I'm in a BMW 530e ( hybrid ) max elec miles depending on how cold it is, is approx 18/20. I've done just over 64k miles in total and my overall average MPG is 34.4mpg. The diesel version I had before averaged 55+. I have mine Purley because of the BIK tax benefits and ATM definitely wouldn't bother buying one as a private car unless I was only ever going to be doing short journeys and could charge cheaply overnight at home.
If budget stretchs then take a look at the BMW full electric ix3 or i4. BMW gave me both to try for over a week each and I really liked them both. The range just isn't there for me as a company car driver yet unfortunately
Last two cars have been Toyota RAV 4 self charging hybrids - get about 50 to the gallon - would highly recommend - only two drawbacks are opening and closing rear boot door which ends up as slow motion exercise with beeping - if you try and open or close it quicker it stops - plus - theres no CD player - needs some stick or something - bollocks that bit but otherwise very reliable - cost something like £35 compared to over £45 for my previous which was Tuareg which was pile of crap because of constant faults
Try using USB sticks with your music on them. I have a Kia Picanto petrol (43mpg) and will hang onto it for as long as possible.
When the industry comes up with an electric car that can tug a tonne and a half 300 miles I'll think about it.
Could you not just encourage her to go on a diet? EDIT: I got interupted, and Chazz peeped over my shoulder.
My last shooting brake before I emigrated. '54 green split windshield which I sold for 3 times the amount I had paid for it in 1970. Loved that baby. please log in to view this image
I made the switch to electric in January. Polestar 2. I’ve been to Bath, Bristol, London in it for work, (not all one trip ). As of today I’ve racked up 15,000 miles and wouldn’t go back to a diesel or petrol car. It’s meant a change in habits but I have found it great. I can put around 120 miles of charge during the night at home for around £1.40 at a rate of 5p per kWH. The adjustment in driving style means on a trip to London I would stop around 2hrs in and have piss, a cuppa and top up the battery.
I looked at it seriously a couple of years ago, but decided against it. I know quite a few people with Tesla’s - they have the best charging infrastructure full stop, charge times are pretty quick as well if you can tap into the supercharger network. I’m not sure how escalating energy cost stack up versus an economical ICE car. Ideal scenario is if you go to a place of work and can charge for free during work hours. The Mrs had a Passat GTE ‘hybrid’, which I thought was a bit of a con. The fully charged part gave you 29 miles of range. The rest of the uncharged journey was using a 1.5 tsi petrol engine, which hauling an estate car around wasn’t actually that economical. You’re almost better getting a 1.0 petrol engined car with a 6th gear for motorways and a 1 litre turbo can still be economical and nippy.
In many ways, the hydrogen fuel cell is far superior to the normal battery array in an EV, but has been held back due to funding being almost exclusively pushed toward 'EV' technology, which in reality isn't green. There seems to be a bit more of a push to hydrogen, which I think will end up resolving many of the conventional EV problems. The technology exists to produce hydrogen on demand, which means that filling stations can be located pretty much anywhere, with no storage required. As filling with hydrogen is as quick, if not quicker than petrol, this could eliminate much of the range dread, and push for the use of what is a much cleaner fuel, depending how it is produced. It could also work to reduce the supply/demand/storage issue of turbines and solar arrays.
I charge for about 35mins on a rapid charger. Which gives me time to have a coffee and stretch my legs.
