I’m looking to change my vehicle over the next 12 months, and looking to possibly go electric. Tesla is an obvious candidate, but are there any of you driving electric cars that you would recommend? Obviously need to take into account charging etc, but what about other running costs?
Any recommendations?
Off topic - electric cars
posted on 2/9/20
Toyota would be smart to have a more powerful hybrid system for new Yaris, if they truly want to carry on appealing to a younger market and shake off the Granny image. It already has a hot-hatch look about it
posted on 2/9/20
comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by babyen ansikt snikmorder (U9094)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by babyen ansikt snikmorder (U9094)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 38 minutes ago
comment by Elvis: King of Cult (U7425)
posted 3 minutes ago
Electric cars are for girls.
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Alright Jeremy Clarkson. Nothing establishes one's manliness like a refusal to make minor adaptations to avert climate catastrophe, does it?
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As far as the environment is concerned, the best thing to do if you do have to run a car, is run the one you have absolutely into the ground.
Look after it, repair it, manage with it. Then when it finally dies, buy another second hand car and do the same.
Most of the carbon footprint associated with most vehicles on the road in the UK is tied up (and will always be tied up) in their manufacture rather than the miles they run. The tipping point for most vehicles is way, way over 200,000 miles.
Ideally, we want to minimise the number of new cars manufactured and sold.
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I’ve been doing that for years. It’s coming to the point where the vehicle I’m driving has about a year left. I like to do my homework. Wouldn’t be averse to buying a second hand EV. In fact, I probably will.
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Surely all those second hand cars were new once, Where's the savings re climate.
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Less second hand cars sold, means more on the scrap heap, and more new cars sold.
The recycling rates of old cars needs to improve. By running the car to the end of it’s life, then purchasing a second hand car and doing the same, should ultimately mean less production of new cars. It needs more of us to do the same to have any significant effect though. Less new cars being manufactured does have an adverse effect on jobs in that sector though, so there is always a trade off.
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It’s about lengthening vehicles’ lifespans
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Bought my Mini Cooper brand new in 2004 (picked it up the day after the United v Arsenal match that ended their unbeaten run so was still a little hungover!) and I've still got it.
I only travel a few miles a day, and a few journeys a year to Manchester, Chester, Liverpool etc, and it's never let me down so will keep it until it gives up the ghost.
Not a massive car person though so the status thing doesn't bother me. Think I'll get a van next as I think it'd be much easier for the Dog and for shopping.
posted on 3/9/20
I can't justify the cost. These cars are advertised as friendly to the environment but are they practical? Most rely on dual systems so carbon still used.
Electric is expensive and the company don't advertise how much energy it takes to charge, or how long this should take. They quote practical milage per charge but what about longer drives? Does a driver need to stop at a garage overnight to charge up? This could make journeys unnecessarily longer. Not a car for commuting.
No more unplanned journeys? . Our phone batteries fail in time, I expect something similar here. How simple is it to replace a battery?
Unless you have a detached house in the suburbs and an office carpark block with dedicated charge points you'll surely struggle to keep the car on the road.
The initial outlay is steeper than a new fossil vehicle, will used fossil vehicles still hold value as trade ins?
If you change your vehicle every 5-6 years are we expected to pony up the initial higher down payment each time for a hybrid or will electric upgrades account for that outlay?
The electric car will have a ferrous chassis prone to rust same as other cars. Cost per no. of years use should increase. How will a customer justify this change?
Seems like the manufacturer has developed a niche product and can charge double with out questions.
One other important thing too few charge points outside London to make it viable.
Still not convinced the cars are viable alternatives. Said without any Clarkson type agenda. Only looking at the facts.
Would love the UK to pave the way for truly green alternatives for transport in future.
posted on 3/9/20
They quote practical milage per charge but what about longer drives? Does a driver need to stop at a garage overnight to charge up? This could make journeys unnecessarily longer. Not a car for commuting.
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Again, slightly outdated. Most current EV cars have a range of at least around 200 miles, the best will have 300-350 miles on a full charge. Don’t think anyone’s commute is that long!
posted on 3/9/20
Unless you have a detached house in the suburbs and an office carpark block with dedicated charge points you'll surely struggle to keep the car on the road.
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I agree with this. Added in with price, right now electric cars suit older buyers with money in the bank and living permanently in a house with a driveway. If you have that though and have charging point built in a charging point at your office block is redundant. But yes, doesn’t suit a young person, with not much money in bank, moving house all the time.
To one of your final points..I disagree with your view about viability. I think it’s definitely quite clear they are definitely a viable alternative at the very least. In any case it is where the technology is going in our lifetimes
posted on 3/9/20
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 53 minutes ago
They quote practical milage per charge but what about longer drives? Does a driver need to stop at a garage overnight to charge up? This could make journeys unnecessarily longer. Not a car for commuting.
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Again, slightly outdated. Most current EV cars have a range of at least around 200 miles, the best will have 300-350 miles on a full charge. Don’t think anyone’s commute is that long!
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A Tesla supercharger will charge the battery to 50% in 20 minutes, and the Tesla maps the charging points on your journey so you can stop at services for a coffee/lunch on a long distance trip and charge the car whilst you eat.
If you're driving a Nio (in China) their cars are designed to swap out the battery and they have hundreds of battery swap stations nationwide - you drive your car in, it's mechanically raised on a platform, the battery is removed and replaced with a fully charged one and you drive off in a matter of minutes.
The EV specialists have come on leaps and bounds in a short amount of time.
posted on 3/9/20
If you're driving a Nio (in China) their cars are designed to swap out the battery and they have hundreds of battery swap stations nationwide - you drive your car in, it's mechanically raised on a platform, the battery is removed and replaced with a fully charged one and you drive off in a matter of minutes.
That’s pretty amazing tbh, we are so far behind these countries
posted on 3/9/20
comment by De Gea's Legs (U14210)
posted 17 hours, 43 minutes ago
I think I read somewhere that the UK is banning sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2030😳
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I also read ir35, MTD etc would be put into action this year....
I don't believe by 2030 electric cars will be functional or affordable to the general population.
Only 9 years away and we only have one reasonably affordable electric car on the road, and that isn't suitable for families of 5.
posted on 3/9/20
comment by Constantinople (U11781)
posted 4 hours, 28 minutes ago
If you're driving a Nio (in China) their cars are designed to swap out the battery and they have hundreds of battery swap stations nationwide - you drive your car in, it's mechanically raised on a platform, the battery is removed and replaced with a fully charged one and you drive off in a matter of minutes.
That’s pretty amazing tbh, we are so far behind these countries
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Amazingly, it's a free service as well.
posted on 5/9/20
I love hearing peoples conversations about electric cars, especially the people that have no real experience with them. They have a general idea, which is shrouded in half truths and misconceptions.
I ahve been driving electric for about 3 years, It is fair to say I will not be going back to an ICE car.
As for the original question, there is so much happening in the EV world, with the whole automotive industry now embracing the inevitable EV future. So the options are not only growing, but growing rapidly.
I would say if you can afford a Tesla, it is easily the best EV out there, The reason is they simply have a laser focus, their whole business is built around the EV, They not only have the battery, and battery management systems experience. They have the software so well integrated, it all comes together to create, in my opinion the ultimate EV package.
Of course there are other advantages, like the Tesla charging network, that is unique to Tesla owners, that make charging a breeze.
I have a Nissan Leaf, I am considering a Tesla, but it really would be an indulgence, as I barely drive the Leaf, I will point out my wife drives the car the most, and after initially being against an EV, she would not now consider anything else.
I actually follow the EV news, and asked admin for a specific EV section, sadly that has not happened
But any more specific questions you may have, by all means ask.