First electric car experience

[icowden]

1. recharging is not super cheap. You can charge at 30p/kwh but that only puts it slightly cheaper than diesel
2. Range is not even close to the stated numbers
3. Availability of working charge points is an issue at the moment.

Recharging is a lot cheaper than diesel. This article is from 2019 but it makes the point:-
drive-electric.co.uk/electric-vehicles-vs-petrol-diesel-hybrid/

Even superchargers are cheaper than Diesel by a fair amount, and Diesel is only going to get more expensive.

Your second point is valid, but the same can be said of fuel consumption figures for ICE cars.

Your third point is a mystery. No one on here driving an EV has reported a problem with working charge points. Maybe Guy should have got a Tesla?

 

[AuroraSaab]

Where did you get 10 years from?

Various Nissan websites, like this one, say a Leaf battery is good for ten years, probably longer. The warranty is 8 years or 100k. If they were confident it was good for say 15 years surely they'd give a longer warranty than 8 years.

https://www.pinnaclenissan.com/blog...af-battery-life-expectancy-specs-warranty.htm

The car in your link is certainly impressive though it would still be an issue for me. If I bought a 3 year old Leaf from Nissan at £17k, and kept it for the usual 7 plus years I keep a car (if I like it), what's it worth when I want to sell it? A new battery is around £4-5k. Surely the depreciation will increase faster on an electric car as it gets to the end of the battery life, rather than slowing after initial heavy depreciation as it does with a petrol car.

Some stats on Nissan Leaf battery deterioration here:

https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/study-real-life-nissan-leaf-battery-deterioration

 

[cougie uk]

So good for at least ten years. Sure the range will drop off a bit but unless you're using the full range often it shouldn't be an issue.

I bought my Leaf at two years old and will hold on to it for a good few years. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Doesn’t fill me with confidence when battery’s are only guaranteed for 8yrs or 100k miles. My current car is 9yrs old now. I keep my cars long if I like them.

 

[cougie uk]

How long was the guarantee on your existing car ?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

The 'Vintage Voltage' crew, who appeared on the Guy Martin programmes
The Range Rover is lovely

https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/

 

[aferris2]

Recharging is a lot cheaper than diesel. This article is from 2019 but it makes the point:-
drive-electric.co.uk/electric-vehicles-vs-petrol-diesel-hybrid/

Even superchargers are cheaper than Diesel by a fair amount, and Diesel is only going to get more expensive.

Not sure that the 70p/KWh that Guy Martin found makes an EV cheaper than a diesel, but this might be an extreme. For myself, EV's might be worth looking at when (if) diesel does get more expensive. I'm quite happy with my 09 plate citroen for the moment.

 

[MrGrumpy]

How long was the guarantee on your existing car ?

Ok to put it another way , my previous car is still going as sold to my neighbour. It’s 15yrs old and still running. 160k miles in the clock . Batteries as well all know only have so many recharge cycles. That’s my concern.

 

[AuroraSaab]

How long was the guarantee on your existing car ?

6 months, when I bought it used. But what job on a car will cost £5k? Not that many.

Hopefully though the cost of batteries will fall and what is a £5k job when you bought the car might be a £2k job by the time it actually needs doing. Add to which the repair costs of an EV should be lower over a long period, so you'll save there. EV's are definitely something we are keeping an eye on. OH is quite keen and keeps doing the sums.

 

[MrGrumpy]

6 months, when I bought it used. But what job on a car will cost £5k? Not that many.

Hopefully though the cost of batteries will fall and what is a £5k job when you bought the car might be a £2k job by the time it actually needs doing. Add to which the repair costs of an EV should be lower over a long period, so you'll save there. EV's are definitely something we are keeping an eye on. OH is quite keen and keeps doing the sums.

Not knocking them just not ticking all the boxes for me. Lack of charge points is the major hurdle. A colleague of mine had a Leaf but only charged it up at his wife’s work as it was free !! The charging and driving revolved around that issue ?! Nuts , my brother in law bought a Tesla , free charging at his work ! They couldn’t even use it to go on holiday, as lacking space . Anyway issues that will resolve over time I’m sure . For me I’ll wait till either something suitable or cost becomes an issue with the oil burner.

 

[figbat]

Charging at work is currently not treated as a benefit in kind and so is not taxed or in any way recorded as ‘income’, unlike if you are provided with fuel. Who knows if and when that will change?

 

[fossyant]

EV chargers near Penygroes, Beddgelert, Capel Garmon, COnwy, all over anglesea, near black rock sands, all over North Wales and indeed Wales. Not so many superchargers but lots of Tesla Level 2 destination chargers, podpoints, chargemaster points, geniepoints etc.

There are bugger all near my caravan in Prestatyn. Those you 'quoted' are miles away from each other, and Anglesey gets then as 'posh' people go there. Where I am in South Manchester, most supermarkets have chargers, and are only a mile or two apart.

 

[Tenkaykev]

There are bugger all near my caravan in Prestatyn. Those you 'quoted' are miles away from each other, and Anglesey gets then as 'posh' people go there. Where I am in South Manchester, most supermarkets have chargers, and are only a mile or two apart.

Our larger Tescos have been installing free charging points. For an analysis of the approaches that various manufacturers are taking to electrification I’d recommend taking a look at Sandy Munro’s YouTube channel “ Munro Live “ . They’re “ proper “ engineers. They purchase new electric vehicles and strip them down to the bare chassis, taking apart the motors/ gearboxes / electronics/ batteries etc and discuss the merits / drawbacks of each approach.

 

[icowden]

There are bugger all near my caravan in Prestatyn. Those you 'quoted' are miles away from each other, and Anglesey gets then as 'posh' people go there. Where I am in South Manchester, most supermarkets have chargers, and are only a mile or two apart.

Yep, hardly any except for the ubitricity, geniepoint and ev solutions chargers 5 miles from pontins, and the tesla super charger 19 miles from Pontins.
It's like the wilderness out there. Can you park near your caravan (I'm assuming a static) ? Not sure how expensive your power is, but you could also charge there if you can park near your caravan.

 

[fossyant]

Yep, hardly any except for the ubitricity, geniepoint and ev solutions chargers 5 miles from pontins, and the tesla super charger 19 miles from Pontins.
It's like the wilderness out there. Can you park near your caravan (I'm assuming a static) ? Not sure how expensive your power is, but you could also charge there if you can park near your caravan.

Leccy supply at a caravan is really sensitive - trips if you use the kettle and another appliance, so a no to a charger. I've considered a Zoe for commuting, but I'm afraid it would have to be a 'third' car. We get free charging at work, but it's all gone to pot now we are only required 2-3 days in the office, and I'll ride there now as I won't be car sharing ! Greener anyway getting the bike out.