Small family EV / hybrid - which one?

[Basil Hume]

I'm currently running a Golf R32 (nice eco credentials!) but - now that the market seems to be taking off - fancy an EV or hybrid for our next car.

We live in the city centre and need a small-ish car; ideally Golf size or below. My wife really won't drive anything larger than a Golf (4.2m length) and easy parking is a must.

Annual mileage is around 8-9k, for a mix of urban trips and moderate (50-100 miles per leg) family visits, but not commuting as we cycle to work. Business miles (which can be up to 250 miles per leg) make up about 3k of this and 4-5 holidays make about 3k miles. Because the business trips are infrequent, I could switch to hire cars - although I'm not so sure about the holiday trips.

Because of the size restriction, we currently use roof bars to carry a roof box and bikes for holidays.

The options for a compact car seem loosely to be:

1) EV: e.g. Leaf, Zoe, e-Golf, i3
2) Hybrid: e.g. A3 etron, Golf GTE, i3 range extender

Any thoughts on whether to go for a pure EV or plug-in hybrid?

[smn159]

Speaking as a recent Zoe owner, any journey of >65 miles or so in a pure EV will be a pain unless you enjoy motorway service stations.

Having said that, if you're going down the alternative route, might as well do it properly or else get a diesel

[Basil Hume]

I've had diseasels before... In fact, the R32 replaced a Volvo V60 D5 and Clio run-about!

Between circumstance and a decision to do far fewer business trips by car, our annual mileage has reduced a lot in the last year. So, I don't think a diesel would suit us very well.

You'd never guess it from the current choice of car, but we're also very pro-eco ("green" power in the house, cycle everywhere possible, careful about food choices etc).

[AnotherClarkey]

Plug in Prius would be worth a look - Outlander PHEV sounds like a decent punt as well, though a little larger.

[JonnyVTEC]

Honda Jazz?

[deanobeano]

Don't rule out an Ampera or Volt - only four seats though. As a hybrid it will cope well with longer trips and the battery only range of 30-50 miles will cope with most local trips.

Expect to pay 17 - 22 k depending on age.

I have one (and a Leaf for the missus) and visits to the petrol station are becoming quite rare.

Can you charge OK whilst at home? (driveway / garage)

[pherlopolus]

How about an Auris? I've been looking at the estate version.

[stewjohnst]

Is anyone on here running an Outlander PHEV?

With company car tax so biased in their favour, I'll be packaging off my 5 series soon and try as I might I just can't argue against the Outlander as a tool for what I need (Dog/Baby/tip runs and 5/7% tax).

I really wanted to be able to justify the Volvo V60 D6 but it just wasn't big enough in the back for my needs.I liked the idea of overriding the eco to just run it in power mode every day for 270 BHP on the way to work till I'd drained the battery but at £50k it was too much car to not do everything in one car like the Outlander.

I also tried to get the missus to like the i3 or eGolf so I could give my company car to her and get something petrol for myself but she wouldn't go for it, she hated the look of the i3 and when I made her sit in it, she made the sort of face people do when picking up dog turd with their bare hands - she wasn't a fan...scarily, she actually quite liked the Active Tourer 2 at which point I whipped her out of the dealership - a FWD bmw indeed (sales guy tried to point it out as a positive but she even wheelspins a 1.2 fiat 500 - bless)

[sawman]

stewjohnst said:

Is anyone on here running an Outlander PHEV?

With company car tax so biased in their favour, I'll be packaging off my 5 series soon and try as I might I just can't argue against the Outlander as a tool for what I need (Dog/Baby/tip runs and 5/7% tax).

I really wanted to be able to justify the Volvo V60 D6 but it just wasn't big enough in the back for my needs.I liked the idea of overriding the eco to just run it in power mode every day for 270 BHP on the way to work till I'd drained the battery but at £50k it was too much car to not do everything in one car like the Outlander.

I also tried to get the missus to like the i3 or eGolf so I could give my company car to her and get something petrol for myself but she wouldn't go for it, she hated the look of the i3 and when I made her sit in it, she made the sort of face people do when picking up dog turd with their bare hands - she wasn't a fan...scarily, she actually quite liked the Active Tourer 2 at which point I whipped her out of the dealership - a FWD bmw indeed (sales guy tried to point it out as a positive but she even wheelspins a 1.2 fiat 500 - bless)

Theres a few folks here: http://www.myoutlanderphev.com

I borrowed one for a week, it's a nice enough family carry all and as you sat attractive a a company driver. it would be chap to run, esp if you mainly use the battery power

[Basil Hume]

I've had a very attractive quote on an i3 range extender, on my work lease car scheme. It seems to work out at about £6k less over 3 years than running it privately (presumably to do with capital write-down?).

The problem I've come across is to do with charging outside my house. I have a typical Victorian red-brick terraced house in the centre of Bristol, which would lead me to be trailing power cables across the pavement...assuming that I can even park outside my house.

Has anyone got around the above issue?

[stewjohnst]

Can you not tunnel under and have a danger mouse brick?

0:10 seconds....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=og85s6BbK4I

[Basil Hume]

I thought that was serious for a moment!!!

[dave_s13]

Basil Hume said:

I've had a very attractive quote on an i3 range extender, on my work lease car scheme. It seems to work out at about £6k less over 3 years than running it privately (presumably to do with capital write-down?).

The problem I've come across is to do with charging outside my house. I have a typical Victorian red-brick terraced house in the centre of Bristol, which would lead me to be trailing power cables across the pavement...assuming that I can even park outside my house.

Has anyone got around the above issue?

Dunt brizl have a good selection of public charge points??

It'll be a massive pain in the arse if you can't charge outside your house.

[smn159]

Basil Hume said:

I've had a very attractive quote on an i3 range extender, on my work lease car scheme. It seems to work out at about £6k less over 3 years than running it privately (presumably to do with capital write-down?).

The problem I've come across is to do with charging outside my house. I have a typical Victorian red-brick terraced house in the centre of Bristol, which would lead me to be trailing power cables across the pavement...assuming that I can even park outside my house.

Has anyone got around the above issue?

BG will only install a charger if you have off road parking. Not sure about the others, but I expect that they will be similar

[Tazio1]

As others have said A pure EV will struggle with your long distance needs esp in cold weather, so a hybred seems best I would consider the Lexus CT.

[pboyall]

I have a pure EV and can tell you that it's not practical to plan on more than 70 miles in one go during the cold weather. If I turn on every toy and drive at "Motorway speed" then 50 is probably more likely (along with a ticket).

[Super Slo Mo]

pherlopolus said:

How about an Auris? I've been looking at the estate version.

I've had one since early October, just clicked over 8,000 miles since then. I really like it, far more than I was expecting.