Need EV recommendation

Since the elevation change is only 2500 feet, I'm now leaning towards the Clarity BEV. Also, charging at home is a better option.

Range: 89 miles (plenty for commute)
Honda sensing
Battery has liquid thermal management
Has DCFC
Luxurious ride.
Lease is very cheap at 199/month. $899 due at signing.

Dealers are expecting shipment to come in this month, since all the dealer are currently out of stock.
 
JyChevyVolt said:
The elevation change is only 2514.32 feet. I put my home location instead of the office location.
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Ok, revising the used, 2014 BMW i3-REx analysis:

Here are my metrics: https://priuschat.com/threads/why-the-bmw-i3-rex.165584/page-3#post-2358177
  • 4.5% / 525 ft
  • (2,514 / 525) * 4.5% ~= 22% :: altitude gain
  • 31 mi vs 72 mi EV range ~= 43% :: distance traveled
  • Estimated 65% of charge
A conservative engineer, going over 50% SOC, the REx provides excellent backup. However, I would probably carry a spare 2.5 gal gas can (Briggs and Straton fits.)

As for prices vs new or leased, I went to www.fueleconomy.gov and found:
  • 2014 BMW i3-REx :: 29 kWh/100 mi :: 72 mi EV
  • 2018 BMW i3-REx :: 31 kWh/100 mi :: 97 mi EV
  • 2018 Clarity Plug-in :: 31 kWh/100 mi :: 48 mi EV + gas
If a corporate purchase, a used car may be out of the question. If new, lease terms and conditions need to be carefully checked, especially miles per year. Assuming bi-directional, one trip per day:
  • 62 miles / business day
  • 310 miles / 5 day week
  • 16,120 miles / 52 week year
Now if there is a per diem of ~$0.50/mile of a private car, the used 2014 BMW wins hands down. Each day, $3.10 net per diem into pocket assuming free office charging and all electric or about $806.00 each year. Of course your mileage may vary and BMW tires would take about half(*).

Bob Wilson

* - I am working to significantly increase the tire miles.
 
bwilson4web said:
Ok, revising the used, 2014 BMW i3-REx analysis:

Here are my metrics: https://priuschat.com/threads/why-the-bmw-i3-rex.165584/page-3#post-2358177
  • 4.5% / 525 ft
  • (2,514 / 525) * 4.5% ~= 22% :: altitude gain
  • 31 mi vs 72 mi EV range ~= 43% :: distance traveled
  • Estimated 65% of charge
A conservative engineer, going over 50% SOC, the REx provides excellent backup. However, I would probably carry a spare 2.5 gal gas can (Briggs and Straton fits.)

As for prices vs new or leased, I went to www.fueleconomy.gov and found:
  • 2014 BMW i3-REx :: 29 kWh/100 mi :: 72 mi EV
  • 2018 BMW i3-REx :: 31 kWh/100 mi :: 97 mi EV
  • 2018 Clarity Plug-in :: 31 kWh/100 mi :: 48 mi EV + gas
If a corporate purchase, a used car may be out of the question. If new, lease terms and conditions need to be carefully checked, especially miles per year. Assuming bi-directional, one trip per day:
  • 62 miles / business day
  • 310 miles / 5 day week
  • 16,120 miles / 52 week year
Now if there is a per diem of ~$0.50/mile of a private car, the used 2014 BMW wins hands down. Each day, $3.10 net per diem into pocket assuming free office charging and all electric or about $806.00 each year. Of course your mileage may vary and BMW tires would take about half(*).

Bob Wilson

* - I am working to significantly increase the tire miles.
Click to expand...
Clarity BEV has 20,000 miles allowance.
 
JyChevyVolt said:
Since the elevation change is only 2500 feet, I'm now leaning towards the Clarity BEV. Also, charging at home is a better option.

Range: 89 miles (plenty for commute)
Honda sensing
Battery has liquid thermal management
Has DCFC
Luxurious ride.
Lease is very cheap at 199/month. $899 due at signing.

Dealers are expecting shipment to come in this month, since all the dealer are currently out of stock.
Click to expand...

Yeah since he has a second car, and if he is Ok with charging at home not just at work, it should be fine!

A cheap BEV lease like the Clarity is a great way to get into EVs.

He just needs to make sure he knows his backup charging options on his route home. :)
 
Domenick said:
So, it appears you still could benefit from a recommendation...what are your wife's requirements and deal breakers?
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After much soul searching, I have decided to keep the Volt and run it to the ground.

Wife is happy with the Clarity BEV and can't find anything better. We decided to give my father in-law our Lexus RX 350 since we use it only for road trips.
 
Domenick said:
So, does that mean your neighbor needs to buy a Volt somewhere else, or did you have two?
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I'm helping him pick out the Gen 2 Volt. There should be lots of gen 2s coming off lease in 6 months.

Yesterday, I saw the model 3 on interstate 5. It's a small car, Civic size. We were following it for 15 miles. I thought it was the Optima from the rear. The car does not look better in real life. Wife and I agreed, the design is a disappointment.
 
JyChevyVolt said:
I'm helping him pick out the Gen 2 Volt. There should be lots of gen 2s coming off lease in 6 months.
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Good! That was my first suggestion and it sounds like he came to the same conclusion about the car as me. For his needs it pretty much checks off every box. I think the Volt is absolutely the best car for him and he can get the ACC that he wants.

JyChevyVolt said:
Yesterday, I saw the model 3 on interstate 5. It's a small car, Civic size. We were following it for 15 miles. I thought it was the Optima from the rear. The car does not look better in real life. Wife and I agreed, the design is a disappointment.
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Really!? I actually didn't like it as much in photos. But when I saw one driving around I thought it looked better than I expected. Except for those hideous wheel covers. (They remind me of the cheap looking hub caps I had on my first car.)

I think the S looks gorgeous. But in person I'm not a huge fan of the Model X design. The Model 3 falls closer to the Model S on the attractiveness scale for me.

Of course everyone has different tastes. For instance, I'm always baffled whenever people call the Bolt a 'wierdmobile'. I don't get it. It looks like any other hatchback or small crossover. It is styled similarly to every car in Chevy's line up. What's so weird!? lol
 
WadeTyhon said:
Good! That was my first suggestion and it sounds like he came to the same conclusion about the car as me. For his needs it pretty much checks off every box. I think the Volt is absolutely the best car for him and he can get the ACC that he wants.



Really!? I actually didn't like it as much in photos. But when I saw one driving around I thought it looked better than I expected. Except for those hideous wheel covers. (They remind me of the cheap looking hub caps I had on my first car.)

I think the S looks gorgeous. But in person I'm not a huge fan of the Model X design. The Model 3 falls closer to the Model S on the attractiveness scale for me.

Of course everyone has different tastes. For instance, I'm always baffled whenever people call the Bolt a 'wierdmobile'. I don't get it. It looks like any other hatchback or small crossover. It is styled similarly to every car in Chevy's line up. What's so weird!? lol
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I warned him about the backseat. Volt is realistically a 2 seater. He's ok with it. 2016 Volt didn't have ACC. I'll try to steer him towards Clarity PHEV.

I don't like the look of the Bolt EV. They should have made it bigger. It's a Hugh mistake. Bolt demand will fall in 2019 like the Gen 2 Volt.

Model 3 looks like someone smash the S/X together.
 
JyChevyVolt said:
I warned him about the backseat. Volt is realistically a 2 seater. He's ok with it. 2016 Volt didn't have ACC. I'll try to steer him towards Clarity PHEV.

I don't like the look of the Bolt EV. They should have made it bigger. It's a Hugh mistake. Bolt demand will fall in 2019 like the Gen 2 Volt.

Model 3 looks like someone smash the S/X together.
Click to expand...

I've seen some 2017 used Volts for sale with ACC. And if he has no kids and this is his commute vehicle then the back seat isn't an issue. Although a Clarity PHEV would also work fine for his needs if he does want a larger car.

When we look back on 2018, The Bolt demand will be up this year. I can all but guarantee it. ;) In fact Volt demand will probably be up over 2017 as well. As far as 2019 demand, it's too early to make those predictions!
 
WadeTyhon said:
I've seen some 2017 used Volts for sale with ACC. And if he has no kids and this is his commute vehicle then the back seat isn't an issue. Although a Clarity PHEV would also work fine for his needs if he does want a larger car.

When we look back on 2018, The Bolt demand will be up this year. I can all but guarantee it. ;) In fact Volt demand will probably be up over 2017 as well. As far as 2019 demand, it's too early to make those predictions!
Click to expand...

The Bolt will be up in 2018 (globally) and start declining in 2019. In 2019, we will see 5 EVs with 200+ miles and under $45k. Too much competition.

The Volt will not reach 10,000 sales in 2018. Too much competition. Ioniq, Niro, Prime, Outlander, Clarity, etc...

Now if gas prices hit $4 in California, all bets are off. We're at $3.33 already.
 
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JyChevyVolt said:
The Bolt will be up in 2018 (globally) and start declining in 2019. In 2019, we will see 5 EVs with 200+ miles and under $45k. Too much competition.

The Volt will not reach 10,000 sales in 2018. Too much competition. Ioniq, Niro, Prime, Outlander, Clarity, etc...

Now if gas prices hit $4 in California, all bets are off. We're at $3.33 already.
Click to expand...

Bolt demand will be driven by how deep GM wants to or can cut prices.

By the time the 200mile Leaf at $35k-$40k is available for example, GM could have enough production of the Bolt under control to be offering the Bolt for under $30k.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
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