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Anyone regret going down the ev route?

18K views 146 replies 63 participants last post by  SueH  
#1 ·
Hi, I have almost convinced myself an ev is a good idea (E-208) but am very aware all the reviews etc I have read have all been focusing on the positives or not mentioning living with it long term. For the sake of balance in my devision making process, anyone out there regret tieing themselves to an ev lease? Does the novelty wear off and you long for the convenience of good old petrol? Thanks all.:)
 
#46 · (Edited)
I have had my 30kw Leaf for three years and love it. Took a week to get used to the difference - a footbreak instead of a handbrake took a bit of adjusting to and had never driven an automatic, so kept reaching for gears for a while!

Have a home charger and that's important for an easy life.

I don't travel that much now I'm retired and longer distances definately need planning, but that's easy with the Zapmap app.

I have had a couple of "hairy" moments when I got home by the skin of my teeth, but no flatbed delivery home so far!

I would love to buy the new longer range version, but not sure I can afford it. I'm disappointed that the prices are going up, when we were promised they'd come down as EVs became more popular/common.

I love the huge savings on fuel costs and love that there's no more queueing at smelly petrol pumps and no smells in the car. The silence is amazing too, no shouting at passengers over the sound of a petrol engine.

They are perfect for city driving and with the increase in chargers (lampost chargers in London to be rolled out nationwide?), are not such the "scary" option they once were.

Can thoroughly recommend.
 
#4 ·
In broad terms they are easier to live with than an ICE. No oil to check or change for example. Cheaper to service, tax, insurance competitive. Quiet, smooth and fast (or at least nippy) to drive. Convenient to charge at home with no nasty petrol station visits.
Downsides: obvious one is range and/or range anxiety. Does it meet your needs? Charging on the go is still risky and slow. Can you have a wall charger and charge at home?
 
#5 ·
EVs work if you have home charging, or a Tesla for the Supercharger network.

I wouldn't own an EV without home charging, instead I'd have one of those EV-with-a-generator things like the Jazz or Ampera.

Cheaper servicing is not true in reality ;)
 
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#6 ·
the convenience of good old petrol?
???? Waking up to a full battery is so much better than queueing for petrol.

Owing an EV is a paradigm shift. The petrol model doesn't apply. With an EV you charge at home overnight and don't worry. Long trips can be a problem if you don't reseach them.

I've been driving an EV since 2014. I've never run out of charge. I have been inconvienced by broken Rapid chargers a few times. Most of the time it is painless. With planning, I find a good place to stop and charge the car while we get a meal or just a cuppa.
 
#9 ·
It is a different mindset. If you can't cope with having a smaller petrol tank than 600 miles range, it probably won't work for you.
If you travel in mid Wales a lot ...
If you tow ...
If you must have the roar of an engine ...
If you like the smell of benzine ...
 
#14 ·
If you can't cope with having a smaller petrol tank than 600 miles range, it probably won't work for you.
Goodness, can you actually get a petrol that does 600miles? I can just squeeze 500 out of the diesel Galaxy if lucky, and that costs £70 to fill!
 
#31 ·
Some people might be on both!

Over 11k miles in, we love our Kona: our first EV.
Still have my XC60, but the fact we did under 5k miles in that over the same time tells you something. Some journeys benefit from the XC60: much bigger boot, more comfort for 5 people, can fit bike in boot, but for most trips, the “go-to” vehicle is the Kona.

As others have said, we too would probably be much less enthusiastic if we didn’t have our home chargepoint: it literally takes 20 or 30 seconds to plug/unplug, and the car is always fully charged (if we want) - not missing garages at all! We have only plugged in away from home a handful of times, mostly just to test it.
 
#12 ·
There have been a few in here who have reluctantly gone back to a fossil-fueled car. But usually, because their personal circumstances changed and at the time there was no affordable EV with sufficient range to cover their new travel needs. Mostly they say they will be back when they can either afford a longer range EV or they could go back to a normal distance commute. Other than that I think you will find it hard to discover many EV drivers who would willingly go back to 100 year old technology.
 
#15 ·
Since we switched to an EV for our main car there have been two occasions where we've had to resort to our second-but-used-to-be-main ICE car; both weekends away a few hundred miles away where we just didn't have time to wait for the car to charge (a Zoe, slowly, at 22kw).

The Zoe's replacement charges faster though; we will use it when we have to do the same again. It's certainly an awful lot cheaper :)

For absolutely everything else though, no regrets at all. We bought it to be our second car; it rapidly became the main one once we knew what it could do.
 
#68 ·
Since we switched to an EV for our main car there have been two occasions where we've had to resort to our second-but-used-to-be-main ICE car; both weekends away a few hundred miles away where we just didn't have time to wait for the car to charge (a Zoe, slowly, at 22kw).
We had to do the same for a trip from Stoke to Bellingham. Not for the charging along the route, but we had to leave at 8pm because of my wife's work and be at a Durham hotel by 10pm. So we hired a car.
 
#16 ·
I don't regret buying an EV in general. The convenience of charging at home for day to day use is great.

The novelty has very much worn off though. That's partly frustration with Renault and partly boredom of having the same car for nearly two years.
 
#69 ·
The novelty has very much worn off though. That's partly frustration with Renault and partly boredom of having the same car for nearly two years.
Exactly why I went for the MG.
 
#18 ·
5th EV.

It's just a car that happens to run off electricity.

Novelty wore off by at least the 3rd one.

Now I have a shit box Zoe that creaks grinds, drips water on me and steams up the windows because it won't run the AC with heating and recycle.

EVs can be crap too, just like ICE. Crap cars that happen to be powered by something a bit clearer than dinosaur puss.
 
#24 ·
Oh god there was me thinking a Zoe would be a trade up from my leaf!


One of my patients today had a beautiful Zoe parked outside, I asked his range and he said 70-100 miles per charge, which amazed me as I thought the Zoe was a longer range car than my leaf.
 
#19 ·
I'm on my 4th EV. Each one has significant issues.

Soul EV had crap range and pre heat stopped working in winter so it was binned off.
Zoe squeaked and rattled and then the heater stopped working and Renault dealer wouldn't fix it so it was binned off.
Leaf was appallingly uncomfortable after an hour drive or so and charged too slowly so it was binned off.

Now got a Corsa Electric that won't reconnect to Bluetooth without blaring the radio first, with auto wipers that aren't automatic, with keyless that doesn't work half the time and which randomly won't start unless you hold the start button for ages and ages.

It is however not crippling to drive for more than an hour and the Nav map display in the dash binnacle is excellent and it's fun to drive and it has 100kw CCS and an app that works. So I have to hope some of the idiocy will get fixed.
 
#20 ·
I dont regret it, but i also do as it has caused me a bit of a dilemma.

I've always owned older cars. Infact i still have a 20 year old A4 and a 25 year old Range Rover alongside the LEAF.

I really like the EV drive, but i find myself frustrated that getting one that actually ticks the boxes is basically impossible. Being new, and expensive, means i cant apply my usual approach of picking up a top end 8-10 year old model for peanuts. Prior to my first EV for instance, i had a 9yo BMW 330d. It had all the spec, was a really great car, cost 6 grand to buy, and sold it for 5 two years later. It needed some maintenance but overall it was pretty reliable, and the things it did need done werent all that expensive. The LEAF, well its not even close as a car, the BMW was simply better in every dimension. Despite being diesel the 6pot engine was great. But i decided i didnt want to drive diesel any more, and really enjoyed the EV driving experience after the first lease car (a B250e)

Finding something a bit more like the BMW, with a bit more spec, and a bit more space and a bit more power, results in a tiny list of really expensive nearly-new cars.

So the regret is i'm now "stuck" in an ugly slow car that can barely drive the length of itself, and cant actually afford to buy the car i want (which probably doesnt actually really exist either), while simultaneously feeling like i cant "go backwards" back to ICE land.
 
#21 ·
I don’t regret it. The charging if you are travelling a distance can be a challenge - I hate sitting in the dark in some scummy car park waiting on a charge finishing. The only real problem I have is, we have a big dog and getting an EV that can carry him safely is nigh on impossible (I have my eye on the MG5). Out of choice, I take the Leaf every time.
 
#40 ·
. The only real problem I have is, we have a big dog and getting an EV that can carry him safely is nigh on impossible (I have my eye on the MG5). Out of choice, I take the Leaf every time.
We carry a labradoodle and a Great Dane in the i3. They both fit in the LEAF too.
 
#22 ·
Never, no regrets. Far from it. On my 3rd Nissan Leaf (which is the Ford Focus of EVs) which I bought outright. First one was a 2 yr lease which I regarded as a long term test drive. Certainly never felt tied to leasing an EV.
I am beginning to take the view that I actually do not want to encourage others to switch from ICE to EVs.
 
#25 ·
Oh and in terms of this thread, I spent my drive home thinking "hmmmm shall I charge to 100%in case we need the car this weekend, or shall we use the other half ICE.

As long as these thoughts are running thru your head when you have 40% charge left its gonna be hard to convince the masses!
 
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#30 ·
Depends on your circumstances, to be honest: infrastructure, mass transit etc.

I took the plunge with a Zoe 22kW about 5 years ago, when the charging infrastructure where I live was abysmal at best. I never owned an ICEV, but drove several in Romania and the UK; in Germany only EV. Can't charge at home, low mileage commute, but still doing 25000km/year (weekend travels); I replaced the old Zoe with the new ZE50 in January. My choice would be between EV or public transport/bicycle, I would never consider an ICEV from practicality point of view, mass transit here is a better solution than ICEV. The EV charging infrastructure has developed a lot in the past 5 years in my area to the point where I genuinely am not bothered to plan a trip. On Monday I leave for a 1000km trip and I feel confident I don't need to plan it at all.

I find that the car itself is not the problem, but the charging infrastructure is the key to having a problem-free experience. Does the charging infrastructure allows you to do your most regular trips? Exceptional trips are just that, exceptional, but if the infrastructure allows you to do use the car 300 days out of 360 without frustration, then you don't need to worry. The rest 60 are mostly non-driving days and a few of mild stress.

In conclusion, and to answer your question, no regret in getting an EV; on the contrary, I had a very positive long-term experience, I'm now at my second EV long-term, and I can guarantee that my next car, in 2025, will be electric.
 
#32 ·
I bought outright a Kia e-Niro in April 2019 having decided I wanted an electric car. Petrol or diesels just don't cut it anymore for me. For 35 years I drove mainly expensive BMW's and the thought of £70 filling station fill ups I used to endure makes me smile. But the UK electric infrastructure is a joke and it won't change any time soon.

Like someone here said, I also don't want to see a mass exodus from ICE to electric, not until I'm dead at least.
 
#33 ·
I have a PHEV (boo hiss) rather than an EV, but to add my $0.02
The only thing I don't like about my GTE is putting petrol in it. For me it has always been bikes for fun, cars for transport - this is the first car that has made me smile. Booting it on twisty lanes in EV mode is great - sure GTE mode is faster, but most times I prefer the silence.
By the time I can change cars I hope there will be an EV that meets my requirements and I can say bye to fossil fuel once and for all. I will not miss it.
Range aside a lot of the comments seem to be about the build quality of current EVs - probably says more about the manufacturers than about the car being an EV. Hopefully this will change as more manufacturers and models are produced.
 
#35 ·
The most significant part of the transition to us all driving electric one day is the drivetrain, electric motors turning the wheels. This is what captures you and you know it is the only way forward.
Everything else is just the trials and tribulations of the transition, either you join in now or or wait until there is the right vehicle for you later.
 
#36 ·
My biggest regret is that more people have not joined this grouping. They live in the myths that ICE are cheaper easier faster. It is difficult to see the other side except by experiencing it.

Yes there are temporary issues like charger network growing to match the no of EVs. Petrol and diesel had these same issues in the early days.
Having a home charger makes EV ownership a no-brainer imo. Do I miss spending 5 or 10 mins weekly at some filling station or other giving £50 of my hard earned money to the fossil fuel brigade? Do I f**k. Do I miss spouting noxious fumes all over by town and causing long term illness to my grandchildren? Do I f**k.
 
#39 ·
My biggest regret is that more people have not joined this grouping. They live in the myths that ICE are cheaper easier faster. It is difficult to see the other side except by experiencing it.
It's not myths, EVs are still significantly more expensive to purchase than equivalent ICE vehicles, that's not an illusion or a misunderstanding, it's a fact. The higher purchase cost is a real hurdle.

Take your Hyundai Kona, you can pick-up 2 year old ICE Konas for under £12k and I know if I could buy a electric Kona for £12k I would buy one. But the reality is that a used or nearly new EV Kona starts at around £28k so a £16k premium for what is basically the same car, equivalent at 40mpg to around 123,000 miles of fuel, all upfront for going EV. On brand new cars the differential is around £13k on 39kWh models and around £17k for 64kWh versions, so equivalent to over 100,000 miles of fuel.

For the average motorist who does around 8k miles a year, the extra cost is recovered at around the time the EV is being hauled away to the scrap yard.
 
#37 · (Edited)
I’ve had an EV for 5 years until recently, my wife has petrol. Our mileage has dropped massively over the last couple of years, I did 30k miles a year in an EV at one point so no lightweight EV owner. I flogged my second Tesla before it dropped out of warranty as they’re a basket case to own without, my wife breaks her leg literally between agreeing the sale and the car going so I’ve not yet replaced it and I’m driving hers. 2 months of driving and I’d forgotten the joys including not even looking at the fuel gauge. Her car is relatively expensive for petrol, but not really compared to a Tesla, but the build quality is way better than my Model S was, the drive is still actually great, the tech id say is better, even traffic light recognition is coming in Oct, a date I’d be surprised if they missed. Low mileage means there’s no point worrying about fuel costs, an EV is not going to pay for itself saving 10p a mile and electricity costs do add up, but aren’t seen, and only get really cheap if you start delving into different tariffs and rapid chargers are close to diesel prices per mile. And when I had to drive 400 miles the other day it was just so easy.

Don’t regret buying an EV but I think modern ICE are unfairly overlooked at times and the EV industry still hasn’t got its act sorted out. Gartner talk about the trough of disillusionment, I think a lot of EV buyers at the moment (not ones taking the trouble to read up on forums like this) haven’t a clue what they’re buying and are heading for a bit of a shock when the novelty of instant acceleration wears off and they’re fighting over public charging infrastructure.