Please tell me about your experience with electric cars

[electricsix]

Thinking about going electric, purely for the BIK/p11D saving as I don't rate them too much myself. I do a lot of business miles a month but never more than a full charge in one day - probably even allowing for the real life reduction of performance. I've seen a few threads here about electric cars so was hoping I could piggy back off your experiences and not make a massive mistake because I'm uninformed.

My concerns are
The increase in my electricity bill - how much does it cost to charge yours from empty to full as I will be doing this almost every day?

Range anxiety but I imagine I will get used to this?

Those rare occasions we go on a family holiday to somewhere really far away - what are the chargers like at services, reliable etc? And in Devon, Cornwall, Scotland middle of nowhere, are there public chargers??? How much of a faff is it?

What electric car do you have and can you tell me pros and cons?

Are you happy with your choice or do you regret?

Anything that I haven't thought about that you think I should know.

Long time user but I always name change if I start a thread just in case. Cancel the cheque etc.

Thank you wise mumsnetters

Interesting thread, thanks.
We are looking at replacing our Karoq in about 2 years. Have been looking at MG because it is safe for towing a trailer. Any one any knowledge of these cars or others able to pull small trailer? Not looking for caravan capabilities.
Tyres can be a problem on EVs I believe. More expensive because of the extra weight.

We’ve had Leafs and Teslas. The shorter range in the Leaf (and lower cost) makes it a great car for commuting.

The public charging facilities on the Tesla network makes it a great car for longer distances. We’ve noticed a lot of the Tesla network chargers are in odd places. Sometimes close to services but not right in services.

Other chargers like the type you get at Lidl might give slower charging speeds if there is another car charging or another car charging which is not something you can plan ahead on. Public charger coverage is incredibly variable across the country!

Some people hog charging spaces when they are charged up and I like the way Tesla increases the cost to make the owner go and move and free up the space again.

We’re on a EV tarrif and our electricity bills are considerably less than our electricity plus petrol bills were. What mileage are you doing per day? I’ve not worked out the mileage in terms of expenses but it has never struck me as being generous unfortunately.

Company director with a Tesla M3LR, previously drove a RR Vogue. Much more efficient from a tax perspective, no car tax costs, no service costs, I charge overnight at home which works out more cost effective than using superchargers. I’ve taken the car on long trips a few times and had no issues finding chargers. I changed electric supplier so have a cheaper night tariff which is when the car is scheduled to charge. I did have a bit of range anxiety at the beginning but changed the car from showing mileage to showing battery percentage and I’m much more comfortable with this. I love the car, it’s very comfortable and an easy drive with engine braking and instant power on acceleration. I’m also a fan of the tech in the Tesla. I would struggle to go back to an ICE car. Lots of space in the car and the boot.

What’s your split? One thing I realised last winter was how variable everyone’s energy usage and bills were. Our charging dwarfs our daytime usage. Our household daytime base load is around 0.6kW/hr and like a PP we put the dishwasher on timer to move our high usage items into the lower cost time.

Kia e Niro here and we absolutely love it. Roomy, good boot, perfects for kids and all their stuff. The range is excellent and accelerates so fast. We charge overnight on octopus using a home charger and that is very economical. When in Devon etc things have got much better over the past year and there are chargers in most public car parks etc there. I agree that ABC is the way to avoid range anxiety. Go for it! I'd never go back.

Our Ioniq 5 has a towing capability but this us something you have to request at factory order stage. Not many will have it otherwise. Towing is def an issue with most EVs unfortunately. Things are slowly changing. If you did tow your range would significantly lessen.

How long before we get a poster whose mates neighbours boyfriend once drove an EV and didn’t like it?

People who charge at home, did you get a special EV socket put in or can you just plug the charger into a normal plug socket?

Tesla model 3 here and I’d say def research your insurance costs first! Ours has shot up and I’d say we’re spending on insurance what we’d be paying for petrol in an ICE car.
Saying that, charging is cheap on an octopus tariff where we charge overnight, no road tax, and we’ve never had issue finding chargers.

The problem with your holiday is you'll have to plan where to charge.

Some high end hotels have them.
Our coastal town has 3 but they are rarely ever working
If everyone buys new electrics I doubt this county will cope in summer unless there's a very big push on installing more chargers but I don't hear of problems currently - I expect people plan where they stay accordingly

The charging network is getting better and better all the time. I have had an Ipace for 5years and huge improvements in that time.

On long journeys we used to carefully plan stops etc.. now we don’t. We know we will find something easily. Lots of 150kW chargers and now even 350kW. Often at McDonalds or Starbucks (not just motorway service stations) so can stop for a coffee/ food and charge.

Don’t have range anxiety as the range showing is very accurate, so you know when you need to find a charger.

You definitely can do this. We did for several months. But it’s very slow to charge this way. Perhaps 14 hours empty to full, but we were never empty and never needed it full either so just plugged it in every night

a home charger will double the speed so you have a full charge by morning. Nobody I know who has an EV actually need a full charge very often though. Here it’s holidays only!

I considered it two years ago and the Ev charging points were just not developed enough. That is rapidly changing and I moved a few weeks ago and bought a new Audi. Haven't charged at a public charger so far as the range is significant, circa 220-435.miles. However, whenever you see range, the real world range is different and depends on summer/winter. Local driving is more efficient as the car regenerates when braking (mine brakes for me!). You also need to factor in that typical charges should be between 20-80% to preserve the battery, going to 100% on occasions. However, you are never going to run it dry like you would not an ICE (internal combustion engine) car so again, factor that in. I reckon on a long journey I would get 180 miles before wanting to recharge.

Other things to factor in is when travelling, only ultra fast chargers are much use (150kw plus). The typical 7kw chargers you have at home are useless apart from end destination, for eg many holiday lets are having EV chargers fitted and these are then suitable. So charging maps show vast number of chargers, but many are of little use.

I switched to Intelligent Octopus which means I charge at 7.5p per KW instead of 28 pence. I choose a schedule when I need it charged by and octopus does the rest. You always get 11.30-5.30 on cheap rates (so set the appliances to run overnight) but currently as there is a lot of green energy in the grid, I'm plugging in during the day and it instantly starts charging, with the rest of the house usage also on a reduced rate

This is a big concern. It's one thing getting there but what about getting around and home? It sounds nice to be stuck by the coast but I'd be extremely frustrated. At the minute I don't need to think about it at all. But I pay £200 a month extra in BIK for the privilege.

I’ve got a Zoe, I’m not sure if they are still making them though, they are being replaced with the Renault 5 next year I think? When you are choosing a car make sure it has CCS or rapid charging - most chargers are this type so you may get caught out otherwise.

Look into Octopus Intelligent and get a car or charger that is compatible - our car isn’t but the charger (Ohme) is - basically you tell the charger when you need it ready by and Octopus decide exactly when it will charge and you’ll get cheap rate for your whole house (7.5p) for as long as the car is charging, plus 6 hours overnight if it’s plugged in or not. For example a few days ago I plugged in at 12pm and the car started charging straight away so I put the washing on, let dd bake using the oven and topped up my house batteries. This is actually reducing my electricity bill!

Also if you are with Octopus they have an app called Electroverse which has brought together loads of charging companies so you only need 1 app to charge and you get a discount, the only other companies I use that aren’t on it are PodPoint (tend to be in supermarkets and are usually cheaper) and the ones in motorway services which are contactless anyway.

We have been on several long journeys, it just takes a bit of extra planning - and always have a back up plan!

I've always imagined you are saving money but taking on an inconvenience sometimes with electric and can reduce the inconvenience by planning.

So you might book a place with recharge facility? Use motorway rechargers for your break? Take advantage of filling up when you go out for the day (for example, I expect Eden Project has a bank, I'd be surprised if they didn't).

Most of the time you charge at home - that's a convenience! No fuel stations- yay!

Do has had an e-Corsa for 2 years. Fine car. Doesn't sound like it would be big enough for you. He has never had a charger at home which is a mild pain (he lives on a development which do far is refusing to let people install them. Some people are doing it anyway. He was fighting them but tbh he's moving now so not bothered). Took a few months to really get used to it - things like the charge lasts much longer if you drive at or under 60 - but it's good

Scotland is fine for charging - the infrastructure is several years ahead of England and apparently they put fast chargers into rural areas - imagine putting chargers where people need them, what a breakthrough. Getting up there 1 year ago was a bit slower due to stops for charges, that's part of the change in mindset.

It is getting slightly trickier now as the surge in EV buying when Russia invaded Ukraine means public infrastructure is under more pressure. Dp has learned to start looking for a charger a bit earlier than he used to. But tbh they're increasingly easy to find.

All PP's have one thing in common, they have the space etc. to be able to charge at home.

Anyone with an EV who has to use on-street parking or a car park?

@electricsix
some coastal towns are a bit rubbish (I’m looking at you, Whitby!) however if you stay in a holiday cottage you can usually charge there (we have often done this just asked the owner in advance). Honestly things are rapidly improving all the time. It sometimes needs a bit of thought and planning in rural areas but if you charge enroute you won’t end up at your destination anything like empty.

look on zap map for the situation on chargers in areas you might like to visit. North Yorkshire is useless (or was 2 years ago) but most councils these days are “on it” and getting the infrastructure in. Northumberland this summer was easy

@Ifailed several of my neighbours on a street of Victorian terraces have EVs. The pavements have drain channels in them (also Victorian) and people run their charging cables through the channels. They do then need to put their cables in to their front rooms through a sash window open a little bit either at the bottom or the top. The council has installed a couple of chargers in the next street, and some are installing in lampposts.

And yes big tourist attractions with their own car parks (eg NT, zoos, theme parks) almost always have chargers in their car parks. They tend to be slower ones so your charge is done by the time you get back to the car, rather than have to worry about hanging around and moving it after twenty minutes

lol. I'm electric car rich, not holiday cottage rich. It will be a caravan or hoseasons affair. (I'm not rich at all)

I imagine at these times I will need to go to a big Tesco etc and sit for 30 mins.

It's getting increasingly common to have chargers at fuel stations though it feels to me like grid access is still a bit behind, some aren't functioning yet.

I've got a Nissan Leaf and I love driving it, great acceleration and once you get used to it the 'one pedal' driving is so easy. I may exchange it next year for one with a larger battery, as this is only 40kWh - it's my first electric car and it's been a steep learning curve but I wouldn't go back to ICE cars.

I charge mostly at home, with solar panels I can sometimes do this for free with a bit of careful juggling, but a full charge (130 miles, was 150 in the summer) is only about £5. I'm waiting for Octopus to change me to the overnight tariff, for some reason it's taking ages.

I public charge a couple of times a month, and it's not usually more than a tenner to top up from about 20% to 80%. I was spending £2-300 a month on petrol so it's a huge saving. (I should add that I don't drive - or charge - every day as I mostly work from home.) You will find favourite chargers if you have regular journeys but so far I haven't had a problem, obviously you don't let it get too low before charging just in case your planned stop isn't working.

Long journeys aren't a problem as I would normally stop for a coffee every couple of hours. The only difficulty I've found is where you're doing two drives without much break in between e.g.two consecutive trips. It just takes a bit of planning. Zapmap and BRP are great.

The biggest problem I've had is with comments about chargers, battery life etc from people who don't drive EVs but who all have an opinion on why they're not fit for purpose! 😁

Do these people have designated parking places?

I used to live on a London terrace street and it was the usual scramble to get to park somewhere, let alone within 'extension-cable' reach.