Switching to EV

pleasant Co.

Hi folks,

My wife and I are looking to switch to EV, we're looking at getting possibly a Tesla for it's longer range and also a Nissan leaf as an about town / learner car.

Both would be second hand so looking for advice on what models to avoid, specifically for the leaf as certain models have terrible battery issues right?

I've a full license for years myself but my wife is a very nervous learner so looking to take manual out of the equation, any advice would be much appreciated 👍🏻

sept09baby

If you give more details on her driving (total mileage, av daily trip) and the budget I'm sure people can advise on the leaf or alternatives

zg3409

Do you own your own home with off street parking for 2 cars? What is your daily commute round trip in kilometers ? What is partners daily commute? What sort of long distance trip would you like to go in the leaf? Do you have a regular ling distance trip such as Dublin to Donegal?

joe1303l

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058428560/switching-to-ev

If budget allows, I’d ditch the idea of buying a Leaf and go for an e-Golf, Ioniq 28 or i3 instead.

MojoMaker

12k would get you a very nice i3 for town use, with the ability to get around the county if needed.

Does that detract from your Tesla budget? Anything 2023+ should be fine from Tesla. That's probably early 20s in cost.

...Ghost...

I know a bit about both.

Previous ownership includes 2014 Leaf (24kWh), 2012 Leaf (24kWh), 2018 Leaf (40kWh). The 2012 and 2018 are still in the family. 2022 Tesla model 3 RWD.

Currently own 2015 Leaf (24kWh), 2017 Tesla Model S 75D, 2025 Tesla Model Y Juniper AWD LR.

Assuming you have home charging available:

I’d suggest looking at the Tesla M3 RWD for your longer trips. Try for the late 2021, early 2022 China built version. It’s a wholly different car to the Fremont version with better range and superior build. Beautiful drive and very safe car. You’re looking around €20k depending on mileage and condition of that vintage.

For the Leaf. If it’s truly a run around, then a 24kWh version is all you need. Get the 2014/15 years. Aim for under 100k klms if possible, or no less than 10 out of 12 battery capacity bars remaining on the dash, giving real range of 80-100km. I picked up a 2015 Leaf a couple weeks ago for €4000. Not the cheapest example, but a great little car. Great learner car too. There’s one on DD for 3.5k worth considering.

Steer clear of the 30kWh version. Awful battery degradation. The 40kWh version is good value and gives twice the range, but is twice the price from 2018.

AndyBoBandy

Don't buy a 2019 or 2020 Model 3 as they'll have been made in America - 2021 onwards are China built and far better build quality.

Also since the move to China, the base model battery changed from NMC to LFP, which can be charged to 100% regularly whereas on the NMC battery, it's recommended to only charge to 80% daily, and beyond only for long trips. (the LR & P versions of the Model 3 have still retained the NMC batteries to date..)

pleasant Co.

wow thanks for all the advice!

Here’s the extra details requested:

she’d barely do any mileage, at most a weekly round trip of 60km apart from that anything daily would be short 10km trips to the shops.

We do own our house and yes there’s off street parking with space for 2 cars, at least once a month we’d have a round trip of 350km, with weekly trips of 150km. The notion being that the Tesla would be for long range and the leaf truly would be a run around learner car for a couple of years and once she’s confident we’ll replace it with a longer ranged EV.

as for budget we were thinking low to mid 20s for the Tesla and about 5k for the run around car.

again thanks so much for the detailed info!

tlaavtech

For your smaller car, do look at the BMW i3. For a car built from 2014 onwards, they are still one of the most advanced EV's in terms of build and they still look really striking. I was looking for an EV for my daughter four years ago, and amongst the sea of Leafs and Zoes found the i3. I ended up buying one for myself a few days later. I'm approaching the end of the loan and starting to look at what I would change it for, and there is nothing that really catches my eye other than the Renault 4 or 5. We already have a Megane e-type so changing to one of those wouldn't be much of a change!

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123997201#Comment_123997201

Here's a 2021 Long Range for €24,750. Should do the 350km trip maybe 50 out of 52 weeks of the year without needing a charge. Its All Wheel Drive and will do 0-100km/h in 4.4s and for €1,800 they'll send an over the air update to unlock the software to allow it to do 0-100 in 3.9s (just in case the 4.4s isn't quick enough)

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2021-tesla-model-3-3-long-range-awd/39943332?utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=listing_share&utm_source=copy

You'll comfortably pick something up in your budget..

This is the cheapest Made in China car at €18,995

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2021-tesla-model-3-standard-range-upgraded-fsd/40793526?utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=listing_share&utm_source=copy

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123997164#Comment_123997164

There's absolutely nothing wrong with an early Model 3. I have bought & sold a few and never had any issues. Always charged to 100% too. Build quality is identical in my experience.

MojoMaker

Also you won't get an i3 for 5k sadly, or we'd all have one.

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123997656#Comment_123997656

no, there's not, but the 2021+ cars are much much better in terms of upgrades compared to the Fremont cars (of which I myself have), not to mention the better range.

2019/2020 cars are not bad per se, but the ones that followed from China are better.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123997854#Comment_123997854

Yes, wireless charging is nice and the battery is obviously better. Just depends on price really

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123997890#Comment_123997890

& the heat pump, double glazing front glass, interior refresh, chrome delete, power trunk, USB-C ports etc… that all came from 2021 onwards (actually most of it came in the very last batch of 2020 Fremont Model 3’s as the refresh took place just before cars started coming from China, but those Fremont refresh versions kept the NMC battery)

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123997431#Comment_123997431

Should do the trip with ease. I get over 400km in the depths of winter with full climate at the speed limit.