Volts wagons 17 February 2017 at 1:50PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in N. Ireland 9 replies 2.3K views

qwert_yuiop

Has anyone on here got an electric car? If so, would you recommend one?

Do you spend your time wondering can you make it home?

almillar

Yes, a Renault Zoe. Yes, I would recommend them.
I have done on occasion, but only because I test the limits the odd time. If you're the kind of person that doesn't like the fuel tank going below half, electric cars are NOT for you at this point.
Since this is the NI board, I'll point out that we're very well set up for cars that fast/rapid charge via AC (that's the Zoe (22kW or 43 kW) and the NEW i3 at 11kW).
There are, I think, 14 rapid chargers with Chademo connectors (that's the Leaf)
And 8 with CCS - that's the i3, VWs and Audis.
Those 14 rapids will serve the Zoe with 43kW if it can take it (or 22 if it can't, like mine), and almost all the other chargers are 22kW AC twin chargers. So a Zoe will take 22 from those, a Leaf will be stuck at 3 or 6kW and the best an i3 will do is 11kW. There are over 100 of these in NI at the minute, all usable with the same card, for free, for the moment. Same applies down south. I've only charged at home twice, and have spent about £4 on electricity, and travelled 9,000 miles so far...

Zola.

I quite like the Toyota CHR, but its 30k....

qwert_yuiop

How about the tesla?

BigAl94

This is well worth a read,

http://sluggerotoole.com/2017/02/09/the-reality-of-owning-an-electric-vehicle-in-northern-ireland-is-shocking/

In my opinion the only viable option is a hybrid that you can plug in at home for the daily commute then have a plan b if you run out of power!

qwert_yuiop

Tesla have fast charger sites in various places. Once they get them here, it makes the tesla look more feasible

forgotmyname

" once they get them here " Buy a car and wait how many years for chargers to appear in enough places and numbers to make it a sensible option for the masses?

The free charging seems to be ready for the chop also. That didnt last long.

How often have you done more than 70 miles in a whole day? An electric car would suit my average days needs but when you get a call at 2am and you need to drive 300 miles, you dont want to be stopping off to recharge the battery.

qwert_yuiop

Tesla are investing in these charging points across the world to promote the sales of their own vehicles. Why wouldn't they?

I very frequently drive 200 miles in a day. That's why I haven't bought a Nissan Leaf.
A vehicle which can be driven that far and recharged quickly is the ideal. As I indicated, if tesla were to install a series of super chargers, and with their autopilot facility for driving, I'd be in the market for one. Who knows how it'll develop? They may be forgotten about in a couple of years. There have been electric vehicle fads before.

almillar

The free charging seems to be ready for the chop also. That didnt last long.

This statement is based on what? Charging for charging was always going to happen. With the state the network is in at the moment, they would have a lot of angry customers. It's frustrating turning up to a broken charger as it is, imagine if you were actually paying for it!

when you get a call at 2am and you need to drive 300 miles, you dont want to be stopping off to recharge the battery.

I'd say that's a very niche demand for most drivers. And makes an electric car an ideal SECOND car.

ooo000ooo

I've been driving a Zoe for the last couple of years, been great tooling about in a nice car to drive and running it on peanuts. For 99% of journeys it was perfect, longer trips required a bit of planning, a leap of faith that you'd get a charge when required or a viable plan B if your charger was blocked/faulty. Long journeys get very long if you need to stop multiple times for a charge.
Round Belfast are loads of chargers so, for city based drivers there's no problems, out in the country things are not so good.