How do ordinary people make the switch to electric vehicles ?

BOWFER

motorguy said:

Sea_Shell said:

I think the bigger issue, nationally, is going to be for those for whom owning/running a car is borderline affordable ATM.

Those driving £500 15-20 year old "ordinary" cars (Focus/Astra), being their only means of getting to work, to maybe do a minimum wage job.

Can we foresee a time when EVs really become that cheap, relative to wages.   Especially if they need replacement batteries or motors?

Do we know yet the lifespan of these electric motors?  Will they do the "starship" mileage of an old diesel?

Will those at the "old banger" end of the market be eventually priced out of motoring?

Theres already an industry springing up refurbishing electric car batteries at a fraction of the cost of a new battery.   

Theres also electric cars about with well over 150,000 miles.  Found this one with 138K miles after a cursory look on autotrader.

I think we're probably 25 years away from losing the cheapest of bangernomics cars.  I guess by then public transport will be better.  I think theres a significant element of people who chose to drive cars at the banger end of the market so i guess ultimately they'll have to up their budget if they want to continue to have personal dedicated transport.

There's already a healthy market for Leaf 24/30 models with knackered batteries, I've seen them go for between £3k-£4k.
then people are spending around £6k on a conversion to the 40KW battery.
Lo and behold they have a car with up-to-date range for £10k or less.

What people also seem to forget is that the range required for Person A isn't required for person B.
So a Leaf 24 with a reduced range of 50 miles is still of use to someone, like a parent only doing the school run.
Just because the battery isn't 100% doesn't make the car useless to all.

Brie

BOWFER said:

I think you're maybe confused with the type of agreement it is.

So it's either a PCP and they're incorrect in saying the balloon payment isn't known.
Or it's lease and they're incorrect in using the term balloon payment at all.

Pedantic but yes you are right!! 
I've never had a PCP or leased a car so am admittedly confused.  But I still don't want to buy something until I know how much it will cost me.  If I was buying a car outright I'd be checking on what the insurance might be and servicing so I'm fully informed.  This agreement wouldn't be fully informed hence my rejection of it.

Apparently my alternative through work is an electric bicycle which would be ok except when it's really wet or very cold/icy/snowy.  

And I love the idea of all public transport being just £1 as that would make things so much easier.  But with the current local transport that would be about 2 hours each way to work for a journey that takes me 15 minutes on a good day in the car.  And would only allow me to be at work for about 3 hours so just completely unpractical!!!

Grumpy_chap

WJB1971 said:

I have worked all my life and having done so have got to the point where I own a Volvo XC60 of which I am very fond, it isn't new, it is several years old but it is mine.

However, I accept there is need to go electric and would like to do so.

The nearest comparable vehicle all electric would be the Volvo XC40 but at round the £60k mark there is no way I can afford to make that change. 

I am sorry but if you think any of us earning 20k a year can afford to lease and manage the rest of life's living expenses then think again.

Anyone got a solution ?

According to the Volvo website, the all-electric XC40 is from £48k (including three-years insurance) and the XC60 ICE is from £42k.  Given that the EV will be cheaper to fuel than the ICE, that seems like much-of-a-muchness.

The solution to having an electric car is likely to be a similar approach to how the OP managed to have the current ICE car.  That may mean waiting until the latest model (that the OP wants to have) is several years old (like the OP's current car).

I don't know how anyone can afford to have any car that would be two-years' salary or more.  I can't afford an XC60 either.

Flight3287462

motorguy said:

Theres already an industry springing up refurbishing electric car batteries at a fraction of the cost of a new battery.   

Your a braver man than me.  China is banning 2nd life Lithium batteries far too many problems with them.

Have a look at this video

https://player.vimeo.com/video/482119251

lordmountararat

We cannot even agree on Brexit or giving 7% of GDP in 'Aid'.

Actually it is 0.7% of GDP, not 7%.

BOWFER

The OP's XC60 would be worth something, especially with current high used prices.
So if he really wants into an EV, nothing stopping him selling up and using that dough towards an EV.
The XC60 has 483 litres of storage space, the Tesla M3 (currently best selling car in Britain) has the same.
One can huff and puff and *claim* to want an EV all you want, if you want to do it you'll find a way.

sheramber

can you afford to buy a new  petrol Volvo XC60 ? If not, then why should you be upset about not being able to buy and electric version.

You say you scrimped and saved to buy your current car. The you probably need to scrimp and save to replace it.

EssexExile

You can't afford an electric car that does what an XC60 can do. That's it I'm afraid.

ComicGeek

The fully electric XC40 is not even close to being as nice as an XC60 to drive and sit it - I test drove one a couple of months ago, and my wife has an XC60.

I ended up ordering the Skoda Enyaq as it was more comparable size wise, had a larger range, and much cheaper.

Not only that, but the current crazy second hand car market has meant that I ended up with an additional £8k equity in my current car, so a great time to buy new if you can wait in the queue for the new car.

motorguy

ComicGeek said:

The fully electric XC40 is not even close to being as nice as an XC60 to drive and sit it - I test drove one a couple of months ago, and my wife has an XC60.

I ended up ordering the Skoda Enyaq as it was more comparable size wise, had a larger range, and much cheaper.

Not only that, but the current crazy second hand car market has meant that I ended up with an additional £8k equity in my current car, so a great time to buy new if you can wait in the queue for the new car.

Sounds like a result and could be a good alternative for the O/P.