EV Owners Thread

[Bonefish Blues]

I used to make those...

I've never really understood the hate for them tbh. A school friend had one and it was capacious and comfy when we were out and about, and made sufficient progress to keep up with the rest of the anonoboxes.

 

[CXRAndy]

I like the savings, although when the government isn't getting any tax because everyone is driving an EV that will soon change.

The limited range means plenty of time sat at the services for me charging, which the company will pay for in overtime, when for an extra £2000 upfront they could've got the larger battery.

As usual it's an accountant who has no idea what your job entails telling you how you should do it.

You're late to the party re benefits of owning an EV.

Early years we would get £5k discounts on purchases, free 7kW home charger, super low overnight electric, lifetime free supercharging.

 

[icowden]

Early years we would get £5k discounts on purchases, free 7kW home charger, super low overnight electric, lifetime free supercharging.

The lifetime free supercharging was only with Tesla. Many vendors still offer a "free" home charger. You can have super low overnight electric with most energy companies. The only thing that vanished is the purchase incentive because the Govt are still obsessed with ICE cars. Mustn't increase fuel duty or you might upset people.

The plus side now is that EVs are a lot cheaper than when you bought them, there is a huge range available at multiple price points.

The downside of Tesla is that insurance is horrendously expensive and repairs slow. Hence they are not available now on most company fleets. Musk even launched his own insurance company - but it charges more than the mainstream companies in the UK.

The other problem with company car fleets is that they are often deathly boring. Mine offers Citroen Ami, Dacia Spring, Nissan, VW, MINI, FIat, Renault, Cupra, Skoda, VW, Seat, Mercedes, Peugeot, Jeep, BMW, DS, Polestar, Audi, Volvo, Porsche.

Of the Driving Electric top 10 cars in 2025, I have access to 4 of them. No Hyundai, Kia, or Tesla.

Prices seem to be cheaper for a lease through Octopus. For example, a Dacia Spring 65kwh is £199 through Octopus or £229 via Arval as salary sacrifice with the full lease cost being £367. Octopus also have access to BYD, Omoda, MG, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Geely etc,
Via Octopus an ID5 would be £399 a month instead of £492.

 

[CXRAndy]

You cant get the free supercharging anymore. I can transfer it to a new car, but there aren't any left of the spec I would consider

 

[Gillstay]

I used to make those...

You have a lot to answer for !

 

[dicko]

You have a lot to answer for !

Austin Allegro, wonderful small family car. Four doors nice size boot super reliable engines comfy seats easy to fix and maintain and with affordable prices too. To and from Bournemouth to Old Sarum each day in all weathers never missed a beat.

 

[CXRAndy]

Austin Allegro, wonderful small family car. Four doors nice size boot super reliable engines comfy seats easy to fix and maintain and with affordable prices too. To and from Bournemouth to Old Sarum each day in all weathers never missed a beat.

My mate bought one, rolled it on the way home from buying it. He laughs about how it slid 50 yards down the road on its roof, finished with 720 rotation to stop.

 

[biggs682]

Vertu has cornered the market in khaki, for sure.

That's more like diarrhea if you ask me 😂

 

[Venod]

Austin Allegro, wonderful small family car. Four doors nice size boot super reliable engines comfy seats easy to fix and maintain and with affordable prices too. To and from Bournemouth to Old Sarum each day in all weathers never missed a beat.

Never owned one but driven as a works car, a daily trip from Ferrybridge to Hartlepool, it spun 180 degrees on the A19 scarring four grown men for life, it didn't handle well, on another occasion all the lights went out on an unlit section of the A19 at 70mph, something you never forget, we also had an equily abysmal Morris Marina in the fleet.

 

[dicko]

My mate bought one, rolled it on the way home from buying it. He laughs about how it slid 50 yards down the road on its roof, finished with 720 rotation to stop.

Weren’t much of a driver then.

 

[dicko]

Never owned one but driven as a works car, a daily trip from Ferrybridge to Hartlepool, it spun 180 degrees on the A19 scarring four grown men for life, it didn't handle well, on another occasion all the lights went out on an unlit section of the A19 at 70mph, something you never forget, we also had an equily abysmal Morris Marina in the fleet.

Works car, say no more.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Austin Allegro, wonderful small family car. Four doors nice size boot super reliable engines comfy seats easy to fix and maintain and with affordable prices too. To and from Bournemouth to Old Sarum each day in all weathers never missed a beat.

The insides of parts of the body panels were coated in a sort of bitumen like substance to help protect against corrosion. On occasion this would have seeped down between the cills causing spectacular sparks from the spot welding gun. It was also one of the first vehicles at Longbridge to have a ( partially ) automated production line.