The Caretakers' Forum

Just wondering if electric cars are making you think of upgrading to one, if you don't already have one. For me. No. Maybe once we have enough charging infrastructure in GB.

Yes, I have owned an EV since 2016, and having no home charging have used public charge points exclusively. Running costs for me now are very similar to that of running a fossil fuelled car, it was originally more pocket friendly but as with everything, the cost always goes up.

Yes, I am on my second EV. I'm lucky to have a home charger and enjoy a low overnight tariff. The charging infrastructure is getting better all the time. If you can charge from home, you rarely have to visit public chargers for normal daily use. You only need to use public chargers if you plan a long journey or haven't got home charging.


Same spot...

personally I am a huge petrol head...(I guess diesel head to) I have always had and currently have more than one car and have had at one point a Estima Hybrid and it was a brilliant vehicle round town battery long journeys combustion...electric vehicles as a whole don't interest me and that is purely subjective I think there another 10-15 years away from where they think they are in terms of the infrastructure and actual day to day usability.

Yes in a word.

However here is the nub.
Currently there are no EV's that would meet what I would want from it.

My opinion is that EV's excel for commuting and short trips around your local area.
Currently they are not the replacement for cars that travel larger distances this makes them too heavy and the journey takes too long.

Therefore my need is for a small ish (not AMI) sized simple electric car which is relatively cheap has a smaller battery (less weight) and none of the stupid bells and whistles that it seems necessary to stick onto cars nowadays (Don't even get me started on the move to have a car that has everything on it and you pay subscriptions for things you want activated )

A simple cheap runabout EV that is well built and safe. that is all. Problem is nobody makes one.

I can hire a car for longer distances.

No. I have a 30 year old van which has paid for itself countless times over. It has hardly needed anything apart from mile worn items like tyres exhaust and brakes. Minor welding so far. I shall drive it until it cannot be economically repaired. It also is going up in value every year. Unlike any ev!

WE have a tesla and never had any trouble charging
only ever used super chargers though as they are much cheaper than 3rd party chargers

Wife regually does long trips from south coast to leeds/nottingham/cambridge with no problems the car just
directs you to charger if needed or she just stops for toilet breaks and gets a quick charge needed or not

we have a home charger on nighttime cheap rate which works out about 2p a mile

Nope, not for me.
I like my classics and my daily car too which is petrol.

no - we don't have off street parking, there are no public chargers near home (nearest is in a pay & display car park 2 miles away), they don't have enough range for us plus the fact that they are WAY out of our price range.

I would upgrade to one but the infrastructure needs to be sorted out first. I live in London and the nearest charge point is a mile away. Also charging from home is impossible as I live in a first floor flat. The cost of EV's need to come down, which I think they will as battery technology expands.