Hi Lons
That bit about the BEV's being taxed over £40k changed a short while ago. If it's zero emissions, which a BEV is, then the VED is £0.
https://pod-point.com/guides/driver/road-tax-on-electric-cars
Electric vehicles
- Thread starter Woodchips2
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Hi Lons
That bit about the BEV's being taxed over £40k changed a short while ago. If it's zero emissions, which a BEV is, then the VED is £0.
https://pod-point.com/guides/driver/road-tax-on-electric-cars
Lons
Established Member
Thanks Geoff I hadn't realised it had changed, quite right too.
Last edited:
clogs
just can't decide
prob said here before......
if the suits in charge want to charge an extra tax to charge ur car at home......
Might be the time to buy a roof photo/elec panels installed.....
if it wasn't for the need of 3 phase leky I would def be off grid....plenty of free sunshine here.....
also from Feb to Oct-Nov never pay for hot water either....
we burn wood for central heating/hot water but thats prob about 30 days per year.....
life is just geography......
if the suits in charge want to charge an extra tax to charge ur car at home......
Might be the time to buy a roof photo/elec panels installed.....
if it wasn't for the need of 3 phase leky I would def be off grid....plenty of free sunshine here.....
also from Feb to Oct-Nov never pay for hot water either....
we burn wood for central heating/hot water but thats prob about 30 days per year.....
life is just geography......
NikNak
Established Member
Having test driven a Niro e+ 6-8 weeks ago I’m wanting one 
but I’m also prepared to look at a hybrid (while the infrastructure improves...) any suggestions, and can you really get the mpg’s they’re claiming from them.?
Have always bought outright in the past but am prepared to look at leasing. To those that have leased an ev, is there a specialist company that does ‘deals’ for ev’s.? Failing that... who does the best deals in leasing.?
As always cheers guys....
but I’m also prepared to look at a hybrid (while the infrastructure improves...) any suggestions, and can you really get the mpg’s they’re claiming from them.?Have always bought outright in the past but am prepared to look at leasing. To those that have leased an ev, is there a specialist company that does ‘deals’ for ev’s.? Failing that... who does the best deals in leasing.?
As always cheers guys....
In the future say 30 years when everyone is driving a milkfloat then there will be a fortune to be made at motorway service stations because you will have a captive audience all hanging around for longer whilst they recharge. If you consider the location of some of these service stations they will be limited on the number of charging points as their power supply would not cope with to many big chargers so even more people to service. Also the current fuel stations will be obsolete and many of these provide a local shop so another loss to locals.
Droogs
Not the Sharpest Moderator in the box
I lease from Nissan Finance, but the rates do vary with the agent. Do shop around. I figured a 2 yr lease would be good as it would enable me to get a much better car next as new ones come out.
For insurance LV is very good, and their EV version gives you a free tow to a charger if you do run out. Online only, but very responsive on the phone.
But I estimated for far too many miles given the lockdowns!
For insurance LV is very good, and their EV version gives you a free tow to a charger if you do run out. Online only, but very responsive on the phone.
But I estimated for far too many miles given the lockdowns!
beech1948
Established Member
My trip via Tesla to Glasgow,Preston,Derby, Bristol and back to Crowthorne will not now happen due to Being in Tier 4 lockdown. A shame as it would have been a good test of charge stations across about 1400 miles of the UK motorways. Contacts have been replaced with Zoom conferences.
Remaining journeys are from 35 to 90 miles which the Tesla has consumed with no drama and no difficulties. Arriving home and plugging in the Tesla just like an electric drill is still a bit strange and seems a bit unreal.
The whole experience is interesting as the change is "cultural" and not due to mechanical, electrical or other issues. The cultural change is plugging the gadget in, charging times across 1400 miles of motorways to replace the 5 minute fill and go. I can see that with possibly 2x45 minute stops going to Glasgow I would be caught up with email and reports.
Remaining journeys are from 35 to 90 miles which the Tesla has consumed with no drama and no difficulties. Arriving home and plugging in the Tesla just like an electric drill is still a bit strange and seems a bit unreal.
The whole experience is interesting as the change is "cultural" and not due to mechanical, electrical or other issues. The cultural change is plugging the gadget in, charging times across 1400 miles of motorways to replace the 5 minute fill and go. I can see that with possibly 2x45 minute stops going to Glasgow I would be caught up with email and reports.
I just watched another Bjorn Nyland video that he posted today. I thought it would give me the information I was looking for but no. In the first 5 seconds of the video I learned that he had been sleeping in the car in -26C, which he always seems to think is the most important information he can impart. Watch the rest of the video though and nowhere does he say how the range compared to the range at summer temperatures. I won't watch any more of his stuff, it is just too frustrating.
Rant over.
beech1948
Established Member
Final comments re the Tesla I ripped off one of my Tech's which was returned last Monday after nearly 3 months use. What is funny is that we had words about the excessive extra mileage on my Merc he had done...ouch?
Longest journey was 210 miles which it achieved with no fuss...except me having an anxious time over range viability. Shortest journey was 32 miles x 6 over 2 days again no fuss.
Issues for me still remain.
1) Range is still a worry. My Merc S has a max range of 860 miles due to extended fuel tank option. Tesla is still only just a bit over 240 depending on weather temps.
2) Had 3 electronics faults. All minor but still 3 faults.
3) The cultural issues still remain being:a) 45 + minutes to stop and charge is just boring as I get a lot of thinking done behind the wheel. So if I had driven to Glasgow I would need at least 2 stops and possibly 3 all at 45 minutes +++.
4) Software is not owned by the car owner but remains the property of Tesla. Thus I have no control over updates, fixes, patches or revision levels.
5) All Tesla charge points on my routes worked. 18% of other charge points did not work or were for some reason not available to me. I saw 5 broken ones when looking for charge points in more remote suburban areas.
6) The lack of a common charge point plug was a never ending pain in the behind. Time for Gov'mt action to make the Tesla plug the common one for the UK.
7) Having to have accounts with 4 different charge point companies sucks. Having trouble getting service from them all, all the time sucks. One nameless charge network has never worked for me despite having a charge card detailed with them, calling to check the details and confirming everything was OK did not help me get a charge.
8) Obvious points for chargers such as Hotels, Garages, Shopping Malls, Supermarkets DO NOT provide enough chargers.
So did it work..YES.
Was it an enjoyable experience...SOMETIMES (80%)
Is there enough infrastucture for me....NO
Do I want to buy one..NOT YET as I'm not yet convinced of an EVs practicality.
Longest journey was 210 miles which it achieved with no fuss...except me having an anxious time over range viability. Shortest journey was 32 miles x 6 over 2 days again no fuss.
Issues for me still remain.
1) Range is still a worry. My Merc S has a max range of 860 miles due to extended fuel tank option. Tesla is still only just a bit over 240 depending on weather temps.
2) Had 3 electronics faults. All minor but still 3 faults.
3) The cultural issues still remain being:a) 45 + minutes to stop and charge is just boring as I get a lot of thinking done behind the wheel. So if I had driven to Glasgow I would need at least 2 stops and possibly 3 all at 45 minutes +++.
4) Software is not owned by the car owner but remains the property of Tesla. Thus I have no control over updates, fixes, patches or revision levels.
5) All Tesla charge points on my routes worked. 18% of other charge points did not work or were for some reason not available to me. I saw 5 broken ones when looking for charge points in more remote suburban areas.
6) The lack of a common charge point plug was a never ending pain in the behind. Time for Gov'mt action to make the Tesla plug the common one for the UK.
7) Having to have accounts with 4 different charge point companies sucks. Having trouble getting service from them all, all the time sucks. One nameless charge network has never worked for me despite having a charge card detailed with them, calling to check the details and confirming everything was OK did not help me get a charge.
8) Obvious points for chargers such as Hotels, Garages, Shopping Malls, Supermarkets DO NOT provide enough chargers.
So did it work..YES.
Was it an enjoyable experience...SOMETIMES (80%)
Is there enough infrastucture for me....NO
Do I want to buy one..NOT YET as I'm not yet convinced of an EVs practicality.
Droogs
Not the Sharpest Moderator in the box
Well done for giving it a go Beech1948. my take mostly positive but not quite there regarding infrastructure for you. As to getting one you haven't said no, so as recharge points increase, do you see yourself eventually getting one. Leaving out things like your age etc, if you were gonnal be around over the next 25 - 30 years, would you go for one?
I can only relay my brother in law's experience. I believe he's just past two years now with a model 3 with extended range battery, with a 90 mile round trip to work.
He has had one day where tesla's network was down here, but he wasn't driving anywhere that day, so the annoyance of knowing that the issue was there was the extent of it.
They have another vehicle for long trips (a phev), so there's no range anxiety.
No other problems with the car that he's admitted to.
His two prior vehicles were chryslers, so his bar is probably pretty low in the long term. The nature of his commute with ICE cars tends to make his experience per mile better than most, because most engine time warm running compared to someone with a shorter commute, and generally, a warm running engine and transmission is receiving little beating.
Irrigation motors here in the states can last 50,000 hours without a rebuild whereas the same engine in a farm tractor (on and off quite often except for a few times per year when heavy work is being done) would need what they referred to as an underhaul or minor rebuild at 4k hours, and a major at 8k hours. If an engine design is decent on an irrigation system and the engine is propane, then the engines are usually fine when taken out of service, so I have no idea if 50k is even too low of a target.
I don't think the same advantage exists on a tesla (in terms of highway miles - they're probably harder on the car than short trips), but with just the work mileage racking up, BIL would have been changing oil often and getting gas something like twice per week. He's now not doing that. 90% of the miles on his commute are interstate highway. He's also not an economy buyer, he's an early adopter, so he doesn't care about the fiscal side of it to some extent. His power rates are 10.5 cents per kw/hr (which equates to about 3 cents per mile), but gas prices here are low, so fuel cost for him in his older car would've only been about double that.
He has had one day where tesla's network was down here, but he wasn't driving anywhere that day, so the annoyance of knowing that the issue was there was the extent of it.
They have another vehicle for long trips (a phev), so there's no range anxiety.
No other problems with the car that he's admitted to.
His two prior vehicles were chryslers, so his bar is probably pretty low in the long term. The nature of his commute with ICE cars tends to make his experience per mile better than most, because most engine time warm running compared to someone with a shorter commute, and generally, a warm running engine and transmission is receiving little beating.
Irrigation motors here in the states can last 50,000 hours without a rebuild whereas the same engine in a farm tractor (on and off quite often except for a few times per year when heavy work is being done) would need what they referred to as an underhaul or minor rebuild at 4k hours, and a major at 8k hours. If an engine design is decent on an irrigation system and the engine is propane, then the engines are usually fine when taken out of service, so I have no idea if 50k is even too low of a target.
I don't think the same advantage exists on a tesla (in terms of highway miles - they're probably harder on the car than short trips), but with just the work mileage racking up, BIL would have been changing oil often and getting gas something like twice per week. He's now not doing that. 90% of the miles on his commute are interstate highway. He's also not an economy buyer, he's an early adopter, so he doesn't care about the fiscal side of it to some extent. His power rates are 10.5 cents per kw/hr (which equates to about 3 cents per mile), but gas prices here are low, so fuel cost for him in his older car would've only been about double that.
DBT85
Established Member
I'd imagine electric can grow faster in Europe simply because most only have sub 25 mile journeys to work. ****. I work 120 miles from home but a 300 mile electric range would still allow me to work 4 shifts (I lodge near work) and get home just fine.
The limitations in cities will be where to charge. If more supermarket carparks are littered with charging points howeverthe problem starts to dissipate.
The limitations in cities will be where to charge. If more supermarket carparks are littered with charging points howeverthe problem starts to dissipate.
selectortone
Still waking up not dead in the morning
I was in sales for 35 years and in a couple of jobs drove 50k miles or more a year. I definitely got driving out of my system. When my wife passed away I changed my job/lifestyle and the most I have driven since 2005 is up to London a couple of times. Most of the shopping I do is within walking distance. I do a 'big' shop once a fortnight or so. This week the car has sat in the drive the entire week. An electric car would suit me perfectly - wish I could afford one.
DBT85
Established Member
The daft thing is that given how little you drive there's actually even less reason to buy one. Racking up the miles is a great way to save money on fuel and help offset that purchase cost.
There is a surplus at the end of many commutes here in the states, but the issue is cost. That is, if you have an EV, in our local garage, you are entitled to a free charge, but only 6 kw/hr. There are two walls of chargers built into the Authority (as in tied in to the city) garages, probably paid for by a grant. Once you're past your 6kw allowance each day, the charger cost is about double the going rate of electricity (this seems like good policy at the charge point, but it encourages owners to charge elsewhere other than the free bits).
This could change quickly if electric cars become a much larger % of those around, and someone actually cares. As in, if there are 10 electric cars in the garage on three levels, they wouldn't quite occupy those spots, and it's not uncommon to see those E-cars parked in a "normal" spot, anyway, ignoring the free current as the free current is less than a dollar and the parking rate is $300 a month for a spot. If there are 50 electric cars, the situation will go the other way, but the cars parked may stick with the freebie current only blocking others who may want to charge more. Who knows.
Everyone I know with an EV charges at home because the rate is cheaper. They talk about charging on the go like it's the same as paying $50 for mcdonalds.
I am not an early adopter, but rather have a scion creeping up on 13 years of age. $79 in unscheduled maintenance so far, it always goes despite being boring and with the mileage I drive (commute with public trans and only drive to business meetings), about 2k miles a year, my fuel cost is about $200. There's no way for me to pencil out an electric car, and the same is likely true of most retirees who are on a fixed budget. The lowest cost option here initially (at least real option) was the nissan leaf, but they had no thermal management and didn't last long by my count waiting for the bus. Models 3 are everywhere. A few S models remain, but for the same kind of crowd that an AMG mercedes would attract. Unreliable, but so is anything else they'd have bought.
selectortone
Still waking up not dead in the morning
I don't understand why EVs are so expensive. (well, I do, it's what the market will tolerate). When you compare the motor in an EV (which is only a little more conmplicated than a washing machine's) and a modern internal combustion engine with all it's myriad components, fine tolerances and timings there's no comparison cost wise. And battery prices have come down massively over the last couple of years.
DBT85
Established Member
The motors are a little different and quite large, and the while battery prices have come down the scale still isn't there like it is with ICE cars yet. Now that the likes of VW and others are getting on board the prices will start to come down as more and more companies ramp up battery production. The price right now has been paying for the large development costs involved in getting this started when the big players were happy cheating diseasal tests and not really really bothered about electric. They no longer really have a choice and so their sizable weight is being brought to bear.
We're essentially still in the "own a horse until the cost of the model T comes down" phase.
My Superb 280 will hopefully last me until such time as I can get myself one.
beech1948
Established Member
Droogs,
I'm 72 and still working. Yipeeeeee.
Age does come into it a lot but I will buy an electric car when I can see a range in cold weather of 350 miles. The drop in range during cold weather can be quite dramatic.
I have bought my wife a Nissan Leaf to replace her beloved very old 1997 Toyota Rav4. So I will try that out as well as a run about.
I'm 72 and still working. Yipeeeeee.
Age does come into it a lot but I will buy an electric car when I can see a range in cold weather of 350 miles. The drop in range during cold weather can be quite dramatic.
I have bought my wife a Nissan Leaf to replace her beloved very old 1997 Toyota Rav4. So I will try that out as well as a run about.
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