Why are people buying electric cars?

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gman said:
Interesting article

Netherlands' renewables drive putting pressure on its power grid - BBC News https://share.google/K5VXBRphk62xkWmwo
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They need more EVs :)

Octopus are essentially using EVs to balance the grid with their cheap overnight and free hours. Looks from that article like lots of people use public chargers in the Netherlands.

Our maybe windmills. :)
 
There was a full line of unused 350 size chargers at our local supermarket again yesterday. It is rare to see any being used.
 
I've pretty much decided on the EV we are going to get: the Citroen e-C3 Aircross - it will be ideal for local running around and taking the dogs out, and the price point is attractive. I'll go to a dealership in the next few weeks to have a proper look in the flesh before committing though.
 
Picked up my new company car yesterday, Nissan Ariya with supposedly the 63kwh battery, if it is it's incredibly efficient as I drove 300+ miles yesterday and still had 18% power left at the end. Kind of likeing the car and kind of not, it's lovely to drive with huge space inside but the touchscreen menus are a pita if you want to change a setting on the fly. The ACC is like my old granny screaming about cars 100yds ahead and I'm going to have a good rummage through the settings over the weekend to see what I can turn down or off.
 
Steep said:
Picked up my new company car yesterday, Nissan Ariya with supposedly the 63kwh battery, if it is it's incredibly efficient as I drove 300+ miles yesterday and still had 18% power left at the end. Kind of likeing the car and kind of not, it's lovely to drive with huge space inside but the touchscreen menus are a pita if you want to change a setting on the fly. The ACC is like my old granny screaming about cars 100yds ahead and I'm going to have a good rummage through the settings over the weekend to see what I can turn down or off.
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Someone I work with has one and likes it very much. I'm not sure I would choose a car that looks like that does, but I guess once you're inside you can't see it any more.
 
Clive K said:
There was a full line of unused 350 size chargers at our local supermarket again yesterday. It is rare to see any being used.
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France does seem to be going for it with charging for EVs.
 
ancient_mariner said:
Someone I work with has one and likes it very much. I'm not sure I would choose a car that looks like that does, but I guess once you're inside you can't see it any more.
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That's one of my bug bares, who gives a monkey what the back end looks like, once your driving you can't see it.
 
Delphin said:
That's one of my bug bares, who gives a monkey what the back end looks like, once your driving you can't see it.
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But you look at the car in your drive, you wash it and you often want things that look nice.

Why is a Leica M3 or an X100 so wanted. Yes they work well (and the X100 range is amazing) but they look great too. Yet when your eye is at the viewfinder you cant see it?
 
ancient_mariner said:
Someone I work with has one and likes it very much. I'm not sure I would choose a car that looks like that does, but I guess once you're inside you can't see it any more.
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I would not buy one, I think I'd be very disappointed at what you get for your money, but I'll very happily drive it if someone else is paying the lease.
 
Clive K said:
There was a full line of unused 350 size chargers at our local supermarket again yesterday. It is rare to see any being used.
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Charging this morning 08:30, there were about 8 Tesla chargers with 4 cars on them and 6 Gridserve ultra fast with me and a BT van. The thing about public charging is you'll use it on long trips (so the ones on motorways will be busy) otherwise it's mostly charge at home. I think supermarkets have got it wrong on this one, since they are mostly 'off the main routes' you can't just nip in to top up (if you're travelling long distance), you have to decide ahead of time and turn sometimes quite far off your route. Chargers at motorway services are obviously much easier to access.
 
lindsay said:
I've pretty much decided on the EV we are going to get: the Citroen e-C3 Aircross - it will be ideal for local running around and taking the dogs out, and the price point is attractive. I'll go to a dealership in the next few weeks to have a proper look in the flesh before committing though.
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Don't do it, it's French!!! :runaway: :runaway:
 
Jelster said:
Don't do it, it's French!!! :runaway: :runaway:
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I know, it's a Top-Gear type joke, but that it part of the reason I want it - although this one doesn't seem quirky, they do have a certain je ne sais quoi nest ce pas? (predictive text doesn't like French!)
Also, the first brand new car I bought was a Citroen ZX that did 250k miles over 11 years before I got rid of it, with no problems other than predictable wear and tear on brakes and tyres. So I'm hoping my last brand new purchase will do pretty well too, and I like the synchronicity of another Citroen.
 
Had a couple of C3s as hire cars and that's put me even further off having one as our small car than the C3's recent problems. The little Suzuki equivalent was just as plasticky but at least the plastic bits met where they were supposed to!
Might have a proper look at an R5 next time I'm down that end of town (and see if I can get one without all the silly stickers and roof patterns!)
 
I just looked up C3 problems as you've mentioned them @Nod , but they seem to mostly apply to the ICE version; looked up e-C3 problems and they mostly relate to issues that won't be a problem for us: wallowy handling (remember the 2CV? I can live with that); fast charge cooling (unlikely to affect us as it will only be used for local driving and always be charged at home off the solar); range (ditto, no long range requirement); electrical problems connecting apps (not really a problem, I doubt I'll use any(. But I'm grateful that you mentioned it Nod as it prompted a bit more research.
 
The wallowing is one of the things we didn't like in the C3 - mountain roads with lots of hairpins got a bit touchy after a decent lunch!!!

Friends have EVs and solar - the solar can charge the cars but only through the granny charger; the 13A plug type. With a power wall, you might be able to use the "proper" charger and drive for free but don't forget to feel guilty about defrauding the taxpayer... :asshat:
 
I have had Citroens now for well over 25 years, all reasonable, cheap fairly reliable
the new shape is the best looking yet i think and prices new for the E are under 17k with the reductions no brainer.

200 mile range at that price as well, outstanding stuff

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lindsay said:
I just looked up C3 problems as you've mentioned them @Nod , but they seem to mostly apply to the ICE version; looked up e-C3 problems and they mostly relate to issues that won't be a problem for us: wallowy handling (remember the 2CV? I can live with that); fast charge cooling (unlikely to affect us as it will only be used for local driving and always be charged at home off the solar); range (ditto, no long range requirement); electrical problems connecting apps (not really a problem, I doubt I'll use any(. But I'm grateful that you mentioned it Nod as it prompted a bit more research.
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The C3 is Stellantis of course now and so the design/interior may be different to older versions.
 
The most recent rental was June this year and a brand new (well, we were the 3rd renters!) car.
 
one comedy thing i noticed on some rental C3s i saw a few weeks ago in GC they now have Alloy look alike poverty caps
 
Delphin said:
That's one of my bug bares, who gives a monkey what the back end looks like, once your driving you can't see it.
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Almost every woman on the planet? :D
 
Well the EX30 experience isn’t going to plan, the EX30’s had a huge software wobble, whilst the car still drives and the direct car functions still work through the touchscreen, nothing else does - so no music, Sat nav, etc - it’s not talking to the outside world:(

Product Specialist at dealer couldn’t solve the issue despite doing soft and hard resets on the software- so it’s at the dealer (we have a loan EX30) until they can resolve the issue. They intend to re-install the car software on Monday, in my mind it’s either that or there is a hardware comms failure. Either way it’s down to the dealer to resolve……….

Taken the shine off a brand new car a little……….

I know this is not EV specific and could happen to an ICE car but my main niggle in my head when buying the car (other than a depreciation disaster) was the single control screen.
 
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If the Sun is correct, my big objection to the way electric cars are taxed may be about to expire...

Verifying Device

www.thesun.co.uk
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
If the Sun is correct, my big objection to the way electric cars are taxed may be about to expire...

Verifying Device

www.thesun.co.uk
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Whilst the Sun isn't my preferred choice of paper on financial matters. Given the government needs revenue you might find both of the options i.e. increase in VED based on weight AND the increase in fuel duty. The argument being EV's still being promoted over ICE to meet the green requirements
 
taxboy said:
Whilst the Sun isn't my preferred choice of paper on financial matters. Given the government needs revenue you might find both of the options i.e. increase in VED based on weight AND the increase in fuel duty. The argument being EV's still being promoted over ICE to meet the green requirements
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Reeves really has to increase fuel duty this year for sure.
fuel is cheep now
 
Mr Bump said:
Reeves really has to increase fuel duty this year for sure.
fuel is cheep now
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And increase the price of virtually everything? That is what happens when fuel prices rise.
 
Are they saying we have to return to the old tradition of filling the car before 6.00 pm on budget day.
 
Clive K said:
And increase the price of virtually everything? That is what happens when fuel prices rise.
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need to pay for stuff its the way s*** is , we need large tax rises in the UK
 
Or maybe we should look at spending first before asking for yet more taxes. The backbenchers won't allow it though.

The construction and related industries have already suffered a substantial hit when they banned them from using red diesel. The last thing that industry needs is higher fuel costs, never mind heavy haulage as well.
 
gman said:
Or maybe we should look at spending first before asking for yet more taxes. The backbenchers won't allow it though.

The construction and related industries have already suffered a substantial hit when they banned them from using red diesel. The last thing that industry needs is higher fuel costs, never mind heavy haulage as well.
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tough crap, fuel is pollution especially construction where many plant devices are highly polluting, pay your way.
 
Mr Bump said:
need to pay for stuff its the way s*** is , we need large tax rises in the UK
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Do we need higher inflation? Because higher fuel prices increases the cost of living across the board and poor people suffer.
 
Mr Bump said:
tough crap, fuel is pollution especially construction where many plant devices are highly polluting, pay your way.
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As there are currently few options to replace diesel vehicles in construction, it makes no sense to make them pay more.
As a high percentage of quarrying and construction is on Government funded projects, any increase just means we have to find more taxes to pay for it.

We get it you don't like ICE, but they are not going to disappear for a long time yet.
 
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With the increase in the temperature of the Pacific we will probably need cheap diesel to power the air conditioning.
 
Pound Coin said:
With the increase in the temperature of the Pacific we will probably need cheap diesel to power the air conditioning.
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Nonsense, Scotland is covered from top to bottom with big fans.
 
Mr Bump said:
tough crap, fuel is pollution especially construction where many plant devices are highly polluting, pay your way.
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I thought I was on ignore? :D

Anyway, it's obvious you don't understand much about both the conequences of hammering the construction industry and that a lot of modern plant now have a lot of emissions controls.

Clearly hiking fuel duty won't impact you, so it's easy to be righteous.
 
gman said:
I thought I was on ignore? :D

Anyway, it's obvious you don't understand much about both the conequences of hammering the construction industry and that a lot of modern plant now have a lot of emissions controls.

Clearly hiking fuel duty won't impact you, so it's easy to be righteous.
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It will affect everybody, but obviously more for ice vehicle drivers and that part is what is behind his posts.
 
Unless they've changed their car recently, they drive an ICE C3 Citroen.
 
I've done 800 miles now in the new work car, the Nissan Ariya.

Good things and typically Nissan bad things. Although my paperwork says I have the 63kwh battery it's actually the 87kwh which is nice :D Not going to mention that as Mr Inland Revenue will tax me more (sshhh).
I'm getting ~330 miles range and that makes my working day easier as I can get where I need to and back again without stopping to charge (I still stop for lunch but...)
It came as standard with a heat pump, very good efficient heater, which is important because there's no heated seats or steering wheel. Only time will tell if this is a problem in deepest winter.
The onscreen menus take a bit of getting used to, there doesn't seem to be any defined method to their madness in where they put things. Some important setting are accessed via the left screen, others via buttons on the steering wheel. Some haptic controls, others that look haptic but are actually clicky buttons.
It will charge at 130kwh on DC and 20kwh on AC. Charge time - 17% to 100% took 12.5 hours on my 6.8kwh home charger which is a long time but I am getting home with around 40% charge left so it fills up faster than that.
It's huge! inside especially and pretty big looking on the outside too, the drivers position doesn't feel cramped at all and the high driving position is a joy after the MG5. No electric seats though which is not an issue for me as I'm the only one driving it but it might be for others.
I use a 12v inverter to charge/power the laptop but the car doesn't output enough power to charge it while I'm using it, the MG did that no bother. The laptop charges fine on the road but runs down quickly in use so I've taken to bringing my small Anker power station as a back up.

All in all, I'm happy driving it, it's a nice car to drive for the most part once you have (every trip) shut off all the nanny nagging beeps. A big step up in quality from the MG and so much easier to get into.

Would I buy one? no chance, the small battery version is £45k new and if I paid that much I'd be very disappointed in what I got for my money, not withstanding the good bits.
 
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