Another "I'm looking for experienced advice thread"

mirrorwall14

Hi everyone,

I posted in the leaf thread but actually there is so much discussion in the forum now than a year ago that I figure better to ask the broader audience as I'm not actually married to the idea of the leaf.

I will have a convoluted process to get a charge point installed (designated parking space is not outside the door) but I've started that process now. Could take several months in terms of approvals etc but looks more likely than not to be permitted

In the meantime I want to start thinking about what to get. Currently driving a 06 honda civic. I'm a person who keeps a car to the bitter end. This just passed the NCT without anything done bar a normal service so the plan is to look at electric for next year. Spend between 200-250 on petrol a month. Commute is about 22km, around 25 minutes on back roads. No charging option at work. Other than that it would get used for short runs in the evening 0-10km max. I travel to Mayo (220km) once a month or so but we will be keeping on ICE in the house so can use that for that trip.

I have a 3 year old, currently still rear facing but will be moving to a booster in the next year or so. We'd like another but nothing doing so far. I'm a musician so I sometimes have to carry a stage piano (think heavy keyboard), usually I just pop it upright in the front seat of the honda so hopefully could do that too though again nowadays its rarer so could probably use the skoda octavia on those occasions. Long journeys get done in the Skoda as there's a mountain of boot space and a roof rack. Day to day I don't carry a lot bar school books, shopping and toddler. He's out of the buggy.

Car Choice/wants:
-Haven't test driven anything yet so no preferences yet
-Want a granny charger for driving to inlaws. Or will need to purchase one.
-Honda is nippy, would like that if possible
-Have cruise control and air con in my current car and would love to have it again

Budget wise:
Buying outright €15k would be about what I'm spending on petrol/tax. Definitely could squeeze up to 18k in repayments without tightening the belt too far. Beyond that would be tighter and potentially I would prefer to use savings, though I'm looking a year so if you think I'll need a bit more I can start putting it aside. The honda would be pretty much worthless in this scenario (high tax, over 10 years old). We could travel to the UK if the savings were there but its not the preferred option for us as toddler would need to be minded while we went over for it. Northern Ireland wouldn't be a problem, one side of the family is near enough the border.

Buying new would presumably be PCP as I don't have the outright cost. Not sure about this kind of option, particularly with the depreciation on electric in the first three years. However I'm also assuming that because I like to keep my cars forever I'd be better to future proof and try and go for a bigger battery so maybe new is a better option? Could potentially get trade in on the honda.


Anyways I'd appreciate any advice, there's a lot of acronyms I'm getting to grips with and there's clearly a ton of knowledge on the forum!

unkel

To be honest, I would make sure I could get a home charger first, before buying any EV.

If you pass that hurdle, then in your situation with your budget, I would go for a new or nearly new old model Leaf. Even the 24kWh version would be plenty for your driving. I'd say add another couple of grand to your budget and you could possibly buy one brand new / ex demo. You will get €600 subsidy towards a home charger, which should more or less cover the costs. Once you own the car, there's insurance and €120 tax but apart from that it's almost free, even if you never charge on free public chargers. The M50 toll will be free soon too. You will need the money savings for your child (or children!) - trust me

goz83

+1 on the home charger. Get that confirmed first.

Your current budget will easily get a 2014/15 Leaf which would do your commutes no bother. You could do Mayo if you didn’t mind a couple of stops, but if I were you, I would aim for a used 30kW Leaf which can be got just about on your budget if you look to the uk. There is no reason you couldn’t do it with the OH and the kid. It can be a 1 day event, or a 1 night stay in a hotel. I have done it twice now and would recommend it.

If you go for a new car, the new Leaf would cover your trip to Mayo without stopping. You’ll be looking at ~€25k for the mid range spec.

mirrorwall14

unkel wrote: »

To be honest, I would make sure I could get a home charger first, before buying any EV.

If you pass that hurdle, then in your situation with your budget, I would go for a new or nearly new old model Leaf. Even the 24kWh version would be plenty for your driving. I'd say add another couple of grand to your budget and you could possibly buy one brand new / ex demo. You will get €600 subsidy towards a home charger, which should more or less cover the costs. Once you own the car, there's insurance and €120 tax but apart from that it's almost free, even if you never charge on free public chargers. The M50 toll will be free soon too. You will need the money savings for your child (or children!) - trust me

Definitely not buying until the charger is installed! I’ve a separate savings budget for that currently.

n97 mini

There was a post in the IEVOA FB group earlier about getting the €600 grant. It seems it's only applicable to off street/non communal parking, i.e. you won't qualify unless you have your own driveway.

"Honda is nippy". I think you'll find any EV is nippy (maybe some Renaults excepted), especially in city traffic.

KCross

n97 mini wrote: »

There was a post in the IEVOA FB group earlier about getting the €600 grant. It seems it's only applicable to off street/non communal parking, i.e. you won't qualify unless you have your own driveway.

If it's wired back to your house fuse board you'd still qualify. I don't think your car has to necessarily be parked at your door.

If it has its own meter then you are in trouble alright.

mirrorwall14

KCross wrote: »

If it's wired back to your house fuse board you'd still qualify. I don't think your car has to necessarily be parked at your door.

If it has its own meter then you are in trouble alright.

Is it even possible to not have it on your own meter? I thought it had to run back

KCross

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Is it even possible to not have it on your own meter? I thought it had to run back

It could have its own meter if , for instance, the civil work to bring the cable back to your house cost too much or had to go through other properties etc. It might be easier in that case to get a new account and meter from ESB.

Based on your response, I take it your designated space is relatively close to your house.... just a footpath or garden or something to cross?

mirrorwall14

KCross wrote: »

It could have its own meter if , for instance, the civil work to bring the cable back to your house cost too much or had to go through other properties etc. It might be easier in that case to get a new account and meter from ESB.

Based on your response, I take it your designated space is relatively close to your house.... just a footpath or garden or something to cross?

The designated spot is across a road, however there is kerb parking at the door and we were going after that (digging up the path is easier than the road:D)

Estate is not in council hands though all levies are paid, it’s a Celtic tiger unfinished estate being finished right now and we have just got the developer details to start organizing permission. Don’t want to wait and have to deal with the council

unkel

Honestly, do not buy any EV (except maybe a Tesla or you also have a local FCP that is not that busy) until you have home charging or work charging sorted.

With the free 2018 BIK on EVs, free 2018 M50 tolls for EVs, still free public charging for EVs and the massive 2018 EV taxi subsidy, and of course people starting to find out that their diesel cars are killing people, the already under pressure public fast charging network is going to be all but useless soon.

mirrorwall14

unkel wrote: »

Honestly, do not buy any EV (except maybe a Tesla or you also have a local FCP that is not that busy) until you have home charging or work charging sorted.

With the free 2018 BIK on EVs, free 2018 M50 tolls for EVs, still free public charging for EVs and the massive 2018 EV taxi subsidy, and of course people starting to find out that their diesel cars are killing people, the already under pressure public fast charging network is going to be all but useless soon.

I know that and I’ve already said that, we will be putting in the charger ahead of any purchase of a car

Springwell

The T&Cs of the grant state that it must be installed at your private residence and you must have a "private off road driveway" to be eligible

waynegalway

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I posted in the leaf thread but actually there is so much discussion in the forum now than a year ago that I figure better to ask the broader audience as I'm not actually married to the idea of the leaf.

I will have a convoluted process to get a charge point installed (designated parking space is not outside the door) but I've started that process now. Could take several months in terms of approvals etc but looks more likely than not to be permitted

In the meantime I want to start thinking about what to get. Currently driving a 06 honda civic. I'm a person who keeps a car to the bitter end. This just passed the NCT without anything done bar a normal service so the plan is to look at electric for next year. Spend between 200-250 on petrol a month. Commute is about 22km, around 25 minutes on back roads. No charging option at work. Other than that it would get used for short runs in the evening 0-10km max. I travel to Mayo (220km) once a month or so but we will be keeping on ICE in the house so can use that for that trip.

I have a 3 year old, currently still rear facing but will be moving to a booster in the next year or so. We'd like another but nothing doing so far. I'm a musician so I sometimes have to carry a stage piano (think heavy keyboard), usually I just pop it upright in the front seat of the honda so hopefully could do that too though again nowadays its rarer so could probably use the skoda octavia on those occasions. Long journeys get done in the Skoda as there's a mountain of boot space and a roof rack. Day to day I don't carry a lot bar school books, shopping and toddler. He's out of the buggy.

Car Choice/wants:
-Haven't test driven anything yet so no preferences yet
-Want a granny charger for driving to inlaws. Or will need to purchase one.
-Honda is nippy, would like that if possible
-Have cruise control and air con in my current car and would love to have it again

Budget wise:
Buying outright €15k would be about what I'm spending on petrol/tax. Definitely could squeeze up to 18k in repayments without tightening the belt too far. Beyond that would be tighter and potentially I would prefer to use savings, though I'm looking a year so if you think I'll need a bit more I can start putting it aside. The honda would be pretty much worthless in this scenario (high tax, over 10 years old). We could travel to the UK if the savings were there but its not the preferred option for us as toddler would need to be minded while we went over for it. Northern Ireland wouldn't be a problem, one side of the family is near enough the border.

Buying new would presumably be PCP as I don't have the outright cost. Not sure about this kind of option, particularly with the depreciation on electric in the first three years. However I'm also assuming that because I like to keep my cars forever I'd be better to future proof and try and go for a bigger battery so maybe new is a better option? Could potentially get trade in on the honda.


Anyways I'd appreciate any advice, there's a lot of acronyms I'm getting to grips with and there's clearly a ton of knowledge on the forum!

Sounds like you’re a good candidate for an EV! Your commute is very do-able, and you’ll have no problem getting a car with your budget if you’re willing to go 2nd hand. Glad to read you’re sorting the charge point issue, but just bear in mind that the type of car you choose may dictate the type of charger you need, so you kinda have to choose a car first, to be honest. The enabling works for any charger will be common, but just in terms of the actual electrical cable and the charging unit, make sure you get the one that suits the car!

BTW I went from a 05 Civic to a 151 LEAF. The LEAF is plenty nippy, don’t let that bother you! Plus, it’s more relaxing and comfortable to drive. Even the mid spec has the bells and whistles you’re after.