I have mixed feelings about the whole Electric car movement.
It seems like they are the best move from an environmental point of view (I read a report on the comparison of lifecycles of all eclectic vs; hybrid vs. ICE and Electric was the best even when including energy for creation and excluding the recycling of the new battery tech), but I am not sure I can get along with the way the power is introduced and how they drive. Granted, I have minimal experience in Electric cars, but I fear the loss of the engine noise will be massive for our generation.
Thoughts?
Electric Car Thoughs?
Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
I had one for a year when I was commuting to Bridgwater every day.
From a strictly financial point of view, it doesn't make sense to me anymore.
When the electricity costs were down, it seemed to make sense, I saved over 2k in fuel in a year.
But then everything went up and cost per mile was then about the same as a sensible diesel car.
Fortunately, I got a new job that was much closer to home and immediately punted the EV on in favour of a mk7 GTI!
Also, I don't think buying a new one is a smart move:
For the last 3/4 years, companies have been giving huge discounts (usually via tax) if you get one on a company car scheme.
Thousands of people took that up and now, the end of lease ones are about to start flooding the market, essentially driving down the value of the second hand market. I've watched videos with high mileage cars and they sems to be ok. So it may be an idea to get a second hand one?
I you can happily manage one with charging etc, they are a perfectly viable option for getting about, but travelling distances can be a pain if you have to rely on public charging systems. Half the time they don't all work and the rest of the time there are huge queues. You really need to plan long journeys. Then there are range anxiety drawbacks, you can tell all the people in the office who use EVs, they are all frozen because the heaters sap so much range!
From a strictly financial point of view, it doesn't make sense to me anymore.
When the electricity costs were down, it seemed to make sense, I saved over 2k in fuel in a year.
But then everything went up and cost per mile was then about the same as a sensible diesel car.
Fortunately, I got a new job that was much closer to home and immediately punted the EV on in favour of a mk7 GTI!
Also, I don't think buying a new one is a smart move:
For the last 3/4 years, companies have been giving huge discounts (usually via tax) if you get one on a company car scheme.
Thousands of people took that up and now, the end of lease ones are about to start flooding the market, essentially driving down the value of the second hand market. I've watched videos with high mileage cars and they sems to be ok. So it may be an idea to get a second hand one?
I you can happily manage one with charging etc, they are a perfectly viable option for getting about, but travelling distances can be a pain if you have to rely on public charging systems. Half the time they don't all work and the rest of the time there are huge queues. You really need to plan long journeys. Then there are range anxiety drawbacks, you can tell all the people in the office who use EVs, they are all frozen because the heaters sap so much range!
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monzadave
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Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
Good point on the second hand market.
I do wander what maintenance costs outside of warranty will look like. There are some examples of some super high mileage Tesla's, but no mention as to what the overall cost of running was (200k with no battery replacement).
Not that I'd buy a Tesla.
I do wander what maintenance costs outside of warranty will look like. There are some examples of some super high mileage Tesla's, but no mention as to what the overall cost of running was (200k with no battery replacement).
Not that I'd buy a Tesla.
Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
I bought an I3 and ran it for a year, so I'm not really versed in long term maintenance, but the only thing I had issues with was the engine backup!
The regen on them are so good that you rarely need the brakes, I suppose all you're looking at are joints and bearings really.
The regen on them are so good that you rarely need the brakes, I suppose all you're looking at are joints and bearings really.
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monzadave
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Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
I was thinking more any future issues with software, sensors, programming etc.
Which make me think, what happens when you buy a newer car run by 500 ECUs, and the company stops supporting or stops updating the software?
With everything being updatable over the internet, surely all car manufacturers will have to keep security updates maintained or there will be a risk of someone hacking your car, starting it, opening all doors and driving it away?
Which make me think, what happens when you buy a newer car run by 500 ECUs, and the company stops supporting or stops updating the software?
With everything being updatable over the internet, surely all car manufacturers will have to keep security updates maintained or there will be a risk of someone hacking your car, starting it, opening all doors and driving it away?
Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
We went for an electric car roughly 2 years ago under the salary sacrifice scheme, as it cost the same amount as it did in fuel/mot/tax/insurance as it did for this. We actually really love it, but I guess coming from a small mk4 Golf to a big modern family car its bound to be. As a car, you barely drive the thing... lane assist & adaptive cruise control.. it literally drives and stops itself. So as a driver its boring as muck.. but as someone hauling a family with hassle free driving its perfect.
In terms of driveability.. i actually really like it. Foot down and its just a constant pull all the way to 70.. again if you just want a hassle free driving i actually rate electric.
We had a home charger installed, which has made life alot simpler and cheaper in terms of charging it back up. The car averages around 250/270 miles... so certainly enough for a journey and to not have to worry too much about charging. But even when its not enough it will tell you where and when to charge up if you have a route set on the satnav. Yeah it takes longer than it does to just 'fill the tank up', but the way I see it is.. it makes no real difference on a journey. You stop at a service station for a toilet break / food.. and by the time you've finished doing that, the car will have enough charge for you to get home and charge it fully over night. Well thats been our experience anyway.
Would I own one outright? No.. same reasons that both have you have pointed out. Unknown resell value, unnkown life of batteries, unknown maintance and costs. Are we enjoying this on a 4 year lease? Most certainly! Would I enjoy an Audi RS6 more.. hell yeah.
In terms of driveability.. i actually really like it. Foot down and its just a constant pull all the way to 70.. again if you just want a hassle free driving i actually rate electric.
We had a home charger installed, which has made life alot simpler and cheaper in terms of charging it back up. The car averages around 250/270 miles... so certainly enough for a journey and to not have to worry too much about charging. But even when its not enough it will tell you where and when to charge up if you have a route set on the satnav. Yeah it takes longer than it does to just 'fill the tank up', but the way I see it is.. it makes no real difference on a journey. You stop at a service station for a toilet break / food.. and by the time you've finished doing that, the car will have enough charge for you to get home and charge it fully over night. Well thats been our experience anyway.
Would I own one outright? No.. same reasons that both have you have pointed out. Unknown resell value, unnkown life of batteries, unknown maintance and costs. Are we enjoying this on a 4 year lease? Most certainly! Would I enjoy an Audi RS6 more.. hell yeah.
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Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
Most of our company cars have been electric for ages, I hate to say it but i love driving them. Even the piece of shit Kia Soul EV we had was a hoot to drive, but you look like an utter gammon driving it.
Would I own one? Probably not for 10 years and until then i'll stick with my battered derv Volvo.
Would I own one? Probably not for 10 years and until then i'll stick with my battered derv Volvo.
Re: Electric Car Thoughs?
Anyone remember when James may went to America to test that Hydrogen car?
He interviewed Jay Leno who said something that always stuck with me.
He said when they first moved from horses to cars, people thought the horses would die out and become extinct.
Instead, the car took the work from the horse and allowed the horse to be enjoyed as a leisure activity.
I'm hoping the same will be for combustion cars if the EV really does take over (jury is still out on that one).
He interviewed Jay Leno who said something that always stuck with me.
He said when they first moved from horses to cars, people thought the horses would die out and become extinct.
Instead, the car took the work from the horse and allowed the horse to be enjoyed as a leisure activity.
I'm hoping the same will be for combustion cars if the EV really does take over (jury is still out on that one).