Which electric car to buy?

[Amarillo]

I can't really remember cos it was insulated and once we were away on the road it was kept permanently hot. In the morning you had to dilute the water with some cold to make it cool enough to shave in. War winning kit.

I have heard it said that it is the item that excites Ukrainian fighters most about the Challenger 2 tank. A shame they weren’t delivered before winter set in.

 

[Wildcamper]

US study finds electric vehicle reliance must be reduced

A study from the University of California has found that lithium mining presents an environmental danger, and that electric vehicle size must be reduced.

www.visordown.com

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Some used electric cars appear to have tanked in price. I read this is partly due to diesel prices falling, and electric prices rising. Not sure if that’s true but the £21k 2019 i3s I was looking at are now £16k. Quite a drop.

You can also get 71 reg Mazda MX30s for £14k with under 10,000 miles. That’s a very reasonably priced electric car.

Cargiant - London's Largest Car Dealership

We have hundreds of used cars in stock at unbeatably low prices. We also offer finance, part exchange at our London Dealership.

www.cargiant.co.uk

 

[reserves]

Some used electric cars appear to have tanked in price. I read this is partly due to diesel prices falling, and electric prices rising. Not sure if that’s true but the £21k 2019 i3s I was looking at are now £16k.

You can also get 71 yr Mazda MX30s for £14k with under 10,000 miles. That’s a very reasonably priced electric car.

Yep, fall they certainly did! Not sure about the rest of the market but I follow used Tesla prices.

A few reasons for the price drop as far as I could tell:

- The Tesla Model 3's were released in 2019, so by 2022 loads came off at lease at once (3 year leases) and the market was flooded.
- Electric prices went up massively
- Tesla dropped the prices of their new cars

A used 2021 Long Range Model 3 for example dropped from £47k to £37k almost overnight.

You can now buy a Model 3 Performance which is faster than most supercars (should you car about that kind of thing) for £25k, they are incredible cars which can also be taken on a track.

 

[66tim99]

A better alternative to the Ami, with a more practical range (150 miles) and top speed 55mph)?
https://microlino-car.com/en/microlino

 

[Calimili]

A better alternative to the Ami, with a more practical range (150 miles) and top speed 55mph)?
https://microlino-car.com/en/microlino

Fantastic! The problem is in some countries you have to park alongside the road and not transverse even if your (microlino, Smart first series) car lenght is smaller than the width of a regular parking bay. Silly law...
But i like it, It is like a modern Isetta.

 

[Velma's Dad]

A better alternative to the Ami, with a more practical range (150 miles) and top speed 55mph)?
https://microlino-car.com/en/microlino

I'd seriously consider one of these as a daily runaround, but first there will have to be a viable service network in UK.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Tesla model 3 here, best car I've had hands down, supercharger network makes long distance touring here in Sweden so easy.

But are you being charged a whopping 67p per KwH to charge it as we are in the UK? In my view, this has priced a Tesla out of the options for non commercial or lease drivers. Based upon a generous 3miles per kWh, this means you're paying a massive 22p per mile - almost 60% more than a decent 2l Diesel ICE equivalent!

Unless you can use a home charger for sub 40p per kWh price, it just doesn't make sense economically to me.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Some used electric cars appear to have tanked in price. I read this is partly due to diesel prices falling, and electric prices rising. Not sure if that’s true but the £21k 2019 i3s I was looking at are now £16k. Quite a drop.

You can also get 71 reg Mazda MX30s for £14k with under 10,000 miles. That’s a very reasonably priced electric car.

Cargiant - London's Largest Car Dealership

We have hundreds of used cars in stock at unbeatably low prices. We also offer finance, part exchange at our London Dealership.

www.cargiant.co.uk

I noticed the 19 and 20 plate e-Golfs are now around £13k too. These are very very good value cars with an 8 year battery warranty. A lovely drive too.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

A better alternative to the Ami, with a more practical range (150 miles) and top speed 55mph)?
https://microlino-car.com/en/microlino

Now that IS interesting! I note that it's more than double the AMI cost though.

 

[reserves]

But are you being charged a whopping 67p per KwH to charge it as we are in the UK? In my view, this has priced a Tesla out of the options for non commercial or lease drivers. Based upon a generous 3miles per kWh, this means you're paying a massive 22p per mile - almost 60% more than a decent 2l Diesel ICE equivalent!

Unless you can use a home charger for sub 40p per kWh price, it just doesn't make sense economically to me.

Home charging = 7.5p per kWh

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Home charging = 7.5p per kWh

Only with the very, very cheapest off peak Octopus tariff. And my experience was that you pay much more than usual for the rest of your electricity then.

My reply was actually in regard to a Tesla owner and using their network - you'd struggle to get a Tesla charged between midnight and 5AM on a 3-pin charger, or even a 7.5kWh wall charger if using a lot.

The theory is often not delivered in practice with EVs, I have found. And don't even get me started on winter range loss!

 

[reserves]

Only with the very, very cheapest off peak Octopus tariff. And my experience was that you pay much more than usual for the rest of your electricity then.

My reply was actually in regard to a Tesla owner and using their network - you'd struggle to get a Tesla charged between midnight and 5AM on a 3-pin charger, or even a 7.5kWh wall charger if using a lot.

The theory is often not delivered in practice with EVs, I have found. And don't even get me started on winter range loss!

You would only need a full charge if you drove 270 miles everyday.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Home charging = 7.5p per kWh

So if I’m being charged 31pence per kWh and an i3 does 4 miles per kWh, thats 7.75 pence per mile and my 20 mile return commute would cost me £1.55.
Is that correct?
But you’re saying I should switch to an off peak tariff?

 

[Wannabecamperman]

You would only need a full charge if you drove 270 miles everyday.

Again, you're quoting the best theoretical case scenario which is unrealistic in real life.. In the winter, and when using heater and heated seats, it's much, much less on a relatively new Model Y, and much worse on earlier Model S and even the early Model 3.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

So if I’m being charged 31pence per kWh and an i3 does 4 miles per kWh, thats 7.75 pence per mile and my 20 mile return commute would cost me £1.55.
Is that correct?
But you’re saying I should switch to an off peak tariff?

For a 20 mile daily commute, stay with the regular tariff. The quoted 7.5p Octopus EV off peak tariff has the problem of raising ALL other electricity costs so is not recommended for such low usage.

As a rule of thumb, you get 3 miles per kWh if you include the winter range loss (more in summer / less in winter and as long as you're below 40p per kWh, then you're beating the cost of running the same miles in an ICE vehicle. I've spent some years investing in PV and researching EV ranges and annual costs versus ICE cars.

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

For a 20 mile daily commute, stay with the regular tariff. The quoted 7.5p Octopus EV off peak tariff has the problem of raising ALL other electricity costs so is not recommended for such low usage.

As a rule of thumb, you get 3 miles per kWh if you include the winter range loss (more in summer / less in winter and as long as you're below 40p per kWh, then you're beating the cost of running the same miles in an ICE vehicle. I've spent some years investing in PV and researching EV ranges and annual costs versus ICE cars.

I’ve just been looking at Intelligent Octopus again. 7.5p/kWh at night and 30p/kWh in the day. Even the day time rate is cheaper than my current tariff. That rate has definitely not been hiked. They certainly used to hike the other rates but not with this tariff and 7.5p/kwh is insanely cheap for your EV charging, even with increased winter costs.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I was very sold on this chaps long term i3 report

Seemed very genuine and claimed I think a consistent 4.5miles per kWh over 30,000 miles or so.
I’m very struck by how many people visibly love their i3.

This is basically the same car. Pre 2017 no car tax. £11,700

Cargiant - London's Largest Car Dealership

We have hundreds of used cars in stock at unbeatably low prices. We also offer finance, part exchange at our London Dealership.

www.cargiant.co.uk

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I was very sold on this chaps long term i3 report

Seemed very genuine and claimed I think a consistent 4.5miles per kWh over 30,000 miles or so.
I’m very struck by how many people visibly love their i3.

This is basically the same car. Pre 2017 no car tax. £11,700

Cargiant - London's Largest Car Dealership

We have hundreds of used cars in stock at unbeatably low prices. We also offer finance, part exchange at our London Dealership.

www.cargiant.co.uk

Yes, the i3 is a very, very narrow car and I believe the better infotainment upgrade starts around 2018/2019, so I wouldn't go for an older one. Also, be aware that some of them have 'range extenders' which is actually a petrol engine, so not all are pure EVs. The EV i3s and new Ioniqs with heat pumps to condition the battery in winter are genuinely achieving north of 3.8 miles per kWh all year round. You'd need to be very frugal on heating and cooling to get over 4 though.

 

[Wildcamper]

Having driven cars powered by IEC, battery hybrid, battery and fuel cells I would purchase a fuel cell vehicles if they were available.

Hydrogen fuel power plants for trucks and buses set to roll off production line

Intelligent Energy power units are also being designed for cars, forklifts and drones

www.business-live.co.uk

 

[willwander]

Toyota hope on hype.
Battery range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes and Hydrogen fuel cells
both...'coming soon'.... but not now....obviously.

Toyota claims battery breakthrough in potential boost for electric cars

Japanese firm believes it could make a solid-state battery with a range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes

www.theguardian.com

 

[66tim99]

Toyota hope on hype.
Battery range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes and Hydrogen fuel cells
both...'coming soon'.... but not now....obviously.

Toyota claims battery breakthrough in potential boost for electric cars

Japanese firm believes it could make a solid-state battery with a range of 745 miles that charges in 10 minutes

www.theguardian.com

Let’s hope they don’t require cobalt, lithium etc to manufacture

 

[Wildcamper]

Broken electric vehicles need 'quarantining', driving up costs

Electric car owners face soaring insurance and repair costs over fears the vehicles could explode (file photo of Tesla which caught fire on a road in the US in 2020) after minor collisions.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

Broken electric vehicles need 'quarantining', driving up costs

Electric car owners face soaring insurance and repair costs over fears the vehicles could explode (file photo of Tesla which caught fire on a road in the US in 2020) after minor collisions.

www.dailymail.co.uk

That is the Daily Mail though so treat with caution.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Let’s hope they don’t require cobalt, lithium etc to manufacture

That’s why’s there’s a space race for the moon. Helium -3 which could potentially create clean nuclear plus, lithium and titanium and other commodities which could revolutionise Earth power sources and production.

The scary part.
Which countries get to monopolise these precious minerals…?

History has taught us, we’re not the best when it comes to sharing, especially when money is involved…