EV Discussion thread

silverwhistle

Martyn1981 said:

With PV, we can mostly charge via granny cable May-Aug, and perhaps 50% Apr & Sept. Outside of that our generation is a bit too low and unpredictable (clouds), and better used for space heating via A2A, with BEV's charged at night on cheap rate.

I'm without the A2A but otherwise similar, although I find passing clouds an issue even in the best months. With Intelligent Octopus is pays to timeshift as much as possible to the night-time 6 hours, but in the current weather that is difficult with my PV production, so my average cost per unit goes up but my bills down.

JKenH

Used EV market is improving, despite warnings of further falls

BCA has said the market for used electric vehicles (EV) is improving after seeing the strongest performance for the segment in May, since the peak recorded last October.

BCA Valuations data suggests that sellers and buyers are currently more aligned on price expectations than at any point in the last six months, with first time conversion rates and sold volumes for EVs rising in May. 

Stuart Pearson, BCA’s chief operating officer, said: “We have seen a very positive performance across the used car market at BCA in recent weeks, with the EV sector perhaps being the surprise package of 2023 so far.”

https://www.am-online.com/news/used-cars/2023/06/08/used-ev-market-is-improving-despite-warnings-of-further-falls

Grumpy_chap

Interestingly, I just received a marketing e-mail from TESLA offering free EV charge point if I test drive and buy a cat this month.  Possible indication that the current discount rates on inventory models might get a little more attractive as the end of the quarter draws nigh.  IIRC, something similar happened right at the end of March.

Used TM3's don't seem to have shifted down in cost, though.  

I am very tempted but also balancing the outlay against the fact that the old car was sold at Easter and I have only needed to hire a car on one occasion in those two months so far.  Using the train is not as convenient as the car, but not that bad either - coupled with work have said (from 1st June) that we cannot drive to work.  (OK - so they can't stop us driving and using the town centre car parks, but have said we cannot use their car park.)

Grandad2b

I retired 6 years ago but I couldn't have lived where I do and got to and from work by public transport even then.
Tomorrow I would have to leave home at 06:47 for a 9 am start; three buses and two trains (my employers would have allowed me to start when I arrived so 25 minutes would not have been lost). This would mean I could leave at 16:35. Two buses and two
trains and I'd be home at 18:21.
I guess you have a more joined up public transport system (or your employer doesn't mind losing certain members of their workforce).

Grumpy_chap

Grandad2b said:

I guess you have a more joined up public transport system (or your employer doesn't mind losing certain members of their workforce).

I'm not so sure that I have a joined up transport system - more a bit of luck that the current journey can be made as one direct train.  A slow train mind, so it takes an hour on the train (plus the 25 minute walk to the station) compared to one hour door-to-door by car.  Given the weather has been kind, I have not been too concerned but may not feel as amenable once the winter sets in.

It is also only one day per week because of COVID.

The employer has stated all this "must use the train" as a green agenda.  I suspect they plan to rent out the car park (right near the town centre station).  You are quite right that it will drive some staff to think about alternatives.

I have an annoying trip to do Wednesday that will require an 05:30 train for an 08:00 start.  2.5 hours so 1 hour longer than the equivalent car journey, plus the walk to the station (10 minutes as it is a nearer station).  The employer has advised they instructed the venue not to provide parking permits to their staff unless pre-booked and minimum of 4 in each car doing lift share.  The instruction is that rail ticket can be claimed on expenses, mileage cannot (other than the exception for lift share).

My wife and I can use her car, which is suitable for most journeys we undertake.  Not so great for journeys with either of our Mothers in tow.

Grumpy_chap

Grumpy_chap said:

Interestingly, I just received a marketing e-mail from TESLA offering free EV charge point if I test drive and buy a cat this month.  Possible indication that the current discount rates on inventory models might get a little more attractive as the end of the quarter draws nigh.  IIRC, something similar happened right at the end of March.

Used TM3's don't seem to have shifted down in cost, though.  

I am very tempted but also balancing the outlay against the fact that the old car was sold at Easter and I have only needed to hire a car on one occasion in those two months so far.  Using the train is not as convenient as the car, but not that bad either - coupled with work have said (from 1st June) that we cannot drive to work.  (OK - so they can't stop us driving and using the town centre car parks, but have said we cannot use their car park.)

Interesting voicemail just now.
6k supercharger miles added to the discounts for a brand new TM3.
Not sure if that is on top of the free wall charger...

I think that is more SC miles than offered at the end of March when it is 4k miles.  I can't recall, however, what the "cash price" was then.

Martyn1981

Grumpy_chap said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Interestingly, I just received a marketing e-mail from TESLA offering free EV charge point if I test drive and buy a cat this month.  Possible indication that the current discount rates on inventory models might get a little more attractive as the end of the quarter draws nigh.  IIRC, something similar happened right at the end of March.

Used TM3's don't seem to have shifted down in cost, though.  

I am very tempted but also balancing the outlay against the fact that the old car was sold at Easter and I have only needed to hire a car on one occasion in those two months so far.  Using the train is not as convenient as the car, but not that bad either - coupled with work have said (from 1st June) that we cannot drive to work.  (OK - so they can't stop us driving and using the town centre car parks, but have said we cannot use their car park.)

Interesting voicemail just now.
6k supercharger miles added to the discounts for a brand new TM3.
Not sure if that is on top of the free wall charger...

Are they offering a scrappage scheme too for June? But I think the amount is quite low.

Wonder if they are trying to clear the decks as the new TM3 (project Highland) gets closer.

Grumpy_chap

Martyn1981 said:

Are they offering a scrappage scheme too for June? But I think the amount is quite low.

I have not heard of a scrappage scheme.
It is a bit moot in our case as we don't have anything to scrap (old non-ULEZ car was sold April).
If the offer is TM3 LR at £46k including free wall charger and 6k SC miles, it is starting to get attractive.  What would really do it would be the choice of colour, rather than just white.
£47k for a blue one, or silver or black
£48k for a red one (or blue with white interior)
£49k for red with white interior
Up to £3k extra for nothing actually done differently is a lot.

Then again, £38k is a 2021 plate red model, 23k miles.  (360 mile range)
£32.5k for 2019 black with 35k miles.  (348 mile range)
I am unsure why the 2021 red one has 360 mile range whereas the latest is 374 mile range - both will have heat pump as I understand it.
Both the used ones have enhanced autopilot.  

Outside the Tesla franchise is not obviously keener for used - looking on Autotrader:
£38k for 2021 red model, 22k miles
£35k for 2021 white model, 21k miles
£34k for 2021 black model, 41k miles

A large part of me is keen to "just do it" and get one. 
Would need to balance a new white choice versus used red one (£8k is not to be sniffed at).
Against no car 
Against Jag XE 50k miles at £14.5k (2016)

Also a balance, the current offers are for orders before 18th June and delivery before 30th June.
What will the offer be next week?  Will it get better through the final fortnight to quarter-end?
One thing seems certain, once the quarter-end targets are met, the offers will go.  Is the quarter-end target a specific point or just "as high as possible"?

Grumpy_chap

Martyn1981 said:

Are they offering a scrappage scheme too for June? But I think the amount is quite low.

I just read that there is a scrappage scheme for June.

You have to have a car valued (by Tesla) at below £2k and Tesla will then give you the value of the car plus £2k.  We would have been able to take advantage of that with our old Fiesta, though scrapping it would have been criminal.

I wonder whether that is also available in addition to the SC miles / charger?

I guess the charge point is worth around £1k.

I can't find prices for SC miles but, assume 4 miles/kWh.  6k miles = 1,500 kWh.  Domestic rate 35 pence/kWh.  £500.

Martyn1981

Grumpy_chap said:

Martyn1981 said:

Are they offering a scrappage scheme too for June? But I think the amount is quite low.

I just read that there is a scrappage scheme for June.

You have to have a car valued (by Tesla) at below £2k and Tesla will then give you the value of the car plus £2k.  We would have been able to take advantage of that with our old Fiesta, though scrapping it would have been criminal.

I wonder whether that is also available in addition to the SC miles / charger?

I guess the charge point is worth around £1k.

I can't find prices for SC miles but, assume 4 miles/kWh.  6k miles = 1,500 kWh.  Domestic rate 35 pence/kWh.  £500.

If I remember rightly, they do use an approx 4m/kWh figure, for the TM3. I used a friends code number, and we both got 1,000 miles of free supercharging. But it was during Covid, and only valid for 6 months, so mostly lost. Shame the Cardiff SC station wasn't open back then, as I could have popped up and filled 'ma boots'.

I seem to recall that my miles remaining dropped by about 4m/kWh after using the SC.

Worth checking if there's an expiry date on those miles.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.