Why did you buy BEV?
Poll: Why did you buy BEV?
Total Members Polled: 91
Discussion
Had an old A6 3.0tdi with silly miles, and costing me iro of £300/m in fuel alone.
Tax £30/m
Maintenance was on the up (hit the cliff edge) and costing me around £80/m
So had a budget of ~£400/m without it costing any more than the existing car.
Was looking to replace before lockdown started last year, but with WFH permanently since march last year and not being able to do anything, I managed to save a sizable amount to contribute.
Originally I'd been looking at hybrids as the budget wasn't there for an EV and wasn't really looked at realistically.
Wanted something with comparable or better performance, but lower operating costs.
Then started doing the numbers on EV running costs and realised that the budget was there.
Then work situation changed and I would need to be doing a 100 mile round trip commute Vs 40 (when back in the office), I was going to be needing something I could depend on.
Started looking at options:
ID3
Tesla model 3
Polestar 2
Would've loved a Taycan/etron GT but out of budget.
I wanted a car not an SUV, I hate high driving positions, this ruled out the ID3 and the Polestar which are really crossover's, but styled and marketed as cars.
The charging infrastructure was also a factor.
So Tesla it was.
But which one?
Performance was off the cards, 1. Budget, 2. Ride is hard on the stiffer suspension and 20s.
So SR+ or LR.
The SR+ would probably meet my needs, but it uses LFP batteries, which struggle more with the cold. Fine if you're in the hotter parts off the US, but UK maybe on a really cold day it may let me down, plus a little bit of range anxiety I looked at the LR.
The Audi started developing silly issues and although I probably won't be back in the office till September, I wanted to change before it died or cost silly money.
Private sale would probably net more cash, but I'd have to put a lot of cash and time in to get to that point, so traded.
2nd hand model 3 values are strong and generally Tesla 2nd hand values are strong, lease costs are high due to government incentives for business. So went PCP, with the intention to buy.
Costing me slightly more than my budget, but it's a new high performance car, so let man maths dictate a bit.
3 weeks in, don't regret it.
It's not perfect, there were some snags on collection day, but panel gaps other than 1 tail light are good enough.
Having to use the screen for some things is annoying, but at least compared to the ID3 the screen works!
But the instant performance is reassuring for those A road journeys. It's stupidly quick in the real world.
Handling is actually pretty good, yes feedback is not the best. Ride is a touch stiff and the rack is very quick for a road car.
Some material quality issues in the interior, but it's solid and doesn't rattle.
But the ID3 is worse.
The stereo is awesome.
To summarise:
1. Primary was running costs and minimal maintenance.
2. Performance.
3. Hopefully low depreciation.
Tax £30/m
Maintenance was on the up (hit the cliff edge) and costing me around £80/m
So had a budget of ~£400/m without it costing any more than the existing car.
Was looking to replace before lockdown started last year, but with WFH permanently since march last year and not being able to do anything, I managed to save a sizable amount to contribute.
Originally I'd been looking at hybrids as the budget wasn't there for an EV and wasn't really looked at realistically.
Wanted something with comparable or better performance, but lower operating costs.
Then started doing the numbers on EV running costs and realised that the budget was there.
Then work situation changed and I would need to be doing a 100 mile round trip commute Vs 40 (when back in the office), I was going to be needing something I could depend on.
Started looking at options:
ID3
Tesla model 3
Polestar 2
Would've loved a Taycan/etron GT but out of budget.
I wanted a car not an SUV, I hate high driving positions, this ruled out the ID3 and the Polestar which are really crossover's, but styled and marketed as cars.
The charging infrastructure was also a factor.
So Tesla it was.
But which one?
Performance was off the cards, 1. Budget, 2. Ride is hard on the stiffer suspension and 20s.
So SR+ or LR.
The SR+ would probably meet my needs, but it uses LFP batteries, which struggle more with the cold. Fine if you're in the hotter parts off the US, but UK maybe on a really cold day it may let me down, plus a little bit of range anxiety I looked at the LR.
The Audi started developing silly issues and although I probably won't be back in the office till September, I wanted to change before it died or cost silly money.
Private sale would probably net more cash, but I'd have to put a lot of cash and time in to get to that point, so traded.
2nd hand model 3 values are strong and generally Tesla 2nd hand values are strong, lease costs are high due to government incentives for business. So went PCP, with the intention to buy.
Costing me slightly more than my budget, but it's a new high performance car, so let man maths dictate a bit.
3 weeks in, don't regret it.
It's not perfect, there were some snags on collection day, but panel gaps other than 1 tail light are good enough.
Having to use the screen for some things is annoying, but at least compared to the ID3 the screen works!
But the instant performance is reassuring for those A road journeys. It's stupidly quick in the real world.
Handling is actually pretty good, yes feedback is not the best. Ride is a touch stiff and the rack is very quick for a road car.
Some material quality issues in the interior, but it's solid and doesn't rattle.
But the ID3 is worse.
The stereo is awesome.
To summarise:
1. Primary was running costs and minimal maintenance.
2. Performance.
3. Hopefully low depreciation.
Love cars - definitely classed myself as an enthusiast having had fast "everyday" cars and some TVRs
Shared a Golf R Estate with my wife (and still have an old RAV4 for the tip/dog runs). Monthly lease was £325 and Petrol was £250 on a 12.5K year deal. That was coming to the end of the lease so...
I am a geek and Tesla/Electric cars interested me. Found a deal in October 2019 for 15K miles at £375/Month lease on a TM3 SR+. Maths worked, loved the drive as does my wife so happy days. Incredibly capable and relaxing to drive. However - Pandemic....maths doesn't quite stack up as well as it did BUT I wouldn't now go back unless a REALLY had to.
Shared a Golf R Estate with my wife (and still have an old RAV4 for the tip/dog runs). Monthly lease was £325 and Petrol was £250 on a 12.5K year deal. That was coming to the end of the lease so...
I am a geek and Tesla/Electric cars interested me. Found a deal in October 2019 for 15K miles at £375/Month lease on a TM3 SR+. Maths worked, loved the drive as does my wife so happy days. Incredibly capable and relaxing to drive. However - Pandemic....maths doesn't quite stack up as well as it did BUT I wouldn't now go back unless a REALLY had to.
Ampera, so range extended with an ICE.
My reasons were both financial and local pollution. I live and work near some of the most polluted streets and towns outside London. I was doing 70 miles a day, and free charging was available at the office, so most my commuting mileage was done for 50p for 70 miles round trip. A huge saving over diesel.
It's also a much nicer car to drive in traffic,, with no gearbox, and even the best automatic boxes I find frustrating.
My reasons were both financial and local pollution. I live and work near some of the most polluted streets and towns outside London. I was doing 70 miles a day, and free charging was available at the office, so most my commuting mileage was done for 50p for 70 miles round trip. A huge saving over diesel.
It's also a much nicer car to drive in traffic,, with no gearbox, and even the best automatic boxes I find frustrating.
1st one for the wife was purely overall 3 year cost of ownership including fuel against a similar petrol diesel. Leased a 2020 Zoe. Love it, still do, perfect commuter and handled weekends away etc with no issues at all.
Loved it so much, new company car scheme released 1st March, opted back in with the Polestar 2. Cost neutral with running a diesel shed, BiK, with private fuel over 25k miles a year. Polestar is fast and has a hatch. Tesla is fast but a saloon. Like hatches more, Polestar is cooler to look at
Environment, yes and and as both do high miles, the relative CO2 will easily be hit within both leases. And forget the mining lithium and other metals, batteries are no better or worse than oil or shale extraction. At least they will be recycled when BEV’s reach that age.
Fact that they are both nippy - and in the Polestar’s case very nippy - is a bonus. Didn’t buy either for that reason, the 911 already more than meets that requirement!
Loved it so much, new company car scheme released 1st March, opted back in with the Polestar 2. Cost neutral with running a diesel shed, BiK, with private fuel over 25k miles a year. Polestar is fast and has a hatch. Tesla is fast but a saloon. Like hatches more, Polestar is cooler to look at
Environment, yes and and as both do high miles, the relative CO2 will easily be hit within both leases. And forget the mining lithium and other metals, batteries are no better or worse than oil or shale extraction. At least they will be recycled when BEV’s reach that age.
Fact that they are both nippy - and in the Polestar’s case very nippy - is a bonus. Didn’t buy either for that reason, the 911 already more than meets that requirement!
Edited by dgswk on Saturday 10th July 14:52
Not a single defined reason. I bought one for my wife - a Model X.
It was partly environmental, partly because I wanted to see what they were like to live with, partly wanting to be an early adopter, partly because they were a little cool, partly because of the 0-60, partly because of the Autopilot (being intrigued to see if it were any use - it isn't really), partly it fitted our needs well, partly to persuade my wife out of a car that was looking like it was about to lunch something expensive, partly because I didn't really like her old car.
She does the most miles of anyone in the family. Most of her miles are town rush hour stuff. 15-50 miles a day. Virtually always RTB. A usage pattern that absolutely suits a BEV and not a V8 diesel SUV. And she was driving a huge Toyota Landcruiser V8 - she likes a big car, and seven seats.
Glad we did but the Tesla. It's not the best car in the world. Build quality is poor, the interior is a bit of a let down, value for money is poor, reliability has been lower than most cars I've had, the infotainment is a bit last gen in many respects. But it is swift, silent, comfortable, cheap and quite fun. We will probably end up with another. Certainly another BEV.
It was partly environmental, partly because I wanted to see what they were like to live with, partly wanting to be an early adopter, partly because they were a little cool, partly because of the 0-60, partly because of the Autopilot (being intrigued to see if it were any use - it isn't really), partly it fitted our needs well, partly to persuade my wife out of a car that was looking like it was about to lunch something expensive, partly because I didn't really like her old car.
She does the most miles of anyone in the family. Most of her miles are town rush hour stuff. 15-50 miles a day. Virtually always RTB. A usage pattern that absolutely suits a BEV and not a V8 diesel SUV. And she was driving a huge Toyota Landcruiser V8 - she likes a big car, and seven seats.
Glad we did but the Tesla. It's not the best car in the world. Build quality is poor, the interior is a bit of a let down, value for money is poor, reliability has been lower than most cars I've had, the infotainment is a bit last gen in many respects. But it is swift, silent, comfortable, cheap and quite fun. We will probably end up with another. Certainly another BEV.
There's no "i can turn the heater on from my phone" option.
Unlike everyone else on PH, we're not fortunate enough to afford our ICE option to be anything other than a drab shopping car. Our EV replaced a 56 plate diesel Megane, for example. Sensible ICE options are all hateful s
tboxes, so £8k of Leaf is genuinely the best thing we could buy.
Yes it's a tinny little Nissan and it's got all the handling dynamics of a dining table, but it has plenty of toys and the aforementioned remote heat/cool.
Unlike everyone else on PH, we're not fortunate enough to afford our ICE option to be anything other than a drab shopping car. Our EV replaced a 56 plate diesel Megane, for example. Sensible ICE options are all hateful s
tboxes, so £8k of Leaf is genuinely the best thing we could buy. Yes it's a tinny little Nissan and it's got all the handling dynamics of a dining table, but it has plenty of toys and the aforementioned remote heat/cool.
Just because... a bit of all of the reasons listed.
Technically I don't have it yet, it should be here in September which is great as it means if we get any summer I get to enjoy my current convertible. The main reason though is I just think the time is right. BEV's are the answer for now and they are going to be around for a while. Hydrogen has bigger industrial problems to solve and there is nothing else really viable in the UK.
Some of my reasoning is:
Increasing amount of grid electricity from renewables (+ greater control over traditional centralised power generation CCUS etc), I'm likely to get solar panels, interesting 2nd life options for batteries, I'm getting older so; quiet, technology, reliability/simplicity are more important, I'm lucky enough to still have combustion cars in my life (as long as I can keep them) and...
...I actually mustered up the courage and went for a test drive in one. To be honest I think a BEV has to be a better daily than it's equivalent ICE counterpart in almost every aspect. I'm not talking special stuff (to the person), but get from A-B, white good, carry the shopping type things they are just better. You can get small city, big luxury, long range, towing, they all perform well. My biggest gripe with electric is no convertible, why not I mean it's clean/serene it must be the best drivetrain for some top down motoring.
I just know my ideal electric car will be a 2+2 targa coupe and sol long as it is under £50k I'd reserve one straight away.
Technically I don't have it yet, it should be here in September which is great as it means if we get any summer I get to enjoy my current convertible. The main reason though is I just think the time is right. BEV's are the answer for now and they are going to be around for a while. Hydrogen has bigger industrial problems to solve and there is nothing else really viable in the UK.
Some of my reasoning is:
Increasing amount of grid electricity from renewables (+ greater control over traditional centralised power generation CCUS etc), I'm likely to get solar panels, interesting 2nd life options for batteries, I'm getting older so; quiet, technology, reliability/simplicity are more important, I'm lucky enough to still have combustion cars in my life (as long as I can keep them) and...
...I actually mustered up the courage and went for a test drive in one. To be honest I think a BEV has to be a better daily than it's equivalent ICE counterpart in almost every aspect. I'm not talking special stuff (to the person), but get from A-B, white good, carry the shopping type things they are just better. You can get small city, big luxury, long range, towing, they all perform well. My biggest gripe with electric is no convertible, why not I mean it's clean/serene it must be the best drivetrain for some top down motoring.
I just know my ideal electric car will be a 2+2 targa coupe and sol long as it is under £50k I'd reserve one straight away.
Moonpie21 said:
My biggest gripe with electric is no convertible, why not I mean it's clean/serene it must be the best drivetrain for some top down motoring.
I just know my ideal electric car will be a 2+2 targa coupe and sol long as it is under £50k I'd reserve one straight away.
You can buy a convertible. A brand new car. Just made from a heritage shell (and it costs £90k...)I just know my ideal electric car will be a 2+2 targa coupe and sol long as it is under £50k I'd reserve one straight away.
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/rbw-ev-r...
Went EV purely down to BIK savings. vehicles just gets me to and from work and the savings I make to towards running proper vehicles ( V6 roadster and old diesel land rover ) at weekends.
Whilst I appreciate this benefit and after having several EV and plug in hybrids and find them so bland and soul less.
If you enjoy driving like I do you need to feel, hear and smell it :-)
Whilst I appreciate this benefit and after having several EV and plug in hybrids and find them so bland and soul less.
If you enjoy driving like I do you need to feel, hear and smell it :-)
NS66 said:
Went EV purely down to BIK savings. vehicles just gets me to and from work and the savings I make to towards running proper vehicles ( V6 roadster and old diesel land rover ) at weekends.
Whilst I appreciate this benefit and after having several EV and plug in hybrids and find them so bland and soul less.
If you enjoy driving like I do you need to feel, hear and smell it :-)
I agree. Have been running one of the better drivers EV's for nearly 2 years now and when it goes back in a few months will likely be looking to replace with a more mundane EV and an interesting ICE car for weekends and touring.Whilst I appreciate this benefit and after having several EV and plug in hybrids and find them so bland and soul less.
If you enjoy driving like I do you need to feel, hear and smell it :-)
Been considering a Taycan, but when you are looking at £100k for a decent spec 4S I've come to the conclusion that a lightly used BMW i3S for daily duties and something like the new Lotus Emira for a similar overall budget makes more sense for us and our usage.
I developed a passionate hatred of petrol stations over the last 30 years of commuting into london, especialy the long Qs in freezing sleet in winter.
And a hatred of litterally burning £300+ a month of v-power. It was getting so bad everytime i pressed the loud button I was thinking 'your burning money' (thats getting old i guess)
Test drove a model 3 when they became available and within 100 yards i knew it was better in every way so I ordered one for the Sept plate change.
I can mash the go pedal to my hearts content whilst grinning about the £15 a month my 1000 miles costs me in electrons, and no tax, and no servicing, and no brakes
I have also become completely indifferent to most modern performance cars, fast, capable, well insulated, auto, electric steering, computer controlled handling etc.. all utterly fking boring to drive. When an M4 is totally devoide of engagement and playing fake sound through the speakers you know its a dead horse.
And a hatred of litterally burning £300+ a month of v-power. It was getting so bad everytime i pressed the loud button I was thinking 'your burning money' (thats getting old i guess)
Test drove a model 3 when they became available and within 100 yards i knew it was better in every way so I ordered one for the Sept plate change.
I can mash the go pedal to my hearts content whilst grinning about the £15 a month my 1000 miles costs me in electrons, and no tax, and no servicing, and no brakes
I have also become completely indifferent to most modern performance cars, fast, capable, well insulated, auto, electric steering, computer controlled handling etc.. all utterly f
king boring to drive. When an M4 is totally devoide of engagement and playing fake sound through the speakers you know its a dead horse.Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 12th July 12:21
I'd been working away until 2017 and not considered an EV at all until then.
Picked up a contract in the UK where one of my new colleagues had an i3.
After having a chat with him about the cost aspects, I decided that the savings in fuel would cover most of the finance outlay.
Going back to 1976 I visited the Electric Show at the NEC.
There was an electric car there that really interested me.
Low range etc., so technology was still some way off but I promised myself that one day I would be driving an EV.
That EV was called - TESLA - but obviously not the Tesla of today.
Anyway, after my chat at work, I bought a 2016 i3 Rex.
I then traded in for an i3S in 2019.
The savings were a no brainer when I was commuting but then I've worked from home the last 16 months.
Picked up a contract in the UK where one of my new colleagues had an i3.
After having a chat with him about the cost aspects, I decided that the savings in fuel would cover most of the finance outlay.
Going back to 1976 I visited the Electric Show at the NEC.
There was an electric car there that really interested me.
Low range etc., so technology was still some way off but I promised myself that one day I would be driving an EV.
That EV was called - TESLA - but obviously not the Tesla of today.
Anyway, after my chat at work, I bought a 2016 i3 Rex.
I then traded in for an i3S in 2019.
The savings were a no brainer when I was commuting but then I've worked from home the last 16 months.
Dave Hedgehog said:
I developed a passionate hatred of petrol stations over the last 30 years of commuting into london, especialy the long Qs in freezing sleet in winter.
And a hatred of litterally burning £300+ a month of v-power. It was getting so bad everytime i pressed the loud button I was thinking 'your burning money' (thats getting old i guess)
Test drove a model 3 when they became available and within 100 yards i knew it was better in every way so I ordered one for the Sept plate change.
I can mash the go pedal to my hearts content whilst grinning about the £15 a month my 1000 miles costs me in electrons, and no tax, and no servicing, and no brakes
I have also become completely indifferent to most modern performance cars, fast, capable, well insulated, auto, electric steering, computer controlled handling etc.. all utterly fking boring to drive. When an M4 is totally devoide of engagement and playing fake sound through the speakers you know its a dead horse.
each to their own but whilst you are saving in running costs and servicing the outlay on an EV is currently way higher than a petrol / diesel car - certainly for the average Joe. As someone who drives both the real peev I have is with EV is having to plan a journey around charging stations. Recently went to the Lakes for a few days but went in my petrol softop (weather was great BTW). Touring around prior to the 130 mile drive home was possible without any fuel stops and commented to my wife that there was no way we could of done this in the EV.And a hatred of litterally burning £300+ a month of v-power. It was getting so bad everytime i pressed the loud button I was thinking 'your burning money' (thats getting old i guess)
Test drove a model 3 when they became available and within 100 yards i knew it was better in every way so I ordered one for the Sept plate change.
I can mash the go pedal to my hearts content whilst grinning about the £15 a month my 1000 miles costs me in electrons, and no tax, and no servicing, and no brakes
I have also become completely indifferent to most modern performance cars, fast, capable, well insulated, auto, electric steering, computer controlled handling etc.. all utterly f
king boring to drive. When an M4 is totally devoide of engagement and playing fake sound through the speakers you know its a dead horse.Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 12th July 12:21
NS66 said:
EV is currently way higher than a petrol / diesel car - certainly for the average Joe.
avg new car price is 32-34k, ID3s have been as low as 25k new which is cheaper than a similar specd golfmy monthlys are identical for my AMG and M3P and the Tesla is bigger inside than an E class and as fast as the AMG version for about 40k less
Tesla charging network sorts most long range problems out or we can take the OHs sportage truck
Dave Hedgehog said:
avg new car price is 32-34k, ID3s have been as low as 25k new which is cheaper than a similar specd golf
my monthlys are identical for my AMG and M3P and the Tesla is bigger inside than an E class and as fast as the AMG version for about 40k less
Tesla charging network sorts most long range problems out or we can take the OHs sportage truck
Nice if you have a choice of vehicles like that - sounds like your in the top 5% of earners? but until the cost of EV's are at a sensible level and the average driver can afford to buy. Then its not going to be fair and the rich / poor divide just gets wider - there again I guess the roads will be quieter?my monthlys are identical for my AMG and M3P and the Tesla is bigger inside than an E class and as fast as the AMG version for about 40k less
Tesla charging network sorts most long range problems out or we can take the OHs sportage truck
NS66 said:
Nice if you have a choice of vehicles like that - sounds like your in the top 5% of earners? but until the cost of EV's are at a sensible level and the average driver can afford to buy. Then its not going to be fair and the rich / poor divide just gets wider - there again I guess the roads will be quieter?
Please; plenty of topics to discuss that - this is a quiet backwater to discuss reasons we've adopted BEV, not a political debate/argument.NS66 said:
Nice if you have a choice of vehicles like that - sounds like your in the top 5% of earners? but until the cost of EV's are at a sensible level and the average driver can afford to buy. Then its not going to be fair and the rich / poor divide just gets wider - there again I guess the roads will be quieter?
i like the vast majority of new car buyers do not buy new cars, we lease or PCP them for a fixed affordable monthly, thats how the UK buys 1.6 mill cars a year at an avg price of 33k. Either that or the top 5% of earners is about 50% of the population lol Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 12th July 14:52
SWoll said:
Moonpie21 said:
I just know my ideal electric car will be a 2+2 targa coupe and sol long as it is under £50k I'd reserve one straight away.
What would be the current new ICE that would fit the bill out of interest?Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff