Thinking of moving to EV

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663824#Comment_123663824

I left one for a week in dublin airport and didnt lose anything as far as I can see. I dont know about 5 months not sure of anyone here has done it.

Public chargers range from filling you car up to 80% in 20 mins to 2 hours or more depending on speed of charger.

My fastest was a big battery kia ev6 from 2% to 80% in under 20 mins giving me 300 + kms of range. Cost me 40 euro though which would have been about 5 or 6 euro at home on night rates.

I dont use them often and when I do i just put in enough to get to my own charger. Public charging is expensive.

User1998

I went to Asia for about 3 months and my battery eventually reached 0% towards the end of the trip. I honestly can’t remember what % it was on before I left but I don’t remember it being particularly low. If I didn’t have someone at home to plug it in for me I would have been f*cked because the car was parked on the street. But at least I know now to charge to 80% before heading off next time

joe1303l

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663320#Comment_123663320

I would think it’s perfectly usable as an everyday car. The facelift isn’t available here as a GT as yet and I’d say it’s unlikely that’ll change. An €85K KIA is a hard sell no matter how fast it is.

electricus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662769#Comment_123662769

It depends how it is mined/ extracted. You have highlighed the dirty method, but there are also cleaner alternatives including using geothermal energy (in Germany)

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/vulcan-energy-starts-its-first-lithium-chloride-production-germany-2024-04-10/

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/08/new-technology-extracts-lithium-from-brines-inexpensively-and-sustainably

Unfortunatley, oil can never be reused once burned and its extraction (and use) will always pollute the environment.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/25/africa/shell-oil-spills-nigeria-intl-cmd

Grumpypants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663824#Comment_123663824

Depends on the car. My MG if you leave it with a "full tank" it will stay full. I've left it while holidays for a week and not noticed a budget. Not tested it for 5 months mind you 😄

My Tesla on the other hand has so much computer tech in it that it does use a little each day. How much depends on what's on. If the cameras are going 24/7 and you have all the internal chargers going it will drop faster, until it hits 20% before it shuts stuff off so you don't get stuck.

Same story with charging. I put 150km into the Tesla in 10 mins. So 20 mins at the shop, could be adding 300km no bother.

With a home charger you basically have a butler that takes your car away every night and fills the tank, you just stroll out and sit in every morning and never worry about filling it.

Without a home charger it's more complicated alright. Depends on your mileage each week if it's worth it. 400km a week and one big charge a week is still fine. 400km a day, and one big charge a day, bit too much of a pain.

marathon2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662949#Comment_123662949

Im well aware of the geopolitical and environmental damage that does and will occur minign for lithium, if this is your reason for not going electric then good on you! You should start there and ignore the short stories about a wife and investing in property

John_GMc

Not having a home charger definitely makes things a bit less convenient, but honestly, it’s manageable as long as you have access to a decent fast charger nearby. I’ve gotten into the habit of topping up every few days using a local DC fast charger — usually while I’m grocery shopping or running errands. It’s not quite as effortless as plugging in at home overnight, but it works just fine for my weekly driving needs.That said, planning becomes more important. If you’re running late or the charger is busy, it can be a bit of a hassle. Still, as long as your area has a good charging network, you can get by pretty comfortably without a home setup.

MojoMaker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663812#Comment_123663812

Yep, the posts on other forums really betray the fantasy being spun here.

Sad individual.

SupaCat95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123664778#Comment_123664778

My point was dont be virtue signalling how great you are spending more money to save the environment when you are not. Dont worry I get those comments and looks all the time……. then the evidence is shown and you have very quiet people in the corner.

pauly58

I see the ESB have hiked the cost of their public chargers by 15%, I imagine the others will follow suit. If we couldn't charge at home I don't think I would get an EV.

marathon2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123665273#Comment_123665273

Thats the real problem with the uptake of Electric cars. Unless you have access to home charging you are at the mercy of profit driven companies like the Ecars.

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663824#Comment_123663824

Forget everything you know about cars. EV is not like ICE when it comes to refueling it's like your phone.

mrcheez

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123665597#Comment_123665597

Are there any plans to harness solar energy (e.g. on the roof) to keep the battery nominally topped up when sitting idle?

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666218#Comment_123666218

You can do that provided the charger supports it (Zappi, EO Mini Pro), and the excess solar is above 1.4kW.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666218#Comment_123666218

makes more sense to charge at a lower rate and sell solar at FIT.

mrcheez

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666252#Comment_123666252

I mean parking by the side of the road in a town, rather than at a specific charger point. Would seem to be obvious to harness day light to keep the battery topped up.

Seems not…

It does seem akin to having to remember to charge a phone battery alright and I'd need to be constantly remembering if I charged it or if I plugged it in, or if I'm going somewhere camping for a week I'd need to plan on locations near charging points, whereas with the diesel car I actually never even think about the fuel aspect till it starts to run out.

I'd like to move to EV alright, but prob in a few more years when charging gets even faster and batteries bigger (or when diesel becomes too expensive to run).

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666312#Comment_123666312

what kind of mileage do you do annually?

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123666312#Comment_123666312

A couple did it. Fisker (bankrupt), nissan (gen1 leaf, only enough solar energy generated to keep the 12v topped up).

There isn't going to be enough energy to make it worthwhile. You'd probably get 300w-400w on a roof, which would likely deliver 100w or so, so even on the longest day in the best aspect you'd only get 1-2kWh max. Not worth it.

MojoMaker

Yet solar works really well to keep camper vans nicely topped up all winter, even with the low/weak sun and plenty of cloud. I think there is a case for integrating solar-receptive glass panels into pano roof design - assuming it wouldn't be too expensive to make it worthwhile.

Doesn't the new Prius have something along those lines?

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668165#Comment_123668165

I think on a pano roof, they would be more for green points and in reality would not only spoil the sky view (something I love having) but would generate excess heat on hot days. My interior was pushing 40 degrees C last week. I dropped the overheat protection down to 35. With dark solar cells on the roof, that would just send more heat into the cabin. For the small amount of power generated, it wouldn't be worth it imo. Is it the Rivian that has solar cell roof?

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662226#Comment_123662226

It's mad, I disappear for a day or two and find so many posts to catch up on.

That's mad, Tesla diner, just what we need……not, I really don't know why more people don't see issue with so much junk food being readily available, just look at the Camile at the Kilcullen M9 garage and you will clearly see so many more people queuing for McDonald's .

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123656596#Comment_123656596

You're right that there's a range spectrum in both ICE and EV vehicles, but you're also missing the larger point. The averages and overall infrastructure realities still favour ICE for flexibility, especially outside urban centres.

Yes, there are EVs that can do 700 to 800 km, and 1000 km models are coming, but most of those are expensive flagships and weigh a huge amount, not what the average buyer owns or can afford. Meanwhile, nearly every ICE vehicle today can hit 600 to 1000 km per tank, and refuelling takes under 5 minutes without depending on charger availability or charging speeds that vary based on battery level and weather.

The BYD 400 km in 5 minutes claim sounds impressive, but that tech is not widely available yet. It is the exception, not the norm. With ICE, quick refuelling and long range are already universal and affordable.

You mention that most people do not take long trips often, and that is fair. But part of what makes ICE attractive is not having to think about it. You do not need to plan stops, worry about charger access, or deal with slower charging performance in winter. For many, that kind of simplicity matters, especially when plans change unexpectedly.

As for spending 100 euro a week on petrol, not everyone does that. Fuel costs depend on usage. Many ICE drivers spend far less. And high-mileage EV users may find public fast charging is not as cheap as it used to be, especially compared to home charging.

I am not dismissing EVs. They clearly work well for some people and the technology is improving quickly. But that does not mean we should downplay the compromises. Just because it works for you does not mean it will fit everyone’s needs or priorities. It is not just about the tech, it is about the lifestyle and expectations people have for how their vehicle should perform.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123656992#Comment_123656992

Appreciate the detailed reply, but a few things need to be clarified.

You say I come across as overwhelmingly negative or that my stance now is at odds with previous posts. Maybe that’s because early on I was hopeful, gave EV ownership a solid try, and shared that experience honestly. But over time, the real-world compromises began to outweigh the benefits for my use case, and I’ve said that consistently. Just because someone starts positive doesn’t mean they can’t change their mind based on experience.

I’ve never claimed all EVs are broken or that every charger is offline. I’ve said the infrastructure isn’t consistent enough and that charging experience varies wildly, which even you’ve admitted — from locals hogging chargers to queueing for access. That doesn’t mean it’s a failure across the board, but it’s not as seamless or reliable as some portray it either.

As for my comment about engagement and ICE vs EV driving feel — I wasn’t making it out like I drive a performance car. That’s the point. Even in modest vehicles, some people still enjoy driving and get satisfaction from the mechanical connection. You may not, and that’s fine, but dismissing that as lacking credibility misses the point. It’s not about racing around a track. It’s about what makes driving enjoyable to different people.

You’re right, this is a forum where people lean EV, and that’s fine. But there should still be room for balanced critique without people getting defensive or suggesting the person giving it is bitter, dishonest, or trolling.

I’m not here to convert anyone either way. Just putting my experience out there so others who are on the fence get a broader picture, including some of the friction points. Not every critical comment is anti-EV , sometimes it’s just someone who hoped for more and didn’t get it.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123657785#Comment_123657785

You're right to point out that some people have a very good experience with EVs, and clearly you’re one of them, and I respect that. But that does not make my original point a blanket statement or inaccurate. It reflects the experience of many drivers, including myself, who find the range and refill time of ICE still offer more flexibility across a wider range of situations.

You are talking about your personal preferences, like stopping every few hours, which is fair. But the idea that everyone wants or needs to stop that often is not a universal truth. Some people drive long distances for work, others live in rural areas where charging options are scarce, and many simply value being able to refuel in three minutes and move on without needing to plan or wait.

Your example of a 10 to 15 minute longer stop in an EV may sound manageable, and for many it is. But that assumes everything goes right — the charger is working, available, not queued, and unaffected by weather or battery condition. That is not always the case, and anyone who drives regularly over longer distances knows that even small uncertainties add up.

On maintenance, yes, ICE vehicles have more mechanical components and possible failure points. But EVs are not immune to problems either. Battery degradation, warranty limits, hardware or software faults, and future resale value are real considerations. It is not a one-sided issue.

You mention 70 to 86 percent of Irish homes have private parking. That is a positive stat, but it still leaves a significant number of people who cannot charge at home. For them, longer fill-up times are not theoretical. They are real. And beyond time, it is about uncertainty and the need to depend on a public charging network that is not always reliable.

So no, I do not think my original statement was unfair. EVs work well for people whose habits and locations align with the technology as it stands. For others, ICE still offers predictability, flexibility, and simplicity. That deserves to be acknowledged without being dismissed as backward or misinformed thinking.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663257#Comment_123663257

Hmmm, I wonder why there was local opposition to mining Lithium at Mount Leinster ? Perhaps we live in a place where we can say F1ck off not here thanks all the same , but isn't that hypocritical ? surely the large scale devastation should be witnessed by the virtue signalling Irish ?

If exploration of the region finds decent quantities of Lithium should we agree to completely destroy the area ? I mean, think about Ireland's emissions on a global scale which are minuscule at best.

Gumbo

well the peace was nice while we had it.

Grumpypants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670664#Comment_123670664

Well if you are doing the kind of regular non stop 600+km trips that makes an EV worse then you will be spending €100+ on fuel.

If you are not doing that then. You seem think it's better to be worrying about fuel gauges, opening times, and have to plan stops every couple of days versus not worrying about it at all, not making any stops. Just hopping into your car and driving.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670891#Comment_123670891

The point being that with so much range and such short refill times I don't have to worry about it, I can go anywhere at any time and if needs be fill up in a few mins. EV needs a lot more planning and waiting around at chargers when away from Home.

Dazler97

I wouldn't get electric most of them only have a range of 200km and the most expensive ones do 500km and 1 in paticular only does 30km per charge which is pointless, stick with diesel

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123670919#Comment_123670919

Stick with what you know. You haven't a clue about EVs.