Scrapping our old car for an electric

Renault are adding a trade in booster to the scrappage scheme. It's another grand on the R5. So €19,995 for the entry level 40kWh Evolution.

My local dealer told me they don't have any stock of the base model in the Country, so could only offer the 52kw version. Not sure if they can order one in, as I didn't ask this question yet.

I’d choose the R5 over Polo if prices were similar but that’s personal preference - Polo may well be more practical if room in the back seats is better.
But having spent a week touring around in a rural area with limited charging options , I’m a firm believer in getting the best range you can afford - I’ve covered about 900kms over the last week - even though my official range is about 418 - add in cooler temps, very rough winding terrain and of course 100km+ motorway speeds getting here, and that range reduces by about 25%.

Charging infrastructure - especially fast chargers-in rural areas definitely needs to improve , no less hotels and holiday let properties getting on site fast chargers.

Next week will be back to normality - but I couldn’t envisage myself completing the trip I did this week in a 40kwh R5 or similar

A 40kwh R5 has a WLTP of 312kms- over 100kms less than my car - given the same reduced range due to cold and mountainous roads, that would essentially be a real world range of say 230kms- I’d have spent my holiday hogging a fast charger daily, a good 20lm return journey from where I’m staying

It’s a hassle you don’t want on a holiday - fine if a charger is right where you base yourself or in a city area where you might have access to any number of fast chargers- but rural areas are different and right now the supply and quality of rural chargers is poor.
I’ve just done it- it’s a pain in the hole - and I have a better range than a 40kwh R5

I would normally agree, but in this case the sums stack up in favour of a brand new electric car. Let's say the Renault 5 which is €20k on the road with the scrappage scheme. Let's say they will keep it for 10 years and then it is worth €3k

So depreciation €1700 per year, tax €120, fuel at 10k km at 10c / kWh night rate €140 per year, maintenance €0, total (excl insurance and tyres, etc.) OP is cash buyer, probably just sitting in their bank or savings account, so no loans needed and barely even worth mentioning opportunity costs of money. Total €1960

Petrol car no depreciation so €0, tax €700, fuel at 10k km at €1.80 petrol and 40mpg €1271, maintenance: yearly NCT and oil service and being very lucky nothing goes wrong (possible, but unlikely) €200, total €2171

Brand new EV has cheaper total cost of ownership, has convenience of home charging, is likely safer (because it is 20 years younger) and over its lifetime cleaner for the environment. And as others have also mentioned: the EV will likely take over as the car doing the most mileage, which will skew above figures even further

When you do the sums, the EV really is the no brainer

I was in this exact position myself 10 years ago, scrapped my big old petrol fuel car and bought a brand new Hyundai Ioniq 28, which turned out to cost me even less than I had anticipated. And far less than my old car cost me (that I did not spend any money on maintenance on)

tl;dr: Brand new EV has cheaper total cost of ownership compared to keeping 20 year old car

Was into a Main. VW dealer during the week. Told him I'd be on the lookout for a small new EV on the scrappage deal. Told be the dealers haven't been told much about what's involved but there's a "webnair" taking place with SEAI on Wednsday/Thursday next week. Took my name and will be in contact with me afterwards. VW don't have the cars in Ireland in the quantity they're being enquired about. Yes, there's huge interest and he expects VW 0% finance will be available also. For me it'll be either the Polo, the BYD Surf or the Renault, but I will be trading the 18yr old Suzi, it's a no brainer.

this whole scrappage thing is pathetic, 2000 cars 🤦‍♂️ The government would rather pay the billions in fines then give the money back to its own citizens. Why not include second hand vehicles under 5 years?

The leapmotor B05 might also be worth considering when it arrives

Any idea what price they are coming in at on the road after the grant?

I heard Inster is c 20k after scrappage/EV grant. Yes I am not fond of its exterior but I love the interior.