Had a go in a Renault Zoe electric car today...
Discussion
...and was really impressed.
If like me you've never seen one before this what they look like:
No sports car, but just a nice comfortable supermini with decent steering, a fairly rapid rate of acceleration up to 50 or so, and enough go to sit easily at 80 on the motorway.
The top speed is limited to 84 or something but I think that's the rev limit of the motor (single gear) not power limited. Didn't feel like it was struggling.
The whole electric part of it was a non-event really, it's just smooth and quiet but otherwise normal. The brakes are a bit odd. They're really sharp when you transition from regenerative braking to proper braking but I soon got a feel for them. It's got some nice features like heating or air-con run on a timer or by a phone app so your car is ready and comfortable when you out to it in the morning. Would be nice in Winter to have the car already warm and defrosted off mains power before you set a foot outside.
We only went to look out of curiosity more than anything but I've come away thinking it could work really well for commuting duties as long I'm happy doing any longer journeys in my Elise.
Cost wise it was £15k plus £70 per month battery rental and almost negligible fuel costs. They fit a home charger for free. I guess I'm unusual in that I'm comparing it to a V8 daily driver but for me it'd be almost as cheap to buy and run a new Zoe as to keep running my ZT.
Was funny at the dealers though - they've had the car over 2 months and yet we were very first people to come in specifically to look at it. They were not geared up for it at all. Went next door to the Nissan dealer to see how the Leaf compared (ugly and expensive IMO) and they were very very keen for us to test drive - the salesman said they'd only ever sold 1 of them. Might be different in London but up here in Yorkshire it seems electric cars are very hard to sell!
Anyone else had a go in one?
If like me you've never seen one before this what they look like:
No sports car, but just a nice comfortable supermini with decent steering, a fairly rapid rate of acceleration up to 50 or so, and enough go to sit easily at 80 on the motorway.
The top speed is limited to 84 or something but I think that's the rev limit of the motor (single gear) not power limited. Didn't feel like it was struggling.
The whole electric part of it was a non-event really, it's just smooth and quiet but otherwise normal. The brakes are a bit odd. They're really sharp when you transition from regenerative braking to proper braking but I soon got a feel for them. It's got some nice features like heating or air-con run on a timer or by a phone app so your car is ready and comfortable when you out to it in the morning. Would be nice in Winter to have the car already warm and defrosted off mains power before you set a foot outside.
We only went to look out of curiosity more than anything but I've come away thinking it could work really well for commuting duties as long I'm happy doing any longer journeys in my Elise.
Cost wise it was £15k plus £70 per month battery rental and almost negligible fuel costs. They fit a home charger for free. I guess I'm unusual in that I'm comparing it to a V8 daily driver but for me it'd be almost as cheap to buy and run a new Zoe as to keep running my ZT.
Was funny at the dealers though - they've had the car over 2 months and yet we were very first people to come in specifically to look at it. They were not geared up for it at all. Went next door to the Nissan dealer to see how the Leaf compared (ugly and expensive IMO) and they were very very keen for us to test drive - the salesman said they'd only ever sold 1 of them. Might be different in London but up here in Yorkshire it seems electric cars are very hard to sell!
Anyone else had a go in one?
Theoretical 130 miles, allegedly translates to realistic 80-90 miles normally, down to 60-70 with heater lights and wipers on etc.
City/commuter car only, but seems well suited to that role. There is some sort of discount Enterprise rental deal included if you need a car for long journeys.
To my mind it works for specific circumstances. It could work for us as we have 3 cars between the pair of us so we have a nice petrol car for long journeys (hers), a fun petrol car for weekend blasts (mine) and this could fill the role of daily commuter for me and guilt-free appliance for other short trips.
I'm not seriously thinking of buying to be honest, but I would now genuinely consider one after trying it.
City/commuter car only, but seems well suited to that role. There is some sort of discount Enterprise rental deal included if you need a car for long journeys.
To my mind it works for specific circumstances. It could work for us as we have 3 cars between the pair of us so we have a nice petrol car for long journeys (hers), a fun petrol car for weekend blasts (mine) and this could fill the role of daily commuter for me and guilt-free appliance for other short trips.
I'm not seriously thinking of buying to be honest, but I would now genuinely consider one after trying it.
One of these electric cars really quite appeals to me mainly through the cost savings and the fact that I could lease it through the business with great tax savings. However my commute is 44 miles each way so they all seem to fall down on the range being right on the edge of it on the drive home every night might be a bit stressfull.
If I could maybe just try and persuade work to fit some charging points in the car park I suppose that would work and would make it even cheaper to run, I'll maybe ask the question.
If I could maybe just try and persuade work to fit some charging points in the car park I suppose that would work and would make it even cheaper to run, I'll maybe ask the question.
Good write up there, great to see someone 'get it' with electric cars!
I'm surprised you say that the dealer hasn't had much interest, we've had loads and our Zoe has done a few thousand miles already.
We've sold quite a few now, including a fleet of 15 to the local healthcare trust for their staff to use for home visits etc.
The government has released the first lot of finding for fast charge stations to councils around the country, some councils getting as much as £500,00 to start getting an infrastructure in.
I'm surprised you say that the dealer hasn't had much interest, we've had loads and our Zoe has done a few thousand miles already.
We've sold quite a few now, including a fleet of 15 to the local healthcare trust for their staff to use for home visits etc.
The government has released the first lot of finding for fast charge stations to councils around the country, some councils getting as much as £500,00 to start getting an infrastructure in.
I will say they do look very nice, Renault have a bit of a patchy design department at the moment but in the looks department they did well with it.
There's one at a dealers nearby, no surprise they probably aren't selling many if any as it was behind another set of cars on a second row with its back to a wall almost around the back of the dealership....
Give the same product to a German brand and it'd fly imo
There's one at a dealers nearby, no surprise they probably aren't selling many if any as it was behind another set of cars on a second row with its back to a wall almost around the back of the dealership....
Give the same product to a German brand and it'd fly imo
I was considering going electric for SWIMBO's commuter car. In the last 7 years, she's never exceeded 5,000 miles p/a, usually closer to 3,000. It's all short journeys around town, drop the kids off at school, go to work, go shopping, pick kids up. All within a 4 mile radius.
So theoretically the Zoe looks great, until you factor in the £70 a month for the battery. Because of the limited mileage, she only fills up the petrol tank once a month, so even if we got the electricity for free at work, I can't see a cost saving.
Tax on her current car is negligible and it's in a low insurance group.
So theoretically the Zoe looks great, until you factor in the £70 a month for the battery. Because of the limited mileage, she only fills up the petrol tank once a month, so even if we got the electricity for free at work, I can't see a cost saving.
Tax on her current car is negligible and it's in a low insurance group.
moribund said:
Theoretical 130 miles, allegedly translates to realistic 80-90 miles normally, down to 60-70 with heater lights and wipers on etc.
I could just about get to work and back in summer but based on those numbers I'd have to find a car suitable for the autumn / winter months. Nice looking and all that but I don't think we're quite there yet.
An interesting time for Renault as they have invested a lot going down the electric future route. The technology does seem tobe progressing, but not very quickly.
With the Zoe, at £70 a month there is probably a fairly small window where you would be doing enough mileage to make it worthwhile over £70 of diesel in the small diesel equivalent, and not too many miles that the range becomes a big issue!
Put it this way, as with every other electric car yet you'd have to really want one.
With the Zoe, at £70 a month there is probably a fairly small window where you would be doing enough mileage to make it worthwhile over £70 of diesel in the small diesel equivalent, and not too many miles that the range becomes a big issue!
Put it this way, as with every other electric car yet you'd have to really want one.
Edited by Hub on Sunday 4th August 09:30
Hub said:
An interesting time for Renault as they have invested a lot going down the electric future route. The technology does seem tobe progressing, but not very quickly.
With the Zoe, at £70 a month there is probably a fairly small window where you would be doing enough mileage to make it worthwhile over £70 of diesel in the small diesel equivalent, and not too many miles that the range becomes a big issue!
Put it this way, as with every other electric car yet you'd have to really want one.
Which is no different from any other car that isn't a 10 year old Nissan micra With the Zoe, at £70 a month there is probably a fairly small window where you would be doing enough mileage to make it worthwhile over £70 of diesel in the small diesel equivalent, and not too many miles that the range becomes a big issue!
Put it this way, as with every other electric car yet you'd have to really want one.
The technology is ready
Attitudes aren't
As we all have a 132346554735468mile daily commute apparently
I Like EV's
but the problem with Renault's system is the battery lease is wayyyy to expensive @ 16k miles pa ( £200 per mth regular fuel costs )
which is why i'll be getting a leaf once they fall in price far enough.
although the free install of the fast charger is a nice touch by renault
but the problem with Renault's system is the battery lease is wayyyy to expensive @ 16k miles pa ( £200 per mth regular fuel costs )
which is why i'll be getting a leaf once they fall in price far enough.
although the free install of the fast charger is a nice touch by renault
McWigglebum4th said:
The technology is ready
Attitudes aren't
As we all have a 132346554735468mile daily commute apparently
I think it's fairer to say that the technology is still progressing.Attitudes aren't
As we all have a 132346554735468mile daily commute apparently
I agree that attitudes are not ready, but as fuel prices rise, electric car prices reduce, attitudes will shift.
The concerns about EV ranges are genuine. Commuting may account for 90% of people's annual mileage, but it's reasonable to still want a car for the remaining 10%.
I'd want an EV but I'd not pay through the nose for one.
SystemParanoia said:
I Like EV's
but the problem with Renault's system is the battery lease is wayyyy to expensive @ 16k miles pa ( £200 per mth regular fuel costs )
which is why i'll be getting a leaf once they fall in price far enough.
although the free install of the fast charger is a nice touch by renault
But with a leaf you're buying the battery... With the Zoe you're not tied to that.but the problem with Renault's system is the battery lease is wayyyy to expensive @ 16k miles pa ( £200 per mth regular fuel costs )
which is why i'll be getting a leaf once they fall in price far enough.
although the free install of the fast charger is a nice touch by renault
16k PA with a Zoe lease is £115.67pm. So you're gonna keep the car for 4 years? Total cost of the battery lease (including breakdown if you run out of charge) is £5552.16.
The base model Zoe is £13995. You get free servicing included too so your ownership costs are £19547.16
The Leaf base model (with the battery included) is £20990.
Also, the Zoe comes with a home charging point, and a newer style charger which will charge from more points with just one cable.
I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but they are a better option than a leaf if you want an EV. And there's the crunch, you need to want an EV to buy one. As soon as the battery tech allows 400 miles on a 3 hour charge, they'll be a realistic prospect for most people.
McWigglebum4th said:
Liar
You don't have 3 cars you only have one
You don't have a short commute you drive 300miles a day
And your nearest parking is 3 miles away as you live in a 23rd floor flat
These are the rules on PH when any electric cars are mentioned
LOL - brilliant You don't have 3 cars you only have one
You don't have a short commute you drive 300miles a day
And your nearest parking is 3 miles away as you live in a 23rd floor flat
These are the rules on PH when any electric cars are mentioned
And, sadly, very true about this place :| Electric is definitely getting there.. next few years are going to be really interesting, and I can't wait for my first drive in an electric car!
If I didn't need a tow vehicle, and was in the market for a new car, I would seriously consider something like that.
I already have a toy car for weekends / trips away, and drive 25km to work (35 min).
I could charge at work, although the round trip is well within range, and charge at night on the driveway at home.
As whitegoods commuting, what's not to like?
I already have a toy car for weekends / trips away, and drive 25km to work (35 min).
I could charge at work, although the round trip is well within range, and charge at night on the driveway at home.
As whitegoods commuting, what's not to like?
moribund said:
...and was really impressed.
If like me you've never seen one before this what they look like:
No sports car, but just a nice comfortable supermini with decent steering, a fairly rapid rate of acceleration up to 50 or so, and enough go to sit easily at 80 on the motorway.
The top speed is limited to 84 or something but I think that's the rev limit of the motor (single gear) not power limited. Didn't feel like it was struggling.
The whole electric part of it was a non-event really, it's just smooth and quiet but otherwise normal. The brakes are a bit odd. They're really sharp when you transition from regenerative braking to proper braking but I soon got a feel for them. It's got some nice features like heating or air-con run on a timer or by a phone app so your car is ready and comfortable when you out to it in the morning. Would be nice in Winter to have the car already warm and defrosted off mains power before you set a foot outside.
We only went to look out of curiosity more than anything but I've come away thinking it could work really well for commuting duties as long I'm happy doing any longer journeys in my Elise.
Cost wise it was £15k plus £70 per month battery rental and almost negligible fuel costs. They fit a home charger for free. I guess I'm unusual in that I'm comparing it to a V8 daily driver but for me it'd be almost as cheap to buy and run a new Zoe as to keep running my ZT.
Was funny at the dealers though - they've had the car over 2 months and yet we were very first people to come in specifically to look at it. They were not geared up for it at all. Went next door to the Nissan dealer to see how the Leaf compared (ugly and expensive IMO) and they were very very keen for us to test drive - the salesman said they'd only ever sold 1 of them. Might be different in London but up here in Yorkshire it seems electric cars are very hard to sell!
Anyone else had a go in one?
So it'll be more expensive to run than a V8?If like me you've never seen one before this what they look like:
No sports car, but just a nice comfortable supermini with decent steering, a fairly rapid rate of acceleration up to 50 or so, and enough go to sit easily at 80 on the motorway.
The top speed is limited to 84 or something but I think that's the rev limit of the motor (single gear) not power limited. Didn't feel like it was struggling.
The whole electric part of it was a non-event really, it's just smooth and quiet but otherwise normal. The brakes are a bit odd. They're really sharp when you transition from regenerative braking to proper braking but I soon got a feel for them. It's got some nice features like heating or air-con run on a timer or by a phone app so your car is ready and comfortable when you out to it in the morning. Would be nice in Winter to have the car already warm and defrosted off mains power before you set a foot outside.
We only went to look out of curiosity more than anything but I've come away thinking it could work really well for commuting duties as long I'm happy doing any longer journeys in my Elise.
Cost wise it was £15k plus £70 per month battery rental and almost negligible fuel costs. They fit a home charger for free. I guess I'm unusual in that I'm comparing it to a V8 daily driver but for me it'd be almost as cheap to buy and run a new Zoe as to keep running my ZT.
Was funny at the dealers though - they've had the car over 2 months and yet we were very first people to come in specifically to look at it. They were not geared up for it at all. Went next door to the Nissan dealer to see how the Leaf compared (ugly and expensive IMO) and they were very very keen for us to test drive - the salesman said they'd only ever sold 1 of them. Might be different in London but up here in Yorkshire it seems electric cars are very hard to sell!
Anyone else had a go in one?
WTFs the point?
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