Choosing Company Car (Hybrid) and Long Commute

AdrianC

Let's put it this way... BMW and Mercedes sell lots of RWD cars in places with PROPER winters. Including, well, a lot of Germany - and Switzerland, Austria. Places with ski resorts...

They just use proper tyres for the conditions.

Snuggles

mobileron said:

Why dont he ask the company for a car allowance instead,then he has his own choice. Is this possible.

Thanks, no he's been told that's not an option. In any case, I'm not sure it would make financial sense. He would have to finance the purchase of a car, plus all the ongoing maintenance costs (he goes through tyres and services quickly due to the miles he does). Obviously the monthly allowance would offset some of that, but not all I don't think.

Whereas with the company car, if he goes for a PHEV (rather than self charging) he's looking at a cost of around £170 a month (in tax), for a car worth around £45k. We would never spend that much on a car if he was buying it himself, and given that he spends at least two hours a day in it (in normal times), it's good for him to have something very comfortable. Even if it costs significantly more in fuel than his diesel car does now, it still seems like the better option.

Snuggles

DrEskimo said:

Tesla's about the only EV where there is little worry about public charging. My father-in-law regularly drives 250+ miles with little issue.

Set the route on the website below and chose a Tesla Model 3 long range to see the charging needed:

Abetterrouteplanner.com

The savings in fuel will be huge....

Thank you, I know it makes sense on paper, I just also know he's not prepared to take the plunge. He has a lot to deal with both  with his work and travelling to his elderly parents regularly to help them. He would just see it as an added stress having to think about where he was going to recharge on longer journeys. 

Snuggles

AdrianC said:

Let's put it this way... BMW and Mercedes sell lots of RWD cars in places with PROPER winters. Including, well, a lot of Germany - and Switzerland, Austria. Places with ski resorts...

They just use proper tyres for the conditions.

Fair point - thank you! 

DrEskimo

Snuggles said:

DrEskimo said:

Tesla's about the only EV where there is little worry about public charging. My father-in-law regularly drives 250+ miles with little issue.

Set the route on the website below and chose a Tesla Model 3 long range to see the charging needed:

Abetterrouteplanner.com

The savings in fuel will be huge....

Thank you, I know it makes sense on paper, I just also know he's not prepared to take the plunge. He has a lot to deal with both  with his work and travelling to his elderly parents regularly to help them. He would just see it as an added stress having to think about where he was going to recharge on longer journeys. 

That's understandable, but it might just be a case of worrying without realising that it won't actually impact him.

A long range model 3 will comfortably do 200+ all year round so unless the journey is over 100miles away it wouldn't be an issue.

The BIK might make it similar cost, it is a lovely smooth (and fast) driving experience and he could save upwards of £150-£200 per month on fuel is you charge it over night on an EV tariff. 

Grumpy_chap

I agree, the Tesla model 3 LR has to be a consideration if the company will permit it.

Otherwise, the hybrid Merc (just don't expect fuel economy much better than a regular ICE petrol).

Snuggles

DrEskimo said:

That's understandable, but it might just be a case of worrying without realising that it won't actually impact him.

A long range model 3 will comfortably do 200+ all year round so unless the journey is over 100miles away it wouldn't be an issue.

The BIK might make it similar cost, it is a lovely smooth (and fast) driving experience and he could save upwards of £150-£200 per month on fuel is you charge it over night on an EV tariff. 

It would be fine for his daily commute, bit his parents are 250 miles away and he travels to locations all over the UK for work (albeit only a couple of times a month).

ontheroad1970

Snuggles said:

DrEskimo said:

That's understandable, but it might just be a case of worrying without realising that it won't actually impact him.

A long range model 3 will comfortably do 200+ all year round so unless the journey is over 100miles away it wouldn't be an issue.

The BIK might make it similar cost, it is a lovely smooth (and fast) driving experience and he could save upwards of £150-£200 per month on fuel is you charge it over night on an EV tariff. 

It would be fine for his daily commute, bit his parents are 250 miles away and he travels to locations all over the UK for work (albeit only a couple of times a month).

It is possible to use fast chargers at service areas while he grabs a coffee...

Herzlos

Snuggles said:

He will be able to charge up at home, but after driving 55 miles to work he won't be able to re-charge before driving home again.
...
Am I right in thinking a self charging hybrid is likely to be more economical in terms of fuel costs in this scenario?

Nah, with a plug in hybrid he'll be able to do maybe 30 miles on electric on the way to work every morning, and 80 on combustion.
That'll still save a lot of fuel money. If there's somewhere near his work that has charging, he could save even more.
A self charging hybrid won't give anything like that benefit unless he's doing a lot of slow stop/start journeys.

That said, lots of people buy hybrids for the BIK cost and never use the electric part, in which case self charging is the way to go.

Snuggles

Thanks all, he has decided to go for the Mercedes diesel PHEV, which seems to be the most suitable option for his needs (barring a Tesla, which he's just not ready for!).