Electric Vehicle: Will you buy one

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Electric Vehicle: Will you buy one - if not why not?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... | 27

6703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1772415 29-Apr-2017 13:10

My existing car only gets used for out of town trips - for everything else I use public transport or just my legs. So, when an affordable EV can do 400km+ then it'll be worthwhile for me. I'll also need fast public charging as I don't have a garage so couldn't charge at home.

These obstacles will undoubtedly be overcome in the next few years, but probably not in time for my next car. I suspect it'll probably be the one after that.

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#1772458 29-Apr-2017 14:51

I like the idea of electric cars, but there is nothing available in my size requirements/ driving range at the moment. I have just done a 1700km journey from Picton to Fox Glacier in the last week averaging around 250km on the driving days.

I also have a whole bunch of camera equipment taking up all of the boot area, around a cubic metre, with the passengers luggage across two of the back seats. When I was looking for a suitable vehicle to buy last year, I ended up choosing a diesel Citroen Grand Picasso due to versatility of luggage space, style and economy. This car has a best in class diesel engine and features a dual catalytic converter which produces next to no harmful emissions, and does a whopping 800km on a $45 tank of gas. It also has near the load capacity of my old Holden Commodore wagon.

Another feature of the car is that the engine cuts off from idling when the car is stopped, and instantly starts up again when your foot comes off the brake.

Based on the lack of harmful emissions, I'm not sure why I need to pay road user charges when the electric vehicle does not. It would be interesting to do a whole of life car comparison over the environmental footprint of electric vs. modern diesel.

I didn't see any electric charging stations at Picton, Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki, Greymouth, Hokitika, Franz Josef or Fox, but then I wasn't looking very hard.

If electric vehicles are so great and economical etc, then why aren't taxis and courier companies using them? Like I said I like the idea of electric vehicles, but they only suit a narrow range of uses right now.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

ajobbins

5052 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1772465 29-Apr-2017 15:05

I'd love a Tesla Model S, but sadly I don't have ~$200k to spend on a car.

We've just ordered a VW Golf 110TSI Highline to replace my aging VE Commodore. It's obviously a much smaller car, but I am fine with that as 95% of my driving is city. It's just as quick to 100 as the V6 Commodore, but will use about 1/3 the fuel.

Twitter: ajobbins

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772469 29-Apr-2017 15:11

Diesel and next to no emissions - well thats what those people driving VW's said too.

We dont even test for emissions here, unlike in UK where they test it as part of WOF.

;-:

But you are right, driving those distances, an EV doesnt fit the bill,....yet.

cokemaster

Exited
4929 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772485 29-Apr-2017 16:02

i really tried to go for a pure EV this time around but ended up setting for an Outlander PHEV instead.

Having a family means that a reasonably sized car is required and it needs to be able to support trips above 300km as I wasn't prepared to stop every 150km for 30 minutes. Additionally, I commute into the city each day so the outlander ticks both boxes - virtually no fuel usage day to day but allowing for 500km refills in 2-4 minutes.

The only drawback with the outlander is that it only has 5 seats so we still keep the Prius V around (works as the wife's day to day car and also useful for carrying 7). The Prius V is also cheaper for longer trips vs the outlander (4.1-5.4l/100km vs 5.5-6.5l/100km petrolwise) but the outlander is a much more comfortable car so we tend to use it as a preference.

Our years mode didn't come with the fast charger but fairly mute point as it's only got 50km of EV range. Easier to charge overnight or at free chargers... or for long trips - fill up the tank.

To date -we've travelled around 6200km but only have filled up around 7 times.

I had a look at tesla, but wasn't prepared to commit $150-200k for a properly speced car.

webhosting

Loose lips may sink ships - Be smart - Don't post internal/commercially sensitive or confidential information!

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1772495 29-Apr-2017 16:36

If they make enough BMW i8's that I can afford one in 20 years....

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1772510 29-Apr-2017 17:08

bluedisk:

I like the idea of electric cars, but there is nothing available in my size requirements/ driving range at the moment. I have just done a 1700km journey from Picton to Fox Glacier in the last week averaging around 250km on the driving days.

I also have a whole bunch of camera equipment taking up all of the boot area, around a cubic metre, with the passengers luggage across two of the back seats. When I was looking for a suitable vehicle to buy last year, I ended up choosing a diesel Citroen Grand Picasso due to versatility of luggage space, style and economy. This car has a best in class diesel engine and features a dual catalytic converter which produces next to no harmful emissions, and does a whopping 800km on a $45 tank of gas. It also has near the load capacity of my old Holden Commodore wagon.

You may like a Mitsubishi Outlander. It's an EV around town (at least for the first 40-50km) and a longer range petrol vehicle when you need it.

As it happens, the documentary crew traveling with the Leading the Charge drive made their way from Invercargill to Queenstown and Wanaka and up the west cost of the South Island in Tesla Model S. It's a big car, with sizeable boots front and back.

Another feature of the car is that the engine cuts off from idling when the car is stopped, and instantly starts up again when your foot comes off the brake.

Based on the lack of harmful emissions, I'm not sure why I need to pay road user charges when the electric vehicle does not. It would be interesting to do a whole of life car comparison over the environmental footprint of electric vs. modern diesel.

Those comparisons have been done several times and the result is always that EVs are cheaper....and for obvious reasons: no petrol and almost no service costs due to much simpler drivetrain. With respect to the environment, there is no contest: once the Petrol or EV are on the road, the EV wins. As for manufacture....cars are dirty to make. A petrol car certainly isn't cleaner to make than EV.

But for climate change, it's the CO2. You release 2.2kg of CO2 with every litre of petrol you burn. An EV releases zero. Many people seem to implicity assume the climatwe will await their convenience and / or aesthetic sensibilities being satisfied. That is not a rational presumption.

I didn't see any electric charging stations at Picton, Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki, Greymouth, Hokitika, Franz Josef or Fox, but then I wasn't looking very hard.

Yeah.....the charging network isn't perfect yet. There is a fast charger in Greymouth, across the street from the Police Station. Of course you can charge at any hotel or campground or cooperative power point owner.

If electric vehicles are so great and economical etc, then why aren't taxis and courier companies using them? Like I said I like the idea of electric vehicles, but they only suit a narrow range of uses right now.

Taxis are moving to electric vehicles. Don't forget the charging networks are barely 6 months old. People don't change overnight.....and you're prime example of that..and I mean that in a nice way. EVs *are* (or almost are) ready for primetime an many roles in our larger cities and towns. You just don't know it yet. You're not alone.

I'm on the other side of the line, looking back. Get over here. The view is great. ;-)

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1772513 29-Apr-2017 17:14

cokemaster: i really tried to go for a pure EV this time around but ended up setting for an Outlander PHEV instead.

Having a family means that a reasonably sized car is required and it needs to be able to support trips above 300km as I wasn't prepared to stop every 150km for 30 minutes. Additionally, I commute into the city each day so the outlander ticks both boxes - virtually no fuel usage day to day but allowing for 500km refills in 2-4 minutes.

The only drawback with the outlander is that it only has 5 seats so we still keep the Prius V around (works as the wife's day to day car and also useful for carrying 7). The Prius V is also cheaper for longer trips vs the outlander (4.1-5.4l/100km vs 5.5-6.5l/100km petrolwise) but the outlander is a much more comfortable car so we tend to use it as a preference.

Our years mode didn't come with the fast charger but fairly mute point as it's only got 50km of EV range. Easier to charge overnight or at free chargers... or for long trips - fill up the tank.

To date -we've travelled around 6200km but only have filled up around 7 times.

I had a look at tesla, but wasn't prepared to commit $150-200k for a properly speced car.

Good move. The Outlander is a great step in the right direction...and as you say, you've driven a long way on not much petrol.

We only have two kids, to a normal car is OK for us. But for people with three or more kids they do have to pay the premium that goes with a larger family - on the house and on the car(s).

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1772523 29-Apr-2017 17:42

Rikkitic:

I am on a pensioner's budget so haven't seriously considered EVs, though I like the idea of them. If my Bonus Bonds paid off, I would certainly go for a Tesla. Apart from price, two things bother me: First, the range issue, though I realise that is rapidly improving. I would hate to run out of charge in the middle of nowhere, though. The second issue (please don't laugh) is heat. I feel the cold very keenly and like to have warm air blowing on me most of the time. Heated seats probably would not do it for me. In truly cold weather I doubt I would get much range. And no, putting on an extra cardigan doesn't help.

Yes, I think range anxiety is the biggest hurdle that potential buyers of EVs need to get to grips with. There is a fascinating article and video about this on Stuff. This video is about testing the new pure electric (no petrol backup) Hyundai Ioniq. The range of this vehicle is said to be about 200kms so it was decided to drive the Ioniq from Queenstown to Glenorchy and back, a total distance of about 160km.

The car made it OK, but there was a fair amount of range anxiety experienced:

"On the outskirts of Queenstown the Ioniq began to panic, telling us that our battery charge was running critically low. We began to panic too, responding by completely turning off the air conditioning, gently using the brakes as much as we could as we approached intersections, and even not using the car's indicators.

As a result, we got to our destination, with an indicated 7 kilometres of battery charge left.

That was too close for comfort - our frayed nerves told us so.."

Of course there were no charging stations on this 160km route so it was probably pushing the range limits, considering the hilly terrain etc.

Incidentally, I think most drivers charge to only 80% capacity at charging stations, so this also needs to be taken into account.

Despite the results of this demanding test, I would quite like to own the $60,000 Ioniq and I think its "normal" 200km range would suit about 90% of my driving needs.

Dingbatt

6756 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772541 29-Apr-2017 18:16

To answer the OP's question, yes. When I last changed my car I seriously considered getting an EV. Even took a LEAF for a test drive. Really liked the way it drove. At the time it didn't quite tick all the boxes for the family and lifestyle reasons, so bought a second hand Camry Hybrid instead. I am happiest driving it when it is gliding along in EV mode, unfortunately that is only for about 5 km before the ICE starts up. A bigger battery capacity and plugin charging would be great, but alas not an option. What the Camry has taught me though is how to 'hypermile' so I am confident I can make a pure EV work.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#1772684 30-Apr-2017 00:48

a pure ev ?

probably not until someone makes one that handles like a sportscar and devoid of gizmos.

closest at the moment would be a bmw i8.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1772693 30-Apr-2017 02:46

Would love one and am busy saving to replace the Missus current Toyota Corolla with a Gen2 Leaf.

Family of 4 and the missus daily 65km loop makes it a perfect deal for us, especially as we are a 2 car (plus Motorhome/bus) family and can easily take the petrol car for longer trips if range anxiety still exists in a year or two when we can 'afford' the swap. Would also make an AWESOME 'toad' for the Bus when we go camping, and help offset the co2 footprint and fuel bills by doing so 😏

jarledb

Webhead
3255 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772696 30-Apr-2017 04:02

ilovemusic:

a pure ev ?

probably not until someone makes one that handles like a sportscar and devoid of gizmos.

closest at the moment would be a bmw i8.

The i8 is a hybrid.

What you want is something like the Tesla Roadster (Basically a Lotus Elise).

Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1772800 30-Apr-2017 11:59

ilovemusic:
a pure ev ?

probably not until someone makes one that handles like a sportscar and devoid of gizmos.

closest at the moment would be a bmw i8.

@ilovemusic
Here you go... totally devoid of 'gizmos' and handles like a sports car to boot 😉

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/some-beautiful-lunatic-built-a-nissan-leaf-electric-rally-car/

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1773234 1-May-2017 09:58

We fully intend to buy a Leaf - I'd buy one today if I had the money, but need to be patient until I do!

It would replace my wife's Jazz, 99.9% of her travel being within the range of the Leaf. It's perfect for her use - a lot of short trips - which is the type of travel which her petrol car is just so inefficient in doing.

I took my nine-year-old son for a test drive in a Leaf last week - he'd been a hater, primarily based on that fact that he thinks the Leaf is fugly (I have to agree with him - all recent Nissans are inevitably ugly), but came away a convert.

I'd be happy to have both vehicles electric if I could afford one with the range of a Tesla, but until that happens we'll retain one vehicle with an ICE.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... | 27