Considering an electric car?

trickys77

Please use this thread to help anyone who is planning to buy an electric car.

We have just been through the process of selling our 'dirty diesel' for a Nissan Leaf. We love the car and the electric side of things.

For new owners, however, it can be a minefield of information. First step for us was to consider what range we need, which is not as obvious as you might think. To help I developed a simple calculator which you might find helpful:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bDarRbsD1vkYhVSSv9VyQV4hKDI5k_3R/view

It's an excel file that you can download and enter your usual mileage/usage. Using that information it will help give you an idea of what range you ideally need (advertised range vs real world range are different!) Then it provides a link to a website where you can find cars for your needed range.

RichardD1970

Watched this a few days ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH7V2tU3iFc

The Kia would fit me perfectly, just can't justify changing cars at the moment.

YBR

I'd like to know how the home-charge grant works and what the lead time is.
I need a new car for April 9th latest and am considering electric.
I hand the old one back on March 31st and don't want too much overlap.

I think I need the electric car first to get the grant on the charge point, but then maybe I can't charge and use it until the the chargepoint is available.

EssexExile

YBR wrote: »

I'd like to know how the home-charge grant works and what the lead time is.
I need a new car for April 9th latest and am considering electric.
I hand the old one back on March 31st and don't want too much overlap.

I think I need the electric car first to get the grant on the charge point, but then maybe I can't charge and use it until the the chargepoint is available.

Can't you plug them into the mains until a faster charge point is fitted? I know you can with hybrids.

ElefantEd

When we got our first EV it was a couple of weeks before we had the charger installed. We just plugged it into the mains; it takes longer to charger but still does it overnight, so wasn't a problem.


The main thing to consider (other than cost of course) is the real range you are going to need regularly. Take the manufacturers' figures with an even greater pinch of salt than the one you would take when considering fuel economy in a fossil fuel car! Having said that, all of the more recent pure EVs have ranges in excess of 100 miles and for many people that is all they need (and on the odd occasion when you need more there are plenty of charging points).

MX5huggy

EssexExile wrote: »

Can't you plug them into the mains until a faster charge point is fitted? I know you can with hybrids.

Yes just charge it off a 3 pin plug. Takes about twice as long as a home dedicated charge point. It’s plenty fast enough for most use, just know where you local rapid charger is (use Zap Map app) for that once in blue moon you come back with 10 miles left yet want to drive 50 2 hours later.

DrEskimo

YBR wrote: »

I'd like to know how the home-charge grant works and what the lead time is.
I need a new car for April 9th latest and am considering electric.
I hand the old one back on March 31st and don't want too much overlap.

I think I need the electric car first to get the grant on the charge point, but then maybe I can't charge and use it until the the chargepoint is available.

The grant is claimed by the installer, not yourself. So it will be reflected as a discount off the installation and charge point cost. Depending on how involved the installation is, and how expensive the chargepoint you want is will determine how much you have left to pay after the £500 discount from the grant.

If you know when you will be getting it, you can arrange to get it installed very close to that date.

Markee

I was looking at an Audi etron and was told in Europe all etron buyers get an etron card which allows them to use any public charger.


However, Audi do not issue these in the UK as all the charging providers are not aligned to be able to do this. To use every public charger in the UK you will need accounts setup with 40+ companies.


Now, I know not everyone will have any need to use chargers installed by every provider in the UK, but it is something you need to take into account when buying an electric car - you will need an account setup for every provider you intend to use the chargers of. They are far from consistent too, some you have to have a card like a credit card, and others work from an app.


If you're just going to be going backwards and forwards to work and charging from home, then this won't be an issue for you, but if you are doing any kind of travelling where you will be using public chargers, please do your research.

almillar

Can't you plug them into the mains until a faster charge point is fitted? I know you can with hybrids.

A Renault Zoe, for example, doesn't come with a 3-pin ('granny') charger, only a type 2 AC one. If YBR is buying one, they would need to use public chargers until the installation happens. In terms of the grant, from memory, I was lucky. Your supplier, your home, your cabling, your fuse, may hold you back! I remember having to send photos of my driveway/garage where it would be installed, and that the length of cable they needed was slightly more than what was included in the grant (20 metres?). But I had my charger before my car, because the car took 6 months!

Herzlos

almillar wrote: »

A Renault Zoe, for example, doesn't come with a 3-pin ('granny') charger

As in isn't compatible with, or as in a granny charger costs extra?

DrEskimo

Herzlos wrote: »

As in isn't compatible with, or as in a granny charger costs extra?

Costs extra. Renault won't supply one with the car.

No need to get the Renault official one though. I bought a decent one for around £100 off an EV forum member. 12-months with the Zoe now and not used it once....