Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

Register Log in

[Technology] If you could afford it would your next car be an EV?

If you could afford it would your next car be an EV

  • Yes

    Votes: 99 27.9%

  • No

    Votes: 163 45.9%

  • I don’t drive and have no interest in getting a driving licence

    Votes: 5 1.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 9 2.5%

  • Fence

    Votes: 30 8.5%

  • I already have one

    Votes: 49 13.8%
  • Total voters
    355


Nobby Cybergoat

Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
8,754
I’ve got to admit I’m inspired by this thread.

I’m looking at a plan whereby I get an EV for about 5 to 7k (to replace the old, but to be fair reliable Astra I currently have, probably when it conks out).

I’m thinking of powering this by solar. I reckon I can get about 16ish panels on my roof. I’m estimating maybe 10k for this. I’m thinking currently no battery

The plan is to get some sort of Octopus sell the excess power back type deal.

The hope is to take a big chunk out of my electricity bills and not to have to pay for petrol

Don’t drive loads, only the occasional long trip. I’ve got a driveway

You got any thoughts? Does this sound sensible? Anything I need to think of?
 




D

dsr-burnley

Well-known member
Aug 15, 2014
2,680
chickens said:
I do find it fascinating that we seem to have already gone past the tipping point, with the “yes/already have one” vote marginally ahead of the “no” vote.
Click to expand...
True, but how much of that is because people have been given imaginary unlimited funds to do it?

It would be interesting to do a similar poll without the "if you can afford it" proviso. Similar results, or significantly different? Who knows?
 


Flounce

Flounce

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2006
4,605
dsr-burnley said:
True, but how much of that is because people have been given imaginary unlimited funds to do it?

It would be interesting to do a similar poll without the "if you can afford it" proviso. Similar results, or significantly different? Who knows?
Click to expand...
The No vote has taken the lead again :smile:

Given the “if you could afford it” premise, I suggest the No vote would be much bigger than the yes/already have one. I am surprised how many already have one though.

NSC is obviously a place for lots of rich people :wink:

Annoying that the mods have removed the ability to see who voted what though.
 
Last edited:


R

raymondo

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2017
7,642
Wiltshire
Nobby Cybergoat said:
I think you’ll find we have a long term and continued policy of drilling exactly the same fossil fuels and we’re not minted.

But I guess they have a record of electing more sensible government
Click to expand...
Yes👍, I think Norway has extracted more oil but the difference isn't huge. However, population of Norway is about 5.5 million...and yes, I'm sure their governments have been more sensible than ours for a long while (they couldn't be less sensible, shirley 😂😂)
 


Flounce

Flounce

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2006
4,605
Nobby Cybergoat said:
I’ve got to admit I’m inspired by this thread.

I’m looking at a plan whereby I get an EV for about 5 to 7k (to replace the old, but to be fair reliable Astra I currently have, probably when it conks out).

I’m thinking of powering this by solar. I reckon I can get about 16ish panels on my roof. I’m estimating maybe 10k for this. I’m thinking currently no battery

The plan is to get some sort of Octopus sell the excess power back type deal.

The hope is to take a big chunk out of my electricity bills and not to have to pay for petrol

Don’t drive loads, only the occasional long trip. I’ve got a driveway

You got any thoughts? Does this sound sensible? Anything I need to think of?
Click to expand...
All makes sense to me :thumbsup:
 




Bozza

Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
57,504
Back in Sussex
Flounce said:
Annoying that the mods have removed the ability to see who voted what though.
Click to expand...
It was done by accident by a mod. I suspect it's actually a bug in the software and it got changed without anyone selecting that.

And, as per the screenshot below, there is no front-end option to turn it back on when a poll is underway.

Which means an admin, ie me, has to go into the backend database and use SQL update statements to turn it on again. I've got a lot of shit going on right now, so I don't rate the task with quite the same level of priority as you seem to. But I'll do it when I can.

Screenshot 2024-10-15 at 11.57.17.png
 


Flounce

Flounce

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2006
4,605
Bozza said:
It was done by accident by a mod. I suspect it's actually a bug in the software and it got changed without anyone selecting that.

And, as per the screenshot below, there is no front-end option to turn it back on when a poll is underway.

Which means an admin, ie me, has to go into the backend database and use SQL update statements to turn it on again. I've got a lot of shit going on right now, so I don't rate the task with quite the same level of priority as you seem to. But I'll do it when I can.

View attachment 190338
Click to expand...
Sorry Bozza, it’s not important at all under the circumstances. I imagined it would be an easy fix, clearly it’s not. Ignore it and please don’t spend any time trying to sort it
 


F

Fungus

Well-known member
NSC Patron
May 21, 2004
7,169
Truro
Nobby Cybergoat said:
I’ve got to admit I’m inspired by this thread.

I’m looking at a plan whereby I get an EV for about 5 to 7k (to replace the old, but to be fair reliable Astra I currently have, probably when it conks out).

I’m thinking of powering this by solar. I reckon I can get about 16ish panels on my roof. I’m estimating maybe 10k for this. I’m thinking currently no battery

The plan is to get some sort of Octopus sell the excess power back type deal.

The hope is to take a big chunk out of my electricity bills and not to have to pay for petrol

Don’t drive loads, only the occasional long trip. I’ve got a driveway

You got any thoughts? Does this sound sensible? Anything I need to think of?
Click to expand...
You're unlikely to power the car by solar for at least six months of the year, after powering the house during the day, but you'll make a few pence exporting the excess solar to the grid. With a battery, you'll be able to power the house for the other 18 hours each day with insufficient solar. With an EV tariff from Octopus, you can top up the house and EV with cheap electricity overnight, with full control over it. You can also export from the house battery to the grid at 15/kwh during the evening if you so wish, replacing it at 7p/kwh overnight. A house battery provides a lot more flexibility, and can even protect against power-cuts with the right set-up - most basic solar systems don't. Battery will add a few grand to the cost, though! But overall, it'll take a big chunk out of your bills.
 




chickens

chickens

Have you considered masterly inactivity?
NSC Patron
Oct 12, 2022
2,784
dsr-burnley said:
True, but how much of that is because people have been given imaginary unlimited funds to do it?

It would be interesting to do a similar poll without the "if you can afford it" proviso. Similar results, or significantly different? Who knows?
Click to expand...

I’m sure we’d get different numbers. From £1000 to £8000 the only real options are Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. It’s not a mature market, those were the only two mass-market vehicles available.

Next step up is the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro. They’re currently the £10k-£12k option.

Once we hit the £13k price point we start to get into everything else.

The landscape even a decade from now will look very different.

What’s currently top of the range will seem fine for battery capacity, but will charge a lot slower than the vehicles of 2034. There will be trade offs that people make, in exactly the same way that they do with combustion engine vehicles. Buy new for the latest and greatest, or spend less for older models.

A car that was advertised as doing 360 miles new on the test cycle will at brand new in a mix of motorway and town, in cold weather, do about 280-320 depending on how it’s driven.

At ten years old, I’d reduce that by three to ten percent for a battery that’s been slow charged and looked after, and 10% to 15% for a battery that’s only ever been charged at the highest speeds.

The model ranges and charging speeds will have improved significantly by 2030, it’s why I recommend PCP or lease to anyone considering a new EV, as the tech matures, improvements will keep coming along. Alternatively run a Leaf or Zoe as a runaround. If I can run one as my main motor, it can be done.
 


Audax

Audax

Boing boing boing...
Aug 3, 2015
3,296
Uckfield
nicko31 said:
Seems all the VW ID range with 77kw batt will now be able to support it when the software update arrives
Click to expand...
Ahhh, that's good news. I'm impatiently awaiting a call to arrange delivery of my new ID3 Pro S 77kW. Last I heard it was due to arrive at the dealer yesterday and they'd be getting in touch to arrange delivery to me as soon as final checks were done.
 








S

severnside gull

Well-known member
May 16, 2007
24,831
By the seaside in West Somerset
When not driving locally my normal journeys are long(ish) distance on the motorway (Somerset to London/Birmingham/Manchester). I often need to do the return journey within the same day after meetings at locations where I can’t necessarily access a charger.
If I can’t do the return trip without having to stop en route to recharge and therefore lengthen my already long enough day then I’m honestly not interested.
A hybrid on the other hand……?
 


chip

chip

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
1,335
Glorious Goodwood
Nobby Cybergoat said:
I’ve got to admit I’m inspired by this thread.

I’m looking at a plan whereby I get an EV for about 5 to 7k (to replace the old, but to be fair reliable Astra I currently have, probably when it conks out).

I’m thinking of powering this by solar. I reckon I can get about 16ish panels on my roof. I’m estimating maybe 10k for this. I’m thinking currently no battery

The plan is to get some sort of Octopus sell the excess power back type deal.

The hope is to take a big chunk out of my electricity bills and not to have to pay for petrol

Don’t drive loads, only the occasional long trip. I’ve got a driveway

You got any thoughts? Does this sound sensible? Anything I need to think of?
Click to expand...
Me too. Do the Octopus PV+Battery thing on their website, I think you'll find the PV only array is cheaper than £10K. From memory, 20 panels (on multiple rooves) and 10kWh battery was around £13.5K in the summer. You'll probably get more back with a battery in cash terms, but it does seem to be very dependent on other things. I just got a new car, but will get the PVs+battery in the spring. I think it's becoming a more realistic option for ordinary folk now :)
 




Goldstone1976

Goldstone1976

We Got Calde in!!
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Apr 30, 2013
14,159
Herts
Flounce said:
Annoying that the mods have removed the ability to see who voted what though.
Click to expand...
Bozza already said that that was a mistake, and that he’d correct it. I suspect he’s either been too busy (and I know he’s got a lot of stuff going on atm) or forgot (I suspect he’s rather less agitated by the topic than you).

Out of curiosity, why is it ‘annoying’ that you can’t see how individuals voted?

Edit: I see that Bozza had already replied before I did. I’m still curious why you find it ‘annoying’ though.
 


Flounce

Flounce

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2006
4,605
Goldstone1976 said:
Bozza already said that that was a mistake, and that he’d correct it. I suspect he’s either been too busy (and I know he’s got a lot of stuff going on atm) or forgot (I suspect he’s rather less agitated by the topic than you).

Out of curiosity, why is it ‘annoying’ that you can’t see how individuals voted?

Edit: I see that Bozza had already replied before I did. I’m still curious why you find it ‘annoying’ though.
Click to expand...
Because I’m a nosey fecker but as I said in the reply to Bozza I thought this would be a simple fix, Bozza has said it’s not so I apologise and have no wish for him to waste any time checking it further. Suffice to say I now feel bad about bringing it up again, sorry.
 


Audax

Audax

Boing boing boing...
Aug 3, 2015
3,296
Uckfield
chip said:
Me too. Do the Octopus PV+Battery thing on their website, I think you'll find the PV only array is cheaper than £10K. From memory, 20 panels (on multiple rooves) and 10kWh battery was around £13.5K in the summer. You'll probably get more back with a battery in cash terms, but it does seem to be very dependent on other things. I just got a new car, but will get the PVs+battery in the spring. I think it's becoming a more realistic option for ordinary folk now :)
Click to expand...
Maybe have a look at Myenergi too. They've started doing a whole-house package - solar for the roof, battery for the house, charger for the car, and diverter for hot water. I've got their Zappi 2 for car charging and it's a good product, and their support is top notch.
 






Bozza

Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
57,504
Back in Sussex
chip said:
Me too. Do the Octopus PV+Battery thing on their website, I think you'll find the PV only array is cheaper than £10K. From memory, 20 panels (on multiple rooves) and 10kWh battery was around £13.5K in the summer. You'll probably get more back with a battery in cash terms, but it does seem to be very dependent on other things. I just got a new car, but will get the PVs+battery in the spring. I think it's becoming a more realistic option for ordinary folk now :)
Click to expand...
What sort of payback period would you expect from that £13.5k investment?

For those with EVs, charging their car at home will almost certainly be the biggest draw on power but currently that only costs around 7p/kWh. so there's only a limited saving to be made there.

Looking at our usage, at around 26p/kWh, and <10kWh/day on average, it feels like it's a long old slog to pay back. If you were able to disconnect from the grid completely, and save c50p/day standing charge then things speed up, but I can't imagine that's practical for most.
 


chip

chip

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
1,335
Glorious Goodwood
Bozza said:
What sort of payback period would you expect from that £13.5k investment?

For those with EVs, charging their car at home will almost certainly be the biggest draw on power but currently that only costs around 7p/kWh. so there's only a limited saving to be made there.

Looking at our usage, at around 26p/kWh, and <10kWh/day on average, it feels like it's a long old slog to pay back. If you were able to disconnect from the grid completely, and save c50p/day standing charge then things speed up, but I can't imagine that's practical for most.
Click to expand...
Do you want a long or short answer? I'd generally like my outgoings to be lower when I am older so reducing that has added value to me, also the notion of not being entirely dependent on the grid or price fluctuations. If I factor in an EV, which I am coming round to, and different requirements when I do hang up the chalk, 10 - 15 years. I have a long answer that involves my research side-hustle, involving energy arbitrage, emissions, EV battery reuse blah, that it feeds into my systems theory interests. The microvasculature is an energy grid.

However, one of the guides suggested that 8-12 years might be realistic. It might just be that I see it as more of a deposit account inventment than another ISA.

I been playing around with these ideas for years, it doesn't look like energy will come down but the kit has got better/cheaper. It's maybe at a sweet spot for me, but not all price related.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.
Albion and Premier League latest from Sky Sports

Share this page


Top
Link Here