gave plus the fact that the technology on EV’s is advancing so quickly. I have a 3 year lease on a electric VW ID4 and its a great car with a 550km range. I have an 11kw home charger which is fast enough and certainly a lot cheaper than diesel.

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Blaze
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Summertime and many EVs on the road

#10 Post by Blaze »

@Polarengineer @DaveW
Interesting info - thanks ! Our 2 cars have all the bells and whistles we need or want (both VW) but we haven't looked into leasing yet. We don't do a huge annual mileage but we must have one vehicle to tow the trailer and caravan.

Does a home charger whop up your electricity bill ? Much more convenient than queueing up at a garage.

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