@@andrewjditton Dougal would prefer if you bring him with you. I think Dougal may be so sad, that he passes away if you leave him while you go on a long trip, and that your long trip will be more enjoyable with Dougal than without him. Surely Cuddling With Dougal for an hour can also probably prevent or even get rid of a migraine, if petting is involved, and you would probably do well with regular combination acupressure plus Swedish and Reiki type massage, (I had a friend who combined all 3, and I instantly saw the kind of geometric patterns that change color like they did when we rubbed our eyes after waking in the morning when we were kids -- right from the moment his hands touched my body, nonstop throughout the entire massage, every time, and it was SO relaxing! Then you could strive to reciprocate the same kind of massage to Sophie and then to Dougal, and they can strive to reciprocate to you. Massage with pressure can be so relaxing! It could be very beneficial if we copy the Japanese who do it to each other everyday. Husbands and wives take turns massaging each other, best friends take turns massaging each other. Pets love to be massaged. I always massage them rather than pet them and it's obvious they LOVE it! I just met a pit-bull terrier who strives to return the favor by leaning in with his body at your lower legs. So sweet!
I think it's great that someone who works for/near the motorhome industry is taking on the topic of electromobility. And for those interested, nothing could be better than someone who has always stood for independence and transparency. Of course, not everyone can or wants to buy an EV right away. But when the time comes, it would be great to get real first-hand experience, especially in this very special area of EVs as towing vehicles. Thanks Andrew, very much appreciated.
Hi Andrew , love the channel. Not into the whole electric thing.... yet. I need to be convinced , i respect all the people here who do,I am interested to see how this is going to workout ,particularly around Scotland. Always enjoy the adventures and the places you show me regardless of how its done. An avid tenter then caravanner for the past 30 years , now a motorhomer . All types of camping have always been my preferred way of holidaying. Look forward to the next episodes / adventures. Keep up the good work! Hats off for being brave and taking the plunge!
Cheers Gerry. You know that you'll be getting the failures as well as the successes here... I'm not bright enough or clever enough to spin anything that isn't the truth! :)
Great choice off car! And ( electricity providers whilst camping off grid)! The is only one disadvantage to ev and so many advantages!! I’ve been doing it for two years and I would not go back to ICE. The future thanks you!! What you’re doing will help the transition to a greener world.
Hurray . I can’t tell you how happy I am to not only see your new rig but that you will keep caravaning . I was so sad when I thought you were retiring to live in a tiny Croft cottage amd give your journeys on the open road . But to see not only are you back but bringing us on a journey that is so pertinent to the present situation of using more renewable energy . Great vid as usual .greeting from Canada
Fantastic. Couldn’t be better timing - I am due to pick up my white EV6 next week and will be towing our Eriba Troll (1400kg) . I’m expecting half the range and hoping the aerodynamic shape of the Eriba and it’s lower height will help achieve that. My rationale is 90% of our caravanning is within 100 miles of home, which I expect to be comfortably achievable with the EV. And longer trips simply plan in the extra stops. The V2L is the final clincher for me as we can off grid without any compromises. I cannot wait. Happy to compare notes later in the year once we have some trips under our belt.
Hi - glad to see that we're not alone on this! Could you let me know if you have managed to get your tow-bar fitted and if so which dealership supplied it? We're based near Bournemouth and our dealer says there are no tow bars available as Kia are prioritising delivery of the cars rather than accessories. ps Yacht Blue does look great!
@@hughrichards8023 I don’t know about the towbar yet. It’s on the order and our Kia dealer has been honest and isn’t sure whether or not it’ll arrive with the car but suspects it could come later. But you never know. Fingers crossed. I get the impression the dealer is getting frustrated with Kia HQ as they can’t provide enough the cars wuick enough with the amount if enquiries they are getting. I suspect Kia have been caught out by such a positive reception generating so much interest on top of supply chain issues affecting the whole motor industry. I’ll let you know if the dealer manages to get the towbar sorted. Tbh I am shocked my EV6 is even coming when you see the huge delay to delivery times are now quoting. It’s worth noting that the manual recommends 1200 miles before towing to bed the motors in. My dealer says that this is being over cautious but that you should at least run the car in for a bit first. So i am comfortable if the towbar comes a couple of months later. But won’t be too happy if it’s much beyond that. After all Kia is heavily promoting the towing capability and it’s a pretty bog standard detachable towbar. Likewise - keep me posted if you succeed sourcing one. The quick clip in Andrew’s video looks like the official Kia towbar.
Yes, I feel that my dealer was also frustrated with Kia as well. Towbar was quoted as 5th May and arrived around 5th March! I'm impressed at your manual reading abilities... I didn't see that bit about the 1200 miles. Oops ;)
@@andrewjditton as it’s a brave new world and towing has been not been realistically available for most EVs, it makes my question why and consequently I am be extra cautious on the towing guidance. Look forward to seeing your next videos.
Will the caravan have to be unhitched each time for charging. This Andrew is one of the most exciting and real life reviews undertaken to date and will be an eye opener to both manufacturers and consumers, look forward to the next episodes.
Hi, very interesting, i bought the Hyundai Ionic 5 and will be towing a caravan. I am in the proces of deciding on the caravan. I am thinking of the knaus sport and Fun , Ore even a lighter one, so i get a better range. I expect the range Will be halved with a caravan.
I'am glad to be very pleased with the reason why you are selling the Airstreem! I'am also pleased with your series of videos about driving a caravan with an electric car. My Volvo V40, an ideal combination with my Sprite Alpine Sport 400TF, is two years old, but my next car will be electric so I'am taking the time and already looking for its successor...
Good choise with the EV6 - I've been thinking that it looks like the first truely feasible EV towcar, so I'm facinated to find out how it pans out for you. I can't wait to see what new caravan you've chosen. Best wishes.
p.s. I hope you make sure to get the new caravan weighed totally empty before you fill it up. I'm rather sceptical that the caravan manufacturers figures are strictly accurate.
Hi Andrew I love your new outfit, the car is smart and the caravan great. But the number plate on the car SY is my initials. I have to give up caravaning and driving because I have a condition called MND. So no more restoration but watching you helps me through the day. Keep up the good work.
Oh I’m so excited for you! I love your fearlessness to try new things (ok I know you put a lot of thought into this ). Very much looking forward to. your videos. Will miss Dougal but we understand as Millie is now 10.5 and finds traveling too strenuous these days. Yay you! Loved the intro! Hoping to be in Scotland late August/September!
Hi Andrew, great video! My wife and I have just decided to make the switch from tent camping to caravanning. We've decided on a Swift Sprite Alpine 4 and we have a 4 year lease on a Long Range RWD Ioniq 5 which we totally love. So, we're new to caravans, new to EVs. You mentioned Summer caravanning using your EV on Motorways in one of these 4 videos. I wonder, did you do such a video? We have concerns about Motorway EV charging while towing. Because the service stations generally have 1-way systems, how is that going to work with hitching/unhitching, recharging, then getting back to the caravan via the one way system? I have also been researching things like... what is the optimal towing speed for maximum range. I believe with the Ioniq 5 RWD (73kW), 120miles may be possible on a 100% charge. So many variables!! We haven't bought our caravan yet, but we're planning on purchasing this winter. Then it's questions about off-grid with the V2L and recharging on a powered pitch (10A bollard) using the 3-pin mains charger. So many questions! I apologise but we're so excited 😀.
Hi Hugh, I've already answered many of your questions so please check out my other videos. This coming Sunday I'll be doing a more comprehensive guide to towing with an EV so please come back and check that out. Cheers!
Brilliant, brilliant, watched it again it was so good! This is going to be an absolutely superb next phase of the journey! Also a really strong testing approach opting for a realistically sized family friendly van as a stop gap before your new possibly lighter weight, ahem (?) “campingbase” (we’ll see) arrives in summer. Fantastic approach and that car is a looker as well! Of course massive implications nationally in terms of rollout & infrastructure but I assume you’re already on a renewables only tariff for home charging and if nobody sets the trend the powers that be won’t make allowance for our needs as part of the huge changes we’ll see over the next few years so thank you!
Cheers Becky! Ah, home charging is one pickle I'm still sorting. At least in Lochmaddy I can charge for 20p/kWh at the moment. It's all a learning curve and it's changing daily...
@@andrewjditton I foresee lots of training extension leads in your future ;-) Bit like my house where the van has to be plugged in reasonably often to keep the starter battery in good shape as I'm driving so little mileage these days and of course the caravan is home too so that's often plugged in. We're slowly all being acclimatised to electric by stealth ;-) Just need the national generation infrastructure sorting! Luckily I've a 4kW solar array on the house roof, which helps offset daytime usage. We were expecting to swap the husband's "run-around" to electric back in early 2020 but decided to put that on hold given all the uncertainty at the time and honestly he's a total primo uomo (he won't mind me saying that!) when it comes to cars so he's waiting for 2 seater sports versions rather than 4 seater sensible vehicles...! At least by the time there's choice in that part of the market they'll all come with bidirectional charging and so we can save the cost of the Tesla Powerwall/other brand that we were thinking of getting to hook up to the solar and use the car as the house's battery bank. All v clever :) Learning curves are fab every so often, helps us feel refreshed & alive. Really looking forward to following your real use ups and downs and there being some excellent content with which to demonstrate caravanner's needs to folks planning charging stations, etc. :)
That's one super funky Kia , very cool. As a touring set up you've hit the spot even if Connie is only a stand in caravan. I'm looking forward to the following vlogs. Onwards and upwards, Godspeed 😁🤘
About time someone did this properly. Congratulations. I’ve a Model Y in the UK. Seriously considering towing. Extremely interested how you get on. Main issue I see is taking the van off to charge on the move. Shame Tesla don’t do V2L
Thanks Ross. TBH I don't think there is currently any way around unhitching the van to charge. It's how we do that in the real world I'm looking forward to trying over the summer. I have a feeling it's not always going to be pretty, but we'll see. Cheers!
We've just made the move as well Andrew - EV6 GT line (soon to be) towing an Eriba Triton (hoping that the lower profile will add to increased range). We're very happy with the car so far, the only hiccup is that we've been told that the tow bar isn't available at the moment, although we did spec it at time of order in November. Any info on how / where you obtained your tow bar would be much appreciated! Thanks a lot and keep up the great work!
Looks like we are the opposite way round. We already have an Eriba, but no EV6. Though soon to be picking up the EV6 in about a week. I have high hopes for the Eriba. There have been some studies and it appears aerodynamics have a greater impact on towing range than weight (although that does have an affect). I am hoping the excellent aerodynamics of the Eriba (it really is a dream to tow with our current Skoda ) mixed with its lower height is the optimum combination with the EV6. I wonder if Andrew’s caravan on order is an Eriba? A chap in America towing a regular travel trailer (approx equivalent to our white box caravans) with a Tesla swapped for a similar weight Airstream and immediately got a significant bump in range due to the shape. Still a big drop compared to not towing, but nowhere near as bad. If the ev6 can comfortably do 100-130 miles I’ll be very pleased. If it does more I’ll be ecstatic.
@@nealeTH We’ve got the EV6 and the Eriba sitting on the drive - just no tow bar! Towing the Eriba vs a Bailey Ranger with a diesel showed an increase from 26mpg (which was 50% of our non-towing average) to 36mpg so I’m hoping for a range of 150 miles and maybe more in the warmer months. If this doesn’t work then our last resort for guilt free towing is to try a GoPod! It will be very interesting to see where all this takes us, it’s an expensive journey!
Cheers Hugh! I ordered from Dicksons at the same time as the car (November) - but I told them I'd not be taking delivery of the car without the towbar fitted. One minute (late Feb) I was told the towbar would be arriving 5th May... then it turned up a week later! For what it is worth, the paperwork inside with it is branded Hyundai. Good luck getting yours, I'd love to know how you get on with the Eriba.
Great stuff Neale! You'll probably be first to get some real world figures as I've only been pootling around the island in some mad winds. I'm guessing you managed to get the tow bar with the EV6? Enjoy!
Congratulations, Andrew! I applaud your willingness to embrace change, and for all the right reasons in my book. I look forward to following you and Dougal on your upcoming adventures. Thanks for sharing them with all of us.
Looking forward to seeing this. I made the move to a Polestar 2 with my Bailey Unicor S3 Vigo last season (May 21'). I ordered the Polestar before the EV6 came on the market, but it has 3 main features I would love. That 800V ultra-rapid charge for 10 - 80 in 18 mins, more range than my P*2 (but stll 77kWh so maybe not more towing), and the V2L. I did 1600 miles over 5 tips towing last year. Will be great to see how you fair!
Oh wow, great stuff Toby! Out of interest, what mi/kWh do you get when towing the Bailey? Apparently towing with an EV can't be done according to some of the less open-minded commenters, so I'm glad to hear of your 1600 miles last year. Cheers!
@@andrewjditton it varies (as with everything) between 1.5 and just over 2 on a run. Rain is a big impact as is headwind as your vlog shows. Charging is not too bad, but we are always travelling as a pair. One to watch the van while the other gets the car on charge, uses facilities etc. Park where you can and ask for forgiveness rather than permission!
@@tdrees Many thanks for the reply Toby. That has put my mind at rest somewhat, although I normally caravan alone so that will be a whole new challenge... All the best.
Excellent move! I have towed with hybrids for 5 years and the company i work for has insisted we have full electric next time. I didnt want to have to buy a second car just to tow the van. This is just what I was waiting for.
Great stuff Mark. Yes, there are compromises to be made (unhitching to charge is NOT something I'm looking forward to) but I think too many people are focussing on the negatives and not on the positives, like the awesome performance.
Really interested to hear and see your experiences towing with an EV. I’m still towing with my 15 year old petrol Mondeo, so it goes without saying that an upgrade will be due within a couple of years or so. I’ve always dismissed an EV vehicle, certainly as our tow car but with a new car being such a big and generally a longer term investment, I am beginning to think more about them. Especially with rising petrol and diesel costs.
Cheers Adam. I think the one thing people miss, which I intend to labour, is that EVs make for phenomenal towcars despite the range and charging hitched up issues. Hopefully I will be able to provide you with some useful info over the summer. All the best.
I did wonder if you were considering going electric following our conversation on the Wednesday at the NEC show. I'm the chap with the Tesla/Bailey Discovery combination. I still don't understand why it can only tow 1000Kg, so your rig is a much better option. The EV6 wasn't around two years ago when I bought my EV, otherwise it would have definitely been on the shortlist. All the best with it Andrew - EVs are wonderful to drive and live with.
Trevor, I was BUSTING to tell you! But I didn't even tell my friends. Thanks for commenting, I'm glad you have seen the video. I totally agree, I think once you've towed with an EV you'll never want to go back to an ICE despite the few disadvantages. Maybe time to trade in the Tesla? ;)
Fantastic! We're small motorhome owners as I've had scary experiences towing a small caravan 25 years ago... but we're really interested in going electric, so will be keeping a keen watch out for your videos!
Wow , that's a big decision Andrew , well done you , good-looking motor , very sassy , nice , neat, c'van too , looks super comfortable , ackkkkk , imagine leaving the oul, fella, behind poor wee man!!!!! Heath , happiness and enjoy , hugs
Cheers Linda. Trust me, the wee man is better off not coming to Italy. He's over the being in and out of different motorhomes. And he LOVES the new car, so it's not all bad ;)
Well done Andrew, I must admit I have always been an EV sceptic, however technology appears to be catching up. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds and if the common caravaning concerns with an EV will be answered. Will it have the same range in all weathers and terrains, charging availability and reliability , charging with a caravan in mid journey, can you charge from an EHU, what is the battery life like under regular load. My concern with EVs are that for someone like myself I will only be able to afford them second hand which will probably have a reduced battery life, if the battery need replacing a bit further down the line it will cost more than what the car is worth.
All very valid concerns in my book. For example, I shall be fastidious about not charging over 80% unless I absolutely have to, but how will you be able to tell if someone has cooked their battery every night? I think it will all smooth out eventually, especially with battery replacement, but it's still very early days yet. The good thing with the Kia is that the battery does carry a warranty - although I can't remember the exact details (they'll be on the web.) Cheers!
Andrew, I’m so excited with the direction you’ve chosen with the new rig!! Seriously, if I could have made only one suggestion as to what would be, for me, the most interesting approach to caravan travel with today’s newest equipment…you’ve done it! So happy for you. 🤗
Will be very interested to see how you get on. I plumped for Ionic 5 Project 45 back in September hoping that I could tow a Base Camp as my first Caravan.
Wow! Had to be a big change for you to get rid of your lovely Airstream and this sure is. I’ve no doubt your new rig will work out really well, even with your temporary caravan. I had thought you might be switching to a motor-home of some kind after all your journeys these past few years. Stay safe.
Cheers Paul! I did consider a van conversion, but ultimately I prefer the flexibility of having a car when I do the kind of trips I do for myself. All the best.
Hi Andrew, I’m so pleased you are enjoying a new chapter in your life with all the traveling.. come and see us sometimes at Eurostar (ADCM office) Have a fab time and keep enjoying life ☺️ Fethi
Fethi Cheese! :) How lovely to hear from you mate! Would love to come see you and RyanAir... just the small matter of access now I don't have a badge. I'm sure we'll work something out when Mr Perks or someone of his calibre is on duty when I'm passing. All the best :)
😲 An electric tow car!!! I don't know if you're a pioneer or a little crazy (in the best sense of the word). 🤭🤣 I wait for your impressions, especially in the autonomy of the car. Of course ... The set is beautiful!! Congratulations. Enjoy it!!!
I wonder, with some trepidation, how. Many stops you'd have to make when towing from the South Coast to the Western Isles, but I will be watching. Good to have you back with a full summer's worth of videos planned! Was that Kimberley near Darlington or further South?
It's going to be a slow mission, that's for sure Raymond. The Kimberley Branch was Darlington. They have a nice Airstream for sale there if you're interested... ;@)
@@andrewjditton I might go this week, Tuesday or Wednesday to look at other caravans, but wife would "have a few cross words" if I bought the Airstream. I suppose I could go out today while she is at Newcastle....
Andrew, we would be very disappointed if you did anything on YOUR channel because you felt you HAD to do something. We follow you to see your opinions and the choices you make in the parts of your life that you share with us. We only want you to be you and do what is right for Andrew and of course Dougal. ❤️
Cheers Mark! Yes, there are a couple of folk who thought that it was all about them, but at the end of the day I'm just doing what feels right to me, and sharing my journey (in all the ways) with the kind folk who give me their time to join me. All the best.
Hi Andrew love your electric car but towing withit would be to much charging anxiety !!!!! Having to charge so frequently NOT FOR ME !! A range of 300 to 400 hundred miles essential then you are not planning your breaks around refiling the tank and you ( I ) can enjoy the journey which is what travelling is all about. I will keep my diesel motorhome thanks !. Don forget you need to review the Rollertam Pegaso. Your honest reviews are great so keep them coming.PS bring Sophie along she can make your lunch LOL (sorry Sophie lol) KEEP UP THE GREAT VLOGS
Fantabulosa! We watched this in the pub. Many happy electric travels. Musky the Musketeer looks forward to getting together with your new outfit soon! 🙂🚗🚌👍xxx
Ooooooooooooo!! Genuinely thought when I saw the clip I thought you'd have bought the Xplore 304 (especially having watched your videos with it) can't wait to see what the future brings for you
Amazing choice - welcome to the world of EVs. You should get in touch with Fully Charged Live and do some talks there. Robert Llewellyn would love your new rig. I was thinking of a combination of an EV6 with a Weinsberg Cara Cito. It is fully electric too, so the EV6 can act as backup power if the campsite has no supply. What do you think? Reason I haven’t done it so far: concern that you would have to uncouple the caravan every time you charge, especially as the EV6 has the charge port at the back. I am sure you are going to tell us all about that soon.
Video 4, Alex, video 4! ;) But yes, the problem would be using v2L AND charging at the same time, which you can't really do. But I really do think that V2L is slowly going to change caravan design.
Campsites will have to up there game EV charge points. For every car..and from June charge points at your house will be on separate supply at a higher tariff than your house supply.
Finally someone addressing the questions a lot of caravaners are concerned about for the future. Really looking forward to this experiment. By the way, love the EV6.
I have looked at some costings, and even the Tesla Model 3 will pay itself back in financial savings within about 6 years. Then there is the reduced local exhaust emissions, and if the power is sourced from renewables, the CO2 emission reductions. The Kia EV6 however is only coming in as the GT model and pricing forecast at $95,000 to $105,000 put it well above the Tesla Model 3 and WAY above my budget!
How great you are doing this. Have an electric car but can’t tow anything with it so next year looking for something that will tow a proper caravan. My adria is too heavy so can’t tow it. Hopefully soon an electric car will be able to tow a heavy luxurious caravan. Please don’t get an electric Dougal, I love him just the way he is❤️
I have been looking for someone towing small campers with a PHEV or EV. It appeared you were either charging the EV or powering the RV with the cable. Liked and subbed, and waiting to see how the towing and range works out.
Fantastic! Up beat and forward thinking what a great take on the future. The car will give some fantastic content as will the caravans. I can't wait for the next installments. 10/10 for keeping thing fresh, honest and topical! And thank you for all the content you have put out to date and hopefully that you will keep generating!
Great choice Andrew. EV6 and IoniQ5 are my shortlist for a a change to EV for towing my 1500 kg Caravan. my guess is around 90-100 miles towing range . i cant wait for the rest of the series
Brilliant! Good luck. I have the air model and wanted to tow my caravan as well but Avante 866 is too heavy as well. Also looking to change to a 530 size van. I will watch with great interest.
Congratulations Andrew! Unfortunately, Kia is not available here in Japan. Hyundai have recently announced their return to the Japanese market, but I doubt they will sell (in enough numbers) for the simple reason that Japan and South Korea do not get on and consequently, they will likely withdraw again in a few years. Nevertheless, your long term review or more accurately, your experience of living and towing with an EV will be interesting. The only thing that puts me off buying an EV is the lunacy that is the design of charging stations that despite a very strong towing culture in the UK, the idiots in charge decided that pull-in was better than the pull-through design of traditional petrol stations. Whilst Japan does not have a strong towing culture and is still very much fringe, the same lunacy regarding charging stations exists here also.
Cheers AJ. Yes, one downside is the EV6 has its charging point at the rear - even on the front it would be better for towing. Towing with an EV is such a new 'thing' that it's never been allowed for. For example, on 'Zap Map' which is the biggest app in the UK to plot your journey around charging points, there is NO ability to change the car's miles per kWh by ticking a box saying 'towing'. Don't worry, it's on my list of people to nag... :)
Great choice of EV, we've ordered one to arrive next month, in yacht blue. We've had EV's since 2018, but this will be the first that we can tow with! Well wear! Welcome to the EV world! ;-)
Not a bit Abid, just the angle on my own stuff will now go from touring with the Airstream to touring with an EV - and the trials and tribulations that I am expecting ! Thanks as always for your support.
Your decision to go fully electric is a wonderful move which will surely motivate others to do likewise. We recently bought a used 2016 hybrid Toyota Rav4 and our next vehicle will be a 100% EV. Cheers.
Cheers P&M. All I hope to do - as I always hope to do - is report back truthfully on my own experiences and let people make up their own minds if something is for them or not. All the best.
Excellent, excellent choice of car. The EV6 not only forges the way in the world of electric vehicles it also looks the part. After driving your Navara for so long I am afraid you may think you have gone deaf in the EV6! 😂
I tell you what Tristan, I still can't get over the difference in cab volume. Just you wait till video 3 when I use that same in-car camera that I've always used, and used to have to shout... ;)
Love your new outfit. Hopefully you will be able to get rid of some of the misconceptions about towing with a caravan. I’ve been playing with the idea of getting a BMW i4 so I’ll be interested to see how you rate the Kia EV6 GT as a possible alternative.
How exciting! Love the look of the EV6! I know it gets glowing reviews, my concern would be range anxiety with towing a caravan!!! can’t wait to see what you think of it! Keep up the good work and love to Dougal!🥰
We're kind of there, Alan. The Kia has regeneration which you can control with fingertip paddles, so if the caravan is causing too much speed on a downhill section you can up the regen instead of braking. I'll cover this more over the summer. Many thanks!
Wow live in Canada and our KW/h cost converted is 1/4 yours. Our biggest cost is similar to yours in that it is heating costs, except it gets to -40 here for a few months. Looks like your green energy is costing you a fortune. You can keep your wind farms and electric cars. lol
Another comment 'disappeared' again.... Mat Watson (Carwow) did a real world test video of a Škoda Enyaq (77kWh battery/claimed range of 330 miles) while towing a Bailey D4-2 caravan (~880 kg weight) at a steady 60mph and his battery efficiency was reduced to 1.3m per kWh with an estimated real world range of 100 miles!!! (He also tested the vehicle's real world range with other items such as roof box, roof mounted bike....) With figures like that I guess you will be getting plenty of use from the V2L system to boil the kettle as you stop every 1½ hours to charge up (if you can find a working charge point!) 🫖☕🫖☕🫖☕ At least Dougal will get plenty of chances to stretch his legs! 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 I'm sure you will tell it is as it is...👍
Thanks Kat. I know it's not for everyone, especially given range and charging issues. But it aligns very much with my personal needs just now, so let's see how it goes :)
I don’t fly partly for environmental reasons but when I start my middle aged Motorhome & smell the fumes I know i can’t be too ‘holier than thou’ so I’m looking forward with interest to how things go.
I'm the same but opposite Alan - I'll be flying to Italy. None of us are perfect, we just do the best we can with what we've got. No judgement here - I'll be chugging my way around Tuscany next week ;)
Andrew. A suggestion. You should contact Jonathan Porterfield, long term EV enthusiast, Guru and dealer based in Orkney. I'm sure he'd be enthusiastic about your rig (would probably offer some free charging!😉) and will be a mine of information. . He's also a Kia EV driver (,not the EV6)
there is really only one question to ask, what is the range with the caravan attached. I joined the EV world over 6 years ago with a leaf techna 30kwhr. long distance journeys are a nightmare with out of order, in use, iced and people trying to charge the last portion of the battery above 80% on a rapid charger. It is getting worse as well over time because the increase in charger numbers is by far being outpaced by EV numbers on the road. I also am very disappointed that my battery capacity is only 80% of what I started out at. it will be interesting to see the loss of battery storage capacity on your car with a better battery managenent and cooling system. All I know is that whatever EV you buy, the range will drop over time to a varying degree depending what car it is and how it is used and charged and where ? The range now, will be the best you ever have. Range is the achiles heel of EV's, something that you never get with an ice car and the purchase price by far trumps any savings you may think you will save on fuel over time. I will not be buying another EV until I am forced to by the government. Another thing has come to mind, caravan owners always say they fill up at home and after parked up on the caravan site because filling with a caravan attached is horrendous. With an EV with a short range you have to charge on route, that won't be easy. in a charge bay the caravan will have to be detached because you can't leave it jutting out in the road, with the car parked in the charge bay, it will be much worse than filling up at petrol stations because most charge points are designed for cars only, end on. just being honest, where is my love heart lol.
@@andrewjditton there is no harm in going over 80% when you have to on a none regular basis. What i am saying is people being sat on rapid chargers charging at a low rate of charge, similar to what they would be getting from a 7 kw charger, because the battery management system slows down the charge rate automatically to protect the battery when it is nearly full. An analogy of how a battery fills was told to me. It is like a cinema, when the doors open everybody rushes in and there is no resistance to the flow of people because everybody can find a seat straight away. Towards the end, as the cinema fills up there are only a few seats dotted about all over the cinema, so the flow of people trying to get in slows dramatically and incrementally until the seats are all taken. A battery behaves in the same way but a lot of electric car owner's knowledge does not reflect the move to an electric car. They think they are still at the petrol station and it fills at the same rate throughout, thus tying up a 50 kw charger and higher where available, when at the end they are only putting in a rate to what they would get from a fast charger and stopping other people from rapid charging at the high rate it was designed for. The most efficient use of a rapid charger, is to fill it to 80%, use it and fill again to 80% at the next charger.
Wow Andrew ! This is an excellent move. I will be watching eagerly and learning with great anticipation. This is what I will be moving to myself after I wean myself off my VW camper van.
Well, well, well! I have few questions but many answers. It would be a real thrill if you were to reply to this. I began three years ago with hybrid cars so no range anxiety (Porsche Cayenne-60mpg then a Range Rover Autobiography-31mpg but a ferocious money pit, then last
A year last February an Audi Etron 50 pure electric. I towed a Bailey Cadiz and now a Merida. I’ve sent four messages to the caravan and motorhome club over the past months but received zero responses: hence my initial remark. Kia was not available at the time.
@@andrewjditton Yes, Andrew. Thanks for replying. The Etron was never known for stunning range: solo they boast 200 miles (expect 160/170) : towing my Bailey Merida 1300 kg or so expect 110 at best. BUT after 70 ish I must start to look for chargers, because unlike Tesla the infrastructure is less reliable. I’m long since retired so I don’t work for any company and have no axe to grind but InstaVolt are the fastest and most reliable. Osprey is a good second PodPoint I put third because they are slow, but often free.
Hi. Andrew interested to know what caravan you ordered after watching your video on the eriba ocean drive it convince me to seriously consider an eriba troll but not 100 pc sure of the limited down size aspect beautiful looking van though 👍
Hi Alan, I'll leave the caravan as a surprise, but I will say that it is sadly not an Eriba. I LOVE the Ocean Drive, but my money has all disappeared for some reason... ;)
A very interesting combo Andrew, good on you for being on the leading edge, looking forward to some honest hands on experience with this particular set up. With the ever increasing fuel costs, it could work out to be a winner and more environmentally friendly too :) Really looking forward to the next few videos.
A brave decision, Andrew.
Not sure about electric for long distances, but if anyone will give it a good, honest, real life review, You will.
Yep, you'll be getting the triumphs and the failures just as you always have. Hopefully not too many of the latter ;)
@@andrewjditton Dougal would prefer if you bring him with you. I think Dougal may be so sad, that he passes away if you leave him while you go on a long trip, and that your long trip will be more enjoyable with Dougal than without him. Surely Cuddling With Dougal for an hour can also probably prevent or even get rid of a migraine, if petting is involved, and you would probably do well with regular combination acupressure plus Swedish and Reiki type massage, (I had a friend who combined all 3, and I instantly saw the kind of geometric patterns that change color like they did when we rubbed our eyes after waking in the morning when we were kids -- right from the moment his hands touched my body, nonstop throughout the entire massage, every time, and it was SO relaxing! Then you could strive to reciprocate the same kind of massage to Sophie and then to Dougal, and they can strive to reciprocate to you. Massage with pressure can be so relaxing! It could be very beneficial if we copy the Japanese who do it to each other everyday. Husbands and wives take turns massaging each other, best friends take turns massaging each other. Pets love to be massaged. I always massage them rather than pet them and it's obvious they LOVE it! I just met a pit-bull terrier who strives to return the favor by leaning in with his body at your lower legs. So sweet!
I think it's great that someone who works for/near the motorhome industry is taking on the topic of electromobility. And for those interested, nothing could be better than someone who has always stood for independence and transparency. Of course, not everyone can or wants to buy an EV right away. But when the time comes, it would be great to get real first-hand experience, especially in this very special area of EVs as towing vehicles. Thanks Andrew, very much appreciated.
Many thanks Jutta - interesting days ahead!
Hi Andrew , love the channel. Not into the whole electric thing.... yet. I need to be convinced , i respect all the people here who do,I am interested to see how this is going to workout ,particularly around Scotland. Always enjoy the adventures and the places you show me regardless of how its done. An avid tenter then caravanner for the past 30 years , now a motorhomer . All types of camping have always been my preferred way of holidaying. Look forward to the next episodes / adventures. Keep up the good work! Hats off for being brave and taking the plunge!
Cheers Gerry. You know that you'll be getting the failures as well as the successes here... I'm not bright enough or clever enough to spin anything that isn't the truth! :)
Great choice off car! And ( electricity providers whilst camping off grid)! The is only one disadvantage to ev and so many advantages!! I’ve been doing it for two years and I would not go back to ICE. The future thanks you!! What you’re doing will help the transition to a greener world.
Cheers Christian. I agree, too many folks are focussing on that one negative. At the end of the day, I think an EV makes for a PHENOMENAL towcar!
Hurray . I can’t tell you how happy I am to not only see your new rig but that you will keep caravaning . I was so sad when I thought you were retiring to live in a tiny Croft cottage amd give your journeys on the open road . But to see not only are you back but bringing us on a journey that is so pertinent to the present situation of using more renewable energy . Great vid as usual .greeting from Canada
Thanks Mayanna! I don't think I'll stop touring, I'm just reigning it in a little ;) And I'm embracing rather than berating the range of the EV.
Fantastic. Couldn’t be better timing - I am due to pick up my white EV6 next week and will be towing our Eriba Troll (1400kg) . I’m expecting half the range and hoping the aerodynamic shape of the Eriba and it’s lower height will help achieve that.
My rationale is 90% of our caravanning is within 100 miles of home, which I expect to be comfortably achievable with the EV. And longer trips simply plan in the extra stops. The V2L is the final clincher for me as we can off grid without any compromises. I cannot wait.
Happy to compare notes later in the year once we have some trips under our belt.
Hi - glad to see that we're not alone on this! Could you let me know if you have managed to get your tow-bar fitted and if so which dealership supplied it? We're based near Bournemouth and our dealer says there are no tow bars available as Kia are prioritising delivery of the cars rather than accessories. ps Yacht Blue does look great!
@@hughrichards8023 I don’t know about the towbar yet. It’s on the order and our Kia dealer has been honest and isn’t sure whether or not it’ll arrive with the car but suspects it could come later. But you never know. Fingers crossed. I get the impression the dealer is getting frustrated with Kia HQ as they can’t provide enough the cars wuick enough with the amount if enquiries they are getting. I suspect Kia have been caught out by such a positive reception generating so much interest on top of supply chain issues affecting the whole motor industry. I’ll let you know if the dealer manages to get the towbar sorted. Tbh I am shocked my EV6 is even coming when you see the huge delay to delivery times are now quoting.
It’s worth noting that the manual recommends 1200 miles before towing to bed the motors in. My dealer says that this is being over cautious but that you should at least run the car in for a bit first. So i am comfortable if the towbar comes a couple of months later. But won’t be too happy if it’s much beyond that. After all Kia is heavily promoting the towing capability and it’s a pretty bog standard detachable towbar.
Likewise - keep me posted if you succeed sourcing one. The quick clip in Andrew’s video looks like the official Kia towbar.
Absolutely Neale - would be good to keep up with both you and Hugh
Yes, I feel that my dealer was also frustrated with Kia as well. Towbar was quoted as 5th May and arrived around 5th March! I'm impressed at your manual reading abilities... I didn't see that bit about the 1200 miles. Oops ;)
@@andrewjditton as it’s a brave new world and towing has been not been realistically available for most EVs, it makes my question why and consequently I am be extra cautious on the towing guidance. Look forward to seeing your next videos.
This will be interesting! How towing affects the range, and charging up at service stations ... Great choices Andrew 👍
Will the caravan have to be unhitched each time for charging. This Andrew is one of the most exciting and real life reviews undertaken to date and will be an eye opener to both manufacturers and consumers, look forward to the next episodes.
Yes, I foresee unhitching and re-hitching in about 90% of cases... don't worry, I SHALL be documenting the triumphs AND the failures! :-/
Hi, very interesting, i bought the Hyundai Ionic 5 and will be towing a caravan. I am in the proces of deciding on the caravan. I am thinking of the knaus sport and Fun , Ore even a lighter one, so i get a better range. I expect the range Will be halved with a caravan.
Would you recomend a 4 wheel drive ( dual motor) Ore rear wheel for towing. Range is better one the last one
I'am glad to be very pleased with the reason why you are selling the Airstreem! I'am also pleased with your series of videos about driving a caravan with an electric car. My Volvo V40, an ideal combination with my Sprite Alpine Sport 400TF, is two years old, but my next car will be electric so I'am taking the time and already looking for its successor...
Good stuff Jean. Hopefully I'll be able to provide some useful data and information for you in due course.
Good choise with the EV6 - I've been thinking that it looks like the first truely feasible EV towcar, so I'm facinated to find out how it pans out for you. I can't wait to see what new caravan you've chosen. Best wishes.
p.s. I hope you make sure to get the new caravan weighed totally empty before you fill it up. I'm rather sceptical that the caravan manufacturers figures are strictly accurate.
Don't worry Julia - I shall! Many thanks.
Absolutely brilliant. ....you have done what I have, so far, been unwilling to try. I can't wait to see how you get on with this setup
looking forward to your travels with the EV. From Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada
Hi Andrew
I love your new outfit, the car is smart and the caravan great. But the number plate on the car SY is my initials. I have to give up caravaning and driving because I have a condition called MND. So no more restoration but watching you helps me through the day. Keep up the good work.
Hi Stephen, so sorry to hear about the MND. Not nice at all. I'll do my best to bring the caravanning to you. All the best.
Oh I’m so excited for you! I love your fearlessness to try new things (ok I know you put a lot of thought into this ). Very much looking forward to. your videos. Will miss Dougal but we understand as Millie is now 10.5 and finds traveling too strenuous these days. Yay you! Loved the intro! Hoping to be in Scotland late August/September!
Nice one Heather, thanks! Hope you enjoy Scotland :)
Hi Andrew, great video! My wife and I have just decided to make the switch from tent camping to caravanning. We've decided on a Swift Sprite Alpine 4 and we have a 4 year lease on a Long Range RWD Ioniq 5 which we totally love. So, we're new to caravans, new to EVs. You mentioned Summer caravanning using your EV on Motorways in one of these 4 videos. I wonder, did you do such a video? We have concerns about Motorway EV charging while towing. Because the service stations generally have 1-way systems, how is that going to work with hitching/unhitching, recharging, then getting back to the caravan via the one way system? I have also been researching things like... what is the optimal towing speed for maximum range. I believe with the Ioniq 5 RWD (73kW), 120miles may be possible on a 100% charge. So many variables!! We haven't bought our caravan yet, but we're planning on purchasing this winter. Then it's questions about off-grid with the V2L and recharging on a powered pitch (10A bollard) using the 3-pin mains charger. So many questions! I apologise but we're so excited 😀.
Hi Hugh, I've already answered many of your questions so please check out my other videos. This coming Sunday I'll be doing a more comprehensive guide to towing with an EV so please come back and check that out. Cheers!
I'm so greatfull that you've not moved away from towing as so many channels I watch have gone to motorhoming. This will be a very interesting series
Brilliant, brilliant, watched it again it was so good! This is going to be an absolutely superb next phase of the journey! Also a really strong testing approach opting for a realistically sized family friendly van as a stop gap before your new possibly lighter weight, ahem (?) “campingbase” (we’ll see) arrives in summer. Fantastic approach and that car is a looker as well! Of course massive implications nationally in terms of rollout & infrastructure but I assume you’re already on a renewables only tariff for home charging and if nobody sets the trend the powers that be won’t make allowance for our needs as part of the huge changes we’ll see over the next few years so thank you!
Cheers Becky! Ah, home charging is one pickle I'm still sorting. At least in Lochmaddy I can charge for 20p/kWh at the moment. It's all a learning curve and it's changing daily...
@@andrewjditton I foresee lots of training extension leads in your future ;-) Bit like my house where the van has to be plugged in reasonably often to keep the starter battery in good shape as I'm driving so little mileage these days and of course the caravan is home too so that's often plugged in. We're slowly all being acclimatised to electric by stealth ;-) Just need the national generation infrastructure sorting! Luckily I've a 4kW solar array on the house roof, which helps offset daytime usage. We were expecting to swap the husband's "run-around" to electric back in early 2020 but decided to put that on hold given all the uncertainty at the time and honestly he's a total primo uomo (he won't mind me saying that!) when it comes to cars so he's waiting for 2 seater sports versions rather than 4 seater sensible vehicles...! At least by the time there's choice in that part of the market they'll all come with bidirectional charging and so we can save the cost of the Tesla Powerwall/other brand that we were thinking of getting to hook up to the solar and use the car as the house's battery bank. All v clever :) Learning curves are fab every so often, helps us feel refreshed & alive. Really looking forward to following your real use ups and downs and there being some excellent content with which to demonstrate caravanner's needs to folks planning charging stations, etc. :)
That's one super funky Kia , very cool.
As a touring set up you've hit the spot even if Connie is only a stand in caravan.
I'm looking forward to the following vlogs.
Onwards and upwards,
Godspeed 😁🤘
Many thanks! :)
About time someone did this properly. Congratulations. I’ve a Model Y in the UK. Seriously considering towing. Extremely interested how you get on. Main issue I see is taking the van off to charge on the move. Shame Tesla don’t do V2L
Thanks Ross. TBH I don't think there is currently any way around unhitching the van to charge. It's how we do that in the real world I'm looking forward to trying over the summer. I have a feeling it's not always going to be pretty, but we'll see. Cheers!
@@andrewjditton Many thanks for your reply. I look forward to seeing your upcoming videos. Mega appreciate your work. Cheers.
In any case: it looks beautiful! I can't wait to see your adventures with this rig and hear about your experiences going electric!
Thanks Sonja!
We've just made the move as well Andrew - EV6 GT line (soon to be) towing an Eriba Triton (hoping that the lower profile will add to increased range). We're very happy with the car so far, the only hiccup is that we've been told that the tow bar isn't available at the moment, although we did spec it at time of order in November.
Any info on how / where you obtained your tow bar would be much appreciated!
Thanks a lot and keep up the great work!
Looks like we are the opposite way round. We already have an Eriba, but no EV6. Though soon to be picking up the EV6 in about a week. I have high hopes for the Eriba. There have been some studies and it appears aerodynamics have a greater impact on towing range than weight (although that does have an affect). I am hoping the excellent aerodynamics of the Eriba (it really is a dream to tow with our current Skoda ) mixed with its lower height is the optimum combination with the EV6. I wonder if Andrew’s caravan on order is an Eriba?
A chap in America towing a regular travel trailer (approx equivalent to our white box caravans) with a Tesla swapped for a similar weight Airstream and immediately got a significant bump in range due to the shape. Still a big drop compared to not towing, but nowhere near as bad. If the ev6 can comfortably do 100-130 miles I’ll be very pleased. If it does more I’ll be ecstatic.
@@nealeTH We’ve got the EV6 and the Eriba sitting on the drive - just no tow bar! Towing the Eriba vs a Bailey Ranger with a diesel showed an increase from 26mpg (which was 50% of our non-towing average) to 36mpg so I’m hoping for a range of 150 miles and maybe more in the warmer months. If this doesn’t work then our last resort for guilt free towing is to try a GoPod! It will be very interesting to see where all this takes us, it’s an expensive journey!
@@hughrichards8023 26mpg to 36mpg is encouraging.
Cheers Hugh! I ordered from Dicksons at the same time as the car (November) - but I told them I'd not be taking delivery of the car without the towbar fitted. One minute (late Feb) I was told the towbar would be arriving 5th May... then it turned up a week later! For what it is worth, the paperwork inside with it is branded Hyundai. Good luck getting yours, I'd love to know how you get on with the Eriba.
Great stuff Neale! You'll probably be first to get some real world figures as I've only been pootling around the island in some mad winds. I'm guessing you managed to get the tow bar with the EV6? Enjoy!
Congratulations, Andrew! I applaud your willingness to embrace change, and for all the right reasons in my book. I look forward to following you and Dougal on your upcoming adventures. Thanks for sharing them with all of us.
Many thanks Jim! It's always cheering to receive a supportive message in a cascade of naysayers!
Looking forward to seeing this. I made the move to a Polestar 2 with my Bailey Unicor S3 Vigo last season (May 21'). I ordered the Polestar before the EV6 came on the market, but it has 3 main features I would love. That 800V ultra-rapid charge for 10 - 80 in 18 mins, more range than my P*2 (but stll 77kWh so maybe not more towing), and the V2L. I did 1600 miles over 5 tips towing last year. Will be great to see how you fair!
Oh wow, great stuff Toby! Out of interest, what mi/kWh do you get when towing the Bailey? Apparently towing with an EV can't be done according to some of the less open-minded commenters, so I'm glad to hear of your 1600 miles last year. Cheers!
@@andrewjditton it varies (as with everything) between 1.5 and just over 2 on a run. Rain is a big impact as is headwind as your vlog shows. Charging is not too bad, but we are always travelling as a pair. One to watch the van while the other gets the car on charge, uses facilities etc.
Park where you can and ask for forgiveness rather than permission!
@@tdrees Many thanks for the reply Toby. That has put my mind at rest somewhat, although I normally caravan alone so that will be a whole new challenge... All the best.
Excellent move! I have towed with hybrids for 5 years and the company i work for has insisted we have full electric next time. I didnt want to have to buy a second car just to tow the van. This is just what I was waiting for.
Great stuff Mark. Yes, there are compromises to be made (unhitching to charge is NOT something I'm looking forward to) but I think too many people are focussing on the negatives and not on the positives, like the awesome performance.
Really interested to hear and see your experiences towing with an EV. I’m still towing with my 15 year old petrol Mondeo, so it goes without saying that an upgrade will be due within a couple of years or so. I’ve always dismissed an EV vehicle, certainly as our tow car but with a new car being such a big and generally a longer term investment, I am beginning to think more about them. Especially with rising petrol and diesel costs.
Cheers Adam. I think the one thing people miss, which I intend to labour, is that EVs make for phenomenal towcars despite the range and charging hitched up issues. Hopefully I will be able to provide you with some useful info over the summer. All the best.
Thanks Andrew. I know you’ll provide a full and thorough “Real life” review. I’ll look forward to seeing how you get on.
I did wonder if you were considering going electric following our conversation on the Wednesday at the NEC show. I'm the chap with the Tesla/Bailey Discovery combination. I still don't understand why it can only tow 1000Kg, so your rig is a much better option. The EV6 wasn't around two years ago when I bought my EV, otherwise it would have definitely been on the shortlist.
All the best with it Andrew - EVs are wonderful to drive and live with.
Trevor, I was BUSTING to tell you! But I didn't even tell my friends. Thanks for commenting, I'm glad you have seen the video. I totally agree, I think once you've towed with an EV you'll never want to go back to an ICE despite the few disadvantages. Maybe time to trade in the Tesla? ;)
Fantastic! We're small motorhome owners as I've had scary experiences towing a small caravan 25 years ago... but we're really interested in going electric, so will be keeping a keen watch out for your videos!
Wow , that's a big decision Andrew , well done you , good-looking motor , very sassy , nice , neat, c'van too , looks super comfortable , ackkkkk , imagine leaving the oul, fella, behind poor wee man!!!!! Heath , happiness and enjoy , hugs
Cheers Linda. Trust me, the wee man is better off not coming to Italy. He's over the being in and out of different motorhomes. And he LOVES the new car, so it's not all bad ;)
Well done Andrew, I must admit I have always been an EV sceptic, however technology appears to be catching up. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds and if the common caravaning concerns with an EV will be answered. Will it have the same range in all weathers and terrains, charging availability and reliability , charging with a caravan in mid journey, can you charge from an EHU, what is the battery life like under regular load. My concern with EVs are that for someone like myself I will only be able to afford them second hand which will probably have a reduced battery life, if the battery need replacing a bit further down the line it will cost more than what the car is worth.
All very valid concerns in my book. For example, I shall be fastidious about not charging over 80% unless I absolutely have to, but how will you be able to tell if someone has cooked their battery every night? I think it will all smooth out eventually, especially with battery replacement, but it's still very early days yet. The good thing with the Kia is that the battery does carry a warranty - although I can't remember the exact details (they'll be on the web.) Cheers!
Andrew, I’m so excited with the direction you’ve chosen with the new rig!! Seriously, if I could have made only one suggestion as to what would be, for me, the most interesting approach to caravan travel with today’s newest equipment…you’ve done it! So happy for you. 🤗
Thanks Doug. Yes, it seems a lot of people are curious to know how we get on. All the best.
Will be very interested to see how you get on. I plumped for Ionic 5 Project 45 back in September hoping that I could tow a Base Camp as my first Caravan.
Wow, that's a cool set-up you'll have. EVs make awesome towcars.
Hi Andrew and Dougal, I love my Kia Soul, (diesel though) it’s the second one I’ve had. Kia really look after you too. Yours looks lovely.
That's good to know! You'll like the next video then - why I went with Kia. In a nutshell it was the customer service! Cheers.
Wow! Had to be a big change for you to get rid of your lovely Airstream and this sure is. I’ve no doubt your new rig will work out really well, even with your temporary caravan. I had thought you might be switching to a motor-home of some kind after all your journeys these past few years. Stay safe.
Cheers Paul! I did consider a van conversion, but ultimately I prefer the flexibility of having a car when I do the kind of trips I do for myself. All the best.
Hi Andrew, I’m so pleased you are enjoying a new chapter in your life with all the traveling.. come and see us sometimes at Eurostar (ADCM office) Have a fab time and keep enjoying life ☺️ Fethi
Fethi Cheese! :) How lovely to hear from you mate! Would love to come see you and RyanAir... just the small matter of access now I don't have a badge. I'm sure we'll work something out when Mr Perks or someone of his calibre is on duty when I'm passing. All the best :)
😲 An electric tow car!!! I don't know if you're a pioneer or a little crazy (in the best sense of the word). 🤭🤣
I wait for your impressions, especially in the autonomy of the car.
Of course ... The set is beautiful!!
Congratulations. Enjoy it!!!
I like the idea of Pioneer, but I think Crazy is nearer the mark... ;) Many thanks.
I wonder, with some trepidation, how. Many stops you'd have to make when towing from the South Coast to the Western Isles, but I will be watching. Good to have you back with a full summer's worth of videos planned!
Was that Kimberley near Darlington or further South?
It's going to be a slow mission, that's for sure Raymond. The Kimberley Branch was Darlington. They have a nice Airstream for sale there if you're interested... ;@)
@@andrewjditton I might go this week, Tuesday or Wednesday to look at other caravans, but wife would "have a few cross words" if I bought the Airstream. I suppose I could go out today while she is at Newcastle....
Wow! Andrew & Dougal…..way to go with your futuristic EV Rig! We will watch your new adventures with excitement and a bit of envy too.
Andrew, we would be very disappointed if you did anything on YOUR channel because you felt you HAD to do something. We follow you to see your opinions and the choices you make in the parts of your life that you share with us. We only want you to be you and do what is right for Andrew and of course Dougal. ❤️
Cheers Mark! Yes, there are a couple of folk who thought that it was all about them, but at the end of the day I'm just doing what feels right to me, and sharing my journey (in all the ways) with the kind folk who give me their time to join me. All the best.
Nice videos Andrew. It strengthens me that my choice to lease a EV6 and tow a Dethleffs Camper with it was a good choice. Keyword: "slowing down" .
Yes! Slow is good! Enjoy your new rig, Wim!
Good to see you happy and very positive. Summer... Bring it on!
Hi Andrew love your electric car but towing withit would be to much charging anxiety !!!!! Having to charge so frequently NOT FOR ME !! A range of 300 to 400 hundred miles essential then you are not planning your breaks around refiling the tank and you ( I ) can enjoy the journey which is what travelling is all about. I will keep my diesel motorhome thanks !.
Don forget you need to review the Rollertam Pegaso. Your honest reviews are great so keep them coming.PS bring Sophie along she can make your lunch LOL (sorry Sophie lol)
KEEP UP THE GREAT VLOGS
Fantabulosa! We watched this in the pub. Many happy electric travels. Musky the Musketeer looks forward to getting together with your new outfit soon! 🙂🚗🚌👍xxx
Can't wait!
Wow. Gorgeous set up. Cannot wait to learn more. Thank you for leading the way.
Thanks Laura :)
Ooooooooooooo!! Genuinely thought when I saw the clip I thought you'd have bought the Xplore 304 (especially having watched your videos with it) can't wait to see what the future brings for you
Well this is a massive change for you Andrew. Best of luck with the new chapter. Looking forward to watching the series.
Cheers Ian!
Amazing choice - welcome to the world of EVs. You should get in touch with Fully Charged Live and do some talks there. Robert Llewellyn would love your new rig.
I was thinking of a combination of an EV6 with a Weinsberg Cara Cito. It is fully electric too, so the EV6 can act as backup power if the campsite has no supply. What do you think?
Reason I haven’t done it so far: concern that you would have to uncouple the caravan every time you charge, especially as the EV6 has the charge port at the back. I am sure you are going to tell us all about that soon.
Video 4, Alex, video 4! ;) But yes, the problem would be using v2L AND charging at the same time, which you can't really do. But I really do think that V2L is slowly going to change caravan design.
Campsites will have to up there game EV charge points. For every car..and from June charge points at your house will be on separate supply at a higher tariff than your house supply.
Finally someone addressing the questions a lot of caravaners are concerned about for the future. Really looking forward to this experiment.
By the way, love the EV6.
Cheers Simon! It'll be June before I can put in some serious mileage, but I foresee a steep learning curve!
I have looked at some costings, and even the Tesla Model 3 will pay itself back in financial savings within about 6 years. Then there is the reduced local exhaust emissions, and if the power is sourced from renewables, the CO2 emission reductions. The Kia EV6 however is only coming in as the GT model and pricing forecast at $95,000 to $105,000 put it well above the Tesla Model 3 and WAY above my budget!
That's odd! My cousin just bought a GT-Line in Atlanta for way less than that, but she was very lucky to get a cancelled order that was sitting there.
Look forward to see how you get on with charging at a motorway service station !
How great you are doing this. Have an electric car but can’t tow anything with it so next year looking for something that will tow a proper caravan. My adria is too heavy so can’t tow it. Hopefully soon an electric car will be able to tow a heavy luxurious caravan. Please don’t get an electric Dougal, I love him just the way he is❤️
Cheers Neil! No, I'll be keeping the analogue Dougal ;@)
I have been looking for someone towing small campers with a PHEV or EV. It appeared you were either charging the EV or powering the RV with the cable. Liked and subbed, and waiting to see how the towing and range works out.
Cheers Darin! It will be the summer before we do any proper miles, but there's a video out tonight with preliminary findings. Thanks for joining us.
I couldn't leave Dougal behind, he'd be devastated.
TBH he was exhausted and disorientated after Germany last year. I vowed not to put him through that again now he's getting on for 11. I'll miss him :(
Fantastic news looking forward to seeing how you get on.
Fantastic! Up beat and forward thinking what a great take on the future. The car will give some fantastic content as will the caravans. I can't wait for the next installments. 10/10 for keeping thing fresh, honest and topical! And thank you for all the content you have put out to date and hopefully that you will keep generating!
Cheers Raymond!
Very cool. Progress in this area is inevitable. Good to see you doing this.
Cheers Guys! I shall document progress in my new book :)
How exciting can’t wait to see the future videos, Dougal is the best doggie ever 🥰
This is going to be of great interest... You've whetted the appetite with this intro video... Top job!!!
Cheers Mark!
Would love one of these for our little caravan
Great choice Andrew. EV6 and IoniQ5 are my shortlist for a a change to EV for towing my 1500 kg Caravan. my guess is around 90-100 miles towing range . i cant wait for the rest of the series
You might get a little more! I get up to 110 miles on my Audi Etron so we should get 140 with our Ioniq 5.
Agree with Christian - I think maybe 120-140? We'll have to wait till June to find out though I'm afraid. Cheers!
Brilliant! Good luck. I have the air model and wanted to tow my caravan as well but Avante 866 is too heavy as well. Also looking to change to a 530 size van. I will watch with great interest.
Thank you! Let's see what June brings...
@@andrewjditton I’ve just changed our Avante for a Coachman MTPM 1550 so will be joining you soon!!
Congratulations Andrew! Unfortunately, Kia is not available here in Japan. Hyundai have recently announced their return to the Japanese market, but I doubt they will sell (in enough numbers) for the simple reason that Japan and South Korea do not get on and consequently, they will likely withdraw again in a few years. Nevertheless, your long term review or more accurately, your experience of living and towing with an EV will be interesting.
The only thing that puts me off buying an EV is the lunacy that is the design of charging stations that despite a very strong towing culture in the UK, the idiots in charge decided that pull-in was better than the pull-through design of traditional petrol stations. Whilst Japan does not have a strong towing culture and is still very much fringe, the same lunacy regarding charging stations exists here also.
Cheers AJ. Yes, one downside is the EV6 has its charging point at the rear - even on the front it would be better for towing. Towing with an EV is such a new 'thing' that it's never been allowed for. For example, on 'Zap Map' which is the biggest app in the UK to plot your journey around charging points, there is NO ability to change the car's miles per kWh by ticking a box saying 'towing'. Don't worry, it's on my list of people to nag... :)
Great choice of EV, we've ordered one to arrive next month, in yacht blue. We've had EV's since 2018, but this will be the first that we can tow with! Well wear! Welcome to the EV world! ;-)
Great stuff Craig! The blue is awesome - I went with white to match the caravan to the car (yes, I'm a tart) ;@)
Glad to know that contents of channel will not change :)
Not a bit Abid, just the angle on my own stuff will now go from touring with the Airstream to touring with an EV - and the trials and tribulations that I am expecting ! Thanks as always for your support.
Can’t wait to see how you get on! It’s the future for sure!
Your decision to go fully electric is a wonderful move which will surely motivate others to do likewise. We recently bought a used 2016 hybrid Toyota Rav4 and our next vehicle will be a 100% EV. Cheers.
Thanks Gordon! Hopefully I'll be able to provide you with some useful information come the summer. All the best.
@@andrewjditton Thank you. I am looking forward to your future videos. Cheers.
Really excited for you and your future electric adventures. - Rita
Very interesting - holding further comment as you requested. Best wishes Helen and Martin
Cheers! More to come ;)
Looking forward to your reviews on the EV, as I'm not ready for an electric car yet.....or so I think.
Cheers P&M. All I hope to do - as I always hope to do - is report back truthfully on my own experiences and let people make up their own minds if something is for them or not. All the best.
Excellent, excellent choice of car. The EV6 not only forges the way in the world of electric vehicles it also looks the part. After driving your Navara for so long I am afraid you may think you have gone deaf in the EV6! 😂
I tell you what Tristan, I still can't get over the difference in cab volume. Just you wait till video 3 when I use that same in-car camera that I've always used, and used to have to shout... ;)
Brave of you to go fully electric
Love your new outfit. Hopefully you will be able to get rid of some of the misconceptions about towing with a caravan. I’ve been playing with the idea of getting a BMW i4 so I’ll be interested to see how you rate the Kia EV6 GT as a possible alternative.
That's the plan Andrew. At the end of the day, EVs make awesome towcars despite the drawbacks.
I really do hope this new adventure works out for both of you. 🐶🐾 ⚡️⚡️⚡️
How exciting! Love the look of the EV6! I know it gets glowing reviews, my concern would be range anxiety with towing a caravan!!! can’t wait to see what you think of it!
Keep up the good work and love to Dougal!🥰
Cheers Andy!
I am excited for this leap, I wonder if they could incorporate Kinetic energy recovery system in a caravan to recharge the car👍
We're kind of there, Alan. The Kia has regeneration which you can control with fingertip paddles, so if the caravan is causing too much speed on a downhill section you can up the regen instead of braking. I'll cover this more over the summer. Many thanks!
Looking forward to how you get on with your setup. EV towing and practically is a question I've been waiting for quite a while to be answered.
Wow live in Canada and our KW/h cost converted is 1/4 yours. Our biggest cost is similar to yours in that it is heating costs, except it gets to -40 here for a few months. Looks like your green energy is costing you a fortune. You can keep your wind farms and electric cars. lol
cool. really waiting for your thoughts.
Another comment 'disappeared' again....
Mat Watson (Carwow) did a real world test video of a Škoda Enyaq (77kWh battery/claimed range of 330 miles) while towing a Bailey D4-2 caravan (~880 kg weight) at a steady 60mph and his battery efficiency was reduced to 1.3m per kWh with an estimated real world range of 100 miles!!!
(He also tested the vehicle's real world range with other items such as roof box, roof mounted bike....)
With figures like that I guess you will be getting plenty of use from the V2L system to boil the kettle as you stop every 1½ hours to charge up (if you can find a working charge point!) 🫖☕🫖☕🫖☕
At least Dougal will get plenty of chances to stretch his legs! 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I'm sure you will tell it is as it is...👍
Absolutely - will be documenting the triumphs and the failures! Hopefully not too many of the latter but we'll see...
Wow never expected that
(Didn’t expect to see the reveal either tonight so that’s two surprises for the price of one)
I like to pivot sharp left now and again Steve ;)
@@andrewjditton so it seems :-)
Great a lovely car and caravan, have fun Maureen from Papamoa Beach New Zealand
Thanks! 😃
Fascinating …….a lot of people are going to be interested in real life experiences of yours.
😃😃
Electric cars are not my cup tea, but you are very happy with your purchase 😊💜
Thanks Kat. I know it's not for everyone, especially given range and charging issues. But it aligns very much with my personal needs just now, so let's see how it goes :)
@@andrewjditton 💜
Wow...bold choice...I look forward to seeing all your videos!
Cheers Joe!
That opening quote..... SO true!
I don’t fly partly for environmental reasons but when I start my middle aged Motorhome & smell the fumes I know i can’t be too ‘holier than thou’ so I’m looking forward with interest to how things go.
I'm the same but opposite Alan - I'll be flying to Italy. None of us are perfect, we just do the best we can with what we've got. No judgement here - I'll be chugging my way around Tuscany next week ;)
I have an Enyaq 80x and a weisenberg 390qd on order - I am so looking forward to these videos.
COOL! Sounds like an awesome set-up. It'll be June I'm afraid before we get any serious miles in, but that'll come round soon. Cheers.
Congrats on your Weinsberg purchase, Andrew (K). Brilliant little vans!
Andrew.
A suggestion.
You should contact Jonathan Porterfield, long term EV enthusiast, Guru and dealer based in Orkney.
I'm sure he'd be enthusiastic about your rig (would probably offer some free charging!😉) and will be a mine of information.
.
He's also a Kia EV driver (,not the EV6)
Cheers Roger, sounds interesting! All the best.
A really well done video. Looking forward to watching the others even though we no longer own a caravan.
Thanks Marvin. Interesting days ahead, that's for sure!
WOW! When you start a new chapter it’s on!!!
Ha ha, I don't mess around Jeannie ;)
there is really only one question to ask, what is the range with the caravan attached. I joined the EV world over 6 years ago with a leaf techna 30kwhr. long distance journeys are a nightmare with out of order, in use, iced and people trying to charge the last portion of the battery above 80% on a rapid charger. It is getting worse as well over time because the increase in charger numbers is by far being outpaced by EV numbers on the road. I also am very disappointed that my battery capacity is only 80% of what I started out at. it will be interesting to see the loss of battery storage capacity on your car with a better battery managenent and cooling system. All I know is that whatever EV you buy, the range will drop over time to a varying degree depending what car it is and how it is used and charged and where ? The range now, will be the best you ever have. Range is the achiles heel of EV's, something that you never get with an ice car and the purchase price by far trumps any savings you may think you will save on fuel over time. I will not be buying another EV until I am forced to by the government. Another thing has come to mind, caravan owners always say they fill up at home and after parked up on the caravan site because filling with a caravan attached is horrendous. With an EV with a short range you have to charge on route, that won't be easy. in a charge bay the caravan will have to be detached because you can't leave it jutting out in the road, with the car parked in the charge bay, it will be much worse than filling up at petrol stations because most charge points are designed for cars only, end on.
just being honest, where is my love heart lol.
I'm carefully nurturing my battery and will only ever go over 80% when I have to. The rest of it, well, let's see what the summer brings!
@@andrewjditton there is no harm in going over 80% when you have to on a none regular basis. What i am saying is people being sat on rapid chargers charging at a low rate of charge, similar to what they would be getting from a 7 kw charger, because the battery management system slows down the charge rate automatically to protect the battery when it is nearly full. An analogy of how a battery fills was told to me. It is like a cinema, when the doors open everybody rushes in and there is no resistance to the flow of people because everybody can find a seat straight away. Towards the end, as the cinema fills up there are only a few seats dotted about all over the cinema, so the flow of people trying to get in slows dramatically and incrementally until the seats are all taken. A battery behaves in the same way but a lot of electric car owner's knowledge does not reflect the move to an electric car. They think they are still at the petrol station and it fills at the same rate throughout, thus tying up a 50 kw charger and higher where available, when at the end they are only putting in a rate to what they would get from a fast charger and stopping other people from rapid charging at the high rate it was designed for. The most efficient use of a rapid charger, is to fill it to 80%, use it and fill again to 80% at the next charger.
All change!!! Will be interesting to see how you get on.
New airstream base x 22 i think?? We'll soon see..
Nice choice with the EV6, I saw one recently while I was charging up. :)
Wow Andrew ! This is an excellent move. I will be watching eagerly and learning with great anticipation. This is what I will be moving to myself after I wean myself off my VW camper van.
I guess you might always think about a VW ID Buzz Jeff, and have the best of both worlds? ;)
@Andrew Ditton So true but I would be waiting some time !
Well, I have been waiting for this forever and who better than yourself to show the way. Show us the future of caravanning🙏x
Thanks Alan! I'm hoping it's not going to be too much of a bumpy ride.
Well, well, well! I have few questions but many answers. It would be a real thrill if you were to reply to this. I began three years ago with hybrid cars so no range anxiety (Porsche Cayenne-60mpg then a Range Rover Autobiography-31mpg but a ferocious money pit, then last
A year last February an Audi Etron 50 pure electric. I towed a Bailey Cadiz and now a Merida. I’ve sent four messages to the caravan and motorhome club over the past months but received zero responses: hence my initial remark. Kia was not available at the time.
I'm replying now Noel! FINALLY got to your message. I for one would love to know what your average mi/kWh is. Cheers!
@@andrewjditton Yes, Andrew. Thanks for replying. The Etron was never known for stunning range: solo they boast 200 miles (expect 160/170) : towing my Bailey Merida 1300 kg or so expect 110 at best. BUT after 70 ish I must start to look for chargers, because unlike Tesla the infrastructure is less reliable. I’m long since retired so I don’t work for any company and have no axe to grind but InstaVolt are the fastest and most reliable. Osprey is a good second PodPoint I put third because they are slow, but often free.
Hi. Andrew interested to know what caravan you ordered after watching your video on the eriba ocean drive it convince me to seriously consider an eriba troll but not 100 pc sure of the limited down size aspect beautiful looking van though 👍
Hi Alan, I'll leave the caravan as a surprise, but I will say that it is sadly not an Eriba. I LOVE the Ocean Drive, but my money has all disappeared for some reason... ;)
Ok Andrew good luck in your future travels look forward to your new videos 👍
This should be very interesting 🤔 looking forward to the journey Andrew 🏴
Kia looks a really nice choice of EV and looking forward to seeing your nice new caravan in the summer too! 🙏🏻👍🏻
Thanks James!
A very interesting combo Andrew, good on you for being on the leading edge, looking forward to some honest hands on experience with this particular set up.
With the ever increasing fuel costs, it could work out to be a winner and more environmentally friendly too :)
Really looking forward to the next few videos.
Cheers Mo! Hopefully catch up finally this summer if you're up?
@@andrewjditton we are up in Harris mid June, might get a wee trip up in May in the van