[capn sparkle]

Be interesting to see the mechanic bolting a water tank thro the floor with the batteries under the load space!!

[duncan h]

I drive a Honda Civic hybrid. The acceleration is good unless there's five people in the car and then its just average. Mpg is average if you floor it which I do most of the time BUT if I drive at sensible low speeds, gradual smooth acceleration and gear changes then the petrol tank only needs filling half as much. Stick below thrity around town and it's running off battery power most of the time and fuel don't get used much. Road tax is only ten pounds a year as well.

My wife's Citroen DS3 is £0 road tax. It goes like a rocket

[Gerald Ash]

I love the leaf and next year we are spending nearly thirty thousand on the ENV200 less the government grant of six thousand. I`m going to push the environmental aspect of the electric van and using rainwater. Will hopefully be able to charge more.
  It`s going to be an interesting year next year.
 I`ve ran the leaf and believe me it`s very possible to run a business with electric vehicles. You have to gain the knowledge of running one and I started from the same position as you guys but I know it`s an advantage because I`m doing it.
  Good point about bolting the tank in, I`m going to have to look into that

[Dave Willis]

When would your £30,000 van start to seem profitable?
If I drove with no fuel at all I'd save about £2500 a year and about £150 in road tax. A second hand van could run for several years with diesel for that money. How have you broken down your figures Gerald?

[Gerald Ash]

I must admit we are thinking hard about it. The electric vans that we would consider are not that cheap second hand. We want to try the eco route as we hope to charge a premium but it is something at present we are looking at because there will be some spare money about.
So far the forecast is it should be affordable with a friend coming into the business who will fund over half.
    I`m a person who has an idea but always willing to rethink it but the Leaf is suffering inside with all the kit and I love electric vehicles and the ENV200 is superb. Anyway, I deserve a treat, I`ve worked hard.

[Dave Willis]

Will your friend be in the van with you - the payload isn't great?

[Gerald Ash]

Tell me about it, with my fat Rse in it the payload drops to 500kg but friends only 16 stone. I`m looking at a 300 litre tank but as someone pointed out the fixing has to looked at.
 The more I think though maybe second hand might be the wisest choice. We`ll see.