Are EVs suitable for low usage?

coffeehound

Thanks for the further info, it's a useful primer on EVs.

DrEskimo wrote: »

Then they can also take advantage of restricted off-peak charging rates, like Octopus GO that charge £0.05/kWh between 00:30-04:30. 4hours of charge at 7kW would give a good 100mi+ back, whereas 3.2kW would be ~only 50miles...probably less as it's not as efficient IIRC.

Interesting info, that would make a good case for getting the charging station installed. Possibly in the case of very low usage, I guess the electricity cost becomes relatively insignificant compared with other costs so it might just work out cheaper to stick with a 10-amp charger on a standard single rate?

AdrianC wrote: »

Hitting the wrong pedal and then not realising is exactly what causes collisions... Having a bit of electrickery to try and catch some of the consequences doesn't address the cause.

But surely you could say the same about driver aids like ABS or ESP -- or indeed seatbelts as a previous poster mentioned. What are you advocating: banning drivers aged over 70?

AdrianC

coffeehound wrote: »

What are you advocating: banning drivers aged over 70?

No, it's nothing to do with age per se, and everything to do with simple competence.

If you think there's a reasonable chance of your parents not knowing what to do with two pedals, to the point you're making buying decisions based on it, should they still be driving?

DrEskimo

coffeehound wrote: »

Interesting info, that would make a good case for getting the charging station installed. Possibly in the case of very low usage, I guess the electricity cost becomes relatively insignificant compared with other costs so it might just work out cheaper to stick with a 10-amp charger on a standard single rate?

That's very possible. Would need to spend some time crunching the numbers and working out electricity consumption at different times of the day. You could shift some other usages to the off-peak rate too though, like dishwasher.

Bit of a boring job and have to make a number of different assumptions...!

coffeehound

DrEskimo wrote: »

That's very possible. Would need to spend some time crunching the numbers and working out electricity consumption at different times of the day. You could shift some other usages to the off-peak rate too though, like dishwasher.

Bit of a boring job and have to make a number of different assumptions...!

Sounds like that is a comparison worth doing in detail -- I'll pass them this info for their decision making, thanks.

coffeehound

almillar wrote: »

Low mileage/usage EVs. They're great for this - no worries about cats not getting warm, DPFs getting clogged etc. One thing to worry about - there's a big 'traction' battery, and like ICE cars, a 12V battery, which does the same job as on an ICE. It gets charged by the traction battery when the car is running, or charging (in general). If you leave the car for weeks at a time, the 12v battery discharges. Because there's no big starter motor to crank, it might be a bit of a low spec battery. I've read reports for the Leaf, Zoe, and Soul EV all having 12v batteries fail - resulting in random electrical errors, or just not starting, even if the traction battery has plenty of charge. On the Zoe for example, the 12v battery is recommended to be changed ever 3 years. Mine lasted about 2 years and 355 days!
SO, my advice would be to at least switch the car on every week, even if you're not going to drive it, especially in winter which is particularly tough on batteries.

Thanks, not heard of this before. Would it be normal/desirable to leave a car connected to the charger while left sitting for a longer time in this case? Though I suppose the car would need to be parked a long time before the traction battery discharged far enough to stop maintaining the small battery?

almillar

A very, very long time! What you're meant to do with the traction battery (and any Li-Ion battery, is keep it full, or empty, for a long time. Using it means that doesn't happen. So if you're planning to leave it for, say a month, you should have the traction battery between, say, 40 and 70%. Just my numbers. You can't do much about the 12V battery apart from keep it in good condition, but if you know you're not going to be able to touch it for a month or so, disconnecting might be the best option. User's handbooks usually cover this.
This problem happens with ICEs too, of course. Usually you get back to the car, try to start it, doesn't work, jump start or just charge the battery. Same applies, with a big warning about not jump starting!

Sea_Shell

DrEskimo wrote: »

The upcoming Vauxhall Corsa-e can be had for around £25k

£25k for a CORSA!!! That's crazy money....what is it, gold plated!!!;)

Herzlos

Sea_Shell wrote: »

£25k for a CORSA!!! That's crazy money....what is it, gold plated!!!;)

It's electric, so the running costs will be a fraction of a regular Corsa. Think about the total cost of ownership and not the list price.

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

It's electric, so the running costs will be a fraction of a regular Corsa. Think about the total cost of ownership and not the list price.

For low use, the extra depreciation will very quickly outweigh the fuel savings.

Sea_Shell

Herzlos wrote: »

It's electric, so the running costs will be a fraction of a regular Corsa. Think about the total cost of ownership and not the list price.

But surely that's never going to outweigh the cost of instead buying a 2-3 yr old petrol Corsa, doing low mileage.

I'm not convinced, but then we never buy new.