Any PH's bought an EV and actually struggled with range?
Discussion
Just pondering how big a deal this if for most owners. Worrying about range and charge times put me off going the EV route for a while, it didn't help that reviews of EV's focus so heavily on range, along with endless articles about tricky or non functioning chargers, or the supposed lack of chargers...
But actually having lived with an EV for over 18 months now, it simply hasn't been an issue. Only twice have I gone far enough in single day to genuinely need to find a public charger and it wasn't that hard... the first one was a bit annoying as it had crashed so I had to call for them to remote reset it. Took about ten minutes to sort out which is nothing compared to the HOURS I've saved not filling up a petrol stations in the same 18 months.
The other time I found 2 vacant 50kw chargers and no issues at all. 30 minutes later I had enough juice to drive home without a thought about running out - which is actually all that matters.. Still articles obsess over the time to 'fill up' but you so rarely need to do that as most people will fill up properly at home when they get back, and you're asleep while that happens so who cares how long it takes?
We were recently planning a trip to Cornwall from near Peterborough, we started to look in to chargers and there were plenty, but then I concluded that we've saved so much money paying for volts not petrol, we might as well ditch the car and take the train, first class with a glass of wine and a snooze
(man maths)
Am I alone in concluding that despite the general obsession with range and charge times, that in practice it's simply not an issue? Obviously you need a house with off road parking and to not routinely exceed the range in a single day, but I would guess that most people that can afford the current EV price tags probably do have a drive where they can charge it, and very few people routinely drive 250+ miles a day.
I reckon most EV owners will have a couple of 'range anxiety' stories, but I also reckon very few would go back to the weekly hassle and expense of forecourt fill ups.
But actually having lived with an EV for over 18 months now, it simply hasn't been an issue. Only twice have I gone far enough in single day to genuinely need to find a public charger and it wasn't that hard... the first one was a bit annoying as it had crashed so I had to call for them to remote reset it. Took about ten minutes to sort out which is nothing compared to the HOURS I've saved not filling up a petrol stations in the same 18 months.
The other time I found 2 vacant 50kw chargers and no issues at all. 30 minutes later I had enough juice to drive home without a thought about running out - which is actually all that matters.. Still articles obsess over the time to 'fill up' but you so rarely need to do that as most people will fill up properly at home when they get back, and you're asleep while that happens so who cares how long it takes?
We were recently planning a trip to Cornwall from near Peterborough, we started to look in to chargers and there were plenty, but then I concluded that we've saved so much money paying for volts not petrol, we might as well ditch the car and take the train, first class with a glass of wine and a snooze
(man maths)Am I alone in concluding that despite the general obsession with range and charge times, that in practice it's simply not an issue? Obviously you need a house with off road parking and to not routinely exceed the range in a single day, but I would guess that most people that can afford the current EV price tags probably do have a drive where they can charge it, and very few people routinely drive 250+ miles a day.
I reckon most EV owners will have a couple of 'range anxiety' stories, but I also reckon very few would go back to the weekly hassle and expense of forecourt fill ups.
Not me.
2020 Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Being able to charge at home, meaning every morning I have 260 or so miles of range makes life so much easier. If i need to go >260 miles in a day, then I’m definitely passing closely by at least one Tesla supercharger that will fill me back up to 80% in 20 mins, give or take.
Unless you’re a sales rep or someone who spends hours every day on the motorways of the UK and you can’t charge at home overnight, an EV with 200+ miles range is probably very suitable.
2020 Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Being able to charge at home, meaning every morning I have 260 or so miles of range makes life so much easier. If i need to go >260 miles in a day, then I’m definitely passing closely by at least one Tesla supercharger that will fill me back up to 80% in 20 mins, give or take.
Unless you’re a sales rep or someone who spends hours every day on the motorways of the UK and you can’t charge at home overnight, an EV with 200+ miles range is probably very suitable.
4 months into Tesla M3 SR+ ownership for me, no range issues.
I usually charge at home once a week, piece of cake … I’m doing c200 miles a week.
Just back from an 800 mile round trip to the Scottish Highlands, used the charging network - no bother.
Mine is a salary sacrifice company car, tax savings + fuel savings mean it’s a no brainer.
I usually charge at home once a week, piece of cake … I’m doing c200 miles a week.
Just back from an 800 mile round trip to the Scottish Highlands, used the charging network - no bother.
Mine is a salary sacrifice company car, tax savings + fuel savings mean it’s a no brainer.
LB14 said:
4 months into Tesla M3 SR+ ownership for me, no range issues.
I usually charge at home once a week, piece of cake … I’m doing c200 miles a week.
Just back from an 800 mile round trip to the Scottish Highlands, used the charging network - no bother.
Mine is a salary sacrifice company car, tax savings + fuel savings mean it’s a no brainer.
Same for me on the tax front. Zero BIK year one, then 1% then 2%... that with the fuel savings and it was honestly cheaper to put an 80+k EV (via lease) through the company than take out the same monthly £££, pay tax and then probably end up with a £30k golf costing me as much overall!I usually charge at home once a week, piece of cake … I’m doing c200 miles a week.
Just back from an 800 mile round trip to the Scottish Highlands, used the charging network - no bother.
Mine is a salary sacrifice company car, tax savings + fuel savings mean it’s a no brainer.
800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
TheDeuce said:
Same for me on the tax front. Zero BIK year one, then 1% then 2%... that with the fuel savings and it was honestly cheaper to put an 80+k EV (via lease) through the company than take out the same monthly £££, pay tax and then probably end up with a £30k golf costing me as much overall!
800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
Yes we are just about to roll out a salary sacrifice EV company car scheme to our senior employees, 2% BIK in place until 2024/25 so make hay whilst the sun shines. 800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
We are firm of accountants and have been advising all of our Ltd Co clients to consider EV company cars rather than paying for a personal ICE car from taxed income for all the reasons you state.
ColdoRS said:
Not me.
2020 Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Being able to charge at home, meaning every morning I have 260 or so miles of range makes life so much easier. If i need to go >260 miles in a day, then I’m definitely passing closely by at least one Tesla supercharger that will fill me back up to 80% in 20 mins, give or take.
Unless you’re a sales rep or someone who spends hours every day on the motorways of the UK and you can’t charge at home overnight, an EV with 200+ miles range is probably very suitable.
That's my thinking - and pretty much all decent EV's will do 200 miles even if you don't make any effort or concessions to your driving style, so what's the bother or the obsession with comparing range all about? I swear it's bragging rights and fear mongering.2020 Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Being able to charge at home, meaning every morning I have 260 or so miles of range makes life so much easier. If i need to go >260 miles in a day, then I’m definitely passing closely by at least one Tesla supercharger that will fill me back up to 80% in 20 mins, give or take.
Unless you’re a sales rep or someone who spends hours every day on the motorways of the UK and you can’t charge at home overnight, an EV with 200+ miles range is probably very suitable.
And if a person does need to go beyond the maximum range... if they've already driven 250miles or whatever, aren't they about ready for a 20 minute break!? Surely after at very least 4 hours of travel it's going to be breakfast, lunch or dinnertime
LB14 said:
TheDeuce said:
Same for me on the tax front. Zero BIK year one, then 1% then 2%... that with the fuel savings and it was honestly cheaper to put an 80+k EV (via lease) through the company than take out the same monthly £££, pay tax and then probably end up with a £30k golf costing me as much overall!
800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
Yes we are just about to roll out a salary sacrifice EV company car scheme to our senior employees, 2% BIK in place until 2024/25 so make hay whilst the sun shines. 800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
We are firm of accountants and have been advising all of our Ltd Co clients to consider EV company cars rather than paying for a personal ICE car from taxed income for all the reasons you state.
Also octopus are now doing discount EV tariffs for 4 hours each night, so set the EV to charge at those hours and 250 miles range can cost about £5... vs about £40 for ICE
We have 2 EVs and no ICE vehicles.
We got the first 3 years ago - a 2015 B class which in winter will do 60-70 miles on a full charge. Never had range issues with it as we only use it locally and charge it overnight. We live in Orkney so its pretty hard to drive more than 70 miles in a day.
Based on this we got a 2016 Model S 75D in April. Came perilously close to running out of battery when on holiday in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. Planned to visit friends in Glasgow, range indicated around 60 miles when leaving which was plenty to get to supercharger at Eurocentral for a top up. Unfortunately M8 was closed due to an accident and diverted via M9. Arrived at friend's house in Glasgow with around 20 miles range left. When we started the car again had 9 (!) miles range left due to battery cooling. A fairly fraught search of chargers in the Southside followed with the first one being out of order and the second in use. 3 angry kids in the car (all <5) meant we gambled by passing the in use charger rather than wait, making it to the instavolt in Easterhouse with 2 miles range left.
2 lessons learned from this:
1. Make sure to park with enough range to get back to a reliable charger which we would have done with a quick top up in Edinburgh when leaving the city.
2. Book holiday accommodation with an electric car charger - we weren't used to starting journeys without a full battery.
We got the first 3 years ago - a 2015 B class which in winter will do 60-70 miles on a full charge. Never had range issues with it as we only use it locally and charge it overnight. We live in Orkney so its pretty hard to drive more than 70 miles in a day.
Based on this we got a 2016 Model S 75D in April. Came perilously close to running out of battery when on holiday in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. Planned to visit friends in Glasgow, range indicated around 60 miles when leaving which was plenty to get to supercharger at Eurocentral for a top up. Unfortunately M8 was closed due to an accident and diverted via M9. Arrived at friend's house in Glasgow with around 20 miles range left. When we started the car again had 9 (!) miles range left due to battery cooling. A fairly fraught search of chargers in the Southside followed with the first one being out of order and the second in use. 3 angry kids in the car (all <5) meant we gambled by passing the in use charger rather than wait, making it to the instavolt in Easterhouse with 2 miles range left.
2 lessons learned from this:
1. Make sure to park with enough range to get back to a reliable charger which we would have done with a quick top up in Edinburgh when leaving the city.
2. Book holiday accommodation with an electric car charger - we weren't used to starting journeys without a full battery.
LB14 said:
TheDeuce said:
Same for me on the tax front. Zero BIK year one, then 1% then 2%... that with the fuel savings and it was honestly cheaper to put an 80+k EV (via lease) through the company than take out the same monthly £££, pay tax and then probably end up with a £30k golf costing me as much overall!
800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
Yes we are just about to roll out a salary sacrifice EV company car scheme to our senior employees, 2% BIK in place until 2024/25 so make hay whilst the sun shines. 800 miles with no issues is progress indeed compared to the first couple of years of public charging network teething issues.
We are firm of accountants and have been advising all of our Ltd Co clients to consider EV company cars rather than paying for a personal ICE car from taxed income for all the reasons you state.
orvil said:
We have 2 EVs and no ICE vehicles.
We got the first 3 years ago - a 2015 B class which in winter will do 60-70 miles on a full charge. Never had range issues with it as we only use it locally and charge it overnight. We live in Orkney so its pretty hard to drive more than 70 miles in a day.
Based on this we got a 2016 Model S 75D in April. Came perilously close to running out of battery when on holiday in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. Planned to visit friends in Glasgow, range indicated around 60 miles when leaving which was plenty to get to supercharger at Eurocentral for a top up. Unfortunately M8 was closed due to an accident and diverted via M9. Arrived at friend's house in Glasgow with around 20 miles range left. When we started the car again had 9 (!) miles range left due to battery cooling. A fairly fraught search of chargers in the Southside followed with the first one being out of order and the second in use. 3 angry kids in the car (all <5) meant we gambled by passing the in use charger rather than wait, making it to the instavolt in Easterhouse with 2 miles range left.
2 lessons learned from this:
1. Make sure to park with enough range to get back to a reliable charger which we would have done with a quick top up in Edinburgh when leaving the city.
2. Book holiday accommodation with an electric car charger - we weren't used to starting journeys without a full battery.
I had no ideas Tesla's could report 60 odd miles and then due to simple battery temp management drop so far, that's quite surprising. Although if I was at a friends house and that happened, I think I would have used the standard AC charger to top up a few miles more range ahead of trying to reach a proper charger!We got the first 3 years ago - a 2015 B class which in winter will do 60-70 miles on a full charge. Never had range issues with it as we only use it locally and charge it overnight. We live in Orkney so its pretty hard to drive more than 70 miles in a day.
Based on this we got a 2016 Model S 75D in April. Came perilously close to running out of battery when on holiday in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. Planned to visit friends in Glasgow, range indicated around 60 miles when leaving which was plenty to get to supercharger at Eurocentral for a top up. Unfortunately M8 was closed due to an accident and diverted via M9. Arrived at friend's house in Glasgow with around 20 miles range left. When we started the car again had 9 (!) miles range left due to battery cooling. A fairly fraught search of chargers in the Southside followed with the first one being out of order and the second in use. 3 angry kids in the car (all <5) meant we gambled by passing the in use charger rather than wait, making it to the instavolt in Easterhouse with 2 miles range left.
2 lessons learned from this:
1. Make sure to park with enough range to get back to a reliable charger which we would have done with a quick top up in Edinburgh when leaving the city.
2. Book holiday accommodation with an electric car charger - we weren't used to starting journeys without a full battery.
We holidayed recently in Northumberland and booked an airbnb with dedicated parking on the premises with the expectation of being able to charge via the mains charger from the house if required. Sadly the photos and description didn't reveal that the parking space was in a car port that was separated from the house by about 30m and crossed a public footpath and another car port!! Luckily the local charger we found was fantastic so all good.
Tesla = efficient , Caterham = funTheDeuce said:
Only twice have I gone far enough in single day to genuinely need to find a public charger and it wasn't that hard...
There you go. With that journey profile, and a home charger you can't go wrong. Try needing public (non tesla) chargers 3 or 4 times a week and you'll be whistling a different tune. It's an absolute pain in the arse.
My 280 mile range (round town in summer) EV was sub 190 on cold wet motorways.
I'm back in a diesel and won't be going back to electric for a good few years.
The Road Crew said:
TheDeuce said:
Only twice have I gone far enough in single day to genuinely need to find a public charger and it wasn't that hard...
There you go. With that journey profile, and a home charger you can't go wrong. Try needing public (non tesla) chargers 3 or 4 times a week and you'll be whistling a different tune. It's an absolute pain in the arse.
My 280 mile range (round town in summer) EV was sub 190 on cold wet motorways.
I'm back in a diesel and won't be going back to electric for a good few years.
Why did you need a public charger so often? Was that due to journey profile or no opportunity to charge at home?
TheDeuce said:
The Road Crew said:
TheDeuce said:
Only twice have I gone far enough in single day to genuinely need to find a public charger and it wasn't that hard...
There you go. With that journey profile, and a home charger you can't go wrong. Try needing public (non tesla) chargers 3 or 4 times a week and you'll be whistling a different tune. It's an absolute pain in the arse.
My 280 mile range (round town in summer) EV was sub 190 on cold wet motorways.
I'm back in a diesel and won't be going back to electric for a good few years.
Why did you need a public charger so often? Was that due to journey profile or no opportunity to charge at home?
Might have managed with a tesla but anything else was unworkable as the networks are a joke. Unreliable and over the last year they are much busier as more EVs hit the road.
The Road Crew said:
TheDeuce said:
The Road Crew said:
TheDeuce said:
Only twice have I gone far enough in single day to genuinely need to find a public charger and it wasn't that hard...
There you go. With that journey profile, and a home charger you can't go wrong. Try needing public (non tesla) chargers 3 or 4 times a week and you'll be whistling a different tune. It's an absolute pain in the arse.
My 280 mile range (round town in summer) EV was sub 190 on cold wet motorways.
I'm back in a diesel and won't be going back to electric for a good few years.
Why did you need a public charger so often? Was that due to journey profile or no opportunity to charge at home?
Might have managed with a tesla but anything else was unworkable as the networks are a joke. Unreliable and over the last year they are much busier as more EVs hit the road.
Obviously didn't fit with your situation at all. But in general I think 'most' drivers will use public chargers so infrequently that the relative scarcity isn't the nightmare that it's made out to be. Not vs the typical weekly bore and expense of visiting a petrol forecourt..
The Road Crew said:
Change of work/journey profile. Its fine when you can leave home with 100% but a few nights away from home with no overnight charging and it was untenable. Starting a busy day with 25% was a nightmare!
Might have managed with a tesla but anything else was unworkable as the networks are a joke. Unreliable and over the last year they are much busier as more EVs hit the road.
You can do it in a Tesla but after 3 years of my Model S I had had enough of the hassle. Being on the road all day to get to your hotel to them remember you have to go out again to find a super charger for the next day gets old. As does adding up that you have taken 4 hours longer to get there. Might have managed with a tesla but anything else was unworkable as the networks are a joke. Unreliable and over the last year they are much busier as more EVs hit the road.
Just adds to more draining trip which in my case was busy work trips, I ended up saying I don’t care about how much it saves me life is to short. Replaced with RRS P400e go to work everyday on electric but no worries when away. Works well for me I accept most people don’t do what I do though especially now with zoom meeting etc.
Speaking of life being short RRS is going for either a gt4 for or Lotus Emira
Sounds like he couldn't charge at home.
Problem I have. I can't even Hoover out the car as the road stops far from my 2nd floor flat.
Same problem in the streets of terraced houses where there is almost a nil possibility of getting a space outside one's own house.
I think EVs are fine whilst only owned by a few but once pushed onto the majority it will be a nightmare.
Problem I have. I can't even Hoover out the car as the road stops far from my 2nd floor flat.
Same problem in the streets of terraced houses where there is almost a nil possibility of getting a space outside one's own house.
I think EVs are fine whilst only owned by a few but once pushed onto the majority it will be a nightmare.
No, had a Model 3 for 6 months which I didn't like very much and now had my Polestar since Feb so circa. 8 months and done 14k miles and had no issues.
Probably have to charge it once a month away from home at a push.
The 5p night tarrif I have means its costing me about £3.25 to do 200 miles and the BIK is nothing as well so as my company car it was the best decision I made.
I wouldn't go back to am ICE car again for a daily driver. For a weekend toy it's a different story but day to day the instant acceleration, cheap running costs and lack of noise make them a no brainer.
Its rare you come across an EV owner who wants to switch back.
I have done a trip to Devon in it (live in Chester) and didn't really have an issue with charging either. The networks are improving by the day and the need to have countless apps and not being able to pay via contactless is improving rapidly is well.
Probably have to charge it once a month away from home at a push.
The 5p night tarrif I have means its costing me about £3.25 to do 200 miles and the BIK is nothing as well so as my company car it was the best decision I made.
I wouldn't go back to am ICE car again for a daily driver. For a weekend toy it's a different story but day to day the instant acceleration, cheap running costs and lack of noise make them a no brainer.
Its rare you come across an EV owner who wants to switch back.
I have done a trip to Devon in it (live in Chester) and didn't really have an issue with charging either. The networks are improving by the day and the need to have countless apps and not being able to pay via contactless is improving rapidly is well.
Edited by greggy50 on Wednesday 3rd November 22:57
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