EV Caravan Tour of Scotland Pt1 - Uist to Arisaig

[@andrewjditton]

Make the most of the sunshine in this video. Spoiler alert - It doesn't last! ;@)

[@lindafielding6733]

Don’t I know it! Currently on Barra having had wind and rain for most of last 2 weeks on Mull and Barra. Heading for the Uist tomorrow and praying for gentle breeze and sunshine

[@elaineagar6128]

Did the camp have waste disposal?

[@commuterbranchline8132]

It’s Sunday night, the kids are in bed and I’m settling in to watch the whole EV tows caravan playlist. I’ve watched it before but it’s so good I’m going to watch it again. Thanks Andrew, Dougal and Ted.👍

[@andrewjditton]

That's very kind - many thanks!

[@elishaharveyministries3509]

We love your videos and are now using them to plan a trip to Scotland. Thanks for the well organized and detailed information. We're drawn by the warmth of your personality and Dougal. Cheers from Australia. barry & elisha.

[@andrewjditton]

Our pleasure! Hope you have a wonderful time :)

[@Taffyappleify]

Stunning journey and getting the steam train in shot was just perfect.

[@paoloallen]

Hiya.... another wonderful video Andrew.... always a pleasure to watch... best wishes Paolo and Roger aka The Camp Caravanners

[@andrewjditton]

Aww, thanks guys! x

[@barbarawiddowson635]

You are very brave taking on this journey in an EV and with a caravan,what planning it must take.I would have many sleepless nights doing it with just a car! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your journey and beautiful scenery (and Dougal of course).

[@andrewjditton]

You're right Barbara, it's all about the planning. Thanks for watching!

[@WestfieldFreshAir]

Love the West Highlands and Islands, absolutely stunning scenery. Great shot around 10:00 of the train., better planning / timing than I can manage.

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks! Yes, a crafty look at the timetable preceded that trip ;)

[@susanbinks8868]

Hi Andrew, lovely to see You & Dougal & the absolutely beautiful Hebredes!!! I enjoy all your Videos & the content but ones from here are my favourites!!! Lovely Ferry crossing, Dougal looked so settled & comfortable in the Dog lounge,bless!! Lovely seeing the Steam Train too, I would have Loved to have been on that. Looking forward to seeing more, Thank you for sharing, Take Care, Lots of Love to You & Dougal 💖💖💜💜 XX XX

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks so much Susan!

[@123penfold]

You make Scotland and the Isles such an interesting place.

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Iain!

[@janetbowen7854]

Fantastic video, again, Andrew, we have great memories of a holiday cottage in Traigh, not far from the campsite, brilliant sea views, beach walks and sunsets. The beach where Local Hero was filmed, is not far. I love seeing Dougal with you, I'm sure he's smiling inside. We look forward to touring Scotland in our campervan in the future. We've just joined the Caravan and Camping Club, and we're very excited to get started on our adventures. Cheers, Andrew and Dougal.😃

[@karenkouns577]

Love your videos and looking forward to part 2. Thanks for sharing! BTW, nice to see Dougal along for the trip. Hope he is doing well.

[@lesleylee458]

Enjoyed this. Wanted to say we saw your talk at the Birmingham show, and we are now on Mull and absolutely loving our first trip to the West coast. Thank you so much for what you do.

[@andrewjditton]

Oh wow! So glad (and relieved!) you're enjoying the West Coast. It was giving that talk that inspired me to return to Mull on this trip... only the weather wasn't *quite* as good this time around! :)

[@keithfarley8364]

Wow CL looked amazing, thanks Andrew

[@mrgari189]

Dam you Andrew :-) just when I have convinced myself going back to a tent is a better option than a smaller caravan - you post a site like the one at Arisaig. Visited Mallaig via Jacobite train last May whilst staying at Bunree and there looked to be one or two caravans "permanently" parked or abandoned in that car park. Maybe that has prompted the "no caravan" sign. I know you have discussed this before but the great thing about you is your integrity. You tell it warts and all. You are refreshingly honest. If you struggle touring with an EV - you will show those struggles as well as the advantages. Keep up the great work.

[@andrewjditton]

Many thanks! Yes, I always say I'm not clever enough to tell anything but the truth ;) Thanks for your support.

[@catherine1910]

How wonderful that they serve the delicious Moving Mountains burgers on the ferry. That’s so useful to know as I wouldn’t have expected to get something good to eat on the ferry and now I know I can, always assuming I’m not seasick of course. 😊

[@andrewjditton]

They're great! Although I'm not so sure about the sweet pickle relish though Catherine... next time I'll ask for that on the side. I'm a ketchup man! :)

[@roberteales2248]

Just found your channel really lovely videos ...keep them coming

[@andrewjditton]

Many thanks Robert, Welcome Aboard!

[@julialacey1604]

I'm really looking forward to this series of vlogs Andrew, I'm expecting to be facinated by your EV experiences. Please make these into a playlist as I feel I'll be watching them over and over.

[@andrewjditton]

It's on my to-do list Julia, thank you!

[@arw22]

Bhideo sgoinneal, a Anndra - Great video combining my fave topics (Hebrides, EVs, steam trains..:-) ) - Taking an EV on a long drive takes a bit of planning - I've done this across several European countries so I know the "range anxiety" issue, and also if you have to rush for a ferry or something. Much better if you have the time to stop and see places, have a coffee while charging the car - So a leisurely trip across the Highlands and isles is perhaps an ideal introduction to electric driving. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland nowadays has very good EV charging infrastructure. I was very impressed last autumn when I visited Uist (which I have known for 20+ years) what facilities there are now; on Skye and the West Coast too, in fact everywhere in Scotland but especially in rural areas where some visitors might not expect it. If you are thinking of coming to Scottish islands with an EV, then go for it, just a little planning and you'll be fine. Tha a h-uile dad comasach 's na h-eileanan an iar an-diugh :-)

[@andrewjditton]

Glè mhath Anndra, agus tha mi ag aontachadh leat mu dheidhinn na goireasan ann an Alba. Yes, a change of pace and attitude is needed, but it's down to us whether we embrace that or get ourselves wound up about it. I hear from folks down South that we're also paying about half of what is being charged per kWh in England. I'm very happy to have done this wee tour before going further afield. Na bi fada gun tilleadh air ais a dh' Uibhist! Mìle taing.

[@Dtourd]

I'm a Canadian living in Mexico and love watching your videos. I was absolutely chuffed with seeing the decal " I'm Tired of STUPID PEOPLE on the window of your KIA EV6. Yes I pay attention to the details in your videos. Please don't stop doing what you do so well.

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Rick! I bought a job lot in Seattle about 20 years ago. It seemed fitting to put one on the EV6... ;)

[@outaboutwithmikedonna305]

We really enjoyed this vlog Andrew. What stunningly beautiful scenery. We can’t wait to watch your journey. Best wishes Mike and Donna

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoyed it, many thanks!

[@harrylinsdell8114]

A good honest showing what it is like to travel with an ev. I think a lot of councils need to get a lot more charging ports in place if they want everyone to switch to an ev and to cater for all types of vehicles. Stopped at the cottage on the site next to you at Arisaig and we going to a place further down the road in August, its a fantastic place

[@andrewjditton]

Completely agree Harry. Range is NOT the issue - charging is! Enjoy Arisaig, such a beautiful place.

[@LornaCallaghan]

Hi Andrew & Dougal. Great video. Looking forward to the next one. We didn't make it to Mull this year for the Music Festival. We decided to do Skerryvore at Kilmarnock, Dunfermline and Kelso instead.

[@andrewjditton]

Fab! Have a great time! Nothing in my diary yet as goalposts on projects keep moving... :-/

[@Sunshine-Light]

Beautiful video blog… the Gold Standard version…. Love the moto …..congratulations

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks for watching!

[@sosaidhrafferty4608]

Great content as always Andrew, brought back happy memories of our stay on the bay of Arisaig. So good to see Dougal enjoying a trip with you again, you must have missed having him by your side 💕🐾

[@1isleofskye]

Thank you so much for taking us with you, and Dougal, of course! Through beautiful highland and island landscapes and seascapes. I’m looking forward to many more of your excellent videos in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@katrinaclosier4872]

We’re really enjoying these ev vlogs. We would love to get an ev but they’re too expensive for us at this point. Can’t wait for them to come down in price. I had thought that there would not be the infrastructure to allow for towing but you are showing me that I was wrong. Thanks Andrew

[@andrewjditton]

The infrastructure does still have a long way to go Katrina but we'll see how I get on. Many thanks.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

What is the caravan you are using

[@BagEndGarden]

So wonderful to see my favourite part of Scotland, maybe on the entire earth, thank you 🤩, and the juxtaposition of a steam train and electric vehicle - lovely shot :)

[@raibeart1955]

Of course he’s excited Andrew and he throws in a wee sleekit smiIe when you’re not looking. All the best to you and yours. Rab

[@crb0101]

Very interesting and informative video Andrew - we are very much looking forward to the rest of the series - and to more of Dougal of course !

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoyed it Clive!

[@karenrobinson3283]

Really enjoyed watching this. Loving your tour of Scotland and the journey so far. 😀

[@clarepickering2223]

I’ve stayed at that campsite many times, the place is just amazing. I hope you loved it as much as we do.

[@andrewjditton]

It's gorgeous isn't it Clare? Loved it.

[@NotAnotherWhiteBox]

I’m finding it fascinating following your journey with the EV/caravan combo. I had no idea that you could use the car to power the caravan 240v system! That’s going to be a game changer for those of us who camp off grid or rally. I do think doing the constant maths involved with having an EV would stress me out in addition to the various factors that you mention decrease the range even further. I think the charging infrastructure has a way to go, but it’s certainly heading in the right direction and pretty quickly too.

[@andrewjditton]

Absolutely. One thing I'm learning very quickly is that range is NOT an issue - availability and ease of charging IS! And yes, V2L is a total game-changer which could have HUGE implications.

[@gordonbett6203]

Another great video Andrew will be interesting to see how things go regarding the charging of you car. in Scotland, that was a great point you made regarding the charging of electric vehicles when towing a caravan or trailer. A friend of mine was traveling south three weeks ago on the M6 towing his caravan with an electric vehicle and stopped at one of the services to charge the car and could not find a charging point to take the car and caravan so he had to unhook the caravan in the caravan parking area leave his wife and kids in the van while he parked the car at the charging station'. When he got back to the caravan there was an official from the services giving him a parking ticket because the caravan was not attached to a vehicle. He tried to explain that the car was on the charger and that there was no area to put the caravan. He has emailed the company that deals with the parking tickets so will be interesting the outcome. One to look out for on your travels.

[@andrewjditton]

Oh my goodness Gordon, that's my biggest nightmare! I am thinking of getting a sign made up for just that scenario, not that any Jobsworth would take notice. I hope your friend gets a successful outcome, but it's hassle he could do without. Cheers.

[@chrisbell5248]

Don't be afraid to go past 80% on a rapid (DC) charger, its still acceptably fast (on the EV6) up 90%, even 95% at a push (unlike the e-Niro which gets painfully slow). I find there are some times I need the SOC at 90% to be sure off getting home without an extra stop. It's nice to see someone enjoying what can be done rather than moaning about what you can't do. #Teamred

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Chris! I'm still learning so am grateful for info like this, which I'll pass on when talking about charging in the 3rd vid. All the best.

[@bobcolquhoun858]

Hi, thanks for the recording, saw you passing through Glencoe on Thursday, safe towing, great looking outfit but the way

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Bob! Hope you manage to catch Part 2 which I've just posted. All the best.

[@bobcolquhoun858]

@@andrewjditton yes watched it, yes that road down Lich Sunart from Saline is fun enough without a van on, well done👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@handyandy6050]

Awww Thank you Andrew! Brought back so many memories!

[@robertirving5293]

Yes me and my wife we love Arisaig been there lot's of time's back in 2004 when we had the motorhome the Outer Hebrides must be the best one day we will go back. Any way take care both of you .

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Robert! Hope you make it back to the Hebrides sooner not later.

[@michaellecaplain3377]

Another corker, Andrew - thank you! That CL reminds me of the time I spent the night in a motorhome at Kintra Farm on Islay on the way back home from a tour of the Western Isles… the closest I've ever come to wild camping. Absolutely spectacular place - I'd have loved to have stayed longer. Such a shame it appears to be closed this year.

[@andrewjditton]

Oh that's a shame - it was closed when I tried it a few years ago as well. Glad you're enjoying them Mr LeC!

[@johnward182]

Hi Andrew Absolutely stunning video shots mate and great , realistic insight to that Kia ev6 , we are looking at getting that exact vehicle so your real world review is a must for us ❤️👍 you dont leave no stone unturned in your review 👍 here’s looking forward to the next episode 👍👍❤️ stay safe and well ❤️👍

[@lindahiggins9295]

Loved the views from the ferry and the pictures of the steam train. Enjoy your break and stay safe both of you. x

[@andrewjditton]

Thank you! Will do!

[@durhamcaravaners]

So nice to see Gracie our old van on her travels Andrew.

[@andrewjditton]

Maybe I should revert back to her old name now I know she has one ;)

[@durhamcaravaners]

@@andrewjditton ooooh there’s a thought. 😁

[@godgie77]

Great video Andrew, I’ve missed the Scottish Caravan videos!

[@andrewjditton]

More to come! I've missed doing them :)

[@Briersdad]

Great video Andrew. Will be fascinated to see how this pans out in part two as I was thinking towing range with my Ionic 5 with a smaller Caravan would be around 100-120 miles. Clearly the 230 odd mentioned in your commentary is wildly optimistic as you also mentioned 1.8 Miles/KWh which works out at 130 odd on your 77KWh battery the Ionic 5 being only 73KWh.

[@andrewjditton]

Absolutely David. I'll be talking about realistic range in the next video so please stay tuned!

[@terencebaker4269]

Great video Andrew as usual, doggie is a real star, very interested in seeing how an EV works out towing a caravan. You've already cleared one concern and that is the fact that an EV can pull a caravan (the same weight as ours) very well. Keep them coming as you are entertaining and informative.

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks! Will do!

[@mac1324]

Thanks Andrew, this should be very interesting, positives from this one, having the car as the electric hookup when going off grid big plus, the view, the beach, still was a bit pricey. Suspect issue with recharging will be a reoccurring issue, may not be bad at motorway service stations, wait for your review on that, but in towns suspect will have to be van at site, then recharge, which may stretch patience if limited to 100 to 120 miles a day on a long touring holiday. Thanks again, Dougal looking good.

[@andrewjditton]

Many thanks. Yes, still a lot of 'trying out' to come over the next few months!

[@Brooksontour]

Great start to your tour with the added bonus of the steam train passing . We have stayed on the caravan site next door to where you were which also has great access to the beach and wonderful sunsets. Some very fond memories of Arisaig. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your tour and hearing more about the EV, I am wondering how much (if at all) having to find a charge so regularly will become a bugbear for you. Thanks Andrew for sharing your journey and experiences 😊

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Ann! Yes, interesting days ahead.

[@MYJ61]

Andrew, you make me want to move to Scotland! Beautiful views!

[@andrewjditton]

Hold your horses Mark, you might not be so sure after the weather in Part 2! :)

[@lifebeyondbricks]

Great video Andrew. Loving the detail you are giving on the EV side with the battery levels, mileages and charging speeds. Going to be really handy for people to know all this as we cannot keep burning fossil fuels for ever. Large Van and main stream Motorhome Manufactures please take note! oh and that CL.....Stunning!

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers guys! Glad you're enjoying the vid and thanks for your support :)

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

Love how you’ve totally changed the way you live with the caravan. Going electric is more important now than ever. Love the car. My Neil wants one too.😂 Beautiful vlog as always. Thank you.✊❤️

[@noproblem2big337]

Great setup and shows where cars and the caravaning industry could be in the near future for Europe, I can see many advantages including cheaper transport costs, relaxing powerplant with less noise and possibly smoother towing etc. but also a few drawbacks with longer times at charging stations and un-hitching more often but great concept nonetheless👌

[@andrewjditton]

Absolutely. It's swings and roundabouts and it's my intention to be open about both! Thanks for watching.

[@mikepepler]

Nice to see the car in action towing! 🙂

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Mike!

[@RohanTheBT]

We will be at Sunnyside Croft very near Traigh beach next week. Love that beach and the fantastic views ! Andrew, KZbin is full of videos promoting big power banks which would give you plenty of power for charging cameras etc when you aren’t hooked up to mains. You couldn’t run a microwave though

[@andrewjditton]

Indeed... but I bet none of those power banks are 77kW at 13 amps though! ;@)

[@craigavonvideo]

I think that the beaches at Traigh are amongst the most beautiful in the UK. If it wasn't for the weather (and lack of palm trees) you'd think you were in the Carribean. I always make a point of going there when I am in the Scottish Highlands.

[@andrewjditton]

It really is beautiful, isn't it? Thanks for watching.

[@adelebeattie8021]

Absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing.

[@darrenwilson8042]

All looks fabulous - I do think that motorway services with a 2 hrs free parking limit such as the parking limit on that municipal car park is going to have to be looked at if they want to improve uptake of EV's. If you pull into the motorway services in a vehicle that will take 2.5hrs to fully charge on the charging equipment they have then find you have to wait 30 mins for the charger to become free to use then clearly that isn't a runner - maybe some sort of QRC badge for the screen so the ANPR reader can spot EV's coming and going and not fine them? Just as an aside when I see the lovely beaches etc I am just happy that Dougal is getting to live his twilight years in an environment just perfect for dogs.

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Darren. Yes, I thought the same too about motorway services - and add in another 15 minutes if you need to detach and re-attach the caravan. There is a LOT of work to do!

[@markrigby9588]

You can pay extra to extend parking at most services if needed .

[@darrenwilson8042]

@@markrigby9588 yeah but that erodes cost savings from owning an EV - better to make it free rather put another obstacle up for EV users

[@yaminthegrey]

Hari OM Thanks for 'breaking the ground for us Andrew!!! An interesting start... and looks like it gets more so as you go along! The reality of charge points is key to so much as we migrate to EVs... YAM xx

[@andrewjditton]

Absolutely. It's not the range that's the issue, its the robustness (is that a word?) of the charging network. Many thanks as always for your kind words xx

[@lindakirk698]

Good content video Andrew. Keep hilighting the points for councils/ Ferry operators etc. Electric seems to still have a very long way to go as your experience in the carpark shows. Fab seeing the beautiful views again - always good. The "Jacobite" wasnt running when we were there. Enjoy!

[@andrewjditton]

Many thanks Linda!

[@GaetanHobby]

Merci beaucoup pour la belle vidéo Andrew c est vraiment magnifique belle voiture et belle caravane. On te remercie beaucoup on t adore 🌞

[@andrewjditton]

Aww, merci mon ami :)

[@stevenigelthespringers4391]

Another great video. Our first trip with the EV6 towing the caravan was only 40mls one way. Week after next we will try to charge with the caravan at a gridserve outlet off the M6.

[@andrewjditton]

Nice one! It will be interesting to see how you get on with Gridserve. See Gordon Bett's comment for what happened to his friend who charged at a Motorway Service Area. There are a lot of organisations and people out there who have no clue that EVs can now tow medium sized caravans. Good luck!

[@mobiconcept]

Wonderful place, takes me back to family holidays ...

[@karlejnarch]

Great video Andrew. Looking forward to the next one. Agree on the road through Ardnamurchan, I wouldn't tow a caravan that way either. It was bad enough some years back in my late wifes Sprinter (adapted minibus) without a caravan 🙃 I would suggest Lochaline-Fishnish, although there is also a single track road going there. We've towed an 8 ft wide Adria that way once and back again. And that was the very first time we took a caravan to Scotland 😉

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Karl! Although a little late now as we've done it! :)

[@anneshirley1748]

Hi Andrew! I'm watching this from a hotel room in Shrewsbury after watching Skerryvore who were brilliant as ever! I look forward to some more of these videos in your new rig! Thank you for all your hard work bringing these informative vlogs to us all! Beautiful views where you pitched up! Will be interesting to see how you get on with charging the EV, I suppose there might come a time when you get really low on charge and you can't find a charging point or you find one that's out of action! How you work around that problem will be interesting! Lovely video, really enjoyed it as always, take care and see you in the next one! Hugs xxx 😘🐕🥰

[@andrewjditton]

Yes, there are some interesting days ahead Anne! Glad you enjoyed the Skerries :)

[@nealeburgess6756]

Your outfit looks really good. It might sound daft, but I have never thought of buying a white car to go with a white caravan. Looks great.

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Neale! Yes, it started in 1989 when I bought a white Ford Granada... I've been colour matching ever since! ;)

[@benmoorhouse1988]

The CCS should still be capable of getting you to 100% and will run above AC speeds when possible. I believe you should only use AC when there is no CCS available. Very interesting to follow your EV journey! 😊

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Ben!

[@watcher24601]

Interested to see how you get on, I liked the opportunity taken to film the 19th century tech meeting 21st century technology. There's something about driving an EV on grass across a campsite in stealth mode

[@gazzrobb2366]

The Ardnarmurchan lighthouse has two 7KW chargers that are not on zap map and the kilchoan hotel also has two that are free for diners, The AC on the kilchoan ferry charger does work but not the ccs or chadamo

[@andrewjditton]

Good to know, thanks Rob! I did wonder if the AC worked, but given the weather, my knackered state, and the fact I still had 50% battery left I couldn't face going through all the rigmarole with the caravan for a sake of a few kW on AC. Tea and toast was way more important. But thanks again for the info. Fingers crossed they'll sort that charger out on DC soon.

[@turbostream7925]

I had sunshine on my mallaig ferry crossing to Skye, it rained from then onwards on Skye! Like the others, watching with interest on how EV charging works on a tour.

[@jimmcintosh9045]

Good job you got the ferry last week as two Calmac ferries have gone bust!

[@andrewjditton]

Yes! Good timing or what? And hopefully they'll be back on line before I head home.

[@Alex-ek5fb]

Beautiful landscape. Nice to see you trying out the car and caravan. One word of advice: just use the DC, up to 100% if necessary. The car will automatically reduce power as you approach 100%. The main constraint is other people wanting to use the charger, at least here in the south east where there are many EVs.

[@watcher24601]

Above 90% you are getting no extra benefit from being on a rapid. By staying on longer all you are doing is blocking a rapid charger by trickle charging at 7kwh and paying more to do so. Usually quicker to charge to 80ish% and move on when the power throttles back. Instead of wasting an hour getting to 100% you could be an hour further along on the journey

[@Alex-ek5fb]

@@watcher24601 I agree with the blocking charger comment but not with the rate of charge. The Kia EV6 charging curve on Fastned shows that even at 95% it can still pull around 30 kW. That is almost as much as an Hyundai Ioniq Electric at the peak of its charging curve. Also, regarding charging to 80%, that might work in the Midlands when not towing, but Andrew has serious range anxiety (the next charger may be out of action or ICEd and there are not many around). He is right to seek as close to 100% as he can, subject to the usual charging etiquette.

[@markpullinger3916]

Very good video 👍

[@adrianpipe3323]

Great video as always Andrew. The road out to Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan Peninsula was challenging enough in the car, I dread to think of the fun you had towing along there! I’m booked into the campsite just beyond Kilchoan next month. Worth the drive but its not an easy road!

[@andrewjditton]

Wow, good luck! Maybe go via Mull? Just extra cost of the ferry though.

[@adrianpipe3323]

@@andrewjditton the thought had crossed my mind! That may be the option I end up going with. Later in the trip is the Drumbeg loop just to add to the fun and games for the site at Clachtoll!

[@sharongagne7413]

Love love videos of the islands

[@MoThomson]

An interesting wee test with the EV6 and the caravan Andrew, such a nice area to explore before it get's too crowded :) We are getting a VW ID3 in a few weeks, it's on it's way over from Germany just now, but I will be keeping the camper for longer trips, I must admit it feels dirty driving a diesel with manual gearbox after driving an EV. We were over in Norway a few weeks ago, it amazed me how many EV's there are there. Wouldn't it be great to see Calmac retrofitting some fast charge points on the ferry, it might be a bit awkward for boarding / unboarding though.

[@andrewjditton]

That's a great idea Mo, BUT... the electricity would have to come from the ship's generator burning marine diesel, whereas shoreside in Scotland at least the vast majority of power is from renewable sources. CalMac *could* start by upgrading and repairing their existing charge points shoreside! ;)

[@kevinbonner6305]

Great as usual Andrew. Interested to see how you get on with the EV... that also seems to be quite a substantial van you are towing... Best wishes, K...

[@andrewjditton]

It's only short term Kevin - I have new one on order. This one is nearly 1500kg! Cheers.

[@roygardiner4002]

Well done Andrew, first EV/Caravan video I've seen Would be great to know the normal range of the car against the range when towing a "brick" !

[@andrewjditton]

Hi Roy, it's about 3.7mi/kWh, but I talk about range in the second video which I've just uploaded. Many thanks!

[@psiloiordinary]

Thanks for a fab video on a great topic.

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@caravaningincarathevan467]

yes very interesting so far

[@TassieEV]

Only small thing and Bjorn would be cringing, the charging power is in kW not kWh as you mentioned the AC charger was 11kWh when it's really 11kW similarly with DC charger. Great to see someone doing EV towing finally rather than just a test scenario but real-world. Beautiful weather at least at the start of your journey. I think for that 2nd DC fast charger you are at with their ban on caravans just needs someone to have the situation you mentioned and deal with the council either through negotiations and getting the rule changed or through courts and get the rule changed. If I was stuck I'd just unhook and back in the car like you did similar to what Bjorn has done in Norway.

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks! Yes, that was a slip of the tongue which I corrected later in the trip as you probably noticed ;) I think in the majority of cases it will be necessary to detach the caravan, and you'll see in Ep6 that one charger is behind a 2m height barrier - so not only caravans but some of the new larger electric vans, and EV SUVs with roof boxes won't be able to access either! One reason I am doing this is to show the wider populace that yes, now in 2022, EVs CAN and DO tow! Cheers!

[@bq5577x]

You mean 11kW and 40kW though. Cool video, but this is important.. you can charge 30 minutes with 40kW, you will receive 20kWh. You're welcome! I subscribed. Cool to see decent towing tests with EVs!

[@andrewjditton]

Welcome aboard, more towing tests to come.

[@CaraVanOlogywithBecky]

Wow, what a find of a CL! Looking good so far, thanks for taking us with you on the ups and downs :)

[@davidmbell]

Looking forward to more of this trip. Were you nervous first time on a ferry towing with the new car? Know I would be - compared to the familiarity of doing it with the Nevarra and Airstream. Must admit I’ve had to google AC vs DC charging on an EV, but now I know 😏

[@andrewjditton]

I was a bit as it's much lower. I'll be explaining more about charging in the next one. Cheers Mr B!

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

This is really excellent content, Andrew. I did my degree in Sustainable Development and back then all EV talk was about the G-Whizz, which was a bit of a novelty car, really. Shame, as some of the earliest vehicles were electric, but internal combustion took over - oh how wrong we were on that one! Out of interest, you mentioned that you were getting approximately 2.5miles per KW and that a KW was 24p. Given your extensive touring experience, how do you feel that cost compares to internal combustion engines? Thanks!

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

I've just done some quick calculations on Excel, based on us achieving 32 MPG on a recent 140-mile trip to the Peak District: Nissan Van miles MPG Gallons Used Litres Used Cost @ £2 /L Cost @ £1.85 /L 140 32 4.375 19.88914375 £39.78 £36.79 Kia EV6 Miles MP KW KW Used Cost @ £0.24 / kWh Cost @ £0.30 / kWh 140 1.8 77.77' £18.67 £23.33 I know that it's largely irrelevant, as we all have to make to switch at some point, but it is a fascinating comparison! I hope the above displays the same as it is for me now so that it is clear!

[@andrewjditton]

Brilliant! Looks pretty spot on to me. Although what you need to remember is that I was getting 25mpg towing the Airstream with the Navara (thanks to the Airstream's shape) and many folks only get about 18-20mpg towing. I'll be covering the cost in the 3rd video but what you have done here is great, thanks!

[@thinkingoutofthebox.9421]

You could use a battery powered drill to wind caravan legs down quickly.

[@andrewjditton]

I could... but it's another 'thing' to carry and charge up. I'm old school when it comes to the corner steadies :)

[@VerilogTutor]

Interesting video. Minor correction: energy stored is quoted in kWh (i.e. kilowatt hours). Rate of charge is in kW (i.e. kilowatts). So when you said 11kWh charging rate you meant 11kW. In terms of petrol, we’re using to thinking about the energy store being litres of fuel in the tank, and the EV equivalent is kWh (kilowatt hours).

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Simon. I know what I meant even if I doesn't come out my mouth right! ;@) But seriously good to know as I want to use that kind of analogy in the next vid when explaining to newcomers the implication of mi/kWh when calculating range.

[@northlancsscotsman7475]

Love the car, very stylish also love your videos, back in the day I'm sure you could have co-presented with Judith Chalmers on "Wish You Were Here" no problem. Regarding the car, can I ask what sort of warranty do you get with the Kia? The reason I ask is while waiting for my Diesel Nissan X-Trail to come back from it's service test drive, I was speaking to the owner of the garage and we got on to talking about EV's and he told me of a couple of horror stories with some of his customers, one of those had a Mini EV that only had 6 months left on it's warranty and the batteries had basically packed in and he required a new set however, the main dealer was having some heated dialogue with the owner and was stalling in honoring the replacement at an amazing cost of £20'000!!! This is the second time I've heard this figure banded about and if this is correct and with 2030 fast approaching, I can see myself continuing with a diesel vehicle for as long as possible because I would never be able to enjoy my hobby and pull my caravan with an EV with the fear of this cost of repair hanging over me for a car that is maybe just outside it's warranty, also worryingly what will the warranty arrangements be for second hand EV's when that's all there will be on the forecourts? I was already concerned that, as a country we are so far behind with the infrastructure but now with potential sky-high repair bills, 2040 seems a more realistic date to allow us to catch up with the Scandinavians and allow technology to advance.

[@andrewjditton]

Hi there, the Kia comes with a 7 year warranty, including the battery BUT the battery is only covered up to 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) and it's only replaced if it cannot hold more than 65% of its original charge - so in my case that would be 50kW/h. Still pretty reasonable. But I think you are absolutely right - 2040 WOULD be a more a realistic date, especially given the fragility of the charging network right now in the UK.

[@KevinMcCoolUK]

Great video thanks. What is the drive like (towing) from South Uist to Harris please?

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Kevin! I have done LOADS of caravanning videos from the Hebrides including towing. If you click on my name and go to my channel page, you can scroll back for years and check them out. Or just search 'How to Hebrides' in the KZbin search box for a coherent 6-part series from 2019. But to answer your question - a doddle! I much prefer single track roads to two-way roads as you can easily pull in to let traffic pass - something you often cannot do on two-way roads if there is stressful queue behind you. Cheers!

[@mavicsteve9275]

Hi, will you be loading your car and caravan to simulate a couple using them? I watched the carwow channel and he drove a ev in different scenarios. I do thing it’s the future and it’s much appreciated that you are doing this for us.

[@andrewjditton]

Hi Steve, one step at a time! ;) I saw the CarWow video too which was very interesting, but the cost of hiring Millbrook Proving Ground to do these controlled tests is way out of my league. All I can do is report back openly about real world stuff, and there are a few months to go before I get to try some longer distances. Cheers!

[@mountee]

Such great content thanks so much.

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoy it, thanks for watching!

[@Lynnefromlyn]

Another enjoyable video. I’ve checked the comments…did you find out why caravans are not welcome at some charging points or camping spots? I ask because I’ve come across evidence of this elsewhere and you know, if there’s a justifiable reason, fair enough, but I haven’t come across one yet. Ho-e someone can shed some light on this little conundrum!

[@andrewjditton]

I did get a response from Highland Council saying they were going to review their access policies to EV chargers in the light of my info, so fingers crossed!

Can you explain why AC charging allows you to reach 100%? This infers DC fast charging does not which makes little sense to me given the only difference is the car is converting AC>DC onboard rather than the charging station doing that step for it and at a higher amperage as it has a much larger transformer.

[@intelmacs]

Kia and Hyundai only allow there EVs to fast DC charge up to 90%

I have in fact just read the manual. Page 25 clearly says you can charge to 100% on DC. I wonder if you’ve got confused about the recommendation of going to 80%? The wording in the manual is a bit odd, and I can also imagine it’s possible a poorly informed sales person would spew incorrect information (sorry, I’ve experienced it too many times!). What batteries don’t like is STAYING in the 80-100% range, so only charge over 80% if you are immediately about to drive the car and deplete it below 80%. It’s true they also prefer to charge slowly, so in that sense AC at 11Kw is better than 43Kw via DC, however, if you are short of time (like needing to get a ferry!) then use DC to get to 100% in 1/4 of the time! So long as you aren’t DC charging for every charge then the battery will be just fine.

@@intelmacs not according to their 2022 user manual I just downloaded?

@@intelmacs I’ve also just found multiple reviews documenting charging speeds across the SOC, all reporting DC fast charging remaining around 100Kw in the 80-100% range. So unless this is a EU only restriction (as both reviews were US based) or a VERY new addition (as they were from March/April), I suspect you can tell the car to go to 100% if you want, it’s just it defaults to 80% as that is a sensible max to prolong battery life.

[@andrewjditton]

Hi José, thanks for the comment. I was under the impression that it's good practice to only use DC up to 80%, not that it's not possible to do so. What you say is very interesting, and shows that there is a lot to learn as well as a lot of misinformation going around. I'll have to raise these points with the Kia Press Office to try and get a definitive answer, and see if they will actually reply to my email this time... Cheers!

[@waynecompton7612]

Good morning Andrew, Thank you for the video etc. please could you tell us how much it costs to charge your car. Perhaps I’ve missed something??? Take care and stay safe.👍😎🇬🇧

[@andrewjditton]

Hi Wayne, you've missed nothing! I'll be talking about costs in video 3 as it is, of course, a bit involved! Many thanks.

[@stevensmith662]

interesting video but the range is poor when towing , realistically your looking at an enforced stop every two hours or so on a long motorway journey when travelling at 60mph . I doubt it would be much good for very long journeys like Scotland to Cornwall in one day Or Scotland to Southern Spain which usually take me 3 days a journey of a approximately 1250 miles .

[@andrewjditton]

No, it is no good for long journeys in a short space of time. But I for one want to slow down and enjoy the journey.

[@Sunshine-Light]

Lovely 😊 doggie

[@simonworsley8551]

Is it me or is your voice speeding up when you're talking? (the bit where your driving to the ferry).

[@andrewjditton]

Simon, I have no idea what is going on there. Whenever I speak in the car it kind of goes squeaky. Not sure if it's the camera or what, but there's something going on there!

[@CaraVanOlogywithBecky]

@@andrewjditton Does it behave the same whether or not the wind reduction is on? It’s cutting out the lower frequencies for some reason so if that’s not the camera trying to be clever then I guess it’s the basser resonance of this car which is much smoother and quieter than the truck so maybe too much for the mic to pick up those frequencies I.e. you’re literally in tune with your new car ;-) …

[@richardbinnie]

Currently sitting at Sunnyside Croft and your choice of Traigh certificated site is a brilliant choice. Interested in your charging options such the overall benefits of EV towing. Is there not a suitable charging option in Arisaig? All the best to you and the wee lad.

[@andrewjditton]

Hi Richard, you'll see in the next one that the only chargers working in Arisaig are the AC ones, and we only got 5kW! The faster DC chargers are not working. We got about 7% charge in 90 minutes :-/ Enjoy Sunnyside!

[@brianbennett3904]

Hi Andrew. I am in NZ and towing a 4.8m caravan with a new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Mixed results but as NZ may take a while to develop a comprehensive charging network it’s a good mid term option. Maybe I missed the episode where you discuss which model EV6 you have. CN you share that with me? What is your caravan specs? Thanks. Brian

[@andrewjditton]

Hi Brian, they are there in the video where I introduce the new rig a few weeks ago. It's a GT-Line 2WD. Cheers!

[@brianbennett3904]

@@andrewjditton thanks Andrew. Found it👍

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

Sometimes a good "dilly-dally" is great for the soul. Not always but, sometimes.

[@Grt234]

What's the prices to charge the car.?

[@andrewjditton]

Hi John, I'll be talking about the cost in the 3rd video. Cheers!

[@marlajacques6947]

Choice spot Andrew, I wonder if you have Scot DNA in you? I know one doesn’t have to in order to enjoy certain lands but it seems to really resonate with you!

[@andrewjditton]

It's something I've wondered myself Marla. I'll have to investigate further some time as I really do feel so at home here.

[@Project_Erasmus]

So erm.. what is this "miles" thing you keep talking about? :-)