Anyone driving an EV?

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:01 pm

I really must get to my dentist. It's not a teeth thing, I just want to know how he's finding his Tesla Model 3 which he recently got. He's a huge petrol-head so a good one to ask.

Short of getting a G Whizz off eBay, I can safely say most EV's are currently outside of my reach. Having depreciated hard initially, they seem to have firmed up quite a lot as interest rises. Leaf's and Zoe's are on the horizon but hardly promise much fun for your electron, worthy as I'm sure they are. I am strangely drawn to Twizy's but this is probably because I've never tried one. Also, I like the idea of the current (fish-faced) Smart 4/2 but they are hugely expensive used for what they are.

It looks as though 2020 might be a bit of a breakthrough year for electric with lots of new models (actually, model ranges in some cases) due and I hear nationally in the U.K. up to three new charging points expected.

Anyway, DDK is a pretty broad church: anyone trying motoring without dinasour juice? What I'd really be interested in is if someone has owned one then returned to suck, squeeze, bang and blow. From what I can see it seems a one way street, but for the right reasons.

Personally, I'm certainly up for trying one in principle. I like the idea of potentially having the upsides of electric for much of the time and then 'real' driving for fun.

Jonny Hart · Post by **Jonny Hart** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:29 pm

I’m thinking of buying an electric van on the business. Currently it’s a business expense - 100% tax deductible and the benefit in kind nonsense is favourable. No brainer really in my view.

My 914 EV should be ready in March. Best of both worlds to me or ‘sacrilege’ to some.

Jonny Hart · Post by **Jonny Hart** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:34 pm

Ps. I had a go in a Tesla Mk3 Over Christmas. It’s fast and full of ‘tech’ but it has zero style and the interior is so dull.

If I had the time I would buy a Mk1 Honda Insight while they are still good value and fit it with new batteries. They will be a classic for sure.

https://bumblebeebatteries.com/products ... a-insight/

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:36 pm

I see Tesla are offering a self charging option.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:48 pm

Been at the rugby all afternoon so miffed and can’t be arsed to read what you’ve typed fully barry ... but we have run a 330e for the last years / 50k miles... looked at lots of full electric but for the next car but again vomited to a 330e for the next 24 months as I reckon there will he massive exchange coming

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:49 pm

... it’s all about the tax rather than the the car

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:51 pm

We can’t live with a full electric where we are ... based on miles and infrastructure

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:56 pm

hot66 wrote:Been at the rugby all afternoon so miffed and can’t be arsed to read what you’ve typed fully barry ... but we have run a 330e for the last years / 50k miles... looked at lots of full electric but for the next car but again vomited to a 330e for the next 24 months as I reckon there will he massive exchange coming

Quoted for posterity.

shambly · Post by **shambly** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:13 pm

We’ve run a Leaf and an Outlander PHEV for the last 3 years. Much prefer the Leaf to drive out of the two and will replace the Outlander will a model Y as soon as economics allow... running costs, NVH, convenience (warm defrosted cars ready to get into in the morning) compared to Dino juice are hard to argue with.

rhd racer · Post by **rhd racer** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 7:57 pm

We have an eGolf and love it, but it has it’s limitations;

Range is supposed to be 170 miles but only achieve 120 in winter (despite having heated seats to spare the heater and a spent heat regeneration heater option)
Would go less if motorway driving - definately goes further on urban trips where you are breaking and recharging
Defrosting off a phone app etc is great
Performance is really good

I understand the Tesla 3 to have about a 300 mile range which expands the usability quite a bit, but they are £10k more.

So we like it, but really only as a commuter car for my wife and running the kids around. For that it’s great, and we are offsetting our other automotive bad habits!

Cheers
Wayne

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 9:54 pm

mycar wrote:
hot66 wrote:Been at the rugby all afternoon so miffed and can’t be arsed to read what you’ve typed fully barry ... but we have run a 330e for the last years / 50k miles... looked at lots of full electric but for the next car but again vomited to a 330e for the next 24 months as I reckon there will he massive exchange coming
Quoted for posterity.

When I’ve sobered up I might edit it to make sense

Post by **Bootsy** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 9:57 pm

mycar wrote:
hot66 wrote:Been at the rugby all afternoon so miffed and can’t be arsed to read what you’ve typed fully barry ... but we have run a 330e for the last years / 50k miles... looked at lots of full electric but for the next car but again vomited to a 330e for the next 24 months as I reckon there will he massive exchange coming
Quoted for posterity.

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 7:06 am

We run 3 Zoes at work. As the petrol VWs we have come to the end of their leases we’ll keep swapping to EVs.

The Zoes are a bit shite, everyone has to be bullied into using them rather than the VWs, but that’s because they’re Renaults not because they’re EVs.

I’ve tried Teslas a few times but can’t get past the US design and f&f. I’m under 55 so the Jag is a no go and I’d not drop the sort of money Porsche or Audi want for their offerings.

The only reason we don’t have an eGolf is that I’d say the ID3 will be the game changer.

Don’t expect driving enjoyment from an EV, there is no physical, mechanical pleasure in them. But they’re nice and quiet round town.

Tosh · Post by **Tosh** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:30 am

Watched a youtube the other night - they started with 6 EVs to test real life range by driving north from Scratchwood Services at the bottom of the M1. Lowest achieved was 75% of the claimed range, highest was (I think) 91 - and that was the Model3 and it got to just outside Newcastle before it went into shutdown mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH7V2tU3iFc
I am going to be getting rid of the Boxster and getting a Smart Fortwo or the i3 as pretty much all my miles in it are shortish and I'd keep the big car (2l Velar) for towing the caravan.

I had dinner last night with someone who leases his model X (?) and he loves it - it costs him 900 a month for 4 years but it came with free Supercharging anywhere. He reckons that the depreciation curve on the car is such that it made more sense to lease - esp as Tesla keep changing specs. He's very happy with it but does notice cold and/or wet weather making a difference on the range/performance. He came out of a v8 BMWx3 and won't go back. Thouhgh he does live in central London, which helps the savings

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:30 am

Nine hundred pounds a month.

For that I’d remortgage my house for £700,000, get a £30k EV and £670k worth of classics.

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker