Lynette's eVan: 2019

We have no clocked up over 3,000km since we got back to Waiheke, which is the same as we usually do each year.

Driving the eVan is great. We set it for increased brake regeneration and drive just using the gas pedal. Roundabouts, giveway and stop signs and pedestrian crossings are about the only time we use the foot brake. This really benefits us as we gain 40% of the power that we use from regeneration.

The radio is still crappy and Jim hasn't got around to ordering a new one from eBay and putting it in. We don't listen to it much around Waiheke, but it would be nice to hear Coast in the car again. (The station is just above the limits of the Japanese radio with a NZ converter on it.)

Cost-wise, it is unbelievable. Today we got the power bill for July 2019 and comparing the electrical costs for the house and charging the eVan, for the past 12 months, the eVan costs us just $0.90 per week compared with the year previous to that. It's all down to the solar panels and us making better use of the power they produce by charging on bright sunny days. Compare that 90 cents a week with the usual cost for the Suzuki, which was about $100 per month. It's not going to make any impression on paying back the cost of the eVan, and we aren't after that, but it does give us another $1000 a year disposable income that we would never had access to with a petrol fuelled vehicle.

And the best thing about having an EV is that robbing sods in government and Auckland City don't get a cent from us in the way of their highly overpriced fuel tax!!!!!

It's over six months since we left Dunedin on our way home.

Since arriving home we have covered over 1500 km, not a lot, but a strong indication of the short runs that we do. Our energy requirements have dropped from 18+kW per 100km down to a mere 13.8kW per 100km and that is because over 40% of the power that we use is developed from regeneration. All those hills on Waiheke have some use after all.

We only charge the eNV200 when the sun is shining, because we have solar panels and generate a modest amount of power. As a result, when we compared the last six months electricity costs, which including all our charging, we were very surprised to find that it was $7 cheaper than the same period for the year before. In other words, there has been no noticeable cost for us to travel over 1500km.

We are extremely happy with the eNV200 and Lynette really loves driving it, especially. She is now calling it our "Forever Vehicle."

We have a few activities and trips planned in the next year. Jim has a ham radio contest, from the beach, in the next couple of weeks, and then we are going to the Kumeu Agricultural Show. (See http://kumeushow.co.nz/) Later in the year. we intend doing a trip around Northland for a couple of weeks.

This stimulated Jim to design and build a raised sleeping platform, above the wheel arches, so that we could layout a double bed without sides of the bed rolling up over the arches. Also being raised, we would have better storage, so that we didn't need to shift everything out of the van each night, before we can get into bed.

Jim found some construction ply at the recycling centre and built a robust sleeping platform. (The paint cost more than the ply). There are two parts. Behind the rear folding seat, there is a platform to the rear door. This will be a permanent fixture, although it is removable. Removing four bolts allows the rear seat to come out. The front section of the sleeping platform is made up of a number of pieces that slide together and then ten screws, through the top, that hold the whole thing together. It's nice and strong and can easily support our weight. Photos of the assembly are below.

For some reason we haven't been able to find the double airbed, but a couple of singles that we have work extremely well.

To keep the light out when we are sleeping in the back, Lynette has sewn magnets into curtains so that we can easily line the inside of the windows.

We had hoped to have a proper spare wheel instead of the air pump and can of Slime puncture repair, but we have not yet tracked down a suitable five stud wheel. The standard NV200 has a four stud wheel.