Off Topic Thread 5.0

hold my beer · 02-05-2022 12:50PM

Yeah it's madness. We bought an EV at the beginning of last year. We were very lucky because within a few weeks people were ordering and getting build weeks months in the future.

errlloyd · 03-05-2022 10:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119004872#Comment_119004872

I know it's a long way away, but very keen to hear how you get on the with KIA EV6.

My brother worked on EVs in the UK (Jaguary E-Pace) and as a result he was an early convert to EVs and the rest of the family all got introduced quite early. Since then 5 (out of 8) of the car owners in my immediate family have switched to EVs and between them they have quite the spectrum.

Kia E-Niro

Hyundai Kona

Skoda Enyaq

MG ZS

BWM I3

Nissan Leaf

I've had a go in all of them bar the MG and the KIA / Hyundai (they're basically the same car) were comfortably the best. Both in practical terms, but also in the softer terms. I'm a bit away from getting one myself (currently have no car, but live in a city centre apartment with no charging and don't need a car), but very keen on the EV6 and the Cupra Born.

awec · 03-05-2022 11:09AM

EVs are still too small for me, the Enyaq is getting there but it's still just a crossover I think.

hold my beer · 03-05-2022 11:24AM

Small as in the inside?

awec · 03-05-2022 11:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008982#Comment_119008982

Yea, small as in the inside and boot capacity etc.

There are no EV estate cars yet (that I know of), and I am unsure what the range would be on a fully loaded EV estate if one did exist.

hold my beer · 03-05-2022 11:27AM

The ID4 is huge inside. The boot is decent size but not huge. Range is up to 450km, though would rarely get near that.

errlloyd · 03-05-2022 11:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008991#Comment_119008991

MG5 is an estate I think? They absolutely are the future, I think the inversion point is going to happen more suddenly than people expect. As soon as the range hits like 600k you're at the point where never having to stop for petrol (because you charge overnight) becomes more of a benefit than occasionally charging on long journeys is negative.

awec · 03-05-2022 12:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008999#Comment_119008999

It's decent sized but a lot smaller than my current car (Superb Estate).

It's inevitable I'll own an EV eventually, just not quite there yet for me.

Former Former Former · 03-05-2022 12:21PM

Peugeot 5008 plug-in hybrid is due out next year, whether that will happen now I don't know.

I have the same issue. Three small kids mean most of the EVs are just not big enough.

kuang1 · 03-05-2022 12:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119008861#Comment_119008861

Yeah I've test driven the EV6 twice now. It's a very impressive machine. Deceptively big. Officially in the SUV class, it doesn't strike you as one from the outside though.

A small but really cool feature is in the rear seat footwell, there's no raised part in the middle. So if 3 people were sitting in the back they all have equal foot room. Just adds that bit more to how spacious it feels.

I'm currently driving an insignia, which has a huge boot. The EV6 boot isn't as big of course, but still v generous.

But some dealerships now don't even have one to test drive! Nuts!

pickarooney · 03-05-2022 01:02PM

There's bound to be a period where people want to switch to EVs en masse but the uptake for their second hand petrol cars will be low. If budget electric cars become a possibility I'd imagine people will have a preference.

Then again, electricity is just going to keep going up and up and charging an EV might become unaffordable. And awkward for people living in apartments.

molloyjh · 03-05-2022 04:25PM

The Enyaq has 585 litres of boot space. I know that’s 50-100 less than some estates but it’s a pretty serious amount of space regardless. The 12 month minimum wait time is an issue though!

awec · 03-05-2022 04:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010513#Comment_119010513

Yea that is pretty close, but if that boot is fully loaded and the car has a family in it what does the range look like?

molloyjh · 03-05-2022 04:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010534#Comment_119010534

Depends on the battery. The 80 has a realistic range of about 450km from what I’ve read. Not sure how badly impacted that is by a full car and boot though. We probably won’t really know the answer to that until towards the back end of the year when people have actually filled the car up and done it in enough numbers to gauge it.

Neil3030 · 03-05-2022 04:36PM

Interesting that nobody is mentioning any Tesla models. I've my name down for a CyberTruck since 2019, but still not holding my breath. Nor am I sure I want to fund Musk's latest antics.

molloyjh · 03-05-2022 04:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010562#Comment_119010562

Most, if not all, Teslas are priced beyond the grant so probably rules it out for most people.

kuang1 · 03-05-2022 05:01PM

And currently 10 month wait for Teslas.

Just don't like their aesthetics if I'm honest. Look too much like the modern beetle which is an abomination.

That, and the fact that you're charged anywhere from €1200 to €2300 extra if you want any colour other than white.

(driving my daughter mad lately by pointing at any white Tesla I see saying "poor man's tesla")

Take 25% off the manufacturers claimed range to get a sense of actual range.

awec · 03-05-2022 05:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119010562#Comment_119010562

The Model X is the only one available in Ireland that you could call big and it comes with a very hefty price tag.

03-05-2022 09:17PM

A green electric life is the dream but it just feels out of the price range to make that switch TBH between car and house who has that type of money upfront

Sure the Gov grants dont cover the interest of the loans you'd need

Almost as if the cost is 5+ years away from being accessible and that's me being optimistic

Dubinusa · 04-05-2022 02:57AM

Tesla sells well here in Massachusetts! But, there isn't many other electric vehicles that I've seen. Prius was a fairly popular brand, but I don't see many anymore.

I can't see many people switching over tbh. They cost a lot and there's very few places to charge them. I wouldn't get one for that reason. Besides, I love my petrol fueled car! She's beautiful 😍

molloyjh · 04-05-2022 08:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119012883#Comment_119012883

Price is a real issue at the moment, but the gap between the price of an ICE and an EV are closing. And should continue to close the more uptake there is of EVs.

And with the ranges we’re seeing now (real world of 400-500km) a charging point at home reduces the need for a public charging network for most. It’s a real selling point for my wife who hates going to petrol stations! The only time we’d need to charge publicly would be those longer trips that we’d take once or twice a year.

And plenty of the EVs that are out now are nice looking motors. I think the EV6 is simply gorgeous. But I suppose a lot of that stuff is subjective. They are def more practical than an ICE with larger cabin space being a big part of what they offer. Apparently the VW ID3, which is slightly bigger than a Golf from the outside, is a similar size to a Passat inside.

Ultimately we’re going to need to see mass uptake of EVs across the globe as ICE cars are major polluters. And I think we will as they become more affordable and people start to see the benefit of them.

awec · 04-05-2022 08:53AM

The growth of the second hand market is what will bring them into the affordable price range for the majority. At this point in time I would bet that the overwhelming majority of EV owners are still on their first EV, i.e. they haven't traded up yet. This keeps prices high, since everyone is buying new.

stephen_n · 04-05-2022 09:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013193#Comment_119013193

This is a big thing. I drive an 07 car, which I only usually drive once a week. There’s no way I’m buying a new car or even close. In terms of fully EV. It will be a minimum of 5 years before I would be even considering one. Probably 10.

OldRio · 04-05-2022 09:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119011926#Comment_119011926

The grant scheme in both housing and transport is very poorly thought out IMHO. There seems to be no joined up thinking. I dont know one person who has a EV.

04-05-2022 10:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013411#Comment_119013411

Like I drive from Naas to the arse end of Connemara once if not twice a month on top of my normal driving. And I'm feeling the pinch at the moment. So an EV will be on my list as they just are cheaper to run but the initial cost is so prohibitive

molloyjh · 04-05-2022 10:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013193#Comment_119013193

That depends in some ways on what people need too. We recently got a second hand Leaf. We haven’t got the charger installed yet (you know the issue we have there!) but once we do the majority of our driving will be done in that. Because most of our driving is within a 30-40km radius. Others, like CM above, have very different needs though and a second hand Leaf with 100-120km range might not be worth much to them.

Getting the Leaf has also meant we can take some time figuring out what we want to do with the main car. Do we want to go hybrid or fully EV. But most importantly we don’t need to do either for the moment.

kuang1 · 04-05-2022 12:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119013438#Comment_119013438

You're absolutely right.

On the other hand it's hard to see an EV depreciate in value as quickly as a regular car might (not over the next 3/4 years anyway) given the dramatic increase in demand for them combined with the low supply.

Sales in Ireland for EVs are month on month double of last year's.

awec · 04-05-2022 01:02PM

The other thing to note is that the advertised ranges for the EVs are usually WLTP ranges. That is to say, if they say they'll do 300km on a single charge, you are not going to get anywhere near 300km of motorway driving. Probably would need to knock ~30% off that, maybe more, if you are doing a long motorway journey.

This would be a big problem for me or anyone else who does these journeys, and a blocker for getting an EV as the main car in the house.

Former Former Former · 04-05-2022 01:59PM

We went to the in-laws in Clare a while back.

Usual toilet stop at Barack Obama Plaza, in and out as quick as you can etc. Saw a family all sitting in their EV waiting for it to charge before continuing on. No idea how long they had been there or how much longer they would have to wait but they all looked absolutely miserable and as I drove off I was thinking "nope, not going electric any time soon".

Dave_The_Sheep · 04-05-2022 02:12PM

For the fellas out there, where's decent to buy a suit in Dublin/the Pale these days? It's been quite a while since I've gotten one. For a wedding - not business - if that helps.

Off Topic Thread 5.0

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