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Original poster

To think Electric cars just aren’t practical yet?

332 replies

Youngatheart00 · 01/06/2021 09:09

Car is due for replacement (4 year PCP cycle) this autumn.

I love the idea of getting an electric vehicle in theory, I’m trying to make clean choices and also worry about the future value / obsolescence of petrol cars as I’m hearing more and more about manufacturers going electric only well within the next decade.

But our home is a Victorian terrace with no parking. More often than not we are not even parked outside our own home. There isn’t charging infrastructure at most petrol stations. I see some at motorway service stations but clearly it’s not practical to go there each time you need a charge (and there is a greater cost I think?)

I’m drawing the conclusion I’m going to have to go for another petrol vehicle and revisit at the end of the next 4 year cycle, when I’m hoping the electric car infrastructure will be much better developed.

I’ve thought about a hybrid but models from my preferred manufacturers seem limited (and v expensive) and I’m concerned about power as I do like a bit of ‘oomph’ for confidence!

What do others think?

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 03/06/2021 12:19

@DynamoKev

The list price for a Yaris is £21k. From experience I know Toyota dealers are very amenable to a good haggle. You could probably get £2/3k off that.

Eh? I was asking (see above as I've done it again) the posters saying there are no barriers to getting an electric car how much they cost. Nothing to do with buying a Yaris.

You asked how much you could buy an electric car for. I gave you an example, ie an electric Yaris. Are you always this slow?
shakingstevensfan · 03/06/2021 12:21

We purposely only have one car and run it into the ground. It is like the discussion over clothes. Far better to keep wearing existing clothes than buying new clothes made with environmentally sustainable cotton.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Lots of people forget the reduce part.

Barbie222 · 03/06/2021 12:24

I think a Tesla is out of most people's price range. I haven't spent more than 6k on a car ever.

DynamoKev · 03/06/2021 12:26

You asked how much you could buy an electric car for. I gave you an example, ie an electric Yaris. Are you always this slow?

No I didn't - I asked the posters telling us all we were wrong about the barriers to adoption how much theirs cost.

There isn't an electric Yaris at any price - only a hybrid. so that's a pointless comparison.

I will resist the temptation to rise to your pathetic personal jibe.

Blossomtoes · 03/06/2021 12:35

@DynamoKev

You asked how much you could buy an electric car for. I gave you an example, ie an electric Yaris. Are you always this slow?

No I didn't - I asked the posters telling us all we were wrong about the barriers to adoption how much theirs cost.

There isn't an electric Yaris at any price - only a hybrid. so that's a pointless comparison.

I will resist the temptation to rise to your pathetic personal jibe.

If you don’t like the answers you get, you could of course use Google - like you apparently have for Yaris.
MissBattleaxe · 03/06/2021 12:39

We lease ours through DH's job and it works out slightly cheaper than running our old diesel car.

DynamoKev · 03/06/2021 13:00

If you don’t like the answers you get, you could of course use Google - like you apparently have for Yaris.
Except that the posters didn't say what car - one said they had a Tesla and the other coyly refused to name their fabulous electric car.
I am not sure what you think you're adding to this thread by quoting irrelevant price comparisons and then getting personal.
I was just trying to get an answer from the previous posters about the actual purchase costs fo their vehicles - then you popped up and posted the price of an "electric" Yaris that doesn't exist.

DynamoKev · 03/06/2021 13:05

Meant to add "A Tesla" doesn't narrow it down a lot as there's such a range - although none, new or second hand anywhere in my price range.

TheVolturi · 03/06/2021 13:17

With reference to the idea of them being dangerous to pedestrians, I have a Leaf and it has built in sensors to detect potential collision and will alert you and apply the brakes. It works because some teenagers pushed their friend in front of mine last week, I was doing almost 30 and we stopped in time. Thankfully.

RIPwalter · 03/06/2021 13:19

@DynamoKev

Various virtue-signalling posters expounding the virtues of their cars are refusing to say how much they cost - dodging the fact that many (most?) of us can't afford a Tesla or indeed an electric car of any kind.
We paid £26k in 2018 for a new Nissan leaf. This was the price after the government grant and we also received a grant for the charger.

Prior to this DH and I had never spent more than £1500 on a car (more often closer to £500) so this is how we had savings to buy it outright. It was also calculated as a long-term investment due to DH commuting 360 miles a week, but now he works from home permanently. But due to him WFH it is now our only car (and I put most the miles on it). Eventually we will need a second car again when I increase my hours, and long term when the leaf is old and the battery has degraded significantly we will get a newer EV as our primary car and keep it as a second car, and eventually just run it into the ground like we did our £500 bangers.

Frazzled2207 · 03/06/2021 13:20

@midgedude

Average cost second hand car in uk 14k Average cost electric car 44k

Most people would not be spending 1k a year on petrol

Its expensive

There are plenty of second hand electric cars too you know. Ours cost £21k nearly new. Bil’s (first gen) cost £7k. Lease deals are totally comparable.
shakingstevensfan · 03/06/2021 13:30

Come on first-generation cars are terrible. I know someone who used to have one and said it was terrible. They have significantly improved. But I would never buy a first-generation second-hand car.

Just read the annual cost of running a car in the UK is £1679, 75% of that is repairs.

Frazzled2207 · 03/06/2021 13:35

Bloody Nora that’s a sweeping statement. If they were that rubbish they wouldn’t have bothered with 2nd gen!

It doesn’t have a great range but is a fab little car. So much so that he is paying for a battery replacement rather than replacing.

Frazzled2207 · 03/06/2021 13:35

Rather than replacing the car I mean

countrygirl99 · 03/06/2021 13:37

@shakingstevensfan

Come on first-generation cars are terrible. I know someone who used to have one and said it was terrible. They have significantly improved. But I would never buy a first-generation second-hand car.

Just read the annual cost of running a car in the UK is £1679, 75% of that is repairs.

I know someone who works in EV development and he bought a Leaf when they first came out. His wife hated it as he wouldn't put the heater on in winter as the range was so small with it on. The new ones are a different kettle of fish though.
coogee · 03/06/2021 13:43

Not that it matters, they won’t have any choice but to drive electric cars soon, hehe

How soon?

StCharlotte · 03/06/2021 13:44

[quote Youngatheart00]@Twoforthree yes!! I totally agree about the danger of not hearing the car engine. I wonder what the solution is there.....[/quote]
They need a card pegged to the spokes... Grin

www.google.com/search?q=card+in+bike+spokes+gif&oq=card+in+bike&aqs=chrome.2.0j69i57j0l2j0i22i30.4870j0j7&client=ms-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=wkBW_a1pG5cjQM

murbblurb · 03/06/2021 13:44

3k is my budget for a car that will last five years with minimal repairs. Has worked so far. Something similar in electric, big enough to put a push bike in the boot - suggestions?

Electricity isn't generated by pedalling unicorns, for info. No such thing as green energy.

PegPeople · 03/06/2021 13:48

Bil’s (first gen) cost £7k.

I might be misremembering but wasn't the range for first gen electric car about 70 miles per charge? That's a heck of a lot of money for a car with such a tiny range.

FooFighter99 · 03/06/2021 13:55

@DynamoKev my eGolf costs me £202 a month, through a salary sacrifice scheme/my employer (it's 325 before tax, and then you benefit from reduced NI and Tax contributions)

That includes everything (servicing, breakdown, insurance etc. etc.) and it costs me about £5 a week to charge it up

EV's aren't for everyone, and it will come down to cost and range

I couldn't afford to buy an EV outright, so I lease one

shakingstevensfan · 03/06/2021 14:03

@FooFighter99 £3250 a year is more than most people spend. We bought a second-hand car for just under £10k a few months ago. Very low mileage, lots of added extras. We expect it to last for eight years and to do another 130k.

FooFighter99 · 03/06/2021 14:17

[quote shakingstevensfan]@FooFighter99 £3250 a year is more than most people spend. We bought a second-hand car for just under £10k a few months ago. Very low mileage, lots of added extras. We expect it to last for eight years and to do another 130k.[/quote]
After the tax savings, it's £2424 (£202x12) and the lease it for 2 years

I admit, it's a luxury for me and I've never had a brand new car before, so I can't tell you how excited I was when it was brought on the low-loader and I got to be the second ever person to drive it

It's a phenomenal car (IMO) and when the lease is up, I will definitely be looking at getting another EV through the same scheme as I'm saving a fortune not buying petrol

It's also peace of mind as the lease company take care of everything so if I break down, or get a flat tire (which happened about 2 months after I got the car) I just call them up and they sort it all out!

cupsofcoffee · 03/06/2021 14:39

There seem to be a lot of posters on this thread who have absolutely NO idea how privileged they are.

People saying 21k for a car is cheap, or that they're "only" £200-300 per month to lease. It's bonkers. That is so far outside most people's budgets it's almost laughable.

Frazzled2207 · 03/06/2021 14:56

@cupsofcoffee

There seem to be a lot of posters on this thread who have absolutely NO idea how privileged they are.

People saying 21k for a car is cheap, or that they're "only" £200-300 per month to lease. It's bonkers. That is so far outside most people's budgets it's almost laughable.

I guess you're pointing at me there. I paid £21k for a car. @FooFighter99 said she pays £202 a month. Where did we say that was cheap? please quote.

I totally know that's outside most people's budgets and we're extremely lucky . I am not doubting that for a second.

The whole point of the OP was about if it's practical to have one. The answer is if you can afford it and your family circumstances are right, then yes, absolutely.

Frazzled2207 · 03/06/2021 15:01

@PegPeople

Bil’s (first gen) cost £7k.

I might be misremembering but wasn't the range for first gen electric car about 70 miles per charge? That's a heck of a lot of money for a car with such a tiny range.

BiL's Leaf does about that much (several years old). Since buying it it has cost him pennies - hasn't needed any servicing or tax and he can charge for free at a Tesco near his house. However he doesn't need it for anything other than commuting and visiting family, all of whom are quite close. He's always taken the train for longer journeys. It works for him.

How much do most people spend on their car (insurance, tax, servicing, petrol) in two years? A few k in most cases. I assume he insures it, but other than that it cost him virtually nothing.