misterbleepy wrote:phb10186 wrote:Ive seen those figures about the IMIEV in the UK, and all I can think of is that the database is riddled with inaccuracy - though I was led to beleive it runs off DVLA data, in no way can I accept there are 10 times the number of Austin Healeys in the UK as there are Mitsubishi IMIEVs... and if it's true then they sold a load less that I am led to believe. I see at least 10 commonly in use in London of the I or clone varieties, usually while commuting in to the centre of London on the scooter - and ive seen about another 20 or so elsewhere around here... so I can believe it. It means that between me and my parents, we have about 1% of the UK IMIEV fleet (2 cars), which sounds impossible.
I am yet to see an Austin Healey during my commute, though I do see a Daimler Dart driven by an old boy in Camden from time to time.
The Austin Healey figure does sound stupidly high to me too, and yes, the consistency of the data in that database is annoyingly poor.
Re. the i-MiEV and clones - I think where you live - London? - may skew the distribution, due to the congestion charge, plus them being a good 'city car' due to turning circle and size.
I also see a lot (of clones) down here, and I attribute that to a dealer basically offering as many as they could get hold of from PSA for 1/2 list price.
I have only seen one i-MiEV down here, and I'm pretty sure it was visiting (out of county number plates).
Not as many as you may think actually... Loads of PHEVs, Leafs, Zoe and I3s, and many many Teslas now. Funny thing in London is that OK, you get the Congestion Tax free, but you don't get parking discounted in any way other than in Westminster, but they only give you about 4 hours max - so that effectively prevents you commuting in (unless you have your own space - very rare). All motorbikes are both congestion charge free, and free to park in motorbike bays, so in effect the perks on a bike outweigh even an EV (unless it's raining)... so actually, not as many EV perks as they planned. Since I live 13 miles from the city, that commute by car would take 1.5hrs, so it's not feasible anyway unless I were to leave home extremely early to beat the traffic.
I think they are going towards banning cars that arent PHEV or BEV from central London... many many buses are now EVs, and to be fair, anything that improves the air quality gets my vote, as it's currently disgusting.
Funnily enough, I saw 2 IMIEV clones today about 50m apart in Sheffield city centre, while I was up there for work.
There's absolutely nothing nice about driving in London these days, so for me, anything that gives me a competitive advantage in terms of space is great, so actually the IMIEV makes a near perfect 2nd car for all the rubbish journeys I do, where my old ICE cars were effectively warming up or in traffic about 50% of the time... I also don't get nearly as bothered by traffic in the EV, as its more or less off.
They may have just bought them from elsewhere...I don't think i've ever had a car with London plate designations... I bought the IMIEV from the Sussex coast and got it home 90 miles on that inaugural trip without charging, by being exceptionally careful.