My first EV need advice
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Discussion

nav456

Original Poster:

139 posts

218 months

I am looking to move into the world of EV. I work from home so car is only use for school runs now really and local trips.

My current car is killing me on fuel costs. So i am thinking to move to EV.

I am looking at ones which are like 2 years old on PCP as i see the depretiation is heavy on them already so i can save a lot.

But they all have like 8 year warranty on the battery so i could keep it until the warranty runs out then see my options are.

Anybody have best advice buying a 1-2 year old used EV? Is that best thing to do.

Also was looking at bmw ix3 , audi etron or a mercedes eqc.

Any advise be a big help completely new to EV cars

ShortBeardy

359 posts

161 months

IF you anticipate charging away from home (and it sounds like you don't), then regardless of any political leanings, its very hard to beat the Tesla charging network and it's cheaper to use as a Tesla vs. non-Tesla owner. I have been happy with my Y, but of course there are well founded reasons why you might not want one.
As a resource, RSEV youtube channel is informative and he does a good job

frisbee

5,361 posts

127 months

Battery management and reliability has improved significantly, I wouldn't worry about the life of a battery on a recent car.

Paul Drawmer

5,062 posts

284 months

If you can't charge at home.....

If most of your charging will be at home, then make life easy for yourself; install a proper tethered EV charger.
Don't become a slave to cable management.

Most EV tariffs have higher base rates and standing charges than a normal fixed tariff. If your mileage is low, it might be worth sticky with a normal tariff.

NDA

23,447 posts

242 months

nav456 said:
......car is only use for school runs now really and local trips.

.....My current car is killing me on fuel costs.
You have a 1.2 Clio that has around 50mpg?

I don't think an EV is going to offer enough of a saving on running costs to make any difference. In fact the cost of the sale of your current car and the purchase of an EV will probably never pay for itself from fuel saving. You also need to install a charger at home, pay more for insurance etc - more cost.


Sheepshanks

37,818 posts

136 months

nav456 said:
Also was looking at bmw ix3 , audi etron or a mercedes eqc.
OK.

How about this for a first foray into EVs: https://www.hartwell.co.uk/offers/ford-lease-pch-n...

Should be fine for the school run.

Turtle Shed

2,194 posts

43 months

NDA said:
You have a 1.2 Clio that has around 50mpg?

I don't think an EV is going to offer enough of a saving on running costs to make any difference. In fact the cost of the sale of your current car and the purchase of an EV will probably never pay for itself from fuel saving. You also need to install a charger at home, pay more for insurance etc - more cost.
^ What he said.

Tony1963

5,725 posts

179 months

Stay with the Clio until it either dies or hands you a large bill, then see what’s available. Changing car because of fuel economy rarely works out well once whole-life costs are taken into account.

Mammasaid

4,893 posts

114 months

Sheepshanks said:
nav456 said:
Also was looking at bmw ix3 , audi etron or a mercedes eqc.
OK.

How about this for a first foray into EVs: https://www.hartwell.co.uk/offers/ford-lease-pch-n...

Should be fine for the school run.
This ^^^

And for £20/month you can add a charger to the mix, and get 10,000 miles, i.e. the whole of the lease, free charging credit.



Koyaanisqatsi

2,397 posts

47 months

nav456 said:
...I am looking at ones which are like 2 years old on PCP as i see the depretiation is heavy on them already so i can save a lot.

But they all have like 8 year warranty on the battery so i could keep it until the warranty runs out then see my options are...
If you mean you are looking at a PCP, then what concern is it to you about the battery warranty and health? I've got an Alpine A290 on a 3 year PCP now as my first EV and couldn't give a damn about the battery -- charging to 100%, fast charging etc. Three years down the line the battery won't be my problem when I hand it back or trade up.

If you mean you are looking at buying an ex-PCP car, you'll be hard pressed to find any that have been on a 24 months PCP, and 12 months PCP is unheard of.

You'll be paying out a huge amount of cash whether you are buying it or doing PCP with the initial deposit and then the monthlies. And I am going to assume that both of those elements will be significant on a BMW iX or Mercedes EV. This all seems backwards if your ultimate goal is to be saving money? Strange.

nav456

Original Poster:

139 posts

218 months

Yh clio is defo out the question. I hate renaults peugeots etc

I was looking at tesla but they just not grown on me i hate the look of them.

Yes i will be charging from home most if not all the time unless we go on a long journey which is once in a blue moon. So will be defo ensuring i get best charger i can installed at home.

Good to hear not much worry about battery life. Will have a look at the cars and see which one gives us the best deal.

Any recomendations on best people use for charger install. I see dealers give some deals with octopus chargers.

nav456

Original Poster:

139 posts

218 months

Sheepshanks said:
nav456 said:
Also was looking at bmw ix3 , audi etron or a mercedes eqc.
OK.

How about this for a first foray into EVs: https://www.hartwell.co.uk/offers/ford-lease-pch-n...

Should be fine for the school run.
Thats a bloody good deal!

Evanivitch

24,896 posts

139 months

NDA said:
nav456 said:
......car is only use for school runs now really and local trips.

.....My current car is killing me on fuel costs.
You have a 1.2 Clio that has around 50mpg?

I don't think an EV is going to offer enough of a saving on running costs to make any difference. In fact the cost of the sale of your current car and the purchase of an EV will probably never pay for itself from fuel saving. You also need to install a charger at home, pay more for insurance etc - more cost.
I agree. I don't understand how the fuel costs are significant.

E-Puma and Dacia Spring can be had very cheaply ona lease.

nav456

Original Poster:

139 posts

218 months

Koyaanisqatsi said:
nav456 said:
...I am looking at ones which are like 2 years old on PCP as i see the depretiation is heavy on them already so i can save a lot.

But they all have like 8 year warranty on the battery so i could keep it until the warranty runs out then see my options are...
If you mean you are looking at a PCP, then what concern is it to you about the battery warranty and health? I've got an Alpine A290 on a 3 year PCP now as my first EV and couldn't give a damn about the battery -- charging to 100%, fast charging etc. Three years down the line the battery won't be my problem when I hand it back or trade up.

If you mean you are looking at buying an ex-PCP car, you'll be hard pressed to find any that have been on a 24 months PCP, and 12 months PCP is unheard of.

You'll be paying out a huge amount of cash whether you are buying it or doing PCP with the initial deposit and then the monthlies. And I am going to assume that both of those elements will be significant on a BMW iX or Mercedes EV. This all seems backwards if your ultimate goal is to be saving money? Strange.
Ultimate goal is not to save money no. I just have had problems after problems with my tarraco..and the fuel cost also for a 1.5tsi is stupid compared other cars out there. I am in process of rejecting it as its basically a lemon car.

Instead just jumping into another petrol car. Was thinking go electric surely will be cheaper on fuel..and well its new way forward clearly with all these charging points popping up and government grants etc..so thought if going to change why not go EV. Esp when they cheap right now with massive depretiation after 1-2 years.

nav456

Original Poster:

139 posts

218 months

Evanivitch said:
NDA said:
nav456 said:
......car is only use for school runs now really and local trips.

.....My current car is killing me on fuel costs.
You have a 1.2 Clio that has around 50mpg?

I don't think an EV is going to offer enough of a saving on running costs to make any difference. In fact the cost of the sale of your current car and the purchase of an EV will probably never pay for itself from fuel saving. You also need to install a charger at home, pay more for insurance etc - more cost.
I agree. I don't understand how the fuel costs are significant.

E-Puma and Dacia Spring can be had very cheaply ona lease.
Will defo take look at he puma.

KTF

10,370 posts

167 months

Looking at that Puma deal you will be paying £139 a month plus you will need a charger which is around £1k installed.

So £139 + £139 * 24 + £1k is £4475 over 2 years or £186 a month.

How much are you spending on fuel a month?

Evanivitch

24,896 posts

139 months

KTF said:
Looking at that Puma deal you will be paying £139 a month plus you will need a charger which is around £1k installed.

So £139 + £139 * 24 + £1k is £4475 over 2 years or £186 a month.

How much are you spending on fuel a month?
Small mileage can be done on granny charger, even on Octpus Go. Indra Pro can be installed for circa £750.

Mammasaid

4,893 posts

114 months

Evanivitch said:
KTF said:
Looking at that Puma deal you will be paying £139 a month plus you will need a charger which is around £1k installed.

So £139 + £139 * 24 + £1k is £4475 over 2 years or £186 a month.

How much are you spending on fuel a month?
Small mileage can be done on granny charger, even on Octpus Go. Indra Pro can be installed for circa £750.
And as mentioned before, charger can be added for £20/month, i.e. £480. Which is yours to keep after the lease.

So it's £159 + 23 * £159 or £159 a month.

OutInTheShed

11,951 posts

43 months

The Ford is cheap, but it's only 5,000 miles a year.

A petrol car doing 45mpg uses about 500 litres a year to do 5k miles.
That's about £700.

To actually make an EV pay for itself you either need to do a lot of miles or be comparing it with an expensive car.
OTOH, It wouldn't have to be a terribly valuable car to be depreciating by £140 a month.

How much are the servicing costs etc for the Ford?
How much do you need to set aside for them whinging about a few scratches or whatever when you return it?

The true full cost of cars is higher than most people think, even for sheds!

Evanivitch

24,896 posts

139 months

OutInTheShed said:
To actually make an EV pay for itself you either need to do a lot of miles or be comparing it with an expensive car.
OTOH, It wouldn't have to be a terribly valuable car to be depreciating by £140 a month.
That's not true given that a whole bunch of cars are now at near price parity with their ICE equivalent, including the Puma.

It's all good comparing a shed, and I've done that before, but depending on your responsibility for work/kids/other depends on whether you can carry that risk or time commitment on planned and unplanned maintenance.