EV Owners Thread

[Pale Rider]

We've had electric for three years now. Only ever need to charge away from home on holiday and saved hundreds on fuel each month.

If you can't charge at home or do regular 600 mile journeys then it might not be for you but for most people electric is fine now.

We do about 12,000 miles a year anyway which is above the average I believe by a fair bit.

Not sure how you are saving 'hundreds a month' doing 12,000 miles a year.

A thousand miles a month is about two tanks of dino fuel, say about £130.

No doubt a thousand miles of electricity is less than that, deducting one from the other will still leave a worthwhile fuel saving, but it will be less than a hundred a month.

Then there's the thorny question of the extra cost of the EV, which needs to be factored in to your overall motoring costs, further reducing the 'saving'.

The extra thousands you've spent on the EV will wipe out the reduced fuel costs for years.

 

[icowden]

A thousand miles a month is about two tanks of dino fuel, say about £130.

I'd put that at about £200 at least. A full tank in the Scenic was costing me around £100 when I got rid of it. Might be down to £80 ish.
So lets go conservative at £160 a month. That's £1920 a year. The ID4 in contrast is costing me £240 per year to fill up provided I'm home charging during the night. And that is based on 7p per KWH on a car that has a real world range of about 250 miles for 83kwh.

Then there's the thorny question of the extra cost of the EV, which needs to be factored in to your overall motoring costs, further reducing the 'saving'.

Well yes. They are expensive. But £1680 per year. After 10 years that's a saving of £16k. Plus I don't pay ULEZ or congestion charge.

 

[Pale Rider]

I'd put that at about £200 at least. A full tank in the Scenic was costing me around £100 when I got rid of it. Might be down to £80 ish.
So lets go conservative at £160 a month. That's £1920 a year. The ID4 in contrast is costing me £240 per year to fill up provided I'm home charging during the night. And that is based on 7p per KWH on a car that has a real world range of about 250 miles for 83kwh.

Is that what's called man maths?

Say 55 litres at £1.60, which is £88, times two is £176.

Deducting the cost of electric leaves a difference of £150 or less per month.

The thousands extra paid for the EV will still take years to 'repay'.

Drive whatever make you happy, but let's be realistic about the costs.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Is that what's called man maths?

Say 55 litres at £1.60, which is £88, times two is £176.

Deducting the cost of electric leaves a difference of £150 or less per month.

The thousands extra paid for the EV will still take years to 'repay'.

Drive whatever make you happy, but let's be realistic about the costs.

I’ve been doing back of a fag packet stuff and yes your paying a hell of alot extra for an EV ( the ones I’m looking at ) over the equivalent dino powered ones . Also taking into consideration the VED factor as it’s been ones over £40k as well .
If your low mileage you ain’t saving cock all ! That’s exactly where we are right now as a family.

 

[CXRAndy]

Most are solely looking at it from a cost perspective. There is the emissions benefits. As more and more EVs appear on the roads, the town's and cities, urban living areas will get improved air quality.

We thought it was a massive plus by going electric

 

[icowden]

Is that what's called man maths?

No

Say 55 litres at £1.60, which is £88, times two is £176.

So you want to up the cost of fuel to 2120ish per year fine.

Deducting the cost of electric leaves a difference of £150 or less per month.

£152 cheaper per month yes.

The thousands extra paid for the EV will still take years to 'repay'.

Yes I agree. But less pollution, fewer tyres and a better car.

Drive whatever make you happy, but let's be realistic about the costs.

We are. They are expensive. They will get cheaper. At the moment owning an EV is better for the planet, but a lot more expensive than ICE when buying the car. We have been very upfront about this.

 

[MrGrumpy]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-BAN-electric-cars-roads-power-shortages.html

Forgive the link but interesting

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Most are solely looking at it from a cost perspective. There is the emissions benefits. As more and more EVs appear on the roads, the town's and cities, urban living areas will get improved air quality.

We thought it was a massive plus by going electric

Andy, you're well off, I’m well off, as are some others on here - the costs do/will make naff all difference to our lives.

For the majority though, emissions benefits trail way behind the costs reality of keeping a car on the road.

 

[PK99]

The technology is here, Tesla have proved it. Their network is extremely reliable. There are others getting there, I like Instavolt too. But there are many networks too complicated require apps , poorly maintained.

It reminds me of when we used to visit Hunstanton down in Norfolk. Our little leaf was just able to get there and back if we were careful. We found on ZapMap a charger central in the town. Dammed thing never worked, no one answered the phone for customer services. Parking charges could apply too

We then found Instavolt in Kings Lynn, seamless, easy contactless. Never bothered using the Hunstanton charger again. Shame really, if they put in decent chargers, accessible and contactless, then more EV drivers would visit

The technology/infrastructure is not here yet.

National grid does not have enough connection points to service enough charging points at service stations.

I do not have a driveway. I cannot charge at home.

Mostly my car does local journeys but several times a year I go to rural Somerst, rural Kent and Rural Yorkshre and Lacashire - none of the locations has easy charging access (I have checked)

Full hybrid would work but not any form of plug in.

 

[mustang1]

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...c-vehicle-owners-face-soaring-insurance-costs
Oh dear, trouble in paradise!

This has not been experience. See my post on another thread about health warnings.

Edit: oops, pressed enter before finishing the post...

I meant my insurance quote was cheaper for an electric car that for a petrol car.

 

[cougie uk]

FWIW I paid the same amount for my two year old EV as my pal! aid for her two year old Mini so there wasn't a huge upcharge for the EV when we bought it.

And interestingly -

https://www.energylivenews.com/2023/10/02/uk-electricity-consumption-hits-rock-bottom/

So even with all the EVs on the road we are using less electric than before ?

 

[icowden]

Forgive the link but interesting

Define interesting. Looks like a typical hysterical Mail piece completely misinterpreting what has been announced by the Swiss Government.

Here's the actual story-
https://www.livemint.com/auto-news/switzerland-mulling-a-ban-on-evs-here-s-why-11670301662721.html

TLDR: "Swiss Government plans series of measures to ration gas and electricity in the event of shortfalls this coming winter"
The really draconian measures only kick in on an emergency basis if there is a severe fuel crisis.

 

[Mo1959]

Ooooer!


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67005620

 

[CXRAndy]

Ooooer!


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67005620

Obviously it's the ghost of Austin

 

[CXRAndy]

So he accidentally put it in auto cruise at 30 mph. If the brakes switch had failed he could have switch off the car. I doubt the car was unable to be stopped. Something doesn't ring true about this. He rang his wife, police had conversations with engineer all whilst driving at 30