Reply to: Any electric car drivers here?

[courtg9000]

Tesla owner for 4 years now, happy as feck, at first i charged a lot at the tesla supercharger as one was on a regular commute for me, but now i tend just to charge at home overnight. Plug it in and forget it

Tesla’s have made a wise choice being always connected, I have had a few nice surprises within over the air updates, such as increased performance and range, plus games and the whoopie cushion!

Thanks unfortunately Tesla not an option.

[portseven]

Tesla owner for 4 years now, happy as feck, at first i charged a lot at the tesla supercharger as one was on a regular commute for me, but now i tend just to charge at home overnight. Plug it in and forget it

Tesla’s have made a wise choice being always connected, I have had a few nice surprises within over the air updates, such as increased performance and range, plus games and the whoopie cushion!

[SueEllen]

Ice cream van jingle.

Which one?

[Old Greg]

There was a discussion on that last year. Various suitable sounds were proposed(and rejected, usually for good reason) but the one that I thought would work was a recoding of the clip-clop of a pair of heavy horses...

But yes, something is needed, I stepped out in front of a Toyota Pious last week - oddly enough, in a petrol station.

Ice cream van jingle.

[Zigenare]

most electric cars make a beeping noise when reversing.

of course not much use when you are in front. I have nearly knocked over multiple people in car parks.

Try Specsavers.

[saptastic]

most electric cars make a beeping noise when reversing.

of course not much use when you are in front. I have nearly knocked over multiple people in car parks.

[malvolio]

The near-silence of electric cars is what worries me. So many times I've missed an electric or hybrid pulling away and been spooked, rather than run over, fortunately. They should be fitted with something that acts as an audible cue. I have no idea how a visually impaired person, who may rely more on their hearing, manages.

There was a discussion on that last year. Various suitable sounds were proposed(and rejected, usually for good reason) but the one that I thought would work was a recoding of the clip-clop of a pair of heavy horses...

But yes, something is needed, I stepped out in front of a Toyota Pious last week - oddly enough, in a petrol station.

[Scoobos]

Yep, I think its got better over the last year or so, but one particular event always makes me smile (and it shouldn't).

I have a large hill on my way to the allotment , really steep, with a bend at the bottom.

I was going down there at 20 (speed limit) and an old lady turned and saw me coming down just at the bend, and because it was silent must have assumed it was a runaway car - because she literally lept into a bush .

For weeks there was an old lady shaped "bush push" mark .

People tend not to believe how you have to adjust your driving, but you are ok with the "youngsters" because they all have headphones in and faces glued to screens anyway!

[ladymuck]

The near-silence of electric cars is what worries me. So many times I've missed an electric or hybrid pulling away and been spooked, rather than run over, fortunately. They should be fitted with something that acts as an audible cue. I have no idea how a visually impaired person, who may rely more on their hearing, manages.

[Scoobos]

Definitely worth it. If you can afford it, go Tesla, they are amazing.

Range is a thing, and not a thing - it's very weird to explain.

It depends on where you live, but download an app like Zap-Map and see how many rapid chargers are around your commute.

With a rapid charger nearby you need never feel anxiety , but without a selection of them, its "planning journeys" or relying on the bloody thing working when you get there.

Rapid charge on my e-golf (2016) takes 30 mins and gives me 80 miles (it says 100 but its LIES!). So its a meal at a service station. I've honestly yet to get to a station and there not be an available charger, but that may be luck / timing of my journeys.

I have both a PHEV (Golf GTE) for long road trips and an e-Golf for up to 200 mile journeys.

I wouldn't go back to Internal Combustion now.

I've filled the Golf GTE up with fuel, on average , four times a year . So there are times that the 100 mile range , even with chargers, isn't viable. I've never been close to running out though, and its not the end of the world, the AA will come and mobile charge you, for free, the first time.

Also, the mileage allowance is the same, despite it costing a fraction of running on fuel.

Cons, because there are some are:
Services are EXPENSIVE
Cars are overpriced against their ICE alternatives
Fuel efficiency changes markedly in the winter.
You will start to rage at people in ICE cars who park in E spots.
The quietness means you need to adapt your driving, people DO NOT hear you, animals especially, so be really careful on corners or around areas with lots of pets.

[courtg9000]

Wife has a tesla. Seems happy.

My complaint is that it is like a stealth bomber. Last car shook the windows when she was parking. Now you can be sitting on the sofa with a copy of penthouse and a bottle of bud and she walks in the room.

Your problem on two or three counts

[minestrone]

Wife has a tesla. Seems happy.

My complaint is that it is like a stealth bomber. Last car shook the windows when she was parking. Now you can be sitting on the sofa with a copy of penthouse and a bottle of bud and she walks in the room.

[courtg9000]

Jaguar aren't known for their great engineering skills. Some parts are flung together in Slovakia and manufactured in India. It may just have electronic bugs in the first year or two, but I personally wouldn't be spending lots of money on a large electric Jaguar.

It seems easier to look at the longevity of existing vehicles and buy a second hand reliable electric car. The older Teslas seem to be bullet-proof. It seems a 4x4 is your preference, for physical access reasons, in which case a Compromise could be a Mitsubishi premium model.

Hybrids are a bit of a con. They're being gradually stripped of any subsidies as they were invented just to fudge manufacturers meeting EU targets. Service ECU stats show that owners very rarely plug in their hybrid to charge the battery fully. The petrol engine can't fully charge the battery.

As you have a niche profile, try waiting for one or two years until the full range from manufacturers appears or, if you must, save money and stick to the known reliable electric vehicles that haven't yet fallen apart.

It will have to be a 4x4
Thankfully I am not spending "my money" on this. The motability grant is free government cash. Its just a question of how I use it. The bonus with the motability list is that I get free servicing and insurance as well as the free mods for the pedals. With the Jags and Land Rovers my supply source means they so cheap as to off set that.
If its not the I-pace which is very cheap then the E-pace gives me an almost free car car situation as does a discovery sport.
After that it is a case of anything I like on the motability list.

[rogerfederer]

This is brilliant. Thank you.
I am currently doing quite a few trips to the North West from Warwickshire.
Ireland trips will resume shortly.
Might be best to revert to my original plan of an E-Pace
I agree about the software issues - I have had the same problem - they must have got a dodgy contractor or 2 in!

Jaguar aren't known for their great engineering skills. Some parts are flung together in Slovakia and manufactured in India. It may just have electronic bugs in the first year or two, but I personally wouldn't be spending lots of money on a large electric Jaguar. Compare their past non-electric vehicles to Lexus, Toyota, Mercedes and they fare poorly. Cheap build materials, lots of niggles, premium price.

It seems easier to look at the longevity of existing vehicles and buy a second hand reliable electric car. The older Teslas seem to be bullet-proof. It seems a 4x4 is your preference, for physical access reasons, in which case a Compromise could be a Mitsubishi premium model.

Hybrids are a bit of a con. They're being gradually stripped of any subsidies as they were invented just to fudge manufacturers meeting EU targets. Service ECU stats show that owners very rarely plug in their hybrid to charge the battery fully. The petrol engine can't fully charge the battery.

As you have a niche profile, try waiting for one or two years until the full range from manufacturers appears or, if you must, save money and stick to the known reliable electric vehicles that haven't yet fallen apart.

[courtg9000]

I have an i-pace. Impressive car. So fast and quiet.
No congestion charge and nearly free parking in London (pay for the first 10 minutes)
No BIK if you put through your company.
Charging is easy on your driveway if you just need to charge at home

Downsides:
If you do lots of long journeys not worth it as you have to plan and spend ages recharging at service stations
I dont want to rely on availability at service stations and this is the big drawback
I have had software issues as with so many new cars - its all about the electronics

This is brilliant. Thank you.
I am currently doing quite a few trips to the North West from Warwickshire.
Ireland trips will resume shortly.
Might be best to revert to my original plan of an E-Pace
I agree about the software issues - I have had the same problem - they must have got a dodgy contractor or 2 in!