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Original poster

Would you buy a electric car?

169 replies

ghtt · 07/02/2023 19:44

So I need a car for my new job after only having one car that my husband uses, I can only drive a automatic, so debating a electric car, would you get one?

OP posts:
Cheeseandpickleplease · 07/02/2023 19:47

Not yet

ill wait until there is better infrastructure in place

Lavenderosemary · 07/02/2023 19:48

Got one, a little leaf. The battery isn't quite big enough for what I need but other than that I absolutely love it. If it had a slightly larger battery it would be perfect in every way.

Selfesteem22 · 07/02/2023 19:50

Yes just bought a leaf - it's not that little! It's great - we had a charging point fitted and I mainly just for shortish journeys so only charge at home

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Cars & vehicles
randomsabreuse · 07/02/2023 19:50

Yes, assuming the range is more than your commute.

We're getting one as a local commuting car. Other car is a big diesel

Original poster
ghtt · 07/02/2023 19:52

So I will only be driving 7 miles to work and back to work and the max is a 40 mile drive to my parents.

OP posts:
Flaunch · 07/02/2023 19:53

No because I have a hobby that takes me off the beaten track and I’d likely o be able to guarantee I can get home!

Also, I’m not sure using batteries is any better for the planet than using fossil fuels.

UnleashMyPicasso · 07/02/2023 19:53

Not yet; needs more infrastructure and better batteries, so for now I’ll stick with a hybrid.

Original poster
ghtt · 07/02/2023 19:55

I need a smallish car that I can carry 2 kids in at times, no idea what to go for!

OP posts:
hay5689 · 07/02/2023 19:55

If I had somewhere to charge it maybe. I don't have a drive and it's impossible to park outside my house at the best of times, plus I don't think people would be happy with the cable trailing across the pavement.

SonnySideDown · 07/02/2023 19:55

I've got one, a VW ID3. I love it. My daily commute is a 110 mile round trip and it does that with ease.

I will never go back to a petrol car, its so easy to drive.

Augend23 · 07/02/2023 19:55

Do you have a driveway and the ability to install a charging point at home? If I did, in your situation - given you seem to have access to a second car for long journeys? Then I would get an electric car. Otherwise, I'm hanging on another couple of years as I don't have a driveway.

FenghuangHoyan · 07/02/2023 19:56

I wouldn't. There aren't enough charging points. They are significantly more expensive than a standard car. The running costs currently aren't a lot less than a standard car and so it will take a long time to get the investment back... And then you've got to eventually replace the batteries, which is a significant cost.

I just bought a petrol myself for the above reasons. I just think they're too expensive up front and you don't save enough consequently. Also there's the whole range thing.

Oopswediditagain2023 · 07/02/2023 19:56

Nope wouldn't touch with a bargepole. Everyone I know who has an electric car has got rid of it in the past 6 months. Too unreliable and not the sufficient infrastructure in place.

mobear · 07/02/2023 19:57

Yes, we have one and we love it. We never use our petrol car anymore.

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 07/02/2023 19:57

One of my kids has an electric fiat 500 and I borrow quite a lot, it's fab to drive on one pedal and we charge at home mostly it range is 175 but less in the cold! I only use it for the odd school run etc

Purplecatshopaholic · 07/02/2023 19:58

I’ve just bought a new car. Weighed up various options and didn’t go electric in the end. I don’t do a huge mileage, but enough that I would worry about charging points at the moment. Might go electric for the next one in a few years time when the infrastructure is better.

plask · 07/02/2023 19:59

I have a leaf and use it for local commuting and running around. I love it.
With the Milage and use you are describing, as long as you can charge from home, you don't need to worry about the charging infrastructure.
We have never charged our leaf anywhere other than our drive.
Best function: preheat on cold mornings or precool A/C on hot days.

SunshineAndFizz · 07/02/2023 19:59

We have a hybrid. Get about 35 miles from one electric charge, which covers us for about 95% of our journeys. When it runs out, petrol automatically kicks in.

Swannning · 07/02/2023 20:00

I've got an old Leaf with a range of about 60 miles on a good (summer) day and probably more like 40 miles (using pre-heat and heating ALL the time) in the winter.

It is fine for what I do and I charge at home overnight so no worries about public charging - the infrastructure was patchy at best but due to the massive rise in electric cars, it really is not fit for purpose.

Nicknacky · 07/02/2023 20:00

Maybe I read your post wrong, but are you only considering an electric car because you need automatic?

FenghuangHoyan · 07/02/2023 20:02

ghtt · 07/02/2023 19:55

I need a smallish car that I can carry 2 kids in at times, no idea what to go for!

Citroen C3, Honda Jazz (including hybrid), Mazda C-3, Toyota Yaris (including hybrid), mini and Suzuki swift

Tamarindtree · 07/02/2023 20:03

I wouldn’t have one if it was free!

chipsandpeas · 07/02/2023 20:03

Cheeseandpickleplease · 07/02/2023 19:47

Not yet

ill wait until there is better infrastructure in place

this, plus the cost is way much higher than a petrol car at the moment
im considering a new car soon and ive already ruled out an electric

Original poster
ghtt · 07/02/2023 20:03

@Nicknacky well I'm debating because I need a automatic, I'm happy with a petrol/diesel car but was debating a electric or hybrid as well.

OP posts:
Flymetothetoon · 07/02/2023 20:04

No