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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have an electric vehicle? Would you recommend it?

180 replies

LordGribeau · 25/05/2023 18:40

Just that really. We are looking at replacing our current mitsubishi outlander with an EV. Possibly a Kia Niro or Peugeot 2008. If you have one, would you recommend it? Are they good as a family car? DC are no longer in booster seats, so fit a bit more comfortably in the back.

OP posts:
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CreeperBoom · 25/05/2023 20:09

I love mine, and do about 15k miles per year, so am saving loads. I think you need a charger at home though, otherwise it's just too much of a pain.

Also, not sure I would be ready to make it my only car. E.g. I wouldn't want to do an 8 hour drive to holiday in it. But for the regular commuting miles, it is perfect.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 25/05/2023 20:12

We have a VW ID4 and I absolutely not just for the electric side of things but because it practically drives itself!

LeroyJenkinssss · 25/05/2023 20:15

I have an e2008 and love it. Would definitely recommend but the range is not good enough in winter. I drive just under 150 miles a day and I thought the 200 mile range would be enough but in the cold weather it’s not enough to comfortably do that journey. If you do less on a daily basis it’s grand

VanGoghsDog · 25/05/2023 20:18

I think the people who post are biased because they already chose an EV.

I've looked into it and decided not to. The initial outlay is high, the environmental damage caused by battery production means they're not necessarily the environmental choice, and if my sister ever stops shining about the charging stations and having to stop for an hour on a journey it will be a miracle (plus her last trip to stay at my house, when I wasn't even here, cost ME £14!).

malmi · 25/05/2023 20:32

Yes, if you can mostly charge at home, it makes sense.

Charging whilst out and about is less convenient than filling up a petrol/diesel car, although Teslas apparently come close. Otherwise, be prepared to download about 10 different apps to cover all the different networks you might want to use.

mobear · 25/05/2023 20:34

We have a Tesla Model Y and a toddler. We love it. I would definitely recommend it.

AuntyMabelandPippin · 25/05/2023 20:36

We're about to upgrade our Tesla 3 to a Y.

Roselilly36 · 25/05/2023 20:37

Good to hear positive comments, from ev owners, most research I have done online are people regretting purchasing of ev’s for various reasons. I think I will hold off for now, as I am not sure of the U.K. has the infrastructure or reliable longevity for the ev’s generally. I also strongly disagree with the mining of cobalt and lithium for batteries by child labour in the Congo. Make you wonder how ethical ev’s really are.

SonnySideDown · 25/05/2023 20:40

I have a VW ID3 and DH a Tesla model 3. It makes sense for us as we can charge from home with our solar panels. I charge mine overnight on a cheaper tariff as I have a 130 mile commute. DH works from home and charges his during the day via the sun. This month will probably have cost us around £30 to run both cars.

Plus they are so much easier to drive than ICE cars. I wouldn't go back to a non EV now.

MontyPyth0n · 25/05/2023 20:44

I wouldn't buy one because of how much more environmentally damaging they are compared to ICE cars.

PuzzledObserver · 25/05/2023 20:45

I have a Hyundai Kona, which is very similar to the e-Niro in efficiency (one of the best) and drivetrain, but slightly smaller in the back and boot - so the e-Niro would be a better choice as a family car.

Real world range for the driving I do (semi rural, mostly) is comfortably over 300 miles in summer, and even in bad weather and motorway speed you’d be close to 250 miles. The only thing I don’t like about it is the turning circle - it’s rubbish, which makes parking less than slick.

But re electric generally - absolutely. A home charger makes it so much easier, so if that’s not a possibility then you will need to do your research and sums on where you will charge.

I would suggest going along to a specialist EV dealer and test drive several different models, as there are lots to choose from and they differ widely.

If you’re going to do a lot of long journeys where you’re going to need to charge en route, than Tesla is the top bet owing to their dedicated charging network and high charging speed. If (like me) you don’t like the way Teslas look, or they’re out of budget, then do consider the charging speed, as that can make a difference on long journeys.

Original poster
LordGribeau · 25/05/2023 20:50

Thank you for all the replies, it definitely helps. We have been a bit in two minds about it, but I think we're about ready to take the plunge.

OP posts:
timetorefresh · 25/05/2023 20:51

I love mine, but DH has a "proper" car for when we go any sort of distance

jannier · 25/05/2023 20:51

Ask someone who's coming to the end of the 7 year battery life and have a pile of valueless junk

Americano75 · 25/05/2023 20:52

connie26 · 25/05/2023 19:18

I have a Nissan Leaf and I love it. At the moment, all my electricity for it is arriving for free from the sun via the solar panels!

Oh my God, me too! We just got the panels installed.

I love my Leaf, it's such a great car to drive.

jannier · 25/05/2023 20:54

Roselilly36 · 25/05/2023 20:37

Good to hear positive comments, from ev owners, most research I have done online are people regretting purchasing of ev’s for various reasons. I think I will hold off for now, as I am not sure of the U.K. has the infrastructure or reliable longevity for the ev’s generally. I also strongly disagree with the mining of cobalt and lithium for batteries by child labour in the Congo. Make you wonder how ethical ev’s really are.

Lithium lakes are pretty shit for the poor countries they are dumped in too. They couldn't have one in the UK

jannier · 25/05/2023 20:56

This is the figure to replace a Tester battery effectively knocking out resale value

To ask if you have an electric vehicle? Would you recommend it?
EmmaStone · 25/05/2023 20:56

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 25/05/2023 20:05

MG4 here and love it. Great to drive. solar panels on the roof meanI can charge it for free - at least when the weathers like it is today ☀️

I've got an MG4 too (had it for about a month now), and I really like it, great range for a smaller, cheaper EV. My only complaint is the infotainment system is a bit glitchy, but I think that's likely to be resolved by a software update, so it doesn't bother me too much.

We've also got a 'normal' ICE car, so we're not reliant on the EV, plus we've decided to lease initially for 3 years to see what the EV market is looking like then - expecting there to be more available and better prices, longer ranges etc etc.

We do have a charger at home (and for the week before it installed, I just used a 3 point pin 'granny charger'), so not had to battle with finding a charging point when out and about.

modgepodge · 25/05/2023 20:58

jannier · 25/05/2023 20:51

Ask someone who's coming to the end of the 7 year battery life and have a pile of valueless junk

Hopefully one of those people will be along soon to tell us about it. I’ve never heard from one of them myself, always hear about them from other people.

We’ve just had to return our electric company car as husband is moving jobs and I am beyond sad. I love it. Charging at home it works out cheaper than petrol on our overnight rate. It’s perfect for local/semi local journeys within the car’s range. Out and about is a different story however - some chargers are now 75p per unit so I can easily see how someone spent £50. The absolute cheapest I’ve seen out and about is 30p and that’s slow chargers so no good on a long journey, and even at that price I think works out compatible to petrol/diesel price wise. We are hoping to get an electric again but we’d need one with a range of 300miles (old one was 150) to make it work as our only family car.

PolkaDotMankini · 25/05/2023 21:02

I have a Kia Niro. It took me a while to get used to all the newfangled safety features, but now I like it. We haven't put the boot space to the test yet but we're just about to pack it to the gunnels to go on a half term holiday so I'll know then!

CharlieRight · 25/05/2023 21:05

We have a small EV for around town and a petrol SUV which we only use for longer trips and if it’s raining and I don’t want to ride my bicycle.
I enjoy driving the EV, but it’s kind of a toy and if we could only afford one vehicle it would be the petrol car or perhaps a hybrid. Just for reasons of range, flexibility and availability

Whiterose23 · 25/05/2023 21:11

I have a Tesla Y and love it. It’s spacious, fun to drive and cheap to charge.

Reluctantadult · 25/05/2023 21:12

TreadLight · 25/05/2023 18:55

I have an MG5 and have no complaints. It's easy to drive and with an electric vehicle tariff it costs peanuts to charge.

I would say electric cars are simply better than equivalent diesel/petrol cars.

Same!

manontroppo · 25/05/2023 21:12

I have an E-bike but I guess that’s not what you mean ;) It’s perfect for my 8 mile commute, which is cycleable but with an E-bike I don’t get as sweaty.

Lancasterel · 25/05/2023 21:25

Definitely. So cheap to run. We have a Mazda MX-30 which has a range of around 100 miles, we use it every day as our runaround car and our big diesel very rarely, only when we’re going away for the weekend or a long day trip really! Charge it at home overnight and it costs about £2.50 for 100 miles… amazing.