Poll: Why did you go electric?

[David Hopwood]

Apologies if this has already been asked, but I thought I'd see what people take to be their primary reason for going electric. Obviously they are all going to factors but which one got you excited enough about electric cars to entice you?

We generate most of our own electricity with solar panels,two wind turbines and 80kw of battery storage .Nearing retirement it makes sense

 

[Ruislip Resident]

To be fair there are multiple reasons for me

1. Pollution reduction. Not so much the C02 bit (though thats a bonus extra), but the exhaust fumes toxins.
2. The driving experience.
3. Convenience. The convenience of charging at home once a week (overnight) vastly outweighs the very occasional (4 times in 2 years) public rapid charging on a long trip.
4. Cost wise I think with my purchase (the mad year of 2022 with no decent used prices) the depreciation v ICE equivalent will have been greater than running cost savings over the 3 years of my PCP ( 2 years in now). The economics of buying now though with decent used prices would be different and definitely favour the EV. That said with a PCP the deprecation will be at the max : 50% over 3 years. I could have paid outright but the PCP interest is pretty much offset by cash ISA interest. So I got a free hedge against deprecation being no higher than 50% over the 3 years.

 

[Bam Bam]

To be fair there are multiple reasons for me

1. Pollution reduction. Not so much the C02 bit (though thats a bonus extra), but the exhaust fumes toxins.

Yes, I expect those living in London (and other big cities) particularly appreciate the air pollution issue.

I was thinking that those who buy an EV often have one primary reason that pushes them into it, and then realise the other benefits once they have it.

But in fact there is so much FUD that people do a lot of research so the reasons probably end up getting mixed up and combined!

 

[Rolfe]

I didn't do any research and I hadn't heard any of the FUD. I just had a sudden write-off on my hands, realised that new car time was NOW, didn't want to be behind the curve so watched a few YouTube videos about EVs, saw the MG4, and booked a test drive!

 

[Big Ears]

FUD, bloody TLAs are all over the place, had to look that one up

 

[siteguru]

Hopefully you didn't come across the Glaswegian definition of FUD.

 

[Rolfe]

I know the 2014 definition! Federalists, Unionists and Devoutionists.

 

[Archev]

I remember vividly going to school in the fifties and not really being able to see through the smog. I wore a handkerchief over my nose and it became black with the coal fire soot in the air in Edinburgh. It was disgusting.

 

[Big Ears]

Ah yes, the 50/60s we all had coal fires back then, I still love the smell of a coal fire, a bit rare but we do have coal & coke merchant in town.

My dad use to have to stick his head out of the window to help the driver know where to turn etc, happy days eh

 

[N80SSM]

Partly due to value, cheaper per month compared to my previous car and the addition of saving fuel and tax too. Should save me around £350 month. Also I feel like I have rebelled against a big premium brand (bmw) as I was insensed at the lack of features on a 50+k car and having to buy basic safety features like head beam assist via monthly subscription. Oh and I already had a home charger from having a Merc PHEV before so didn't have to factor in the cost of getting one.

 

[DaevM]

Back in 2018 we'd already done the solar / domestic battery / ashp and my inheritance came in. Hadn't really considered an EV at all but then did. Also paid mortgage off so had that available. Went and looked at a second hand Kia Soul 30kwh ( that I may have mentioned once or twice ? ) and haven't looked back. MG4 is the second and I'd never go back to ICE now. As you say, all the above reasons and more have revealed themselves over the last 5 years, but the primary reason - what can I say but "thanks mom x"

 

[KCTalksEV]

Always wanted to go EV the instant I saw a Tesla Model S when I was about 13-14 (and a Nissan GTR/R35, but that's another story)

Tried EV in 2017 when I was working as a support worker (Leaf 30 kWh), but range wasn't quite there. Finally could afford to buy a Ioniq EV in Early 2019 but had a awful experience with a dealer trying NOT to sell me an Ioniq EV.

MG ZS EV was announced and pre-production showcased at the Electric Vehicle Festival, with pricing around the same as the used Ioniq EV I was trying to buy. Went to local dealer and clearly a much better experience. Still got the car 5 years and 70k miles later!

 

[Bam Bam]

So should I have added 'looks' to the option?

Sometimes the EV version is the same as the ICE, and some EVs are ugly. But a lot of the built-from scratch ones seem to be better looking IMHO. BYD Dolphin perhaps the exception - good value car but looks like an old Skoda Fabia drawn from memory.

FUD, bloody TLAs are all over the place, had to look that one up

Had to look up TLA to be fair!

 

[siteguru]

Once you go bla.. erm EV, you never go ba.. erm ICEV ?

 

[Big Ears]

To also be fair, mine does go like ****** off a stick if you boot it, the fiesta didn't, I've only done that twice and it does seem a bit hesitant a few times up to "70" possibly the hybrid halves trying to figure out what to do.

 

[crispyjay]

I was thinking that those who buy an EV often have one primary reason that pushes them into it, and then realise the other benefits once they have it.

This! Got it for value but now appreciate for everything else, particularly the lack of pollution at street level.

 

[AlexC]

This is my third full EV.
Tesla Model 3
Audi Etron
MG4 X Power
I always wondered whether I would own a "Car of the future" which they were when I saw the first ever Tesla Roadster on Top Gear many moons ago.

Environmental concerns, wanting to be self sufficient in winter. (Off grid household) and just having a vehicle bang up to date.

I also could not go faster for the money.

I polled other because they are all correct. (For me)

What made you move from Tesla? I test drove the M3P Highland version, fantastic and significantly faster than the Xpower, but near double the price!

 

[tsedge]

For us, the primary motivation was a better drive. EVs are just a better technology and the future and far better than having gears and narrow power bands and clutches (whether manual or automatic).

Saving money wasn't on the radar since we would be buying a brand new car and hence losing a lot more in depreciation than we'd ever save in fuel. Not visiting the garage to fill up has been nice.

The environment didn't feature on the list. I still think running an old ICE car into the ground wins here.

 

[Archev]

For us, the primary motivation was a better drive. EVs are just a better technology and the future and far better than having gears and narrow power bands and clutches (whether manual or automatic).

Saving money wasn't on the radar since we would be buying a brand new car and hence losing a lot more in depreciation than we'd ever save in fuel. Not visiting the garage to fill up has been nice.

The environment didn't feature on the list. I still think running an old ICE car into the ground wins here.

I don’t agree with the last bit unless the old vehicles can be converted to evs. Larger stuff might be fine on hydrogen but even allegedly clean fossil fuels are only “slightly” clean as far as I can see ( x% bio fuel etc. )

 

[tsedge]

I don’t agree with the last bit unless the old vehicles can be converted to evs. Larger stuff might be fine on hydrogen but even allegedly clean fossil fuels are only “slightly” clean as far as I can see ( x% bio fuel etc. )

Yes many people won't agree with me here. But it isn't just emissions it is the total
energy, resource usage and impact of the mining, manufacturing, transportation etc... that goes into making a new car, which is huge.