Anyone got an electric or a hybrid I’m debating whether to get one, either buying it myself or through work! Brilliant? pitfalls? It’s the future! What car do you recommend?
If you mainly do short journeys then all of them are fine. If your doing longer journeys (anything over 200 miles per day or trip) go for plug in hybrid as eliminates range issues. I can do well over 300 miles in a day without the chance to stop and recharge so full electric out however I don’t think my mileage is typical. I also do lots of short journeys so plug in hybrid would be fine. The range quoted you need to take 20% off for a more accurate reflection of the capabilities of the car.
I bought a seven year old near 100k miles Audi A3 e-tron plug in hybrid a couple of months ago. I was worried at this age that the battery would be knackered (claimed EV only range of circa 30 miles when new, real world less) so road tested it on EV only after insisting the independent dealer charge it up to max overnight. This showed 26 miles, and when I road tested it wasn’t way off losing a mile of range per mile travelled, which seemed fine. The car is like new, everything works, so I’m thrilled with it - but most of my driving is less than 10 miles each way. Including a couple of long drives up to Hull and Morpeth, my mpg average is 67 according to the computer. (I suspect it’s higher, because on EV-only you’re in fact doing infinity mpg but the max the computer can calculate it at is 300 mpg). The problem with electrics is that charging is becoming nearly if not more expensive than a diesel when using most public charge points. The advantage with a plug-in is you can still get a good charge on a 7kw slower charger, and some of those (particularly at Tesco - Lidl used to be too but aren’t any more) are still free to use. But my age e-tron can’t accept rapid charging (limited to 3.5 kw per hour I think), so still takes 2hr 20 mins for a full charge on a 7kw, and nearly four hours at home (terraced house with outdoor 3-pin socket where I run an outdoor extension lead under a cable protector over the pavement - no probs as yet with this). So if you’re like me and mix lots of short runs with occasional longer journeys, I think a plug-in hybrid can make sense. Especially as in those two months I’ve had 84.5kwh of free charging from Tesco - around 340 miles’ worth. But above all it’s my favourite car ever.
If its full electric go through work and possibly if hybrid but will depend on Co2 and battery range.
My bro in law had to drive to a business meeting in Manchester wrapped up in blankets with a Bluetooth speaker in the middle of January because using the heating or stereo would have prevented him from making the trip on a single charge.
I’ve just got a hybrid self change. Was put off a full electric due to price and delivery date.Also current (no pun intended) lack of charging points
I suspect possibly, yes. I think most Audi dealerships can service my type of e-tron (later ones badged e-tron are fully electric) but if something went wrong with the EV battery, then you probably need to go to one of the specialist Audi EV centres (so for me in Twickenham, that would be Watford or Reading). But Audi do or did a reasonable service scheme for £19.99 a month I think which includes an oil change service and bigger service over two years, so am considering that, and will also ask my local indie if they can do a mechanical service.
I think in a few years time all-electric will be more affordable, range wil be better and charging infrastructure will be be better. Personally I'm hanging on for a bit. Pal of mine bought himself a cheap (about £3k), used Nissan Leaf for knocking around in, then when he needed to go on longer runs he rented a conventional car. He says that over the 3 years he's been doing this he's well up financially compared to what he could have spent on a new or new-ish full-electric car and he's doing his bit towards reducing pollution around town. Never really saw the point of hybrid. Neither one thing or the other and there's an awful lot of tech in there to potentially go wrong. That's not a particularly scientific opinion, just gut feel.
My daughter has a Peugeot 3008 hybrid that I’ve used around town a few times. Does 20-28 miles on a full charge. Always been an e car sceptic but was very impressed with it. Also liked the Tesla 3 but only been a passenger, not driven it.
Had a Mercedes 250 Shooting Brake for 3 weeks (hybrid). Great for short journeys but I do a fair few miles so after 40 odd miles it reverts to petrol. As has been commented, use of heater, excessive acceleration and other stuff wears the battery down quickly. I took it as a company car option as the benefit in kind cost reduced dramatically. Recommendation to by one: As a company car - yes Just short journeys - yes (if you remember to charge it) Constant out of town - dont bother
Me and the wife been driving Toyota self charging hybrids for over ten years, average mileage I get is around 55 mpg. The first one we had we kept for seven years, never had any problems with any of them. We love driving them, very quiet and smooth, but with excellent speed and acceleration if needed. Looked at a full electric replacement for one of them recently, way too expensive to buy.
I'm about to get full electric just deciding what to get. I'm getting it through work which makes it affordable otherwise I wouldn't bother as would be too expensive. I do 150 to 200 miles a week so should be able to do a full week on one charge with possible top up mid week. Wife has petrol as wouldn't be comfortable only having electric car.
