Would you buy a hybrid/electric car?
Discussion
Claudia Skies said:
Q: Where do hybrid/electric make most sense?
A: In a City
Q: Where are people least likely to be able to charge their car?
A: In a City.
Go figure...
Presumably you live in a city that doesn't have electricity then?A: In a City
Q: Where are people least likely to be able to charge their car?
A: In a City.
Go figure...
Most cities I've been to you are never more than about 50m from a 3 phase electric supply under the ground. And most buildings have nice 3 pin sockets you can plug into. Even better, many cities now have 7kW EVSE units you can plug into and charge up. That's assuming you even need to charge at all.
OP - forget the i8. Get yourself an i3 REX , and something fun for weekends. I've got the former and won't be buying another petrol car. Unless Aston get round to building a rumoured electric GT car. (Not the SUV though please!)
Forget manuals and autos. Electrics (as opposed to hybrids) have no gears. 1 pedal to do most of the driving. Unless you are pushing it a bit and need to use the friction brakes. No good for track days, but for day to day use great fun.
What 0-60 times don't compare is how long it takes to engage the clutch, find the biting point whilst rising the revs, and then deftly matching engine speed to clutch release and releasing the handbrake. By the time you've done all that - I've already got across the light in my i3. Elecrtic handbrake on... left in D. When you see amber stamp on the go pedal. Wooosh. No attracting attention with 4000 rpm revving for launch control. In 3 months of commuting and zipping around town at weekends I'm yet to be beaten from the lights apart from once a 328i got the jump on me as I was looking at the junction lights not realising ours has changed. Most of the rest of the time I look in my mirrors and everyone else is 50m behind me. tghe best bit is doesn't cost anything. At 2p / mile charged off peak you can have cheap fun.
The REX version has petrol too, and means for example I recently drove the 120 mile to work and back, on 70/30 eletric / petrol. Topped up on the fast home charger [installed for free] whilst packing. Then drove 210 miles to Poole(with a couple of detours), stopping at Chievely service for a rapid charge whilst eating a BK. Topped up fuel (from a jerry can in the front boot). Don't bother carrying it normally, but didn't want to queue at the pumps as it was school holidays.
Not bad for an "electric" car. It's not a hybrid in the sense the motor never drives the wheels. Just a generator. It's what known as a series hybrid, or range extended electric vehicle. You just have to drive one to get over the shape - it handles much better than it looks it will do as the weight is down low and still only weighs abut the same as a golf.
Here's a recent user review...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
What I would say - is in my new job I have work place charging. So I won't need petrol again until I go on holiday. Everytime you swtich on you have 80 miles electric range and 80 miles petrol (Bit more in summer and bit less in winter). Best I've seen in April is 110/95 . But that was due to heavy traffic on the M1 keeping speeds below 60 for a long stretch. Worst I've seen is 68 electric when it was minus 2, I forgot to preheat the battery and then did "high" motorway speeds for 60 miles. Battery almost empty by the time I got to work. (But still had 70 left in petrol). Don't have to worry about losing your license as top speed is 95. Which is actually enough to get faster than most people!
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