Electric Explained: FIVE things you need to know before you buy an electric car

#electriccars #charging #evs

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[neoanderson]

I couldn't imagine living with an EV without having a home charger. It's practically impossible, especially in my area. Not to mention the weather. Having the car plugged in during the winter is an absolute must.
Good tips though!

[madmandonna]

Public charging is doable, I did it for nearly a year, but it's a bit of a nightmare. The amount of crap apps, unreliable chargers, the amount that are out of order and the sheer number of EV drivers there are now, plus having to pay around 72p per KWh it makes running the car so much more expensive, especially in winter. Home charging is a game changer though.

[malph]

You made a huge understatement when you said "there's room for improvement" with the charging infrastructure. It's absolutely rubbish in the UK, and I think you know it! My nearest charger is 10 miles away and it's 7KW. I have a petrol station 1/4 mile away and another 3 within 5 miles. It takes me 5 minutes to refuel to a range of nearly 600 miles which lasts me a I'm visiting family, a 300 mile round trip (without having to 'recharge'), then the tank lasts 'just' a couple of weeks.

[MarkHarveyArt]

A couple of thoughts if I may. 1. Most motorway service areas and indeed shopping malls have a time limit for parking (usually around2 hours). If the charging bays are in use, then technically you may need to drive on further in the hope of finding a free charging point at another service area, or wait till a bay becomes available which could leave very little charge time! 2. You say that the battery is aimed at lasting the lifetime of the car. Surely this depends on how you define lifetime of the car? As an example, my current car is 13 years old, and I know locally a person who has had his car for over 23 years. Would you suggest that people who tend to cling on to their vehicles beyond what a manufacturer terms a lifetime should consider ICE vehicles instead?

[johnmoulton]

The insurance on our new iqonic 5 was the same as our VW golf

[MiniMicroMan]

My wife has recently bought a 4 year old Smart ForFour EQ with 22k on the clock. Coincidentally I have just come back from the Mercedes dealership who sold it to us after having a battery condition report done. I requested this myself. The report said that it still showed 96.6 % of the original capacity of when it was new. I was very pleased with this as it was above my expectations. They also checked each of the cells for good measure and they all passed. I had it done for peace of mind plus if I want to sell it in the future I have proof of condition.

[johnlennonghost]

What scares me about electric cars…?

I bought a 2021 Kia Niro, EV and I loved it in the beginning; very cheap to charge, save money on buying gas, and low maintenance!

Here’s my problem:

20 months (21, 000 + miles) into buying this new experiment in my life, the battery went out and had to be replaced. And I know the dealership told me it was “the first one to happen in the Midwest (of the United States) for a Kia vehicle“.

Where the electric car is not practical is, if my car would not have been under warranty, the price to replace a battery is ridiculous!!!

I paid $38, 000 for this car (brand new) and to replace the battery cost a total of $44, 000 ($32, 000 for the battery and $12, 000 to install it).

Until they figure out that little problem, it is worthless to buy a car, and keep it past any warranty!!! That’s why, I plan on selling this car, before the warranty is final!!!

[davidrowley]

We are purchasing 2 EVs. 1 volvo, 1 ford. On intelligent Octopus Go with smart meter. Both have different sized batteries. How will this integrate with a home charger? Which charger would you advise? how to set this up effectively? Thank you

[rhiantaylor]

I winced when you said "don't worry if you cannot charge at home..." yes you can make it work but you will pay up to 7 times as much per kwh

[superbantam]

Only someone who has access to home charging would say don't worry if you don't have it.

[michaelridley]

Thanks for very clear video, but so much FUD in the comments sadly. Completely agree that although there is still mor to do, there have been huge improvements in the charging infrastructure in the UK. The hub facilities that Gridserve have been putting in at many MOTO service areas are really impressive for long journeys, making the A1 our preferred north/south route by far! We don't have off street parking at home, but have excellent local charging options with Connected Kerb.

[adstix]

Two questions, please:
1) Is it okay to rapid-charge once every week?
2) I notice that virtually all the charging examples shown in youtube videos are often outdoors. Can one safely charge within an enclosed garage?

[nicktheobald]

I can’t find the calculator that the video mentions - even the story says that there is a link (the word HERE) but it doesn’t take me to a calculator! Please post here exactly how to access the calculator. Thanks!

[OldManTony]

There are a lot of companies out there who rip off owners with service charges for electric cars.

[ottot]

The whole model if an EV is something for you changes if a car can do V2X or V2H as than you have a huge home battery in front of your home and makes economically a ton more sense, especially if you have solar panels or an hourly rate from your electricity company. Now more car need to implement this as it's stupid this isn't a standard feature already.

[RupertBear]

trust me when I say that your number 1 consideration should be establishing where will you be charging? home or public network and if public network, before you buy, physically visit everyone of the chargers near your home at different times of the day to establish your chances of actually finding a working charger that is reasonably available - trust me, living in an upstairs flat without the ability to have a home charger and being fully reliant on the public network puts you in an extremely vulnerable position and means that you will likely be sat at in your car, in all weathers, at weird times of the day and night, for at least an hour, one or more times a week (after first driving around trying to find a working and available one)

[clivethomas]

Why does public charging cost so much, up to 79p per kWh. Is it that Shell and BP setting the tariff to maintain the dominance of ice cars and their petrol prices. How can Tesla charge much less 44p for the same electric from the same sources.

[SB-hryr]

That's good news... there are no negative down sides to owning a EV in the UK.

[protagonist]

BYD Atto3 is the best selling EV in Sweden in July! BYD breaks big into Europe!!

[TakeResponsibilty]

Funny thing is, I leased a diesel car in 2016 because the UK Government promoted them and made them much, much cheaper to run as company cars. Now in 2023, the UK Government are promoting EVs and they are much, much cheaper to run as company cars. Spot the trend? If the UK Government promoted cars that ran on frankincense and myrrh that cut my BIK tax bill from £6, 000 to £489 per year (as they have with the Tesla I now run), then I’d order one tomorrow. That’s approx £22, 000 saving over a 4-year business lease. Or a decent holiday in Barbados with the family. Simple as.