Buying my first ev

Hi Alex, buying the first EV is challenging, but there are many ways to analize what way to go in your specific situation. Do you have a set budget? Plan to pay cash or finance? What do you expect from your car? Are you looking more for a commuter? Long range? Do you take road trips? Would this be your families only vehicle?

The second major considerations should be your own infrastructure, do you have a garage to park you car, and charge it daily? Access to 240V electrical close by? What kind of climate do you live in?

If you are thinking about the Model 3, I would not worry so much about the production issues, the cars coming out today are hugely improved from just a few months ago, and you are running out of time to claim the full $7500 tax credit in the USA if you are eligible for that. The issue with the current Model 3 is just cost, and the lack of low rate financing.

I wish you good luck, and hope you find an EV that fills all of your needs.

 

I have been down this path. There are new BEV cars in the $35-40 K range but they are not Tesla. The Tesla $35K car will not be available for some time and with taxes etc. is likely to be around $40K but without any add-ons. Old Tesla's have held up there resale value well, other BEVs have not. A 2011 Nissan Leaf will cost you about $6 to 9K. Not sure what the battery warranty is but let us assume that you can get a couple of years out of that car on the current battery The original range was 106 miles, and let us say it is now 75 miles. Are you OK with that, spending about $8K for a car with an 75 mile range. In addition it may need a major battery replacement in say 2 years, This is sort of a realistic scenario. In the best case you may get 90 miles per charge and battery will last 5 years more. Or in the worst case, it may go out in a year or give you 40 miles per charge. You need to look at that. I personally would not buy an 7 year old Nissan Leaf unless it was a screaming deal and I was sure that the range was at least 70-80 miles per charge.

I know that there are not too many options at that price range. You might be able to get a newer BEV with 80-100 mile range for about $15-20K. Else wait for year to see what other manufacturers come up with or if Tesla produces the $35K version.

 

Spark ev is a better choice with DC fast charger.

Liquid cooled battery
DC fast charger
Great charging curve

 

It would help greatly if we knew more about your specific needs and your intended use.

Will this car be used for commuting? If so, what is the distance you'll be driving? What is the climate like where you live? Do you live in a mild "Mediterranean" climate in coastal California? Or do you live where it sometimes gets bitterly cold on winter days?

How much extra range do you need for side trips on they way to work or on the way home?

Will you be able to install a dedicated EV charger where you live? Contrary to what you may have read, a garage isn't required. But a dedicated parking spot, and the right to install an EV charging point there, is pretty much a requirement if you're going to buy a BEV.

* * * * *

A used Leaf can be a pretty good bargain. Getting one to be used for 2-3 years while you wait for something better to come on the market is a strategy many are using, so if you choose to do that, you will be in good company. My concern about the Leaf would be its limited range, but if your daily drive is significantly shorter than that of the average American driver, then that might work for you.

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Hi Alex,

I faced similar decisions in 2016 and went with:

• May 2016 - End of lease, 2014 BMW i3 REx (loaded), 6400 miles, $29k (replacement is $20-23k)
• Dec 2016 - New, 2017 Prius Prime (lowest trim), plug-in hybrid, <10 miles, $28k

My mandatory requirements:

1. Reach Nashville TN, 120 miles from Huntsville AL.
2. Dynamic cruise control and emergency braking.

2014 BMW i3-REx

In the used BMW market, get the VIN and use a VIN decoder to figure out what options it has. An end of lease car is going to be maintained and in good shape. But the first model year, 2014, of any car has 'infantile' problems so I was grateful for the 5 year, 50,000 mi warranty when a motor mount bolt broke (the replacement parts are much stronger.) The range extender is critical because sometimes remote chargers will be broken, occupied, or you need to go where there are no chargers. Longest trip, 700 miles both ways.

2017 Prius Prime Plus

With Toyota TSS-P, a radar based dynamic cruise control, emergency braking, and lane keep alarm, this safety feature is more reliable than the optically based, BMW i3-REx. For example, fog or driving into the sun. The 25 mile, EV range meets my city range but it really shines as a Prius, +56 MPG, on the highway. The delivery drive home, 1200 miles, took one tank midway and still ran a week around town on the second tank. This is King of the highway yet cheap as an EV around town.

Other thoughts

• End of lease cars with manufacturer warranty are depreciated more than the Federal Tax Credit.
• Liquid cooled BMW battery handles hot and cold temperatures better than the Prime air cooled battery.
• BMW is a '10 stop' EV car around town and the Prime a '3 stop' EV.
• Range Extender got me home when new charger was found to be broken 76 mi from home.
• Given the poor state of non-Tesla SuperCharger networks, go with any range extended, plug-in hybrid.
• Ebay completed car sales are an excellent source of the true value of any used car.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

Get Tesla Model 3. It’s pretty much a BMW 340i in gasoline automobile while The rest of the pack you mentioned were like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata....a Luxury vs a regular mid-size sedan. What segment fits your budget more?
I just went for Tesla 3 because I’d get $13.5k back from tax credit and rebates! So my $51.5k configured Model 3 would end up $38k. Buying used EV will lose all these!
By the way, did you forget about the VW e-Goft?

 

You didn't pay sales tax?

 

We talked about price tag. You pay tax on every car regardless it’s new or old unless it’s private transfer!

 

It sounds like this guy was on a pretty limited budget... What you bought might be too pricey for him.

 

Lease an EV, man. Btw, if you drive 5 miles each way to work, don’t bother with 240v outlet. 120V does just fine with 5 miles/hr charge. My Model 3 has been charged with 120v for almost 3 months now since my wife only drove 20-30 miles a day.


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I see, well if you really care for the environment it is always better to buy a pre owned car, because all new cars have the manufacturing carbon footprint that is absorbed by the first owner. The spark sounds like it would work fine for you, maybe try to shop around and find the best deal you can... Solar is a great way to collect energy, but setting up a system with battery is pretty expensive. Good Luck shopping!

 

Charging an EV costs pretty much the same as running AC. Just pay your mom the difference and you’re good to go. If you reside at your mom’s home and the car is registered at the address, apply PG&E Clean Fuel Rebate. Yeah, that’s $500 for your mom there.


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A good rule of thumb, ~250 Wh per mile or 4 miles per kWh.

No one mentioned it but there are some nice electric scooters and motorcycles.

Bob Wilson

 

Which car?

Bob Wilson