PHEV / EV right choice high miles?
Discussion
Hi all,
New company car soon to be ordered, in 'normal' times I do 35K a year (trying not to mention COVID and working from home!). My work average commute 200/300 miles with personal 25-50 average.
Looking at 330e estate (Golf/Passat GTE), but is a PHEV the right way to go from people's experience, or is a dirty diesel still best!! I obviously know tax/BIK is a big difference which is a driver for me, but is high mileage the right way to go for PHEV?
Cheers!
New company car soon to be ordered, in 'normal' times I do 35K a year (trying not to mention COVID and working from home!). My work average commute 200/300 miles with personal 25-50 average.
Looking at 330e estate (Golf/Passat GTE), but is a PHEV the right way to go from people's experience, or is a dirty diesel still best!! I obviously know tax/BIK is a big difference which is a driver for me, but is high mileage the right way to go for PHEV?
Cheers!
I’ve got a 330e saloon as a company car. As long as you can charge regularly decent MPG can be attained. I can get 55mpg on a 200 mile round trip if I start with a full charge and stick to the speed limits.
Even driving like a muppet on a 300 mile round trip I got 43ish mpg. Not too shabby.
Downside is the small boot and tiny tank.
Even driving like a muppet on a 300 mile round trip I got 43ish mpg. Not too shabby.
Downside is the small boot and tiny tank.
Depending on your tax rate, you can save over £300 / month by opting for a PHEV.
If you really want to be miserly, look at the Mercedes A-class platform hybrids. Even a fully loaded up CLA AMG Sport PHEV would only cost s 40% taxpayer about 75 quid a month. (I have a BMW X1 xDrive 25e M Sport+, that comes in at £145 / month, but is't a saving of £280 / month over a new 520d).
Even the little 1.5 triple in the X1 is more than up to the job with the PHEV assistance. The only downside is the small petrol tank.
If you really want to be miserly, look at the Mercedes A-class platform hybrids. Even a fully loaded up CLA AMG Sport PHEV would only cost s 40% taxpayer about 75 quid a month. (I have a BMW X1 xDrive 25e M Sport+, that comes in at £145 / month, but is't a saving of £280 / month over a new 520d).
Even the little 1.5 triple in the X1 is more than up to the job with the PHEV assistance. The only downside is the small petrol tank.
ZesPak said:
If you could charge at work, you'd probably get away with just about every half decent EV... and save a lot on fuel.
None will do 300 miles all day every day though. But 150 is a walk in the park.
Nope, I work from home so miles is all to sites around UK, would like an EV but they are just not practical for my working week unfortunately. None will do 300 miles all day every day though. But 150 is a walk in the park.
spicjt said:
Nope, I work from home so miles is all to sites around UK, would like an EV but they are just not practical for my working week unfortunately.
Ah, I have a similar work setup but distances aren't that big in the Benelux and the Netherlands especially almost all my customers have some sort of charging solution 
.I also have the advantage of usually doing one site/day tops so it doesn't really matter if I have to look/walk for a charger for 5 minutes. Would probably get more annoying if I had to visit several sites/day.
Saved me about 4k EUR worth of diesel last year
ZesPak said:
Ah, I have a similar work setup but distances aren't that big in the Benelux and the Netherlands especially almost all my customers have some sort of charging solution .
I also have the advantage of usually doing one site/day tops so it doesn't really matter if I have to look/walk for a charger for 5 minutes. Would probably get more annoying if I had to visit several sites/day.
Saved me about 4k EUR worth of diesel last year
It doesn't feel like the UK is quite there yet, even some services only have a few charging points, I think this could be a big issue in the coming year or so with more and more EV on the road. PHEV is the way for me at the moment for sure with the tax breaks. I'll defo make some savings on local kids football at the weekend though!.I also have the advantage of usually doing one site/day tops so it doesn't really matter if I have to look/walk for a charger for 5 minutes. Would probably get more annoying if I had to visit several sites/day.
Saved me about 4k EUR worth of diesel last year
How about an e-Niro? 4+ spec is very nice, and if you can charge at your destination then a 300 mile commute is no problem. Massive savings on tax and fuel.
There is also the Kona and maybe the Leaf 62. A Tesla would work but are expensive and it sounds like only the X would be large enough for you.
There is also the Kona and maybe the Leaf 62. A Tesla would work but are expensive and it sounds like only the X would be large enough for you.
spicjt said:
It doesn't feel like the UK is quite there yet, even some services only have a few charging points, I think this could be a big issue in the coming year or so with more and more EV on the road. PHEV is the way for me at the moment for sure with the tax breaks. I'll defo make some savings on local kids football at the weekend though!
Could be worthwhile to check it out though, I don't know your professional setup but if you have regular sites you could have a look at https://www.zap-map.com/live/
or
https://www.plugshare.com/
to see just how plausible it would be.
spicjt said:
My work average commute 200/300 miles with personal 25-50 average.
With those work miles most of your 'commute' will be done on the ICE in a PHEV. Hence, as mentioned above you might want to consider the efficiency of the engine - possibly a diesel hybrid would work out well. That being said you might be carrying 200kg+ of batteries which blunts the advantageAn EV might work out but you're probably looking at one of the better ranged cars, and the answer is probably going to be a Tesla. You'd need to check whether your usual routes put you close to a charging station. When I used to drive an EV I'd plan in time to catch-up on mails, calls etc during charging so the time was productive.
Of course the final point is who is paying for the mileage on those work miles and how is it being compensated (based on fuel receipts or an amount per mile).
My experience is that EVs make most financial sense when the mileage is high. Certainly here in Switzerland second hand Teslas have some of the highest mileages of any similar sized cars and way above what most Swiss drivers do.
2019 I did 38,000 miles, but the area I look after covers a lot of the UK, I can regularly cover 450 in a day, and that can change. Whilst quick charging is an option I take it 40mins could be added to my day, appreciate this time can be done doing other things. The 'requirement' to charge I don't like V just filling the car up - maybe that's my mind-set but it could be a problem if time is an issue.
Most of the sites/customer are production sites so many don't have on site charging (that I know about).
As for fuel, this is covered by work so not an issue, they suggested a a pick up due to tax break but I don't want to go down that route!
I have looked at the diesel PHEV too so could be an option, that said 55mpg on the 330e as wassup said that is better then my current X-trial.
Lots to consider and appreciate the replies/advice
Most of the sites/customer are production sites so many don't have on site charging (that I know about).
As for fuel, this is covered by work so not an issue, they suggested a a pick up
due to tax break but I don't want to go down that route!I have looked at the diesel PHEV too so could be an option, that said 55mpg on the 330e as wassup said that is better then my current X-trial.
Lots to consider and appreciate the replies/advice
spicjt said:
As for fuel, this is covered by work so not an issue, they suggested a a pick up due to tax break but I don't want to go down that route!
due to tax break but I don't want to go down that route!
It's been a long time since I've been a pickup, but from what I remember from it there was no way I'd do anywhere close to that mileage in it a year!
With that kind of mileage, be sure you're able to spec lane assist and adaptive cruise control, they're a godsend on motorway hauls imho.
ZesPak said:
It's been a long time since I've been a pickup, but from what I remember from it there was no way I'd do anywhere close to that mileage in it a year!
With that kind of mileage, be sure you're able to spec lane assist and adaptive cruise control, they're a godsend on motorway hauls imho.
Will do and was on the list!!! Cheers
Glosphil said:
450 miles in day! Regularly? That's 7 hours, or more, of the day just driving.
On some occasions yes. I would say 200-300 is more the norm (live in North Norfolk so a bit of a trek before you get anywhere!) but easily could do 450 in a day. As previously posted it's the case of 'having' to stop which is putting me off full EV over PHEV as well as site not having access to charging whilst at the customer. If that was set in stone I would push for EV.spicjt said:
On some occasions yes. I would say 200-300 is more the norm (live in North Norfolk so a bit of a trek before you get anywhere!) but easily could do 450 in a day. As previously posted it's the case of 'having' to stop which is putting me off full EV over PHEV as well as site not having access to charging whilst at the customer. If that was set in stone I would push for EV.
So are you not covered by rules on taking breaks for driving? I forget what they are exactly but I don't think 450 miles without a break is legal for commercial drivers. I guess if it's a commute you are exempt... But should probably not do such massive stints without stopping anyway.aestetix1 said:
So are you not covered by rules on taking breaks for driving? I forget what they are exactly but I don't think 450 miles without a break is legal for commercial drivers. I guess if it's a commute you are exempt... But should probably not do such massive stints without stopping anyway.
Good job I'm not a commercial driver :-)I could do 250-300 to site (where there may not be a charge point) then go home - it can happen with the requirements of my role. Hence EV not the way for me.
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