Streets ahead? What I’ve learned from my year with an electric car

We live in the UK, not only does range anxiety not exist: "Range" simply isn't a problem in this small, densely populated island with all but the small city cars. Peopel think they need the range of an EV to increase massively but you genuinely don't in the UK. For the big cars now, range is pretty much at it's optimum.
Dude, thats simply not true for some people. Just because range anxiety isnt an issue for you, doesnt mean it doesn't exist. Its not a personal attack on you.

I have to travel from Teesside to Daventy maybe monthly. Its over 400 mile round trip, and even though we have a couple of chargers at the office, I cant guarantee getting access to one. Its at least a 6 hour return journey as it is, and public transport is a non starter.

The full EV's on the market today are a non starter for me personally, regardless of how much I want to drive one.
 
I am in the same boat.

Pick an EV off the company car list and pay a low BIK value, or take the opt out allowance, pay income tax on it, then be left with £450 ish a month to fund a car.

Currently thinking about buying a 1 yr old Golf GTI (or a BMW 520d Touring) and financing it over 5 years ( cant have a car over 6 yr old in the company car scheme) then at least I have an asset at the end of the 5 years when I look for a new car.

I like the idea of getting a Audi E tron or a Merc EQ, but I certainly wont be getting one that I actually pay for anytime soon.
Again, no like for liek comparisons here: A small hatchback and a small engined estate car compared to 2 large size SUVs
 
As soon as you splash out the Tech is out of date and the range is better on the next model.
Yes I get thats the same as petrol and diesel cars to a degree but the range is much less an issue with them.
Range range range.
Fantastic if you don't leave the County but a max length trip of 150 miles for a there and back in the same day is no use to a lot of people.
Range just isn't an issue. It really, genuinely, in this country, is not at all.

How many people regularly travel 150 miles? This is the frustrating thing about this EV myth: You repeat the range myth, then suggest people drive 150 miles daily. Which is utterly false. You're also under the assumption that in this alleged daily 150 mile drive, there was nowhere to stop and charge at the place to wherever this fictional journey was taking place
 
Range anxiety doesn't exist. It is an entirely made up construct in order to provide a handy, emotive and unprovable anti EV comment without much thought. It's an utter myth.

Charger anxiety does exist in this country. There is no question of this. But range anxiety no. If you plan a journey in an EV you have 0% anxiety about being able to complete that journey as planned. You do have anxiety over whether the charging infrastructure will support you but that's an entirely different matter.

So you can speak for the entire ownership of EV owners, and say none of them have ever worried about whether they'll make it to their destination with their existing battery capacity, or be able to find a charger before they run out of battery - interesting.

Your drawing the difference between range and charger anxiety, really isn't the defence you think it is - whatever you call it, it's a barrier to entry for the the wider uptake of EV's, and you simply dismissing because you personally haven't experienced it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist, no matter how many times you post your "facts" about the terms origin.
 
Again, no like for liek comparisons here: A small hatchback and a small engined estate car compared to 2 large size SUVs
the like for like comparison is how much its going to cost me each month.

The E tron and the EQ are both £60k plus cars to buy, and make absolutely no sense for me to purchase over 5 years given the mileage and depreciation I would face.

Also, the government arent going to keep paying for the Ev grant of £5k or whatever it currently is, and they will soon figure out a way to tax all the EV company cars as they start to loose revenue for the inland revenue. The government is only interested in the revenue despite the green noise they make.
 
Dude, thats simply not true for some people. Just because range anxiety isnt an issue for you, doesnt mean it doesn't exist. Its not a personal attack on you.

I have to travel from Teesside to Daventy maybe monthly. Its over 400 mile round trip, and even though we have a couple of chargers at the office, I cant guarantee getting access to one. Its at least a 6 hour return journey as it is, and public transport is a non starter.

The full EV's on the market today are a non starter for me personally, regardless of how much I want to drive one.

Look Smalltown has spoken, will you just get down to the EV garage as soon as possible and get yourself a new car. Dont worry about being stranded in Daventry with no charge, you can just drive back powering your car with smugness generated from posts on this messageboard.
 
So you can speak for the entire ownership of EV owners, and say none of them have ever worried about whether they'll make it to their destination with their existing battery capacity, or be able to find a charger before they run out of battery - interesting.

Your drawing the difference between range and charger anxiety, really isn't the defence you think it is - whatever you call it, it's a barrier to entry for the the wider uptake of EV's, and you simply dismissing because you personally haven't experienced it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist, no matter how many times you post your "facts" about the terms origin.
It's a significant difference. "Range anxiety" is a throw away phrase which is entirely incorrect and allows the hard of thinking to simply dismiss EV ownership by belittling the vehicles. "Charger anxiety" is highlighting the actual issue with EV ownership and the one that needs addressing.

And yes, if you plan a route properly, which every driver should do for every long journey. Every EV driver would know they could reach their destination with enough charge, assuming any planned charger on the route are working
 
the like for like comparison is how much its going to cost me each month.

The E tron and the EQ are both £60k plus cars to buy, and make absolutely no sense for me to purchase over 5 years given the mileage and depreciation I would face.

Also, the government arent going to keep paying for the Ev grant of £5k or whatever it currently is, and they will soon figure out a way to tax all the EV company cars as they start to loose revenue for the inland revenue. The government is only interested in the revenue despite the green noise they make.
Yes they are 60K cars: My point was you can hardly roll out the "EVs are expensive" line and then compare a small hatchback to a large SUV from a premium manufacturer
 
It's a significant difference. "Range anxiety" is a throw away phrase which is entirely incorrect and allows the hard of thinking to simply dismiss EV ownership by belittling the vehicles. "Charger anxiety" is highlighting the actual issue with EV ownership and the one that needs addressing.

It's irrelevant what you call it, it's the same thing and a barrier to entry. You just posting the same thing time and time again doesn't make it go away you know.
 
It's a significant difference. "Range anxiety" is a throw away phrase which is entirely incorrect and allows the hard of thinking to simply dismiss EV ownership by belittling the vehicles. "Charger anxiety" is highlighting the actual issue with EV ownership and the one that needs addressing.
So if I run out of petrol in my car, have I actually run out of petrol or have I really run out of petrol stations?

A bit like if you were to drown at sea. there isnt an air shortage, there just inst any air where you are.

The anxiety is around not having the required power to complete your journey as you would like to do so. The reason why is moot.
 
Dude, thats simply not true for some people. Just because range anxiety isnt an issue for you, doesnt mean it doesn't exist. Its not a personal attack on you.

I have to travel from Teesside to Daventy maybe monthly. Its over 400 mile round trip, and even though we have a couple of chargers at the office, I cant guarantee getting access to one. Its at least a 6 hour return journey as it is, and public transport is a non starter.

The full EV's on the market today are a non starter for me personally, regardless of how much I want to drive one.
It's just frustrating because I, and any EV owner knows that range anxiety doesn't exist. We know it was made up to bash the entire EV industry.

How often are the chargers at your office full? Do you know there are 5 other chargers in Daventry, including 2 instavolt fast chargers? Plus fast chargers at Watford Gap.
 
It's just frustrating because I, and any EV owner knows that range anxiety doesn't exist. We know it was made up to bash the entire EV industry.

How often are the chargers at your office full? Do you know there are 5 other chargers in Daventry, including 2 instavolt fast chargers?

It depends how many other EV owners are in the office that day and arrive before him.

@Billy69_uk - So you can leave your office, and go to one of the other chargers over the other side of town, in your car that's critically low on battery after the drive down from Teesside.
 
It depends how many other EV owners are in the office that day and arrive before him.

@Billy69_uk - So you can leave your office, and go to one of the other chargers over the other side of town, in your car that's critically low on battery after the drive down from Teesside.
And how many chargers there are: He's putting an obstacle in the way without explaining the likelihood of hitting that obstacle. ALso it depends on how many EV owners are in the office before him WHO ARE ALSO DOING LONG JOURNEYS. As any local ones wouldn't be using the chargers.

Also, given the chargers are scattered at all points around Daventry, your "other side of town" comment is incorrect. I know you wanted to use the phrase to make your argument more emotive but sadly it's false.
 
Range isn't an issue. What journies do you do regularly? length and location?

Please show your pricing for the BMW and the Skoda?

I don't mean to sound short, but as I've mentioned many times already "range anxiety" and "EVs a way more expensive" Are two extremely persistent myths that need to be addressed because a worrying number of people still think they exist. It's a hard job just simply sharing the truth about EVs

In an ideal world I'd prefer an EV but I can't justify it with these facts in front of me.

I mention that I'm regularly in the Scottish Borders and Northumberland, I live in Stockton. In December I was up in Livingston and also East Kilbride, barring one occasion these are all round trips. Prior to Covid I'd have done 20k miles a year, I'm down to about 15k now give or take.

There you go:


4 year term, 15,000 miles, 3 months upfront. The Skoda is £575 a month.


Same terms on the BMW. £447.54 a month. I've also got a firmed up quote on that
 
Dude, thats simply not true for some people. Just because range anxiety isnt an issue for you, doesnt mean it doesn't exist. Its not a personal attack on you.

I have to travel from Teesside to Daventy maybe monthly. Its over 400 mile round trip, and even though we have a couple of chargers at the office, I cant guarantee getting access to one. Its at least a 6 hour return journey as it is, and public transport is a non starter.

The full EV's on the market today are a non starter for me personally, regardless of how much I want to drive one.
To say range isn't an issue 😁 😁 😁 :poop:
It's THE biggest issue with EVs. If it wasn't we'd ALL have one.
This is a Boro MB. There are 6 other teams in the division in range for there and back trips with derby stoke and forest right on the edge, you'd probably want to find a charging point..... if you can.
Get the train? Of course but an EV means you'd have no choice but to get the train.
Which means the majority of the league are out of reach with an EV for a there and back trip.
Range not an issue. 😁
 
And how many chargers there are: He's putting an obstacle in the way without explaining the likelihood of hitting that obstacle. ALso it depends on how many EV owners are in the office before him WHO ARE ALSO DOING LONG JOURNEYS. As any local ones wouldn't be using the chargers.

Also, given the chargers are scattered at all points around Daventry, your "other side of town" comment is incorrect. I know you wanted to use the phrase to make your argument more emotive but sadly it's false
so we actually have 6 chargers I think, but probably 30+ company car EV's and several employee owned Ev's that can use them as well. Around 500 employees on site.

In the last couple of years I have not been able to get a charger when I arrived on site. Granted I havent left my meeting every 30 minutes to check.

from what i have seen personally, people tend to charge in 1/2 day blocks. I guess the most i would be willing to walk after leaving my car at a 3rd party charge is about a mile or a 15/20 minute walk, other wise its an inconvenience.

I cant drive 200 miles in the hope that I can come home the same day.
 
To say range isn't an issue 😁 😁 😁 :poop:
It's THE biggest issue with EVs. If it wasn't we'd ALL have one.
This is a Boro MB. There are 6 other teams in the division in range for there and back trips with derby stoke and forest right on the edge, you'd probably want to find a charging point..... if you can.
Get the train? Of course but an EV means you'd have no choice but to get the train.
Which means the majority of the league are out of reach with an EV for a there and back trip.
Range not an issue. 😁
It really isn't an issue. You think it's an issue. That's the difference.

You charge at your destination: show me a championship side that doesn't have EV charging infrastructure within walking distance.

Also, these aren't regular journeys, as well you know. SO yes, in this country range isn't an issue. You can't say it is then make up fictional scenarios to "prove" it. I've been up and down the country and even to other countries in an EV and range simply isn't an issue. This is what I'm trying to get across.

These arguments always have the same circularity. a FUD will complain about range, and I'll ask for their scenario. They'll then keep coming up with less likely and more far fetched scenarios until they "prove" range is an issue. But, real world, with normal usage, in this country, Range isn't an issue
 
I find it hard to believe you can say, with authority, that "range anxiety doesn't exist" simply because to you it doesn't.
I think a better way of putting it is for your average driver, range anxiety shouldn't be an issue. If you are a someone who does 400 miles in a day, twice a week, and often in remote areas, then maybe, but for most people who travel more than 100miles in a day, and charge at home, then it shouldn't be an issue
 
As soon as you splash out the Tech is out of date and the range is better on the next model.
same with any technology, at some point you take the plunge and buy the flatscreen TV, streaming device, games console or whatever it is. That's the last thing to worry about
 
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