Random EV Thoughts 2 - The Jimnying

I generally charge to 80% for normal routine use. 100% possibly once or twice a month when I'm going on longer trips. The consensus seems to be about 2% battery degradation is expected on average per year under normal use conditions- so it would appear it's not an issue for the vast majority of owners. Maybe as time goes on you will be able to get an annual readout of SOH as part of an annual light service if needed. It would follow that SOH will only become an issue for much older/ high mileage cars.

No excuse on not charging but wide vehicles like a Cayenne don’t really fit in car park spaces that seem to have been designed to fit a Morris Minor.

I'm charging in the other bay and I stayed as far across as possible so someone "might" be able to squeeze in.

I see EV sales are up 38% - 709 units for October versus last year - small numbers given how late it is in the year but positive all the same. I think what is helpful is more choice available especially in the smaller more affordable EV segment of the market. There are a few important small cars to come yet - VW ID Polo/Skoda Epiq/Cupra Raval in Qtr 1? Next year. Audi has yet to decide whether they will offer a small EV. Imagine if Toyota got the finger out and launched an EV version of the Yaris - I think it would sell like hot cakes.

As you mention how to get to the next wave to get EVs up to 25% - 1 in 4 cars sold. Completing the full range of new small affordable EVs will undoubtedly help over the next 12 months VW/Nissan/Fiat/Renault etc and possibly some new Chinese makes we haven't seen yet. Toyota could really boost things here but there seems to be nothing from them in the next couple of years. Intro of SS batteries would be a great boost but this looks more likely to be closer to 2030 to get affordable batteries at scale. Semi solid batteries like what's launching with the new MG4 might be an important bridge to increased sales. Other than that, big improvements in charging technology and charging infrastructure might address the ongoing concerns that future potential EV owners continue to have on range etc. Another big win would be to implement practical and acceptable solutions to home charging for all the houses without car park spaces and of course for apartments.

Can the Irish Govt afford not to tax EVs?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2025/nov/06/ignore-the-howls-around-pay-per-mile-chancellor-we-cant-afford-not-to-tax-electric-cars

Now that is a random EV thought.

I might agree with your taxation point if public expenditure was actually being reigned it but expenditure is budgeted to increase by nearly 7% over 2025. Fiscal responsibility or simply a good example of the impact of the electoral cycle, ie saving the largesse for the latter years of this administration. No point giving a few bob to the ordinary taxpayer this early, they’ll only forget about it come election day the ungrateful bast*rds