The EV fact thread

[markjay]

I think this underlines the need to bring in usage based taxation, pay-per-mile.

Agreed.

 

[ToeKnee]

I think this underlines the need to bring in usage based taxation, pay-per-mile.

Assuming they abolish rfl at the same time then I would probably save a little bit on the SL but the Mondeo would cost me a fortune!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I think he meant to say that instead of taking the EV on offer and pay 3% in tax for the benefit (BIK), he opted for a pay increase to the value of the monthly lease of the EV.

Once tax is deducted (20%/40%/45%, depending on the band) off his additional pay, he then uses the remaing funds to buy and service his own car.

That’s what I do, I opt out and receive a payment instead of a car and I pay tax at the same rate as my salary. I personally wouldn’t call that inefficient, it’s just income tax on income.

However I wouldn’t disagree that choosing an EV as a company car is tax efficient, compared to opting out and buying or financing the same EV in a personal basis.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Good Friday must be one of the busiest days on the road. Michael Wood services was busy, albeit the queue didn’t start on the inside lane of the motorway like others we passed. There were probably less than 10 parking spaces available.

However the EV charge points were plentiful and barely occupied. I didn’t count how many charge points there were however I did count the number of EVs charging and it was just two. It feels like there is ample capacity despite headlines.

 

[markjay]

Good Friday must be one of the busiest days on the road. Michael Wood services was busy, albeit the queue didn’t start on the inside lane of the motorway like others we passed. There were probably less than 10 parking spaces available.

However the EV charge points were plentiful and barely occupied. I didn’t count how many charge points there were however I did count the number of EVs charging and it was just two. It feels like there is ample capacity despite headlines.

At current there's more charging capacity than required, mainly due to slow uptake of EVs.

The EV-bashers claim that once everyone got an EV, the charging capacity won't be enough.

The utilities deny that, though they agree that distribution will be a problem - generating electricity is one thing, but building the infrastructure to deliver it across the UK is another.

 

[philnewmerc]

What’s an extremely tax inefficient salary uplift?

I meant 3% bik vs a much higher % on salary. They do pay generously per mile so its not too bad re own car upkeep and depreciation is obviously low as I run 10+ year old cars.

 

[philnewmerc]

Do remember that those who have the 7p rate pay more for the rest of their electricity consumption, so you have to charge at home a lot to make it worthwhile opting for an EV specific tariff.

Sorry i don't get you re paying more? Do you mean you pay more during the on peak hours?

If you have a drive isn't it just normal habit to plug in and top up constantly so as to avoid expensive trunk road chargers?

 

[markjay]

...If you have a drive isn't it just normal habit to plug in and top up constantly so as to avoid expensive trunk road chargers?

I suppose that if you wanted to always be prepared for an unexpected long journey, then it makes sense to 'top-up' the battery night (in the same way that some iPhone owners plug in their phones at every opportunity to always keep the battery fully charged...).

But this is not how EVs are commonly used. Most people only charge their EVs once in a while. Personally, I try and 'top it up' when the charge level goes down to 50% and then charge it up to 80%. In my case, the difference - 30% - represents 60 to 100 miles (depending in driving conditions), and living in central London this means every other week or so.

(I don't have a driveway, but there's are lamppost chargers outside my building, so I could have charged the car every night if I wanted to).

Obviously, charging patterns vary depending on the battery capacity and the daily/weekly mileage driven, but just to say that EV owners do not generally 'top-up' at every opportunity.

You are correct, though, that you want to start a long journey with a battery full of cheap home electricity...

 

[Skd884]

Woman Maths: BMW i3 - The Intercooler

The fact it’s one of the cleverest cars BMW has ever designed didn’t stop Helen Wakerley quickly wanting to get rid of hers. Five years later, she’s still got it. Here’s why

www.the-intercooler.com

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Sorry i don't get you re paying more? Do you mean you pay more during the on peak hours?

If you have a drive isn't it just normal habit to plug in and top up constantly so as to avoid expensive trunk road chargers?

There are EV tariffs provided by utility companies which offer the headline rates often quoted by owners and media, and some people take advantage of these as it reduces the cost of motoring.

Whilst the rate (per kWh) charged for charging the EV is lower than a normal tariff, these EV tariffs often charge a higher rate (per kWh) than a normal tariff for all other consumption.

When I did the maths a year ago our home consumed more electricity than our car so we have a standard tariff. If EV miles increase significantly then it makes sense to switch to an EV tariff.

From memory, around 13 months ago the EV tariffs were around 7p per kWh for EV charging (only) and a standard tariff was around 13p per kWh. The EV tariff for non-EV consumption was much higher.

What I’m saying is that many people pay closer to 13p per kWh rather than the 7p per kWh as often suggested.

 

[philnewmerc]

Woman Maths: BMW i3 - The Intercooler

The fact it’s one of the cleverest cars BMW has ever designed didn’t stop Helen Wakerley quickly wanting to get rid of hers. Five years later, she’s still got it. Here’s why

www.the-intercooler.com

Interesting read. I like the i3. My previous neighbour bought one brand new (he had off street parking) and traded it in within a year for a new 1 series petrol... He claimed the real range was 60 miles in winter at night. However that was up north on faster roads, not trundling through the City at 8 mph, which is where that journalist is. Still seem like a much more modern design than the new EVs and only 1200 Kgs ! ... Something's gone backwards it seems.

 

[philnewmerc]

...
From memory, around 13 months ago the EV tariffs were around 7p per kWh for EV charging (only) and a standard tariff was around 13p per kWh. The EV tariff for non-EV consumption was much higher.

What I’m saying is that many people pay closer to 13p per kWh rather than the 7p per kWh as often suggested.

Thanks for the explanation. I'm fairly sure I pay around 25p per kilowatt hour after using one of those comparison sites... How is it possible to pay 13p?

 

[Skd884]

Just plugged in the i3 to charge and i have cheap electricity up until 02.24am

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks for the explanation. I'm fairly sure I pay around 25p per kilowatt hour after using one of those comparison sites... How is it possible to pay 13p?

I was going from memory, and I’ve just checked and ours is 26p per kWh.

I need to run the maths again to see whether it’s worth changing tariffs - as I last did it 12 months ago - and that was before we knew how many miles we would actually do in an EV.

However the mats for an EV tariff are important to get right as it increases the standing change, and even gas unit prices. We use a lot of gas and quite a lot of electricity so not to be taken lightly.

 

[Skd884]

Interesting read. I like the i3. My previous neighbour bought one brand new (he had off street parking) and traded it in within a year for a new 1 series petrol... He claimed the real range was 60 miles in winter at night. However that was up north on faster roads, not trundling through the City at 8 mph, which is where that journalist is. Still seem like a much more modern design than the new EVs and only 1200 Kgs ! ... Something's gone backwards it seems.

It's an amazing car, love our one

BMW’s Discontinued i3 Is Already an EV Cult Classic

As bigger electric cars take precedence, some lightweight models are disappearing from the market — and few little EVs are as beloved as the i3.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[markjay]

Interesting read. I like the i3. My previous neighbour bought one brand new (he had off street parking) and traded it in within a year for a new 1 series petrol... He claimed the real range was 60 miles in winter at night. However that was up north on faster roads, not trundling through the City at 8 mph, which is where that journalist is. Still seem like a much more modern design than the new EVs and only 1200 Kgs ! ... Something's gone backwards it seems.

The Met police in London use i3s as panda cars.

 

[ChipChop]

But this is not how EVs are commonly used. Most people only charge their EVs once in a while. Personally, I try and 'top it up' when the charge level goes down to 50% and then charge it up to 80%. In my case, the difference - 30% - represents 60 to 100 miles (depending in driving conditions), and living in central London this means every other week or so.

Begs the question if only charging an ev "once in a while" or following a regime of 50% to 80% top ups contributed to the failure of your Hyundai Ioniq 5's battery pack after such a short period of time & nominal mileage?

Did Hyundai UK state a reason for their cars battery pack failure?

 

[Skd884]

Four of my close friends/family own five i3s, mine makes it six.

 

[Will]

I was going from memory, and I’ve just checked and ours is 26p per kWh.

I need to run the maths again to see whether it’s worth changing tariffs - as I last did it 12 months ago - and that was before we knew how many miles we would actually do in an EV.

However the mats for an EV tariff are important to get right as it increases the standing change, and even gas unit prices. We use a lot of gas and quite a lot of electricity so not to be taken lightly.

Haven’t looked into this for a while also, but when I did previously I think the 7p off peak tariffs increased the regular unit price by around 1p per kWh.

Not a huge increase but if you’re using a lot more electricity during the daytime then you’d need to run the figures.

I guess those that can store energy (powerwall etc) could probably take advantage of these rates also and if you can time washing machines/dishwashers etc effectively it could work out good value.

Even at 25p per kWh, at say 3 or 4 miles per kWh you’d be looking at 6-8p a mile. A lot less than petrol or diesel cars on average still.

 

[markjay]

Begs the question if only charging an ev "once in a while" or following a regime of 50% to 80% top ups contributed to the failure of your Hyundai Ioniq 5's battery pack after such a short period of time & nominal mileage?..

Possibly - I do not know. Also, it's difficult to know the stats when you have a pool size of one...

...Did Hyundai UK state a reason for their cars battery pack failure?

Like with all warranty repairs.. the manufacturer is shtum