EV's. More convenient than ICE cars?

Fingleberries

For me, the switch to EV was because the tech had caught up to what would suit my needs and circumstances (combined with a windfall and financial gymnastics) meant that I could afford it - I knew there would be financial savings on the running costs, but with a bigger capital cost up-front.

I traded in a Toyota Auris 1.8 Hybrid (Luna Sport model about €35k, if I recall), originally booked an id.3 (€40k at the time) but VW couldn't build/deliver it and have been running a Tesla Model 3 SR+ for a year now and it has worked out as follows:

• Cost approx. €50k to buy (the same model is now €10k cheaper - grrr 🙄).
  • Because of windfall, financial gymnastics, and trade-in there is no long-term debt on it (but the Auris had no loan outstanding either so that's a draw)
• Savings vs Petrol cost for 12 months (geek confession, I kept a spreadsheet): €2,050
  • **I have access to workplace charging, which was worth about €450 for the 12 months. So, the true saving would probably be closer to €1,600 (EDIT charger after grant was €600, so still approx €1,000 saving)
  • Real world range is probably around 420km (15kw/100km) (Auris range was probably around 600-650km for a full tank, I can't recall but it averaged 5.2l/100km)
    • I charge twice a week (weekly cost about €22), Auris I used to fill once a week (approx €60 to weekly fill when I sold it)
• Savings on Car insurance: €120
• Savings on Road Tax: €60
• Savings on Tolls (LEVTI): €375

The Tesla is never going to turn a profit - I'd have to keep running it at the same rate for 20+ years to break-even. But then again, the car is not an investment, my Auris before that was not about breaking even either. Both are just a vehicle for getting me where I needed to go. I just get there in a more comfortable, technologically advanced vehicle now.

Might not be for everyone, especially for Sales Reps, Road Warriors, those with no home charging options, and I respect that. Sharing my experience for reference, in case it helps others. Two members of my extended family have also purchased an EV each - from the Volkswagen group - and have similar positive experience, one further family member would not be seen dead with an EV and bought a Ford recently.

The prices are coming down (see MG, BYD, even Tesla), the options for public and home / apartment charging are improving, and the range will eventually go up (ask any Gen-1 Leaf drivers to compare to options now, and they'd have taken your hand off for the current range).

Stevie2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120670849#Comment_120670849

Good honest breakdown

You've an awesome car and it's a big upgrade over an Auris, enjoy it

Daveq

I think as others have said convenience is a personal thing and what's convenient for one is not the same for another.

I know not everyone buys an EV purely to save money, it's just a nice bonus. However as others are quoting savings, something I've noticed is the cost of the home charger isn't included.

I get one fill a month on ICE ( spend approx. €1k per year) my Zappi + installation+ tail upgrade has set me back almost €2.5k. so that wipes out EV savings for quite a while in my case anyway!

AndyBoBandy

That’s fairly rough all right for the charger you had installed..

mine cost me. Net amount of €450, so probably paid for itself after 15,000km..

MojoMaker

Charger was paid for after one month of EV use in my case.

Redfox25

Took about 3 months to pay back the charger install cost (factoring in the grant ofc).

Once its in, it should last a number of years so all good.

Fingleberries

I've updated my summary for year one costs / savings to include the charger cost (zappi on a pedestal, some supporting works for cobble lock, etc)

micks_address

Over in the UK at the moment with id4, I wouldn't say it's hassle but it is a nuisance having to consider where chargers are and if they working and if there's a queue.. have seen very few EVs compared to Dublin. I find myself coming across a charger and it's available so I fill up in a just in case mentality. None of this would matter with a ice.. would I go back to ice? Probably not. Still think I'd prefer have a ice with me for longer road trips as it's just a no brainer. I don't come across many petrol stations with queues or broken pumps and I don't need an app to find them. A good example is Monday..need to drive about 150 miles to cairnryan.. I can leave full and that gets me to cairnrayn but then I need to drive from Belfast to Dublin.. I'd rather not stop once I hit Belfast and get home.. so I need to factor in a stop before cairnryn hopefully with somewhere we can grab lunch and be on our way..

Ok we do maybe one trip like this once a year but actually when you are on holiday it's probably something you'd rather not have to figure out..the whole point is to be lazy.

MightyMunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120677773#Comment_120677773

Does the ID not do route planning?Saw a post from someone travelling in an Audi EV across Europe and they mentioned it had integrated route planning which planned charging stops etc...

micks_address

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120679669#Comment_120679669

Sure it probably does but I always use Google maps.. it's all good but in cases like this there's no denying with an ev you need a little bit more planning... I don't mind taking 30/40 minutes to charge the car but my wife is always oh this is a dose and we could be 30 minutes further down or up the road.. our hotel has a charger which is handy and I'm the only ev around so no competition for it so I'll charge overnight.. it's 6kw.. i use a better route planner and plugshare for finding working chargers

MightyMunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120680235#Comment_120680235

Google maps is grand but it doesn't know the % charge on your car, battery temperature, charging speeds, charger availability etc so is a lot more work than an integrated navigation system that automatically plans all your charging stops.