Would EV be the right choice
Discussion
Looking for peoples view on if EV is a practical solution.
Current company car is a Audi A5 which needs changing in the first half of 2021.
I’m home based Yorkshire but do need to travel to the office which is 180 miles away, charging points at the office, normally stay overnight and do 2 or 3 days when there.
Also I have customer visits to South Wales, London and Inverness
Mileage is 25k.
Thinking about Audi E-Tron 50 or Polestar 2, Jaguar I- pace too expensive
Tesla 3 is not on the list as I hate the styling or lack of it.
The other option is to go Phev possibly Volvo XC60 T6.
Current company car is a Audi A5 which needs changing in the first half of 2021.
I’m home based Yorkshire but do need to travel to the office which is 180 miles away, charging points at the office, normally stay overnight and do 2 or 3 days when there.
Also I have customer visits to South Wales, London and Inverness
Mileage is 25k.
Thinking about Audi E-Tron 50 or Polestar 2, Jaguar I- pace too expensive
Tesla 3 is not on the list as I hate the styling or lack of it.
The other option is to go Phev possibly Volvo XC60 T6.
Mmm, interesting - its do able as commented, but it doesnt leave much space for changes.
Before the whole COVID thing, I am 125 miles from my office and would often just go the night before, stop over in a motel and leave late to travel home on the days that I was there - often staying a few nights. On nicer days (most of the time), I would take my motorcycle - it has a solid 200 mile range all day on a full tank. But I never filled the damn thing up when I got home, usually late, and hence felt that I was constantly filling the damn thing up all of the time.
Ride down, fill up to get there. A few short trips locally, ride home, fill up on the way home - get home and have 1/2 a tank left - repeat each time I do it. Even though it will make the trip easily on one tank, just ended up out of sync each time!
Of course, its easier with an EV because you can charge at home and make sure you are ready to go with a full charge. But then you need to make sure you are doing this. Full charge before you leave, make sure you get a full charge when you get there so that you can get home without stopping. You can stop of course, but then it extends the trip by 30-40 mins to get the charge etc.... and if anything changes, it starts getting awkward.
I cant help thinking that for your scenario the longest range EV you can get or a PHEV might be the better option. The idea of essentially doing major sections of the drive on electric is appealing, but I suspect the use case for a PHEV is that it can do the local stuff on EV and can do the longer drives where MPG is better. Your call though, but I hear the e-Tron is a great place to be, just a little dull to drive. Polestar would be nice and is probably a relaxing car to drive, but have you considered the ECQ? I understand its a lot more efficient than the numbers say.
Before the whole COVID thing, I am 125 miles from my office and would often just go the night before, stop over in a motel and leave late to travel home on the days that I was there - often staying a few nights. On nicer days (most of the time), I would take my motorcycle - it has a solid 200 mile range all day on a full tank. But I never filled the damn thing up when I got home, usually late, and hence felt that I was constantly filling the damn thing up all of the time.
Ride down, fill up to get there. A few short trips locally, ride home, fill up on the way home - get home and have 1/2 a tank left - repeat each time I do it. Even though it will make the trip easily on one tank, just ended up out of sync each time!
Of course, its easier with an EV because you can charge at home and make sure you are ready to go with a full charge. But then you need to make sure you are doing this. Full charge before you leave, make sure you get a full charge when you get there so that you can get home without stopping. You can stop of course, but then it extends the trip by 30-40 mins to get the charge etc.... and if anything changes, it starts getting awkward.
I cant help thinking that for your scenario the longest range EV you can get or a PHEV might be the better option. The idea of essentially doing major sections of the drive on electric is appealing, but I suspect the use case for a PHEV is that it can do the local stuff on EV and can do the longer drives where MPG is better. Your call though, but I hear the e-Tron is a great place to be, just a little dull to drive. Polestar would be nice and is probably a relaxing car to drive, but have you considered the ECQ? I understand its a lot more efficient than the numbers say.
off_again said:
Mmm, interesting - its do able as commented, but it doesnt leave much space for changes.
Before the whole COVID thing, I am 125 miles from my office and would often just go the night before, stop over in a motel and leave late to travel home on the days that I was there - often staying a few nights. On nicer days (most of the time), I would take my motorcycle - it has a solid 200 mile range all day on a full tank. But I never filled the damn thing up when I got home, usually late, and hence felt that I was constantly filling the damn thing up all of the time.
Ride down, fill up to get there. A few short trips locally, ride home, fill up on the way home - get home and have 1/2 a tank left - repeat each time I do it. Even though it will make the trip easily on one tank, just ended up out of sync each time!
Of course, its easier with an EV because you can charge at home and make sure you are ready to go with a full charge. But then you need to make sure you are doing this. Full charge before you leave, make sure you get a full charge when you get there so that you can get home without stopping. You can stop of course, but then it extends the trip by 30-40 mins to get the charge etc.... and if anything changes, it starts getting awkward.
I cant help thinking that for your scenario the longest range EV you can get or a PHEV might be the better option. The idea of essentially doing major sections of the drive on electric is appealing, but I suspect the use case for a PHEV is that it can do the local stuff on EV and can do the longer drives where MPG is better. Your call though, but I hear the e-Tron is a great place to be, just a little dull to drive. Polestar would be nice and is probably a relaxing car to drive, but have you considered the ECQ? I understand its a lot more efficient than the numbers say.
EQC could be a good shout if it’s in budget Before the whole COVID thing, I am 125 miles from my office and would often just go the night before, stop over in a motel and leave late to travel home on the days that I was there - often staying a few nights. On nicer days (most of the time), I would take my motorcycle - it has a solid 200 mile range all day on a full tank. But I never filled the damn thing up when I got home, usually late, and hence felt that I was constantly filling the damn thing up all of the time.
Ride down, fill up to get there. A few short trips locally, ride home, fill up on the way home - get home and have 1/2 a tank left - repeat each time I do it. Even though it will make the trip easily on one tank, just ended up out of sync each time!
Of course, its easier with an EV because you can charge at home and make sure you are ready to go with a full charge. But then you need to make sure you are doing this. Full charge before you leave, make sure you get a full charge when you get there so that you can get home without stopping. You can stop of course, but then it extends the trip by 30-40 mins to get the charge etc.... and if anything changes, it starts getting awkward.
I cant help thinking that for your scenario the longest range EV you can get or a PHEV might be the better option. The idea of essentially doing major sections of the drive on electric is appealing, but I suspect the use case for a PHEV is that it can do the local stuff on EV and can do the longer drives where MPG is better. Your call though, but I hear the e-Tron is a great place to be, just a little dull to drive. Polestar would be nice and is probably a relaxing car to drive, but have you considered the ECQ? I understand its a lot more efficient than the numbers say.
off_again said:
Mmm, interesting - its do able as commented, but it doesnt leave much space for changes.
Before the whole COVID thing, I am 125 miles from my office and would often just go the night before, stop over in a motel and leave late to travel home on the days that I was there - often staying a few nights. On nicer days (most of the time), I would take my motorcycle - it has a solid 200 mile range all day on a full tank. But I never filled the damn thing up when I got home, usually late, and hence felt that I was constantly filling the damn thing up all of the time.
Ride down, fill up to get there. A few short trips locally, ride home, fill up on the way home - get home and have 1/2 a tank left - repeat each time I do it. Even though it will make the trip easily on one tank, just ended up out of sync each time!
Of course, its easier with an EV because you can charge at home and make sure you are ready to go with a full charge. But then you need to make sure you are doing this. Full charge before you leave, make sure you get a full charge when you get there so that you can get home without stopping. You can stop of course, but then it extends the trip by 30-40 mins to get the charge etc.... and if anything changes, it starts getting awkward.
I cant help thinking that for your scenario the longest range EV you can get or a PHEV might be the better option. The idea of essentially doing major sections of the drive on electric is appealing, but I suspect the use case for a PHEV is that it can do the local stuff on EV and can do the longer drives where MPG is better. Your call though, but I hear the e-Tron is a great place to be, just a little dull to drive. Polestar would be nice and is probably a relaxing car to drive, but have you considered the ECQ? I understand its a lot more efficient than the numbers say.
EQC could be a good shout if it’s in budget Before the whole COVID thing, I am 125 miles from my office and would often just go the night before, stop over in a motel and leave late to travel home on the days that I was there - often staying a few nights. On nicer days (most of the time), I would take my motorcycle - it has a solid 200 mile range all day on a full tank. But I never filled the damn thing up when I got home, usually late, and hence felt that I was constantly filling the damn thing up all of the time.
Ride down, fill up to get there. A few short trips locally, ride home, fill up on the way home - get home and have 1/2 a tank left - repeat each time I do it. Even though it will make the trip easily on one tank, just ended up out of sync each time!
Of course, its easier with an EV because you can charge at home and make sure you are ready to go with a full charge. But then you need to make sure you are doing this. Full charge before you leave, make sure you get a full charge when you get there so that you can get home without stopping. You can stop of course, but then it extends the trip by 30-40 mins to get the charge etc.... and if anything changes, it starts getting awkward.
I cant help thinking that for your scenario the longest range EV you can get or a PHEV might be the better option. The idea of essentially doing major sections of the drive on electric is appealing, but I suspect the use case for a PHEV is that it can do the local stuff on EV and can do the longer drives where MPG is better. Your call though, but I hear the e-Tron is a great place to be, just a little dull to drive. Polestar would be nice and is probably a relaxing car to drive, but have you considered the ECQ? I understand its a lot more efficient than the numbers say.
Unfortunately your preferences are limited in their absolute range especially in the colder/wetter months and won't do that 180 mile trip without a charging stop. You will then be relying on third party public charging which can be patchy.
No brainer for the BIK savings but you will need to change your plans a bit if determined to not go the Tesla route.
No brainer for the BIK savings but you will need to change your plans a bit if determined to not go the Tesla route.
Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 11th November 21:28
SWoll said:
Unfortunately your preferences are limited in their absolute range especially in the colder/wetter months and won't do that 180 mile trip without a charging stop. You will also be relying on third party public charging which can be patchy.
No brainer for the BIK savings but you will need to change your plans a bit if determined to not go the Tesla route.
The Polestar 2 has a 78kWh battery, are you seriously suggesting it'll not manage a 180 mile trip ?No brainer for the BIK savings but you will need to change your plans a bit if determined to not go the Tesla route.
Toaster Pilot said:
SWoll said:
Unfortunately your preferences are limited in their absolute range especially in the colder/wetter months and won't do that 180 mile trip without a charging stop. You will also be relying on third party public charging which can be patchy.
No brainer for the BIK savings but you will need to change your plans a bit if determined to not go the Tesla route.
The Polestar 2 has a 78kWh battery, are you seriously suggesting it'll not manage a 180 mile trip ?No brainer for the BIK savings but you will need to change your plans a bit if determined to not go the Tesla route.
Take into account in the real world you aren't charging to 100% and running the battery down to 0% so to allow any kind of buffer you'll need 200 miles of range for a comfortable 180 mile trip.
Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 11th November 21:59
Meltham Terrier said:
Also I have customer visits to South Wales, London and Inverness.
Say you are with a customer in Swansea and last minute get a call to go up to Inverness, but also need to swing past London. That situation I suspect would be mildly stressful, now imagine calling up the customer in Inverness telling them you will be 2-3-4hrs late turning up because you're car needed charging......For 95% of the population EVs are fantastic, for you, avoid like the plague unless you enjoy been really stressed about getting to work on time.
For work situations you need to account for max range could potentially need to do in 24hrs, than the MINIMUM range of any EV at 70mph+, into a headwind, and zero degrees outside. Sadly manufacturers don't give you a MINIMUM range, but taking 1/3 off the WLTP figures will give you an idea.
Luckily we don't do any long distance work trips now (hopefully never again), but when we did we used our combustion car. Time is too valuable on a work day to waste/stress over EV range.
Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 12th November 05:29
Your use case especially the trips to inverness, South Wales and London put you in the not really viable camp. I’ve had an EV (Tesla) for coming up to 5 years now and those trips for work are the types that are a PIA. I’ve driven to Italy for a holiday and charging just gets factored in, but any regular work journey where charging starts to dictate when you stop and how long for is painful. If each of your customer destinations gives you the option to fully charge while there then that mitigates a lot of the problem but you’ve only mentioned charging at your work office not customer sites.
Inverness is what, 400 miles, 800 mile round trip. You’d be adding say 100 real world miles per hour on most rapid chargers and even allowing for 200 miles in the car when you set off you’ll need to be charging for 6+ hours, that’s assuming they’re bang on route and free when you turn up
I’d be looking at a hybrid.
Inverness is what, 400 miles, 800 mile round trip. You’d be adding say 100 real world miles per hour on most rapid chargers and even allowing for 200 miles in the car when you set off you’ll need to be charging for 6+ hours, that’s assuming they’re bang on route and free when you turn up
I’d be looking at a hybrid.
Edited by Heres Johnny on Thursday 12th November 06:26
Polestar of those IMO.
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ lets you put in a car and start/finish and it shows you how it'll do and if/where you'd have to charge. Defaults are fairly conservative, but you can dig into settings to change some of that (eg starting at 100% battery, or in a 250+ mile car you might be comfortable with less than 10% remaining before charging).
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ lets you put in a car and start/finish and it shows you how it'll do and if/where you'd have to charge. Defaults are fairly conservative, but you can dig into settings to change some of that (eg starting at 100% battery, or in a 250+ mile car you might be comfortable with less than 10% remaining before charging).
aestetix1 said:
You should be okay with any of these. Charge at home, very cheap. There are enough public chargers for longer journeys now.
The eTron is a bit of a barge. Incredibly inefficient, probably best to avoid.
Have you also considered the Mercedes EQC?
EQC as bad or worse than the P2 and ETron for motorway range. Carwow got 194 miles out of one in decent weather at motorway speeds running 100% to flat.The eTron is a bit of a barge. Incredibly inefficient, probably best to avoid.
Have you also considered the Mercedes EQC?
ETron did 206, iPace 223, Tesla 3 LR 270.
Add single digit temps + rain and you'll lose at least 10% from those numbers + as you'll never run to flat will need another 10% as a buffer as above.
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