Planet Rugby Forum

Does anyone on here have an electric car?

I would buy one except I live in an apartment complex, and I can imagine my management company wouldn't bother their holes putting in a recharging point.

I've been reading the pros and cons: (Figures below are related to Ireland and may be different in the countries you reside in)

Pros:

Cheap to recharge
big savings on petrol costs
The distances are now up to over 200km without charging.
Government will give 5000 Euro grant towards the purchase provided the car is over 20,000 euro

Cons:

Expensive. They can cost up to 28,000 for a Ford Focus
Not enough public charging points
Difficult to get charging point into Apartment blocks

Are they worth it? I'm not talking about environment here.

I thought you bought a house recently? Even if you live in an apartment complex, some of the Corpos are obliged to provided roadside charging if you request it (e.g. DLRCo Co).
Get something like a Niro and you'll only need to recharge it maybe once a week at most if you're doing city driving and you can do that via one of the pubic chargepoints easily enough, particularly when "pay per charge" is introduced in the next while at these points.
I bought a plug-in hybrid earlier this year and absolutely love it. The battery gets me to and from work and I can charge it with a three pin socket in the evening in 3 hours. 50l petrol tank for longer distances.
In your case, the only con, in my opinion anyway, is the cost. The other two are usually stated as cons but aren't really.

Leinsterman wrote:I thought you bought a house recently? Even if you live in an apartment complex, some of the Corpos are obliged to provided roadside charging if you request it (e.g. DLRCo Co).
Get something like a Niro and you'll only need to recharge it maybe once a week at most if you're doing city driving and you can do that via one of the pubic chargepoints easily enough, particularly when "pay per charge" is introduced in the next while at these points.
I bought a plug-in hybrid earlier this year and absolutely love it. The battery gets me to and from work and I can charge it with a three pin socket in the evening in 3 hours. 50l petrol tank for longer distances.
In your case, the only con, in my opinion anyway, is the cost. The other two are usually stated as cons but aren't really.

double post

Leinsterman wrote:I thought you bought a house recently? Even if you live in an apartment complex, some of the Corpos are obliged to provided roadside charging if you request it (e.g. DLRCo Co).
Get something like a Niro and you'll only need to recharge it maybe once a week at most if you're doing city driving and you can do that via one of the pubic chargepoints easily enough, particularly when "pay per charge" is introduced in the next while at these points.
I bought a plug-in hybrid earlier this year and absolutely love it. The battery gets me to and from work and I can charge it with a three pin socket in the evening in 3 hours. 50l petrol tank for longer distances.
In your case, the only con, in my opinion anyway, is the cost. The other two are usually stated as cons but aren't really.

Bought an apartment in Mount Brown.

Couldn't afford a house on my own in that part of Dublin unfortunately.

I don't but a lot of people around here do have one, or two.

We are debating whether to put charging points in the Town.

Most prefer to charge at home but it's the visitors that might need a boost.

Electric is the way it's going. We have petrol cars and one means we pay no licience fee for it.

The other has a reduced tax. Both have very low emissions. (Not measured by Volkswagon!)

As the techno goes on, the prices will drop. A Tesla has an astonishing performance but they are incredibly expensive.

Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

Dark wrote:Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

More than 10 years and they can then be reused as domestic batteries for solar PV.

Dark wrote:Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

Quite a long time, I'm told. Not sure where they'll be dumped. Probably in the same place you find mattresses.

Leinsterman wrote:

Dark wrote:Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

More than 10 years and they can then be reused as domestic batteries for solar PV.

We'll not let them go up in our Conservation Area.

globus wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

Dark wrote:Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

More than 10 years and they can then be reused as domestic batteries for solar PV.

We'll not let them go up in our Conservation Area.

Dumb thinking

So Leinsterman has a hybrid.

Anyone have an electric car?

Please don't indulge him

Our second car is electric. They’re great once you get the hang of them. Stop thinking the way you do for the ICE car. You don’t drive it and then top up when low on fuel. You have to charge it overnight at home.

Duff Paddy wrote:Our second car is electric. They’re great once you get the hang of them. Stop thinking the way you do for the ICE car. You don’t drive it and then top up when low on fuel. You have to charge it overnight at home.

And we're back to my problem of living in an apartment and getting the management company to install a charging point in the car park.

iarmhiman wrote:

Duff Paddy wrote:Our second car is electric. They’re great once you get the hang of them. Stop thinking the way you do for the ICE car. You don’t drive it and then top up when low on fuel. You have to charge it overnight at home.

And we're back to my problem of living in an apartment and getting the management company to install a charging point in the car park.

Forget it. I use the PlugShare app for charge points - there are nowhere near enough and they are often either broken or occupied when you get there. Home charging is the only way to go.

Depends how many miles he does a week though. No need to even charge overnight when he can go to a fast charge station at the weekend and get enough juice for the week.
Also, once people have to pay at the public chargepoints, there won't be people hogging them anymore and people like Iarmhi can use them.

Leinsterman wrote:Depends how many miles he does a week though. No need to even charge overnight when he can go to a fast charge station at the weekend and get enough juice for the week.
Also, once people have to pay at the public chargepoints, there won't be people hogging them anymore and people like Iarmhi can use them.

True but how many people have the time or inclination - they’re are great town cars for a runaround - if doing city driving the battery recharges as you brake so it barely uses any battery. Motorway driving really drains it though. Depends on your commute I suppose

We have one. Perfect for us as we're on an island, it'd be a crazy day to get to the 70 mile range (got the smallest battery, as no need for more).

Right now a new, efficient diesel, is road tax free and probably cheaper according to the dealer we spoke to, but not by a huge amount. There's also apparently new laws coming in removing the benefits for low emission cars on road tax soon, so that might balance things out.

If you can't charge at home, then unfortunately it's probably a no go, there are charging points about (more than people think I reckon), but it's more expensive and far less convenient, since charges do take time. Being able to ahve a full tank every time you go home is the biggest advantage.

Iar works in Dublin and lives there too. An EV is perfect for him. If heads up to somewhere like Blanch early at the weekend, he can charge for free. Otherwise he should get in touch with DCC and say he is getting an EV and has no way of charging it. You'd be surprised, they could install a charger on the street near him for free.
Dun Laoghaire were looking for companies to install lamp post chargers for them recently because there's a large demand for charging facilities currently and no ability for a lot of the residents to use in-home chargepoints.
There's going to be a massive change within the next year due to a lot of tenders released recenty related to public chargepoints.

More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

iarmhiman wrote:More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

The Corpos are looking at them. Chargepoints installed in street lights is one option. Very easy to install too but it'll take an age to fully charge a large battery. Shouldn't matter if you only do a few km a day...

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

The Corpos are looking at them. Chargepoints installed in street lights is one option. Very easy to install too but it'll take an age to fully charge a large battery. Shouldn't matter if you only do a few km a day...

I'd only use it around the city and going home to see the folks in Mullingar ever 3 weeks for a weekend

I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

The Corpos are looking at them. Chargepoints installed in street lights is one option. Very easy to install too but it'll take an age to fully charge a large battery. Shouldn't matter if you only do a few km a day...

Yeah you want the high speed chargers not the overnight ones if on street

backrow wrote:I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

This is the most common concern

Duff Paddy wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

The Corpos are looking at them. Chargepoints installed in street lights is one option. Very easy to install too but it'll take an age to fully charge a large battery. Shouldn't matter if you only do a few km a day...

Yeah you want the high speed chargers not the overnight ones if on street

You don't really. Depends on the usage pattern and commuting requirements.
For someone living and working near Dublin City Centre, they have zero requirement for a fast charger.

iarmhiman wrote:

backrow wrote:I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

This is the most common concern

Why do you have range anxiety? Heading down to Mullingar is very doable

Leinsterman wrote:

Duff Paddy wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

The Corpos are looking at them. Chargepoints installed in street lights is one option. Very easy to install too but it'll take an age to fully charge a large battery. Shouldn't matter if you only do a few km a day...

Yeah you want the high speed chargers not the overnight ones if on street

You don't really. Depends on the usage pattern and commuting requirements.
For someone living and working near Dublin City Centre, they have zero requirement for a fast charger.

I walk to work. I just don't want to have to use public transport to go to Mullingar and have money to buy a car now . Would prefer to get an electric to a petrol. Ruling out a diesel in any case as they're going to tax the shit out of that soon.

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:

backrow wrote:I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

This is the most common concern

Why do you have range anxiety? Heading down to Mullingar is very doable

Don't know to be honest.

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:

backrow wrote:I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

This is the most common concern

Why do you have range anxiety? Heading down to Mullingar is very doable

Dude, if I have a row with the Mrs and want to drive to the coast or something and lob shopping trollies into the sea, I don’t want to run out of juice and be stuck at Racist-on-sea at 3am

Just brought hybrid - only to be delivered later this month.
Loved the drive - milk cart acceleration and can be electric only mode. Great for city driving.
Not sure about electric only in Aus - high distances - but will no doubt evolve.

I think European city - small-mid sized cars - perfect market.

iarmhiman wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:

backrow wrote:I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

This is the most common concern

Why do you have range anxiety? Heading down to Mullingar is very doable

Don't know to be honest.

Look at what constitutes 80-90% of your driving and the frequency of it.

Leinsterman wrote:

Duff Paddy wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:More charging points on the streets would be brilliant. Just take the car out, charge it then put it back in the car park.

The Corpos are looking at them. Chargepoints installed in street lights is one option. Very easy to install too but it'll take an age to fully charge a large battery. Shouldn't matter if you only do a few km a day...

Yeah you want the high speed chargers not the overnight ones if on street

You don't really. Depends on the usage pattern and commuting requirements.
For someone living and working near Dublin City Centre, they have zero requirement for a fast charger.

Depends on where the charger is - wouldn’t be my idea of convenience but maybe there are people who wouldn’t be bothered by the hassle

Leinsterman wrote:

iarmhiman wrote:

backrow wrote:I’d love a Tesla - have looked at the finance deals and it’s doable, then I went and got a new job that comes with a bmw 1 series diesel that is the most uncomfortable car ever , am changing it for a new Astra that has a much more comfortable driving position .


I love the idea of an electric car with its linear acceleration and relatively lack of moving parts to go wrong - but until charging becomes as ubiquitous as petrol stations , the range anxiety thing puts me off .

This is the most common concern

Why do you have range anxiety? Heading down to Mullingar is very doable

You should drive an electric car LM - it would be a pain in the arse. If you go over 100kph it hammers the battery.

dantedelew wrote:

globus wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

Dark wrote:Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

More than 10 years and they can then be reused as domestic batteries for solar PV.

We'll not let them go up in our Conservation Area.

Dumb thinking

Oh no. Not only do I have listening skills, I know what Conservation Areas are and the Grade Listings are there for a reason.. You apparently do not.

They are there to protect the architecture for generations to come.

I'd not want my grandchildren growing up without a proper sense of history.

We are not Luddites.Our policy is welcomed by the residents.

Sticking a solar panel on a Collyweston roof is not allowed.

Funnily enough, we came in for criticism for not knowing a certain resident had stuck one up.

We'd no idea about that until the neighbours complained.

They were removed by an enforcement order. Big tick all round, and we don't tend to get many of those!

Tesla right hand drive model 3 is out as of now ~40k. 200+ miles and supercharger network means no range anxiety.

globus wrote:

dantedelew wrote:

globus wrote:

Leinsterman wrote:

Dark wrote:Real men drive V8s, or even better, V12s

What is the battery life of your average electric car and where are they dumping them all?

More than 10 years and they can then be reused as domestic batteries for solar PV.

We'll not let them go up in our Conservation Area.

Dumb thinking

Oh no. Not only do I have listening skills, I know what Conservation Areas are and the Grade Listings are there for a reason.. You apparently do not.

They are there to protect the architecture for generations to come.

I'd not want my grandchildren growing up without a proper sense of history.

We are not Luddites.Our policy is welcomed by the residents.

Sticking a solar panel on a Collyweston roof is not allowed.

Funnily enough, we came in for criticism for not knowing a certain resident had stuck one up.

We'd no idea about that until the neighbours complained.

They were removed by an enforcement order. Big tick all round, and we don't tend to get many of those!

Proper sense of history. No clean air to breath, and little hope for their grandchildren, but at least some roofs still look the same as they did before, which is clearly more important and a desperately important part of mankind's history.

paynie wrote:Tesla right hand drive model 3 is out as of now ~40k. 200+ miles and supercharger network means no range anxiety.

They are just incredibly expensive right now.

There's technology available to detect pedestrians as they whisper quiet to a possible collision.

I'm interested, as a sailor, what that might mean for yachts and horrible oil burners.

I'd love to live another 100 years to see what my great grandchildren migh be trundling around in.

Not going to happen. I don't think cryogenics is the answer, so we'll keep that on ice.

Proper sense of history. No clean air to breath, and little hope for their grandchildren, but at least some roofs still look the same as they did before, which is clearly more important and a desperately important part of mankind's history.

Total load of rot. We are trying to get the kiddiwinks out of Raynes Park to live in a healthier environment.

Pleased we can afford to do that.

Sorrow that most cannot.

globus wrote:

paynie wrote:Tesla right hand drive model 3 is out as of now ~40k. 200+ miles and supercharger network means no range anxiety.

They are just incredibly expensive right now.

There's technology available to detect pedestrians as they whisper quiet to a possible collision.

I'm interested, as a sailor, what that might mean for yachts and horrible oil burners.

I'd love to live another 100 years to see what my great grandchildren migh be trundling around in.

Not going to happen. I don't think cryogenics is the answer, so we'll keep that on ice.

They are expensive but have very low running costs - low-cost fuel (electricity) so no fill-ups, and very very low maintenance. Total cost of ownership is around the same as a 25k internal combustion car.
If your grand children are under 7 they won't be driving anything. Autonomy is coming far sooner than most think.