Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Time for Electric Power?

I have driven the following, so far...

BMW 3i (a couple of years ago) Impressive, but SWMBO thought it looked weird. So I'll drive the Mini E as it has the same engine and software as the 3i - not really a surprise.
Mazda MX 30: very attractive to look at but gutless and not a driver's car, so out of the game.
Vauxhall Mokka E: this was a pleasant surprise, quick and handled well. But the seats were typical of a Peugeot, soft and not very supportive and no power seats or glass roof available, so out of the game. The same applies to the Corsa E
Mercedes EQA 250: good, possibly larger than we want but quick and very much a mercedes, but insanely expensive, almost £9k more than the GLA 250. Probably out of the game.
VW ID.3: really, really impressive, it made me smile. Very much in the game.
The Mini E is next and I'll ask Milligoon for a ride in his Honda E.
I'm keen to try the Mini, based on this road test..

https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/extended-tests/extended-test-2020-mini-electric-review/

So far there is nothing that would make me dump the C63, yet but as Alistair says, the time is approaching. There is a Polo sized VW ID.2 on the way, that could be it. Or the Mini.

But this is a fun journey!!

It's a fairly tough choice even though there are not a vast number of EV's to choose from.

The tipping point for me was the Tesla charging infrastructure which is nationwide (and Euro wide) - super fast and very easy. The other networks are clunky to say the least - unreliable, expensive and slow. And that sets aside the multiple apps, RFID cards, accounts etc.

The general view is that if you generally do short journeys then the Polestar is a good choice - interior and exterior styling. Longer runs would probably favour the Tesla with it's long range and charging network.

I actually like the minimalist interior of the Tesla, it is unashamedly an electric vehicle and not trying to be like a traditional car. Like all EV's it's buttons to run - around 3p a mile in mine with Porsche performance. My Range Rover is around 35p a mile and drives like a medieval siege engine in comparison.

I think you need a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Peter ;-)

Given the cost of EVs why not try a second hand one for a while to get used to the change it would save some money. The lower range i3 can be had quite reasonable, as for Tesla ask yourself about taking tax into account and exchange rates why they are so much more expensive new over here (Tesla set the price to what market sales will stand) as a driver's car if range isn't important the mini is fun.

Don't forget given the fact your household has several cars long range trips can be covered by them.

So far this year my electric costs including house and car charging weekday nights for work are averaging out about £1.17 per day, yes I have a small solar system and use octopus go faster tariff.

The main thing with electric cars is the up front cost unless you go the rental PCP route that is.

Strange you have done this as I have just sold my Volvo as I'd done about 500 miles since its service last year seems silly having something so expensive sat on the drive getting covered in car poo (and work has made using more than one car difficult)

My Honda e suits me for my 20 mile each way commute. Entry and exit is almost as high as my XC60 was. Being much narrower it's better for parking at work.

"The main thing with electric cars is the up front cost unless you go the rental PCP route that is."

Is there still a tax benefit that allows you to claim the taxable element quickly so offsetting tax you are due to pay?

Leaving aside the range and network issues.....

I was pondering about EV choice this morning - and I have driven quite a few, including the Taycan. And it struck me that they're all the same really. Most of them launch you to the horizon at an alarming rate and they all cost about 3p a mile to run.

So it's down to which body shape/interior you prefer. One electric motor is the same as another.

I was left a bit nonplussed after some while driving the Taycan. It felt heavier than my Tesla but quicker in an unusable way - if that makes sense? Put it into sports and it flies - but you'd really never need it - sub 3 seconds to 60 is a party trick in the same way the Tesla sub 4 seconds is.

You still get BIK at a low rate, however the grant has dropped to cars below £35k and is now only £2500, you still get the £350 olev grant on the home charger installation.

The government's thinking was those that can afford higher priced cars don't really need financial incentives. It worked as quite a few actually lowered the UK price of lower priced cars to below £35k as clearly they were taking the Micky.

The delivery on a Level 3 Mini Electric is August, but that is not firm.
Caroline will not have a Cross-Over or SUV.

I've dumped the We Buy Any Car appointment for 2 reasons:
1. I don't believe their valuation, the latest one is £42,555. which is more than I paid for the car last summer. That valuation was with the personal number plates. I went back onto the site and entered the original registration and their offer is close to the figures indicated by the various dealer, about £38k. So what is their game?

2. I can't get delivery of a car I like before the late summer.

So, I'll wait a year.

Thank you milligoon, I was thinking more of the benefit to the company (if you are self employed etc)

I was thinking more of being able to write off tax for a business over a short time. I embraced my inner google and have found this.

https://www.nextgreencar.com/electric-cars/buying-guide/tax/

Capital allowances allow businesses to deduct the cost of an eligible expense from its annual tax bill. As with car tax and company car tax, the rate at which a company can 'write down' the value of company vehicles is based on its CO2 emissions.

Battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles with CO2 emissions below 50 g/km are currently eligible for 100% write-down in the first year. This Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) applies up to the end of March 2021. To qualify, the vehicle must be brand new.

Compared to the standard relief on vehicles of 18% per annum (on a reducing balance basis for cars with CO2 emissions of 51-110 g/km), the 100% write-down represents a cost benefit to company-owned EVs worth thousands of pounds between comparable models.

Capital allowance rates Allocation Apr 2018 - Mar 2021
100% (first-year) Main rate pool up to 50 g/km
18% annual Main rate pool 51 - 110 g/km
8% annual Special rate pool over 110 g/km

I was just uncertain if this was still in place given they reduced several of the other benefits recently.

Take a look at Motorway, used them earlier in the year they got me an extra 13k over WBAC and other similar named companies.

We buy anycar is a subsidiary of British Car Auctions I believe, When they do on site valuation the offer will normally drop. You would probably be better off putting it into the auction yourself.