Electric cars: have you got one?

So, a couple of days ago we crossed over to the dark-side, and bought an ev.
Apart from the test drive, I've only driven it home from the showroom, but will set out tomorrow on a round trip of about 55-60 miles.

'Range anxiety' is a real thing!
When we jump in the Yeti and head off to Cornwall with a full tank of diesel, the display tells me that range is over 650 miles ...lovely jubbly.

But our ev has a quoted range of about 320 miles. And I know we will never get that.
With a full 100% charge, the display predicts a range more like 190. Turn on the AC and this drops a few miles.
And it gets worst; you are advised not to fully charge the battery, but try to keep it between 20-80% charged to keep your battery happy.

Oh, and did I tell you not to use those super-fast chargers that can charge your car in less than 30 minutes?

But none of this came as a surprise, because I'd already done my desktop research.

However, two things that were more of a surprise were the costs associated with public chargers and Vehicle Tax.
For the last (maybe) 10 years our Vehicle Tax (please don't call it Road Tax) has been very low; its still only £35/yr for the Yeti. When told it was £197 for our ev, I thought the sales lady was pulling-my-plonker.

And while looking around for local chargers (we don't have one yet) McDonalds came in at £0.89/kW. That would make a full charge: £0.89 x 64 = £57 (plus maybe another 10% to allow for losses). So maybe about 20p/mile.
I think the cheapest local charger is about 40p/kW.

In 2 weeks time we should get our own charger installed, and then home charging will be cheaper. And once we have this magic charging box working with Octopus (our energy supplier) the price should drop to about 2p/mile.

Anyway, I'd love to here your experiences with ev driving & ownership, now that its too late to take the bloody thing back!


P.S. anyone want to buy a pair of diesel gloves, one careful owner.

 

There has been a similar discussion topic on Great War Forum in recent weeks -

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/319234-petrol-hybrid-or-all-electric/#comment-3409898

It’s in the “Skindles” section so may only be visible to GWF members.

Steve

 

Not got one, couldn't afford one even if I wanted one. Anyway won't be long before our gov't gets us 70+ year olds off the road for good.

 

Good Luck Steve

 

I believe they're good if you work from home.

 

Strange how EV's are looked on as something new, Loved my early years when deliveries were by Horse drawn vehicles then replaced by Electric Milk Floats, CO-OP Grocers wagons, and the baker had electric hand cart. Seems we are going full circle. Milk floats were great, slow moving so it was easy to get your hands on A bottle of milk or better still a small bottle of Orange juice, which was a rarity. Happy days.

 

You don't seem completely comfortable with your purchase. May I ask why you made the switch? Will the operating costs in England be lower than for a gas powered one?

 

My son-in-law bought one last year. On holiday together as a family back in July, he struggled big time to find a place to charge it on the Dorset coastline and was always having to ponder his next move. Just seemed crazy to me and unnecessarily stressful.

 

20 years ago I had (first) a petrol/LPG, then a petrol/electric Honda (in the days before the term Hybrid was coined).
I loved them both, but didn't have to plug-in the Honda.

 

We are happy [at the moment] with our purchase.

Its so quiet inside that you don't have to turn your head when driving and shout at the people in the back. And it will be cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel powered car.

We have some ev experience in our family as #1 son has 2 Teslas. And as my wife & I are both in our 70s and don't know how much longer we will continue driving (note comment by 51highland) we thought we'd give it a go.

We both need to get used to the lack of a gear leaver to rest our left hand on, and a clutch pedal to rest our left foot on!

Charging stations are shown on maps like; Electroverse & Zap map which both indicate prices, and whether individual chargers are in use & cost per kWatt.

Just wondered about other peoples experiences.

 

Too bad, may be you now wait for Hydrogen. I will, and hope my Diesel will last.
Or I take the train, bus or taxi.
Stefan.

 

I don't know if we have enough time left to wait for them to scale-down the hydrogen engine, small enough to fit in a family car.
But if they do, I'll be in the queue for a new VW Zepplin mark IV

 

Hello Steve.

"Just wondered about other peoples experiences"

Mine's been great. Never a problem for me over the years - ever!

Range, convenience, reliability (a good sign on the battery tech side methinks).

It's been a beaut, and still is. Only downside (rarely though) is rear passenger access, for some, but we have always found a way around that.









Robby had been overdoing it sampling his self produced liquor. We had to take his legs off to fit him in. He did try to ingratiate himself with us and have us spring him by using his blue light bonce mode. When we told him "not a chance" he went a bit the other way, but you expect that from the twits who get themselves legless

Kind regards, you knew there'd be one Steve, always,

Jim.

P.S. You will have better luck than Robby (pleaded not guilty, didn't have a leg to stand on )

 

Hydrogen for cars will never happen, because the laws of thermodynamics exist. It is thermodynamic vandalism.

All the best

Andreas

 

We have been electric since July 2021 - first an ID.3, now an ID.4 (both with the 77kWh battery). My wife had a Fiat 500e, then a Peugeot 2800e, then a BMW ix1 and now a BMW iX3 as company cars.

We will never go back to petrol or diesel. I have taken the ID.3, ID.4 and the iX3 to Italy multiple times, they work perfectly well as long-haulers, in particular on the continent. Like you will be, we are on Octopus Go, so mileage cost of >3p/kWh when charging at home. As I only need to charge away 2-3 times per year, unless going to Italy, it is simply the cheapest way to get around. Round trip to Heathrow (200 miles) for £6.

As you note, quiet, doesn't smell, the ID.4 is cavernous on the inside, I don't know what to do with the space. Recharge on the road is 20--30 minutes, which is not a hassle, as it can be timed to coincide with regular breaks in any case.

All the best

Andreas

 

I have had two ID3s and that have both been terrific. Range anxiety is a load of rubbish. There are chargers everywhere now.

Regards

Frank

 

Steve I am sure you made the right call.

Everyone has their own ideas .
If you live in London or a big city I am sure they are ok however the Capital will be charging you next year to drive them after pushing joe public and business to switch over. If you live in the sticks you do have to plan longer journeys to save you range anxiety.

Members of fam looked at but decided no after research and wants.
Happy with our 150bhp petrol for now other fam members happy with their 500 bhp and 400 bhp both petrol.

 

In my former job, I was told many times: "Never say never, or I will do new tests with different materials and then lets see about how it does work and when customers go for it.
Electrical engineering has brought so much to the world, because someone tested the "impossible". How dare you wasting our money.
two years later: "Sorry and thanks for ignoring my NEVER"
Stefan.

 

Our ID.4 goes back in July, now considering what to do next Might go for the Kia EV3. I want to stay under 40k to avoid the luxury car tax.

All the best

Andreas

 

If I had a pound for every time a hydrogen fan told me this, I'd be a very rich man.

This one is different, because you cannot innovate your way out of the laws of thermodynamics.

Which is why at this point in time, you can no longer refill your car with hydrogen in most of the UK, if you own one.

Stations | UK H2Mobility

The four stations available today are a reduction from numbers a few years ago. Given that H2 cars have at best the same range as BEVs, talk about range anxiety.

All the best

Andreas