Petrol or EV for low mileage driver?

gandalftheking

Hi all, I'd really like to go electric in the next couple of months, but am up against high EV purchase prices and, availability (the availability is one of the key issues, with some models not making an appearance until next year!).

Also, EV prices are increasing all the time making going electric seem less attractive. I am a low miles user 5-8k pa max. I would be going electric based on cost savings but it seems hard to justify at this point, and the savings seem negligible.

Then on the flip side there's the soaring price of petrol. I need to decide soon, so what's a guy to do?!

born_again

As a low mileage user you may well find that ICE is cheaper.
I costed my car (Niro) & the difference in cost between Self charging Hybrid & EV was enough to cover my petrol costs for 8 Years on my mileage. Even @ current prices. 
That was not even taking into the extra cost of charging the car. As I can charge for free in office.

Ebe_Scrooge

Depends on your driving habits and your budget.  If you do only short journeys and town driving, and you're on a tight budget, a used 1-litre petrol car might suit your requirements - plenty of them around, and reasonably economical to run.

I know that the running costs of an EV are lower, and by the sounds of it might suit your driving habits quite well.  But if the high purchase price is a blocker, you might need to look at more "traditional" avenues, at least in the relatively short term.

Grumpy_chap

What type of journeys make the 8k miles per year?

Herzlos

If your mileage is mostly short journeys and you have somewhere to charge (driveway or at work) then EV will save you money and means you don't need to visit petrol stations.

With low usage you should be fine with one of the older EVs like a Leaf or Zoe.

gandalftheking

Grumpy_chap said:

What type of journeys make the 8k miles per year?

Mostly relatively local with the occasional day trip, but no regular m/way driving. I'm self-empl (Ltd co) so no 'free' place-of-work charging

gandalftheking

Would've loved a Model 3 though... Hey ho

Grumpy_chap

Own Ltd Co Director.
Low annual mileage, mostly local.
Go for a used Leaf as company car.  Very tax efficient.

Stubod

..as above, 2nd hand leaf or small (1.0litr) ICE....

DrEskimo

Comparing purchase price relative to running costs is flawed. Fuel is a 100% sunk cost, the car itself retains value.

A higher priced EV (or indeed higher price car in general) retains a higher value than a lower cost ICE. They don't suddenly become both worthless or worth the same as soon as you buy them.

You need to look at the total cost of ownership, where you compare expected depreciation, fuel costs, VED, insurance, servicing and maintenance.

I've only done ~15k miles in the 3yrs I've had my used EV, but when I total up all the costs above (on the assumption I trade the car in today), I can tell you the total cost of ownership is substantially less than an equivalent ICE.

Not to mention a much nicer driving experience.

gandalftheking

DrEskimo said:

Comparing purchase price relative to running costs is flawed. Fuel is a 100% sunk cost, the car itself retains value.

A higher priced EV (or indeed higher price car in general) retains a higher value than a lower cost ICE. They don't suddenly become both worthless or worth the same as soon as you buy them.

You need to look at the total cost of ownership, where you compare expected depreciation, fuel costs, VED, insurance, servicing and maintenance.

I've only done ~15k miles in the 3yrs I've had my used EV, but when I total up all the costs above (on the assumption I trade the car in today), I can tell you the total cost of ownership is substantially less than an equivalent ICE.

Not to mention a much nicer driving experience.

What do you have?