Electric car

[cheesemumma]

Hello. Does anyone have n electric car? If so how is it? What is it? How much did it cost? We're you able to get a payment plan to spread the cost? How far can you go before charging? How do they work- just on electricity?

Sorry many questions. I have to travel 50 miles a day for work and currently have a petrol car, the guilt is eating me up and I need to make a change, just worried I can't afford the initial payout.

Any advice?

Thanks

I'm interested in this - not sure of logistics of having one as my only parking is on-street. Has anyone made that work without tripping or garrotting the neighbours?

I suspect hybrid might be best option for us (in current infrastructure) , and was wondering if any MNetters could recommend theirs?

I collect my new Renault Zoe soon. Yes you definitely need a drive for charging! Hopefully that will change as infrastructure improves. The Zoe does up to 180 miles per charge. It has no petrol engine.

Go talk to the dealers about finance options, they are still pricier than petrol cars.

I have a Nissan Leaf.

Only had it a few weeks, but to charge it we have to dangle the wires out of the window and across the pavement. It’s not practical at all, so am getting a charger fixed on the wall outside my house soon.

There are lots of free chargers about (supermarkets etc), so I try to use them when possible.

I only ever do short journeys so it just made sense to get one.

I’m on my second, first was BMW i3, leased. Had that for 3 years. Current is the i3S (sport) on PCP.

I commute around 15,000 miles a year and spend about £20 a month on electricity to charge it (pretty much only charge at home, overnight on E7).

Would never go back to ICE!

My current car costs £260pm PCP, £30 insurance, £40 luxury car tax. Works out very economical for the miles I do.

£260? That's a lot less than I was expecting. Is there room in the back of any of these cats for 2 cars seats. Currently have a Skoda fabia and was looking at upsizing as it's a bit of a squash.

@cheesemumma I think the i3 would be too small for 2 car seats (I’m due this month with DC1). But there are bigger cars.

Current car was bought at 8 months old, so not brand new (had done under 3,000 miles). Bought for approx £27k (original price was over £40k), £6k deposit got a PCP of £260pcm which is a bargain for me with the mileage.

I have a Toyota Prius Hybrid, excellent car, wouldn’t go fully electric yet due to high mileage I do.

I've got a Renault Zoe - I paid £5K for it a year ago and it's bizarrely gone up over £1K in value.

I pay £48 battery lease ( this is how the purchase price was low) which includes breakdown / run out of electric plus warranty and guarantee of the battery health.

It does 100 miles per charge. It is a quick charging model which takes around 40-45 mins to fully charge. 0 road tax and cheaper to insure than my previous diesel.

My local authority offers parking permits for all council run car parks for electric vehicles so that saves me £4 per day when at work. I work in town which is 6 miles from home and do home visits across a 20 miles radius so only charge every other day or so depending on what I'm doing.

I use a rapid charger at a local supermarket 2 mins from home which is free. I don't have a home charger due to there being free local ones.

I would definitely get another and have my eye on the Zoe 2 when that comes.oit next year.

We have an BMW I3 - have had it for 4 1/2 years and done 70K miles - due to change it soon but can't quite fine the right replacement.

It does about 80 miles before needing to charge, though this one has a range extender meaning there is a small lawn mower like engine generator which will power the battery for 80 miles on a full tank of fuel. - we have not used a full tank of the fuel in 4 1/2 years. But it has saved us from range anxiety.

I would say the I3 would be a faff to put child seats in as the doors open the opposite way round to usual rear doors ie the hinge is at the back of the door, and the front doors have to be open before you can open them. So using the back seats is not that practical.

Love it though - it's such smooth and also very nippy car and has done everything we needed for.

I have an e-Golf. It's fully electric and we don't have a charger at home because we've always managed to find free chargers in car parks and at supermarkets etc. We've done about 7000 miles in it and only paid for a couple of charges.

There was quite a long thread about electric cars recently here which might be helpful:

Anyone got an electric car ? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/cars/3565954-Anyone-got-an-electric-car