Which EV to go for

[Adams88]

Have you looked at the X5 45e, 6% BIK Harrys Garage has done a long term review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtpF4M6UDDE

[cthcolin]

Adams88 said:

Have you looked at the X5 45e, 6% BIK Harrys Garage has done a long term review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtpF4M6UDDE

Thanks - I've had a look.

Its an SUV - why is there such a fetish for SUVs? My current daily driver is a Giulietta, from by far the biggest volume class of cars produced. Make an EV like an ID3 or similar go 300 miles, for sensible running. Probably the Hyundai is the closest just now. Close but not quite...

I admit his overall 50mpg is pretty good - for an SUV. But I get better than that out of my Alfa, driven carefully. My standard (pre-covid) is a Nottingham to London 230 odd mile each way weekly commute - its hard to get past 'careful' speeds these days. So there's no significant advantage fuel consumption from a vehicle about twice the cost and half as pretty as my Alfa.

So we'll see what happens between now and August... which will be my 'make your mind up time'

[Adams88]

cthcolin said:

Thanks - I've had a look.

Its an SUV - why is there such a fetish for SUVs? My current daily driver is a Giulietta, from by far the biggest volume class of cars produced. Make an EV like an ID3 or similar go 300 miles, for sensible running. Probably the Hyundai is the closest just now. Close but not quite...

I admit his overall 50mpg is pretty good - for an SUV. But I get better than that out of my Alfa, driven carefully. My standard (pre-covid) is a Nottingham to London 230 odd mile each way weekly commute - its hard to get past 'careful' speeds these days. So there's no significant advantage fuel consumption from a vehicle about twice the cost and half as pretty as my Alfa.

So we'll see what happens between now and August... which will be my 'make your mind up time'

I agree everything is getting heavier and bulkier, I'm currently looking at a Golf GTE as my next company car, currently have a BMW 330E but the savings in BIK at 6% on the GTE compared to 14% on my current 330 are too tempting.

[ElectricSoup]

Absolutely, an SUV body shape is the worst thing imaginable for a car where marginal gains in efficiency can have an impact on its limited range. Baffling. Ah well, fashion and what the neighbours think matter more important I suppose. The switch to EVs should have been the point where we dropped the obsession with SUVs, but it seems the chance has been missed. One EV estate car available so far. One. And it's an MG. Still, I'd have one of those before any SUV EV.

[Evanivitch]

ElectricSoup said:

Absolutely, an SUV body shape is the worst thing imaginable for a car where marginal gains in efficiency can have an impact on its limited range. Baffling. Ah well, fashion and what the neighbours think matter more important I suppose. The switch to EVs should have been the point where we dropped the obsession with SUVs, but it seems the chance has been missed. One EV estate car available so far. One. And it's an MG. Still, I'd have one of those before any SUV EV.

They're perfect for hiding the batteries in the floor. That's why there are so many SUV types.

[ElectricSoup]

Evanivitch said:

ElectricSoup said:

Absolutely, an SUV body shape is the worst thing imaginable for a car where marginal gains in efficiency can have an impact on its limited range. Baffling. Ah well, fashion and what the neighbours think matter more important I suppose. The switch to EVs should have been the point where we dropped the obsession with SUVs, but it seems the chance has been missed. One EV estate car available so far. One. And it's an MG. Still, I'd have one of those before any SUV EV.

They're perfect for hiding the batteries in the floor. That's why there are so many SUV types.

Well Nissan and Tesla appear to have solved that problem in saloons and hatchbacks many years ago, not to mention the MG5, VW ID3 etc etc. It doesn't appear to be a necessity to a EV design by a long chalk.

[SWoll]

ElectricSoup said:

Evanivitch said:

ElectricSoup said:

Absolutely, an SUV body shape is the worst thing imaginable for a car where marginal gains in efficiency can have an impact on its limited range. Baffling. Ah well, fashion and what the neighbours think matter more important I suppose. The switch to EVs should have been the point where we dropped the obsession with SUVs, but it seems the chance has been missed. One EV estate car available so far. One. And it's an MG. Still, I'd have one of those before any SUV EV.

They're perfect for hiding the batteries in the floor. That's why there are so many SUV types.

Well Nissan and Tesla appear to have solved that problem in saloons and hatchbacks many years ago, not to mention the MG5, VW ID3 etc etc. It doesn't appear to be a necessity to a EV design by a long chalk.

Not convinced Tesla have solved anything TBH based on ours. Rear seat comfort not great due to the high floor and low seat so offers little or no support for anyone with longer legs.

Either way we all know SUV's are de-rigeur and have been for the past decade at least, that isn't going to change with EV's and if anything I expect the drivetrain reset will mean even more of them?

[raspy]

Evanivitch said:

They're perfect for hiding the batteries in the floor. That's why there are so many SUV types.

No, it's for more profit and in response to the dramatic growth in consumer demand for SUVs.

[ElectricSoup]

raspy said:

Evanivitch said:

They're perfect for hiding the batteries in the floor. That's why there are so many SUV types.

No, it's for more profit and in response to the dramatic growth in consumer demand for SUVs.

Well quite. The latter being the saddest part. OK maybe you can get a bit more battery in the floor, then the height and weight of the vehicle cancels out the gain. And diminishes the thing EVs are supposed to be all about - energy efficiency.

People. Tut.

[Evanivitch]

ElectricSoup said:

Evanivitch said:

ElectricSoup said:

Absolutely, an SUV body shape is the worst thing imaginable for a car where marginal gains in efficiency can have an impact on its limited range. Baffling. Ah well, fashion and what the neighbours think matter more important I suppose. The switch to EVs should have been the point where we dropped the obsession with SUVs, but it seems the chance has been missed. One EV estate car available so far. One. And it's an MG. Still, I'd have one of those before any SUV EV.

They're perfect for hiding the batteries in the floor. That's why there are so many SUV types.

Well Nissan and Tesla appear to have solved that problem in saloons and hatchbacks many years ago, not to mention the MG5, VW ID3 etc etc. It doesn't appear to be a necessity to a EV design by a long chalk.

Errr have you seen how tall a Model S and Leaf are?

Leaf40 is less than 3 inches shorter than a QashQow. An Ioniq is 3 inches lower than a Leaf, but loses 25% luggage capacity between hybrid and BEV.

Edited by Evanivitch on Wednesday 17th March 16:26

[ElectricSoup]

Evanivitch said:

Errr have you seen how tall a Model S and Leaf are?

Leaf40 is less than 3 inches shorter than a QashQow. An Ioniq is 3 inches lower than a Leaf, but loses 25% luggage capacity between hybrid and BEV.

Edited by Evanivitch on Wednesday 17th March 16:26

I own a Leaf. It is about as far from an SUV as it's possible to be without becoming a coupe.

[Evanivitch]

ElectricSoup said:

I own a Leaf. It is about as far from an SUV as it's possible to be without becoming a coupe.

It's certainly not an SUV, but it's nearly as tall as most CUV EV's.

[ElectricSoup]

Evanivitch said:

ElectricSoup said:

I own a Leaf. It is about as far from an SUV as it's possible to be without becoming a coupe.

It's certainly not an SUV, but it's nearly as tall as most CUV EV's.

And? The Leaf is as big as it needs to be, and no more. It is also a 10 year old design. Manufacturers can do better theses days, and there's no need for SUV bodyshapes for anything other than fashion reasons, and I think that's a wasted opportunity to make EVs better, and I think that's sad.

Of course you don't have to agree. But my point is that the bigger, higher and less aerodynamic you make a vehicle, the less efficient it is by design. And in a field of vehicles where eking out as much range as possible is a major concern in achieving a switch from ICE to EV, it frustrates me to see so many square fronted high riding slab sided wobbly riding SUV designs in the EV.

Edited by ElectricSoup on Thursday 18th March 10:06

[JonnyVTEC]

ElectricSoup said:

Well quite. The latter being the saddest part. OK maybe you can get a bit more battery in the floor, then the height and weight of the vehicle cancels out the gain. And diminishes the thing EVs are supposed to be all about - energy efficiency.

People. Tut.

I think your are underestimating the bit more battery IJ the floor compared to the increased road load (which isn’t huge)

[JonnyVTEC]

You only see so many cos people are buying them!