electric car

mardycow

Am thinking of getting an electric car, only need small one, anyone got any useful info or tips?

Wh05apk

Why do you want an electric car?

Think carefully about the intended use, we have just got solar panels so could re-charge for free (when the sun appears!) but given the limited range of the vehicles, it means it would do a low annual mileage, in which case a cheap petrol/diesel car would probably not cost much more.

I think at the moment electric cars are too new/under developed to be a viable option for most people.

DKLS

As above the technology is too new to be viable at the moment, plus what I have seen they are expensive as most need you to lease the batteries as well.

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy one of these:


I saw one crash in Camden, and lets just say I think they skipped any crash tests. :eek:

Gloomendoom

Too small?

silverwhistle

If you've got a regular commute or have a job where there are lots of short journeys in an urban context (district nurse, refilling local vending machines, etc) then they would be ideal. For longer journeys range obviously becomes an issue, although the technology is obviously improving: Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe being examples. I'm presuming you can't afford a TESLA as they look _very_ desirable!

funkycoldribena

Buy an Up!/citygo/Mii instead.

Wh05apk

silverwhistle wrote: »

If you've got a regular commute or have a job where there are lots of short journeys in an urban context (district nurse, refilling local vending machines, etc) then they would be ideal. For longer journeys range obviously becomes an issue, although the technology is obviously improving: Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe being examples. I'm presuming you can't afford a TESLA as they look _very_ desirable!

With the Renault you have to lease the battery pack, not sure on cost, but I think its something like £70pm for upto 6,000 miles per year, £70 pm would probably pay for the fuel costs of something similar size for 6.000 miles, so no financial saving.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

cost to recharge at home?

the expected long trip breakdown, cost to renew breakdown membership?

the cost to lease the battery charger and battery pack?

the cost of purchase of the car?

the cost of insurance? dont forget these are expensive to repair and thus insurers reflect this in premiums!

cost of new car registration?

cost of gap insurance?

life expetancy of a electric car?

and how long will you see your "green" vehicle return savings to you.

mardycow

thanks all for your replies. I do have solar panels so that is what is swaying me, i only do short journeys to work and shops, never go on motorways. I currently drive a RAV4 so with road tax at over £200 pa am thinking over savings on tax plus my car is over 12 years old and is starting to cost on repairs. I need to research more on battery leasing i think. but again tahnks all:T

forgotmyname

Your going to spend the best part of £20,000 to save £200 a year?

Will you live long enough for it to pay you back? Or will it be a family heirloom? Saving your great great grandchildren money?

The range could be 50% of the quoted range also. So be careful if you do buy one.

Netwizard

forgotmyname wrote: »

Your going to spend the best part of £20,000 to save £200 a year?

Will you live long enough for it to pay you back? Or will it be a family heirloom? Saving your great great grandchildren money?

The range could be 50% of the quoted range also. So be careful if you do buy one.

This. Never fails to amaze me the amount of people willing to spent £10k or so on a car because the road tax is only £30 a year!

Electric cars just are not viable yet, and very very expensive. as said above, you would be much better with a Skoda Citygo / Toyota Ago. Small petrol car, cheap tax, cheap insurance. Save yourself a fortune.

If you want to save yourself even more, put £800 aside. Buy a nice K11 Nissan Micra (small, japanese, bulletproof reliability, cheap insurance and you can leave it anywhere unlocked, and it wont get stolen!). For £800, you could buy the Micra, tax it, insure it for the year and probably even fill it up with petrol :j:T