The "New" Defender, ...Your Thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Tombie

I certainly don’t want a hybrid that requires some form of charging at say home.

Diesel is a lot cheaper for me than electricity would be [emoji48] (likely not correct) and living in SA would mean several times a year I couldn’t go for a drive!!! [emoji56]

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Your not far off with costs.

I read an article the other day,on that new Mazda petrol with no spark plugs and they recon it will be cheaper to run in many places than paying for power to charge up batteries for an electric vehicle of equivalent size and to go an equivalent distance.

Interesting times.

Solar and batteries can take care of the electricity cost issue.

I have been told 2019 for the new defender.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Solar and batteries can take care of the electricity cost issue.

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Solar doesn't work everywhere,and not well on overcast days.

There is also the large initial cost of the solar/battery system.

And ongoing repairs and updating.

But technology in this area will continue to develop.

As will internal combustion engines.

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Originally Posted by scarry

Solar doesn't work everywhere,and not well on overcast days.

There is also the large initial cost of the solar/battery system.

And ongoing repairs and updating.

But technology in this area will continue to develop.

As will internal combustion engines.

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In the oil & gas (retail) business there are many who hold that if petrol engines can achieve 30% better economy without sacrificing performance - then the challenge from electric vehicles can be staved off for years to come.

The new Mazda engine tech is claiming 30% improvement....

It is also mooted that a breakthrough in Hydrogen Fuel cells is imminent.
The trouble with batteries is the weight and bulk of the storage system and the length of time it takes to recharge.
One thing is certain: Fuel Stations are set to become complex and interesting places, with no shortage of topics for conversation.

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Originally Posted by tact

In the oil & gas (retail) business there are many who hold that if petrol engines can achieve 30% better economy without sacrificing performance - then the challenge from electric vehicles can be staved off for years to come.

The new Mazda engine tech is claiming 30% improvement....

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It's easy to get very large improvements in regards to fuel economy,make the kids ride bikes to school instead of driving them. Pat

Pickles, I reckon you should up Steans ante to at least half a dozen of that Clare Valley Shiraz and I'll come down and give you hand with it.

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Originally Posted by PAT303

2020 sounds good,I'm seriously thinking of replacing my TDCi with a D3,then trading the D3 for a new Defender. Pat

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Good plan Pat. get in early on the Defender going soft! ....Whoa! Ducking now! 😳😂

I actually hope you're right Stean. I would prefer to see a hybrid / radical new Defender that sets it apart from the classic Defender, as long as it's a true heavy duty work vehicle as well as being environmentally savvy. ...and affordable, but not all that hopeful about that.

This is a great discussion. Thanks to all for your thoughts. I'm enjoying it. Hearing many different perspectives in a vacuum of factual info is brilliant.