Buying my first EV

[LHRFlightman]

Doing some man maths on a Tesla Model S 75D. My left knee is falling apart so I need an automatic.

I currently run two ICE cars, a 2017 Civic SR and a 2001 S2000.

Running costs for both are approx £3200 a year, based on 12k miles in the Civic and 800 in the S, insurance, tax and a service.

Insurance for the Tesla is circa £500. 12k miles at 35p per kWh is £1400 ( home charging ) and an annual service at £250, which is all I could find online.

I can get around £18-20k for the Honda's, I can use £10k savings and finance the remaining amount. Which puts me around £35k for the Tesla.

Thoughts?

[Crusoe]

Can get a three year old model 3 performance with under 20k miles for your £35k which might be a better buy and as a newer model?

[LHRFlightman]

Thanks I'll take a look at the model 3 also.

[Venisonpie]

You will be able to haggle hard on a used EV at the moment, they swamping the market with not enough buyers.

[bennno]

LHRFlightman said:

Doing some man maths on a Tesla Model S 75D. My left knee is falling apart so I need an automatic.

I currently run two ICE cars, a 2017 Civic SR and a 2001 S2000.

Running costs for both are approx £3200 a year, based on 12k miles in the Civic and 800 in the S, insurance, tax and a service.

Insurance for the Tesla is circa £500. 12k miles at 35p per kWh is £1400 ( home charging ) and an annual service at £250, which is all I could find online.

I can get around £18-20k for the Honda's, I can use £10k savings and finance the remaining amount. Which puts me around £35k for the Tesla.

Thoughts?

Why re you adding the cost of electricity against the Tesla but not petrol against your existing ones?

[anonymous-user]

LHRFlightman said:

Doing some man maths on a Tesla Model S 75D. My left knee is falling apart so I need an automatic.

I currently run two ICE cars, a 2017 Civic SR and a 2001 S2000.

Running costs for both are approx £3200 a year, based on 12k miles in the Civic and 800 in the S, insurance, tax and a service.

Insurance for the Tesla is circa £500. 12k miles at 35p per kWh is £1400 ( home charging ) and an annual service at £250, which is all I could find online.

I can get around £18-20k for the Honda's, I can use £10k savings and finance the remaining amount. Which puts me around £35k for the Tesla.

Thoughts?

12p a kWh if you switch to Octopus Intelligent, offset against higher day rate (05:30 - 23:30) of 42p so needs two be factored in if heavy daytime user.

[LHRFlightman]

bennno said:

Why re you adding the cost of electricity against the Tesla but not petrol against your existing ones?

I'm not. £2k of the current cost is petrol.

[anonymous-user]

Can you tell us a bit about how you use your car?

That has a massive impact on the best EV for you and how well an EV will fit in your life.


Also what are your goals?

Cost?

Comfort and ease of use?

Environmental?

[LHRFlightman]

Archie2050 said:

Can you tell us a bit about how you use your car?

That has a massive impact on the best EV for you and how well an EV will fit in your life.


Also what are your goals?

Cost?

Comfort and ease of use?

Environmental?

Firstly I WFH, with the occasional trip to a UK client. Longest trip would be Birmingham Airport, so a 200 round trip. Most trips are less than 100 miles round trip.

Comfort and ease of use are priorities. I'm fortunate enough to live 2 mile from a Tesla supercharging station, although I expect 95% of my charging to be home based. Being in the environmental area in aviation, the environmental aspect also appeals hugely, and yes, I am aware of the issue with lithium mines and lifecycle costs etc

Hope that helps.

[LivLL]

I'd agree with the poster above, take a look at the used Model 3 market almost 1k listed on Autotrader now.

It's swamped at the moment and there are some real bargains on LR and Performance models currently. £35k will get you easily into a really nice one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208198...

For example

As for the Model S, do your research. They have a fair few issues and some of the battery varieties can have problems with charging speeds slowing or even failing. Not something I've really seen with the Model 3.

Edited by LivLL on Sunday 29th January 12:37

[anonymous-user]

Thanks

You’re someone for whom an EV makes a lot of sense. If you can charge from home for the vast majority of your use then any issues with public chargers become much less relevant.

If your longest journey is around 200 miles ( and resume my most are much less)!you might aim for a smaller battery and hence a lighter more efficient EV as well.

Lastly if you are at home during the day, have you considered a small solar system to trickle charge your EV? You probably wouldn’t need domestic batteries and so your charging could be both very cheap even when you amortise the panels over their likely lifespan (they’re generally warrantees to 85% or so for 25 years) as well as low carbon.

My situation is similar to yours in that while I commute, it’s not everyday and 50 miles round trip, and an EV has been transformational for me, even before my solar panels have arrived.

Good luck in the hunt!

(£35K could get you a more modern Model 3 or close to a KIA EV6)

[LHRFlightman]

Thanks Archie. Some great suggestions, hadn't considered solar trickle chargers! Off to do some more research.

Pete

[samoht]

Archie2050 said:

If your longest journey is around 200 miles ( and resume my most are much less)!you might aim for a smaller battery and hence a lighter more efficient EV as well.

Logically that makes sense, however if you get a car with a rated range of say 300 miles, you then don't have to worry about
- slight loss of battery capacity over time
- cold or hot weather reducing range
- using the power or cruising at higher speed
- a diversion en route
- unanticipated longer trips

Of course you could also accept using public charging if such trips are rare.

AFAIK Teslas are among the more efficient EVs, so from that aspect little reason not to.

On the Model S, I think there are still a few cars out there with lifetime free supercharging, so you might want to work out what value that would have to you and account for it. However a newer Model 3 is probably a better bet if the size suits.

[LHRFlightman]

Thanks for all the replies. My wife is onboard, Motorway quote gives me £11.5k for the Civic.

Anyone want an S2000?

[maz8062]

If you live that close to Tesla charging, why not try and get a late model s with the free charging? The battery warranty is for 8 years and a replacement would cost £9k or so outside of warranty. So you could buy 2017, enjoy 3 years free servicing and the battery may or may not last beyond that but you’ll have gone some way to offsetting the cost.

Worth a consideration.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want to spend 35k on an EV & you're home charging then I'd suggest taking a good look at the Ioniq5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212132...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301103...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212282...

Or the iPace these are often overlooked but they're a decent EV & there are a lot to choose from at this price point:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301113...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212142...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301143...

Or the Tesla's.

If you go for the S you should be able to get one with sensible miles & free charging:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301233...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301163...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208249...


Model3 Performence:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301283...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301253...

[anonymous-user]

Remember of those only the Ionic has 800V charging (Tesla's manage fast charging with 400V by having thicker cables and cooling them I believe.)

[bennno]

Archie2050 said:

Remember of those only the Ionic has 800V charging (Tesla's manage fast charging with 400V by having thicker cables and cooling them I believe.)

But I’ve only ever got up to 100kw charging on mine, at IONITY or Gridserve 350kw chargers….

[dmsims]

Early Ipace

Poor range

Woeful infotainment

The usual JLR reliabilty

Avoid

[anonymous-user]

bennno said:

Archie2050 said:

Remember of those only the Ionic has 800V charging (Tesla's manage fast charging with 400V by having thicker cables and cooling them I believe.)

But I’ve only ever got up to 100kw charging on mine, at IONITY or Gridserve 350kw chargers….

You maybe don’t have pre-heating? Early low spec invoices didn’t IIRC

I get 173kWh instantly on my EV6 at BP pulse and IONITY chargers.