Thinking of Electric Car

Guinness-Cat

I was thinking of getting a newer car (currently Driving a R reg Rover Diesel which is beginning to fall apart)

I was originally just going to get another old Diesel banger (I can normally fix most mundane stuff myself) but have been really tempted with an electric leaf.

I drive 30 miles each way to work every day, and although my car is reasonably economical spend around 200 per month on diesel for it.

If I get a loan of 15K from tescos for 4 years and put down 3K that I have, I can buy a new 2012 model year nissan leaf - repayments with tesco's would be ~350 per month. I should then manage to save the 200 a month I use for diesel for me + at least 50 per month diesel that we use for family trips in the wife's car at weekends (renault espace)

For me, the numbers appear to almost add up - 100 per month difference to drive around in a warranted decentish new car + there would be some other smaller savings from not needing MOT, car tax etc.

At the end of the four years, I'm aware that the battery may be beginning to get issues, but am sure I would get al least my initial 3k deposit back for the car

Just thought I'd put this up to see if anyone can talk me out of it, as electric cars quite often get bad press.

OddballJamie

15 year old Rover to a modern electric car, you're gonna feel like Mel Gibson in Forever Young.

Don't forget to include the extra cost of electricity in your calculations.

Also look into leasing plans as this may work out cheaper.

diesel_dog

Electric cars aren't on everyone's list for a couple of reasons. 1. There too expensive and have some major minuses and 2. There not even close to achieving anything like how a petrol/diesel/hybrid equivalent car can or should do.

It's great if you want bragging rights at work or down the pub and are looking to impress the tree hugging brigade :j

With the budget you have, you can have something better and have some change left over to either keep the RR for some off road action or turn it into a garden ornament like a flower pot, etc ....

As you can guess, I'm not a fan of electric cars but others may have some proven facts that may or may not show that saving the planet does have it advantages.

saverbuyer

Do you not have to rent the battery? Is that included in the costs?

Guinness-Cat

I havn't been looking at leasing as it would appear to get expensive with higher Mileage, and my work travel is already 15K per year, and I would want to do as many family miles as the range would allow in order to save diesel in the other car - I will check though

For this price on a 2012 model year it includes the battery - I could get a 2013 for the same price but excluding battery hire (~120 per month for my mileage)

My current car is a Rover 200 not a Range Rover - maybe I should be getting better economy from it, i work out that ~1300 miles costs ~200 per month

OddballJamie

Roughly 40mpg - you could get 50%-100% on a modern engine.

saverbuyer

I considered this, my work even recently installed charging points in the car park, but with my annual mileage of 25,000 the battery was going to cost £170 per month.

This was with the Renault Z.E

DKLS

I would check out the options for other more economical cars the OP could get on lease a VW Up for £119 pcm, £250 for a Bluetec convertible VW Golf and for the same as the Leaf you could get a 2.2cdi E class Merc.

Ultrasonic

Guinness-Cat wrote: »

I should then manage to save the 200 a month I use for diesel for me + at least 50 per month diesel that we use for family trips in the wife's car at weekends (renault espace)

Have you worked out how much the electricity you need to charge your car will cost? It won't be free...

On a cost basis, as well as comparing running costs you need to factor in the additional cost of an electric car over an economical conventional car.

The limited range issue is the killer for most people but presumably you've decided you can live with this.

Ultrasonic

diesel_dog wrote: »

As you can guess, I'm not a fan of electric cars but others may have some proven facts that may or may not show that saving the planet does have it advantages.

Whether or not electric cars are good for the environment is debatable, see e.g. this BBC story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22001356

(Note I haven't read enough to have a firm view either way.)

GJ_WRX

Seems like the figures nearly add up. Be nice to be driving a nice new car which isn't costing anywhere near as much to run as your current car. I borrowed an ampera for a while, very nice to drive and cost next to nothing to run.

Any idea what it will be worth in 4 years when the loan is paid off?