I have a 170 mile round trip daily commute, 90% of which is between 60 and 80mph.

 

Spending £500 of my own money per month on diesel means I should seriously be looking at all-electric / hybrid offerings.

 

I just assumed my mileage and higher speeds ruled them out.

Edited 22 September, 201411 yr by silver1011

I have a 170 mile round trip daily commute, 90% of which is between 60 and 80mph.

Spending £500 of my own money on diesel means I should seriously be looking at all-electric / hybrid offerings.

I just assumed my mileage and higher speeds ruled them out.

You'd be surprised, currently about 100 miles range but with the new model it will be further

Hmm, I wasn't sure if the claimed mileage on electric was as exagerated and unrealistic as most manufacturers fuel efficiency claims?

 

The last thing I need to be doing is running a 1.2 litre hybrid in petrol mode for the majority of my commute at motorway speeds.

 

Then in winter, headlights and heater on for 1.5 hours each way?

Hmm, I wasn't sure if the claimed mileage on electric was as exagerated and unrealistic as most manufacturers fuel efficiency claims?

The last thing I need to be doing is running a 1.2 litre hybrid in petrol mode for the majority of my commute at motorway speeds.

Then in winter, headlights and heater on for 1.5 hours each way?

Headlights and heater make no difference much to the surprise of many people! Drive it to work! Leave it on charge then drive it home! That's an all electric mind

The new Golf claims upto 31 miles at speeds of upto 81mph on battery power...

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf/first-drives/volkswagen-golf-plug-hybrid-first-drive-review

 

I'll stop taking this thread off topic now, sorry!

Hmm, I wasn't sure if the claimed mileage on electric was as exagerated and unrealistic as most manufacturers fuel efficiency claims?

 

The last thing I need to be doing is running a 1.2 litre hybrid in petrol mode for the majority of my commute at motorway speeds.

 

Then in winter, headlights and heater on for 1.5 hours each way?

 

A Gen 2 LEAF with the newer more efficient heater will do 90 miles at 60mph in the summer and 80 miles in the winter, being safe.

The official figure is 120+ as the official test results are optimistic, just like they are for petrol/diesel MPG figures.

 

I tested a LEAF once driving it in ideal conditions and got 105 with 2% of the battery left.

 

Personally I think you need to wait 2 or 3 years until the newer versions are out to have a safety margin.

Or look at something like a BMW i3 REX which does around 80 miles on electric and has a moped engine under the boot to keep the battery alive so you can finish the journey.

But it's expensive.

 

Avoid anything like a Vauxhall Ampera, it's EV range is in the 30's and then you are only getting 44mpg for the rest of the trip.

On a trip like yours it'd be better to run an efficient diesel

More and more charging stations are popping up too! Out here the local authority have invested in 8 charging points in the main towns iirc the nearest being 9 miles from the house

Good advice BossFox, thanks!

Wow..... what in interesting thread 

 

I'm in talks with my accountant at the moment as to which way to go. If at all.

 

I like the sound (or lack of it) of the Nissan Leaf.

 

I have seen some for around £12,000 second hand, but I guess those are the Gen 1 models with less range and made in Japan. Over 5 years that would cost £225 a month at about 4.9%. I could write off 100% of the value of the car in my first year, but the following year just what I spend. (hopefully not a lot) Say it costs £2.50 to do 100 miles, that is £250 for 10,000 business miles. My Freelander is costing me about £1900 in fuel for 10,000 miles. 

 

A Citigo I have seen for £7500, which would cost about £150/month over 5 years and at a guess do about 50mpg, so would cost about £1200 for 10,000 miles. But I could not write off as much as the CO2 is much higher 

 

So to buy and add fuel for a Citigo would be approx. £250/month.

The same for a s/h Leaf would be about £250 as well..

 

The Freelander costs approx. £160 for fuel per month (business mileage) I can write almost nothing off with the Freelander as it is in band L  :p

 

 

Interesting.

 

But, the more I use the Freelander, the more I will need to spend on it in repairs, as it has 129,000 miles on the clock.

Was just about to chip in about how I'd consider a Leap except they're too expensive blah blah..

Just checked, £14k nearly new (~2.5k on the clock).

Certainly now cheap enough to consider as a second car.

Was just about to chip in about how I'd consider a Leap except they're too expensive blah blah.. Just checked, £14k nearly new (~2.5k on the clock). Certainly now cheap enough to consider as a second car.

 

When I sell ours off at a year old with 5-8k on the clock I'm only expecting to get £12-13k for them.

To me that makes them very viable.

 

The government incentives to get companies buying them is great for private used buyers.

So much cash back in incentives and tax breaks makes them cheap, while they are still almost new.

I'm currently running around in a Leaf. Really enjoying it. Very quiet.

Boy are they quick!!!!

It does sort of reduce the range though!

I picked it up with 90% charge & 86 Mile range. I have done 60 miles and have around 13 miles left with about 15% charge.

Real mix of roads. M25 at 70mph for 3 miles. Some B roads and also driving around South London this evening in the damp. Need air con and Hester on, lights and wipers.

Just need to find somewhere to charge it tomorrow.

PS it is a long term test drive. I have it for 3 days.

Toyota yaris 1.3 Auto.

 

Only a 4 speed, but the Yaris is bomb proof and is cheap to run (maintenance wise). Ok they may not be the most economical in class, but you can pick one up pretty cheap.

How's the Leaf?

How's the Leaf?

 

Fast......

 

Not quite citigogo or R32/R35 fast, but when you plant your right foot down it goes....... Somebody said sub 7 second 0-60, which I can believe!

 

and so does the range.

 

 

I managed 60 miles on about 90% on my first day. Okay, I was enjoying the performance, well who wouldn't, when I normally drive a 110bhp 130,000 mile TD4 auto Freelander  .

 

What can I say? it is like a compact 5 door hatchback, like a Golf. Great to drive, silent. Fun.....

 

Will I buy one.....?

 

Not sure. 

Nissan claim an 11 second 0-60mph time on the LEAF.

I have no idea why.

 

I Vboxed mine at 9 seconds, but the 0-30mph is quicker than similar 0-60mph cars.

The initial punch does make it very brisk off the line.

I suppose the official 0-60 could include a passenger or two. Promoting it's niftiness rather than Stig like tarmac shredding accel?

Boss fox was the real developer of Formula E, bring a Leaf to a track day Mr Fox?

Boss fox was the real developer of Formula E, bring a Leaf to a track day Mr Fox?

 

I'm still the only person outside Japan with a real NISMO kit for a LEAF apparently.

Shame it's still in the boxes...

I'm still the only person outside Japan with a real NISMO kit for a LEAF apparently.

Shame it's still in the boxes...

Hurry up and get one and fit it:)

Well guys,

I've made a decision....... not to change and soldier on with my Freelander.

Thanks for all your recommendations and ideas.

In the end it is the purchase price that is killing it. Even with a small Yaris the break even point is several years, and a leaf, which I would buy no question, if it was my only car, will take even longer to pay for itself.

Well.... A few months later and I have made up my mind

I am getting a Leaf.

Thank you Richard.

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