All of this yep.
mass market Joe blogs just didnt follow early adopters on EVs, now that they’ve all taken delivery.
we shouldn’t underestimate the rarity of large price cuts on new cars too.
Battery prices have been dropping a lot thanks to the investment in new lithium sources.
Lithium prices peaked at the end of 2022. 2022 saw the first increase in per kWh prices of battery. Analysts are now predicting battery prices could go as low as $60/kWh.
I've just read an excellent article on EV efficiency by InsideEvs/Jason Lambrecht. I think it's very educational and wide ranging hitting all the important factors for efficiency and resultant range. Very interesting note also that a higher powered motor- 286 hp leads to greater efficiency and hence range improvement in the new ID4. Well worth a good read. By the way Engineering Explained /Jason Fenske who features in the article has some excellent YouTube videos - e.g. range effects of using bigger wheel diameters.
Sorry- author is Andrew Lambrecht
Yes, Tesla was the same. I found the higher performance AWD more efficient on motorway runs than the RWD performance version. P90DL V P85+.
I think this is article you read
I have noticed massive differences on efficiency in same car on same road. Freezing temperates and today massive headwinds and rain. I tend to keep the trip average kw/100km display on the dash and it's varied from 16-30 within the space of a few weeks. Head winds can be unseen, unnoticed but impact a lot.
Peugeot have extended their now standard 8 year battery warranty to cover the other EV components :
Toyota have up to 10 years battery warranty on their BZ4x if you continue to service that car at a main dealer.
So, these new warranty variations are challenging the standard EV 8 year warranty covering only the battery.
Not sure where to post this but here goes. I'm a long time reader/lurker on this forum and am thinking of going electric. The snag is I've 4 children under 12 so need a 6-7 seater. My wife also visits her mother regularly 130 km away in West Cork, there is one charger halfway and so would need to be able to get there and back to the charger comfortably in winter.
Currently we have 2 motors, a 5 and a 7 seater, we're on a farm and also have a small bit of towing.
Is the Telsa model x a feasible option? I'm talking 2nd hand 2018/19 but they're an awful price still at that, imho.
Other options would be a citroen/fiat crew van and a smaller 5 seat ev
TIA, other suggestions welcome.
For a seven seater, you are looking at mad money alright.
So, my thought reading this was to suggest leaving your 7 seater as is and replace the 5 seater car to ev for some trips. I think there will be alot of options for 7 seater in 1 to 2 years new but not in the second hand market for another 5 ish years.
Maybe not what you wanted to hear and others might have better feedback for you.
I was in exact same boat. 7 seater EV is too expensive. However even though I needed a 7 seater we realised it was only a handful of times we actually needed 7 seats or long journeys. So decided to keep 7 seater ice and get EV for run around.
I intended to use ice car for long journeys, however after having it a while now o would prefer take Ev and just charge somewhere.
Lots of ev's would do you 260km round trip, even in cold weather.
I have four children (11, 8, 3 and 2) and a 2018 MX 75D as our only car. It's a great car but very pricey. The 6 seat model is great because kids in the third row can get in/out through the middle without moving the seats (or passengers) in the 2nd row. There's isofix in all three rows (in the older models) and plenty of space for people in front of any rear-facing child seats. The boot is big enough to take 1 pram and lots of other stuff comfortably. 2 prams is a problem for us but might not be a concern for you. There's loads of room under the 1st and 2nd row seats so they can take all their junk with them on trips and not use the boot at all. Two of mine do sports activities five days a week so their sports equipment lives in the car, mostly in the frunk, leaving the boot free for shopping, etc.
I've never measured it properly but I think we get about 200-250km in Winter and 250-300km in Summer fully loaded. My in-laws are in the very west of west Mayo which is around 330km from Dublin so definitely not manageable in a single trip but we always stop for food and toilet trips anyway so it doesn't add much/anything to the journey time. The trip used to require some planning but there have been a number of additional high-speed chargers added recently and a 50kW in the nearest town to them so we charge up while we're there for the trip back. Some (all?) of the older models have a 16.5kW AC charger which can be very handy because you can combine charge and eat without being stuck with the fast-food options at motorway service stations.
On the other hand, the older Model X cars are a lucky dip. I had quite a few things fixed under warranty and I've had a few things need to be fixed out of warranty: drivers door handle (not as simple/cheap as you'd think because of the powered doors), front passenger seatbelt sensor (the whole seat might need to be replaced) and both the 3 way and 4 way coolant junctions. Definitely budget for repairs! They also eat tyres and the tyres are huge so those will be a black hole for money but I suspect most full 6/7 seat cars will be almost as bad.
Lastly, the double edged sword. It's a big car. It's relatively long, quite wide, has the turning circle of a small boat and takes up entire parking spaces. Multi-story car parks are a challenge. But, unlike a lot of 7 seaters, the rear seats are full sized seats with a full protective shell around them, they're not in the rear crumple zone so kids sitting there should be very safe.
Edit: Mine came with an optional tow-hitch. I've never used it but the MX is definitely rated to tow stuff.
I had a 2017 X75D 7 seater and sold it because the range was simply not enough for me (220km round trip all motorway). Other than that it's a great car. Agree on the tires, thankfully we never had to change them but it was on 22' wheels on black alloys.
Agree on the whole rest of your post actually, and if I didnt need the range I'd still have the X. Great car. I want another one, but a longer range this time.
Tesla dropped last year and VW dropped this year.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate the time that went into them especially @markpb , its hard to beat real life experiences.
I must certainly cost post warranty issues into it.
Would a Mercedes EQB be another 7 seater option you would consider?
There are a good number for sale.
The components of electric drivetrains have been around for a very long time, motors and simple reduction gears with power electronics. I'd say manufacturers are seeing that they can offer much longer warranties without extra costs, they can look good and offer 8 years without affecting the bottom line.
The EQB is a size down from the X though. It's a 5 seater with 2 seats in the boot and the third row has zero legroom. If you regularly need to use more than 5 seats it's not a real option. Fine for occasional use.
Is that new big Kia EV9 not a 7 seater? And is there any word on a 7 seater version of the ID.Buzz ever happening/coming here?
Expensive buses, but probably a much better prospect over a 5-7 year old Model X
Course they can, Hyundai US EV cars come with 10 yr battery/drivetrain warranty and 5 year bumper the bumper, no reason why can't be the same here
Watched an RSymons EQB review recently and he was very positive about the car in general. Considered the boxy design made it deceptively spacious given its compact footprint. Even sat in the rearmost seats and considered although not comfortable on a longer journey for a 6 footer would be OK for a short journey and fine for kids.
Most things are smaller than a Model X.
But if four children are under 12 I would think there is plenty of room for two of them in the rear seats of an EQB.
I test drove it before buying the X. Its a nice car but not suitable for 7 adults
As I'm finding out as the years pass, kids grow up! Ours would have fit fine in an EQB 10 years ago but not now. One is 18 to be fair!
I agree with that but then they normally won't want to go anywhere with you anyway.
As my 20 year often says I'll keep going on holidays with you so long as you pay🤣
The BYD Tang is a 7 seater SUV with a 88kWh battery, currently selling in Germany & Netherlands for around €70,000. No word on when the RHD version will be released to the UK market.
The family 7 seater SUV is one class where PHEVs clearly have the best new car value at an 'affordable' price point.
Will be interesting to see how the new 2024 Hyundai Discovery Santa Fe is received
They don't cover the most common fault in Ireland though, the constantly failing 12V.
.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/01/floating-sauna-rescues-motorists-whose-tesla-plunged-into-oslo-fjord
LOL. Thats gold - Peeps driving their car into freezing waters and a sauna boat just happens to be nearby.
I told you EVs can't drive through floods.
