electric car

Cornucopia

I believe it was Top Gear, and IIRC Tesla were suing them for misrepresenting the vehicle.

iolanthe07

hybrids like the Prius are due to have to pay in future.

Thanks Sterligstash for very helpful posts. I was hoping to buy a hybrid next time, so the above is a bit of a blow.

sterlingstash

The emission levels are due to be tightened from 100g/km to 75g/km C02
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/17094.aspx from next month I believe. The current Prius doesn;t slip under that bar (although the plug-in Prius does)

There is a 'sunset period' of 3 years for those driving them and already registered for the exemption (must register by end of this month!) to avoid such a big hit to people who bought one to avoid the charge.

My guess is that this will help bolster residual values for electric cars, at least in the Greater London area. I would also think that electric cars are unlikely to be knocked off the exempt list for the foreseeable future.

Guinness-Cat

I think it really depends in your driving requirements. I recently ordered a Nissan leaf and should be picking it up in a couple weeks.

I think it can work, so long are you are aware of and can live with any of the limitations. We have another car which we would use for any longer distance travel.

I also opted to go for a 2 year pcp deal, so that I limited my exposure to possible battery or future value issues + there will be lots of car companies releasing EV's in the next 2 years and the competition should help provide value for money for getting something else at the end of that.

For me the main deciding factor, was that I will be able to go out in the car as much as I like at weekends (within range obviously) without having to worry about the cost of fuel, and the general serenity of driving the car. My two young children really liked sitting in the back of a near silent car when we went for a test drive.

sterlingstash

It is a cracking car Guinness-Cat, I am sure you will enjoy it. Are you getting the new model?

Guinness-Cat

No - out going model as I think you went for.

New model didn't make financial sense, as for me the differences wouldn't make much difference (+ I like the electric parking brake)

jaydeeuk1

Wierd how this thread has come up, last few weeks I've been looking in to how feasible it is to build my own leccy car. Can be done 'easily' (if thats the right word) for under £10k, or even less if using lead acid.

Source a classic rust free car with working gear box, doesn't matter about the engine, clutch or exhaust state, no power steering, leccy windows, air con or assisted breaks and with enough room to store plenty of battery packs. Have seen people recommend electric motor from a forklift, overvolting it and its good for 40-60mph with a range of around 30-60 depending on state, size and number of batteries. There is even software out there for android tablets that will make it a fully working dash with charge readouts. Need some mechanical ability and electrical know how, but entirely possible to build something yourself

Can see why the elise made a perfect fit.

flyingscotno1

I think plug in hybrids are a good step forwards to giving you and electric vehicle without the worry of range. Be interesting to see if they come down in price.

Guinness-Cat

I didn't much like the idea of having to have effectively 2 power-trains that could go wrong - also adding to the price. I think a better way way forward would be range extenders (either generator or in the future even H-fuel cell)

Wh05apk

flyingscotno1 wrote: »

I think plug in hybrids are a good step forwards to giving you and electric vehicle without the worry of range. Be interesting to see if they come down in price.

Agree, when I change my "bus" I would probably go for a Plug in, I have solar panels, and most of my journeys are evenings, so could charge for free or very low cost most days, which would be ideal for short local appointments, then for out of town use the petrol engine would kick in.

It would be nice if the range was slightly better, 30 miles would cover most of my local trips.