looking to get a hybrid

Strider590

Batteries of any type, they just don't like the cold.

gzoom

forgotmyname wrote: »

15 - 20% drop in range from someones blog over 2years+.

And they use the heater as little as possiblt, dressing warm enough to be outside and not get cold in fact.

Seems even having the car in a warm garage will having it cooling down on the run and the range will drop quite a bit as everything cools.

Using the heated seats and wheel seems to be more efficient.

Was this on a generation one or two Leaf??

The first generation Leaf had a very inefficient heater system. The current generation car is much better. Mine uses very little power to heat the car - I see how it goes this winter but I don't expect to loss more than 5-10% usable range.

Ofcourse than you have to consider the size of the battery. Lossing 5% range on a car with a max range of 80-90 miles (Like my Leaf) is a bigger deal than losing 5% range on a something like a Model S which has a range of over 240 miles even in base spec form.

Norway has the highest EV sales numbers in Europe. Due to tax incentives 1/3 of ALL new cars sold there are now EVs....And I suspect they have colder winter than we do

http://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/07/one-in-three-new-cars-sold-in-norway-is-an-electric-vehicle/

forgotmyname

It was the first generation with the odler heater. The car was pre-heated in a garage for the morning journey to work to that saved power, but they mentioned the battery range dropping rapidly once everything started to cool.

They may have colder winters, but what are their charging stations like? I looked at the ones on open charge map and nothing within 20 miles of me except 3 car dealers that are listed as customers use only.

ChiefGrasscutter

gzoom wrote: »

I've been obsessed with cars for as long as I can remember, but the arrival of EV in the last few years is bringing about ownership prospects I couldn't have imagined....

Something like a Tesla Model S offers you the performance of a sports car with the running cost less than that of a Fiesta, so what's not to like?? It's the holy grail for car lovers, performance AND economy

Well I'm real glad for you that the running costs are less than that of a Fiesta.
Can you now tell us all the purchase cost of it?

forgotmyname

Will it tow a caravan 300-400 miles without stopping to charge it?

almillar

How much does the range of EVs like the Leaf drop when it's cold outside and you want to put the heater on?

Seems a good general rule is you'll go 80% as far when it's 'cold' instead of 'warm' (exact temperatures and loads of other variables dependent). IE if you're used to a 100 mile range, expect 80.
Don't forget that petrol and diesel engines get less MPG in the winter as they take longer to warm up too.
forgotmyname - no it won't. Neither would a Fiesta - what's your point?!

jimjames

Multi_Power wrote: »

Who said new? I am looking for a used one. If I save 25+ per week (because I don't only drive to work) it's about £1,200 on fuel per year. If I pay instead £200 on electricity per year, and save £1,000 per year, I could afford a £5,000 used hybrid. It would be good investment. Given that I pay pay less tax, insurance, etc?

EDIT - just realised OP has been PPRd so wasted reply!

You'll save more buying a car for £500 or less and running it to the ground. An electric may cost less in fuel but £20k up front with depreciation will make it far more costly overall.

No point saving £3 a day and spending £10 a day actually buying the car. Probably cheapest option is keeping what you have.

WellKnownSid

jimjames wrote: »

No point saving £3 a day and spending £10 a day actually buying the car. Probably cheapest option is keeping what you have.

No point in spending £750 less on fuel a year, only to spend £960+ just leasing a battery, as in the case of the Renaults. Fine if your other car is the Space Shuttle, but no use if you run a similar sized diesel.

forgotmyname

almillar wrote: »

forgotmyname - no it won't. Neither would a Fiesta - what's your point?!

Your obsessed with Fiesta's, It is not a Fiesta sized car to start with and a the newer diesel model Fiesta probably could tow 400 miles on one tank.

almillar

I'm not obsessed with Fiestas, forgotmyname. Are you obsessed with caravans?! I just picked a small car that would be incapable of towing a caravan. Loads of people drive small cars, incapable of towing caravans. Tesla is the size of a BMW 5 series etc. let's say. And I don't think it's allowed to tow. If you're trying to attack electric cars on this basis, then there are plenty of petrol and diesel cars you need to include too. Towing a caravan (correctly) is pretty specialised if you actually pay attention to towing weights.