Pale Rider
Legendary Member
That would mean a couple of charges a month for 400 miles, still a bit less overall than diesel/petrol.
Assuming the 200+ mile range is genuine, it looks like an electric car could be practical for most motorists.
Buying an eco friendly car
- Thread starter Danny
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That would mean a couple of charges a month for 400 miles, still a bit less overall than diesel/petrol.
Assuming the 200+ mile range is genuine, it looks like an electric car could be practical for most motorists.
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
It does, but until someone decides to pay for the infrastructure putting in place there won't be a sizeable shift to them.
Unless you have at least a private drive (or preferably a garage - and are prepared to have a Li-ion battery on charge unattended in it) you'll struggle to charge it at home and there simply aren't the public charging points out there to support a modal shift.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
To be honest, and you may not like the answer, but it is I believe sound and logical. Since you're not using the vehicle much the green choice is an older vehicle which has already been built and the anti green "damage" so to speak has already been done. To so-say waste the resources consumed in producing a new or newish vehicle in a mode where it isn't going to be used much isn't a green choice. To save an older model from the scrapyard and eke out the value from building it over a few years of low use is far greener than all the resources consumed in a new hybrid or leci car. The mileage you envisage sounds negligable so even old bentley or whatever could be a much greener option than the brand new tesla. If greeness matters to you, as it should to us all, think about this option
Bonefish Blues
Banging donk
- Location
- 52 Festive Road
Yaris hybrid s/h would serve you well over as long a period as you chose to keep it.
Something like this perhaps?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...advert-type=featured-listing&dealer-id=134573
Something like this perhaps?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...advert-type=featured-listing&dealer-id=134573
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
Looks like there are about 8,000 charging points, so you would never be far away from one.
Matters appear to be complicated by a two or three plug standards, although it looks like the Renault Zoe - as an example - could use most of them.
If I read the conditions correctly, many are free, or at least available for a small annual subscription.
It seems to me an informed Zoe owner could get most recharges for nothing, which might be worth a bit of inconvenience.
https://www.zap-map.com/live/
threebikesmcginty
Corn Fed Hick...
- Location
- ...on the slake
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
eco friendly car is an oxymoron. Less damaging vs more damaging more like.
As the pointy Prof says bangernomics is your friend here.
As the pointy Prof says bangernomics is your friend here.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
As an ex Prius owner I'd avoid hybrids. Ironically for an eco car they like to be well used or the batteries quickly cause problems.
I wouldn't write off the idea of an electric car. Might be worth a chat with you local council to see where they stand about marking out a disabled bay outside your house and providing charging points. I wouldn't hold your breath, but it's gotta be worth a phone call or email.
Avoid a modern diesel with the mileage you do, they like a good bit of heat through the block before the give their best economy, and DPFs and the like will give you a headache on a low mileage car.
Which leaves petrol. Something small and probably 3 pot. I don't know anything about your good ladies disability and access needs, but that not with standing i'd probably start my search with something like the Citroen C1. The Fiesta is a good car, but not as economical in petrol form in the real world, and probably a touch bigger than necessary for a sole person to scoot locally.
As above, I'd be looking at something older. As a random example, I've just picked up a mint 1 owner 60k FSH Fusion for £700 for my own local pootling. It's doing mid 40's MPG, so I financial terms it's probably on a par with spending £9000 or more on a new car that does 400 MPG or something.
One final thought - if she's on the higher tier mobility element of P.I.P. she would qualify for a motability car like Mrs Drago does.
I wouldn't write off the idea of an electric car. Might be worth a chat with you local council to see where they stand about marking out a disabled bay outside your house and providing charging points. I wouldn't hold your breath, but it's gotta be worth a phone call or email.
Avoid a modern diesel with the mileage you do, they like a good bit of heat through the block before the give their best economy, and DPFs and the like will give you a headache on a low mileage car.
Which leaves petrol. Something small and probably 3 pot. I don't know anything about your good ladies disability and access needs, but that not with standing i'd probably start my search with something like the Citroen C1. The Fiesta is a good car, but not as economical in petrol form in the real world, and probably a touch bigger than necessary for a sole person to scoot locally.
As above, I'd be looking at something older. As a random example, I've just picked up a mint 1 owner 60k FSH Fusion for £700 for my own local pootling. It's doing mid 40's MPG, so I financial terms it's probably on a par with spending £9000 or more on a new car that does 400 MPG or something.
One final thought - if she's on the higher tier mobility element of P.I.P. she would qualify for a motability car like Mrs Drago does.
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biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Tough choice
Is a 1990's Fiesta 1.25 classed as an eco friendly car , it will be cheaper to buy than any new car
Is a 1990's Fiesta 1.25 classed as an eco friendly car , it will be cheaper to buy than any new car
Bonefish Blues
Banging donk
- Location
- 52 Festive Road
Really? I've run two and not seen this as an issue on any of the Forums, can you expand?
Thanks for all the helpful comments - here's a few quick responses...
Thanks, this all makes sense. I meant 'eco friendly' rather than 'economical' - though ideally we'd like both!
We were thinking of something bigger like a Focus or Auris, as we need space for a wheelchair. Will definitely be buying second hand, though probably a car with low mileage.
Unfortunately my partner isn't really up to riding an electric assisted bike for even for a couple of miles.
We tend to buy second hand and then run our cars into the ground for just the reasons you have mentioned. However we do need something reliable for my partner so buying an old banger is not really an option.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
As my example above illustrates, cheap does not necessarily equate to an old banger.
So clean I could eat my dinner off it, and one careful elderly owner, always garage, and a full Ford service history covering it's mere 60,000 miles. I'm not suggesting for one moment a Fusion would suit you (it was far from my first choice) I present it to show what £700 can buy you, what can be achieved on a tight budget. Not spending much doesn't automatically mean you'll get an unreliable old hack, and if you're running it into the ground anyway...
Cheap does not necessarily preclude cheer.
This chaps musings are worth a read. I didn't achieve his goal of retiring in my thirties, I had to wait until I was 48 for that, but his attitude to spending money is an interesting alternative viewpoint, well worth considering before any capital purchase.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
So clean I could eat my dinner off it, and one careful elderly owner, always garage, and a full Ford service history covering it's mere 60,000 miles. I'm not suggesting for one moment a Fusion would suit you (it was far from my first choice) I present it to show what £700 can buy you, what can be achieved on a tight budget. Not spending much doesn't automatically mean you'll get an unreliable old hack, and if you're running it into the ground anyway...
Cheap does not necessarily preclude cheer.
This chaps musings are worth a read. I didn't achieve his goal of retiring in my thirties, I had to wait until I was 48 for that, but his attitude to spending money is an interesting alternative viewpoint, well worth considering before any capital purchase.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
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Big Andy
Über Member
- Location
- Huddersfield & Leicester
I have the Auris tourer hybrid. Great car mpg isnt especially brilliant. Average 55mpg. Do a lot of motorway miles though which doesnt make the best use of the hybrid side of things.
I think Toyota could do with remapping when it uses the battery as it could be used a lot more than it is in my view.
Overall im pleased with it, can get my bike in the back without taking the wheels off.
To be honest with the very low milage you do the mpg figure isnt much of an issue look for something that meets your requirements for load and people carrying.
I think Toyota could do with remapping when it uses the battery as it could be used a lot more than it is in my view.
Overall im pleased with it, can get my bike in the back without taking the wheels off.
To be honest with the very low milage you do the mpg figure isnt much of an issue look for something that meets your requirements for load and people carrying.
I no more believe in electric cars than I do in electric bikes, with current technology.
My mother wanted to cut her motoring costs, her Suzuki Swift as getting on a bit and her tax was expensive as it was a 1.5L. I bought her a 1.2 Fiat 500 a couple of months ago, not 2 years old & with 17k on the clock, I paid £4750 and it is as new. Her road tax is £30 per annum and She is getting a real world 45+mpg, all urban driving. It's already lost it's new-to-used value drop and will now slowly lose value, they are in demand, the residuals will be good. Best of all though, it is real fun to drive and she loves it.
My mother wanted to cut her motoring costs, her Suzuki Swift as getting on a bit and her tax was expensive as it was a 1.5L. I bought her a 1.2 Fiat 500 a couple of months ago, not 2 years old & with 17k on the clock, I paid £4750 and it is as new. Her road tax is £30 per annum and She is getting a real world 45+mpg, all urban driving. It's already lost it's new-to-used value drop and will now slowly lose value, they are in demand, the residuals will be good. Best of all though, it is real fun to drive and she loves it.
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