Are EVs suitable for low usage?

coffeehound

Would appreciate your views on this.

An elderly couple are looking to replace their car next year. Their useage is predictable and low: a couple of trips a week of 10 miles each way, i.e. 20-mile round trips. Monthly trips of 60 miles each way. Two trips a year of 80 miles each way, with the opportunity to recharge a bit at destination. They live out in the sticks, so reliability is important.

Would this situation lend itself to a battery-only EV? Since the use is infrequent, I guess they wouldn't need a charging point installing and could just use a 13-amp socket? Are EVs more reliable than a modern petrol? Any other things to consider, pls?

molerat

I would think an EV is particularly mechanically suited to low mileage use, the problem is I do not think it is economically suited, you need to do a fairly high mileage or be exempt from a lot of tolls / charges to offset the higher initial outlay. Overall cost of use seems to put a large residual value on the vehicle so who knows how that is going to pan out as EVs become more mainstream.

Smellyonion

The real win from using EVs is the saving in fuel costs. The more they are used, the larger the saving.


Reliability wise is touch and go. They are, in theory, more reliable but the technology is still young. If a electric car identifies a fault, it will not move at all. Whilst gas cars tend to have a more frequent but more gradual breakdown process - engine warning lights, limp mode etc. It is not all dependent on one electrical system. But hey, that is what breakdown cover is for..

AdrianC

coffeehound wrote: »

An elderly couple are looking to replace their car next year. Their useage is predictable and low: a couple of trips a week of 10 miles each way, i.e. 20-mile round trips. Monthly trips of 60 miles each way. Two trips a year of 80 miles each way, with the opportunity to recharge a bit at destination.

<4k miles/year.

For that kind of usage, I'd seriously be looking at whether taxis worked out cheaper than ownership - especially any kind of still-heavily depreciating car.

lopsyfa

To offset the economy, they can probably get an early version of Nissan Leaf for sub £6k. Even with the lower range for the battery degradation, it will suite that kind of low usage well.

DrEskimo

All depends on what price they pay.

I bought a Zoe (battery owned 41kWh) and it's appreciated in value. The fact I've only done 2,500 miles in the last 7 months is irrelevant. It's been cheaper to run this EV then spend the £7.85 I was on a train ticket to visit my parents. The electricity has been around £3 per week. The insurance has been more than offset by the buoyant used market. I don't see this changing anytime soon, as newer EV hatchbacks are not coming to market for another couple of years, and at higher prices relative to what mine was new. So then it's another good 3/4 years before those higher priced EVs start reaching the used market for prices similar to what I paid for mine.

Servicing is very cheap at just £65 a year from a main dealer (got next 2 for free anyway!). Maintenance is not much of a concern as I have 6yr warranty on the battery and 2yr warranty on the car, that I will likely extend for just £289 per year.

I wouldn't recommend doing all the charging on a 13amp granny charger though. Much safer and efficient to install a dedicated EV charger. It's less about speed and more about safety and better for the EV battery. This can be done for not much money at all with the OLEV grant.

Arklight

Everyone is assuming they don't want to spend much but that may not be the case. The OP hasn't said. When my dad and stepmother bought their last car, even though their usage was pretty low and only going to get less they wanted something brand new, reliable and comfortable that would, "see them out."

An EV would seem ideal for their kind of usage and no need to faff around with all the servicing needed for the many moving parts of an ICE. Nor will they seize up and die if they aren't driven for a while. As others have said they'll probably keep their value quite well too.

This maybe:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mg-zs-ev-gets-extended-discount-offer-following-record-sales

coffeehound

Thanks folks; very informative and helpful. The situation is like Arklight described -- they want a reliable car to retain their independence in their own home for as long as poss. S/H makes good sense, but I suspect they would buy new for peace of mind with warranty and backup.

Yes the reduced servicing requirements would be good, and also I suppose not having to get in and out at petrol stations would reduce stress for older folks.

Unfortunately taxi covergae round their way is very thin and unreliable so couldn't rely on them.

Arklight wrote: »

This maybe:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mg-zs-ev-gets-extended-discount-offer-following-record-sales

Blimey that is good isn't it: £22k for a largish EV. Range would be spot-on, too.

One other thing I meant to ask: is unintended acceleration syndrome a similar problem with EVs, or do they have some safeguards?

Cheers

Carrot007

coffeehound wrote: »

One other thing I meant to ask: is unintended acceleration syndrome a similar problem with EVs, or do they have some safeguards?

Same as any car as AFAIK all cases are driver error. (or at least 99.9% as it were).

DrEskimo

I don't really get the hype around the ZS EV.

It's missing a lot of very key features, such as a dedicated heat pump, app access and therefore the ability to pre-heat, and the battery capacity and range is about 3yrs late.

The upcoming Vauxhall Corsa-e can be had for around £25k (taking into account finance contributions, although i think it was lowered recently), and that looks better put together, has considerably better range, faster charging, better equipped and has all the extras from a EV you expect.

I never did get brand new cars though, so my advice would still be on second hand. The saving in depreciation will more than offset the cost to extend the warranty.

silverwhistle

Have they considered the likes of Evezy which has very decent all in rates and no need to spend any capital on an asset (whether appreciating or depreciating!)? The only issue might be that they may have an age limit.