Buying an eco friendly car

[Danny]

We need to buy a new small family car and want to get the most eco-friendly model we can. The car will mostly be used by my disabled partner for short journeys, many under two miles.

Ideally we would like to get an electric car, but we do not have a garage or driveway where we can easily charge the battery, and I assume it is not possible to fit our own charging point on the pavement.

The next best option would be to get a hybrid, however I have been given conflicting advice about whether this would be a sensible choice for a car that would mostly be used for short journeys. The potential problem being that there would not be be enough time for the battery to charge up so the car would mostly run in petrol mode, thus negating the benefits and cost of buying a hybrid.

Which leaves me wondering whether we should just buy the most fuel efficient petrol car we can get for now, and wait for the infrastructure needed to support electric cars to improve - and their prices to come down.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The latter, I would suggest. Electric cars are definitely the future, but without a comprehensive charging structure they are at the moment impractical if you can't have a home charging point.

 

[Piemaster]

'eco friendly' and 'economical' aren't the same thing.
I'm fairly sure its ground that has been covered here before, but the energy and resources used in making an electric car are quite substantial and given your intended use, it will be in excess of any environmental cost you will cause using it. My work truck is a Mitsubishi L200 and may have less impact in your scenario.
My wifes car is used in similar way to your use and given we could charge it fairly easily an electric car would work for her, but purchase cost/depreciation (and in Renaults case battery hire) make it uneconomical compared to what we do have - an 8 year old Skoda Roomster auto. I wouldn't have a diesel for your scenario either - short runs like that don't play well with DPFs. I'd say get a petrol.

 

[PeteXXX]

It might depend on how much you want to spend, I suppose.
The last time I looked at an electric car, the battery was hired, over and above the cost of the car purchase. (Whether this has now changed, I know not) and it would have cost me more than the petrol I use.

 

[NorthernDave]

It depends what you're classing as a small family car?
Are you thinking of something Fiesta sized, or something a bit bigger like a Focus?
And are you buying new, or looking at second hand?

For the use you describe, something with a small petrol engine would be the best bet. Nothing will do the manufacturers claimed mpg figures on short, stop start journeys but they will be as cheap to run as you'll find. Get something in band 'A' ahead of the VED changes and it will be free to tax as well.

Avoid a modern diesel if you're doing predominantly short journeys.

 

[vickster]

Perhaps some to look at here if looking for a small economical petrol car, they are mostly very small. So depends if your wife would find something a little bigger easier to et into, drive etc

http://www.whatcar.com/news/real-world-mpg-efficient-small-petrol-cars/

 

[Pale Rider]

The latest Renault Zoe has a range of 200+ miles depending on model and driving conditions.

That's close to the range of a petrol hatchback.

You cannot charge it at home, but neither can you legally keep a large quantity of petrol, so in some ways there's no difference whether you need to refuel or recharge.

Seems to me there are more charging points than there used to be, although probably still fewer in your area than petrol filling stations.

But if there are a handful of charging points nearby, you could run an electric car with not much more running out anxiety than a petrol.

In other respects, an electric car would be good for your use because short journeys don't have the same adverse impact on the car as they do for a diesel, or even a petrol.

The big weakness is purchase price, a decent spec Zoe is £15K+, whereas you could get a nice year or two old petrol hatchback for about half that.

https://www.renault.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/zoe-250.html

 

[steveindenmark]

I have the Kia Picanto as does my partner as does her parents. It is small but has 5 doors, is very economical and Kia has a very good, long guarantee.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I would not now touch a diesel on health grounds (Did I say I was a smoker?), despite having used nothing else for 25 years when we were being told they were a better bet.

 

[gavroche]

The latest Renault Zoe has a range of 200+ miles depending on model and driving conditions.

That's close to the range of a petrol hatchback.

You cannot charge it at home, but neither can you legally keep a large quantity of petrol, so in some ways there's no difference whether you need to refuel or recharge.

Seems to me there are more charging points than there used to be, although probably still fewer in your area than petrol filling stations.

But if there are a handful of charging points nearby, you could run an electric car with not much more running out anxiety than a petrol.

In other respects, an electric car would be good for your use because short journeys don't have the same adverse impact on the car as they do for a diesel, or even a petrol.

The big weakness is purchase price, a decent spec Zoe is £15K+, whereas you could get a nice year or two old petrol hatchback for about half that.

https://www.renault.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/zoe-250.html

Yes, you can charge the Zoe at home if you hire the battery. Renault will install a fast charger, free of charge. For up to 4500 miles, it will cost you £45 per month and the car £13500 with the government grant.

 

[simon.r]

This may not be practical, but your OP (...short journeys, many under two miles) suggests that some sort of electric assisted bike / trike may may be a viable alternative. Maybe worth a look at what's out there.

http://www.atob.org.uk/uncategorized/tricycle/

 

[Pale Rider]

Yes, you can charge the Zoe at home if you hire the battery. Renault will install a fast charger, free of charge. For up to 4500 miles, it will cost you £45 per month and the car £13500 with the government grant.

'One' can charge the Zoe at home, but the OP said he will struggle because he has no garage or driveway.

 

[gavroche]

'One' can charge the Zoe at home, but the OP said he will struggle because he has no garage or driveway.

Fair enough. I thought you meant in general.

 

[Pale Rider]

Fair enough. I thought you meant in general.

Does the £45 a month include electricity?

I'm presuming not, although the OP would get rubbish consumption from an internal combustion engine so 400 miles a month could cost £60 or so in fuel.

 

[gavroche]

Does the £45 a month include electricity?

I'm presuming not, although the OP would get rubbish consumption from an internal combustion engine so 400 miles a month could cost £60 or so in fuel.

No it doesn't but a full charge is about £3 I believe.