What fuel for my next car?

[kelstonlad]

We bought a MG4 for my wife last March. My Focus now spends most of it's time in the garage as we now use the MG4 for most trips. The furthest away being around 250 miles.  It should do that on one charge but my bladder can't. As a result we charge at home (IOG - 7p per KwH and sometimes free) and give it a top up when we stop.

If I can I use Tesla chargers as they are cheaper than the others but not all are available to non Tesla owners. You will need to download a number of Apps. Octopus Electroverse, Telsa, Pod Point and Gridserve should get you going).

When we started we did have range anxiety but not now - my wife had that before the electric and would worry if the  tank dropped below half full. Now she's happy to do a 20 mile trip even if the range guessometer only says there 40 miles in the battery.

Also, it's nice to wake the car up when the weathers cold ten minutes before we need to leave get get straight in to a nice warm car.

My experience is almost identical. My wife bought a Kia Nero in April last year. On the very few occasions that she needs to top up, she normally manages to find a Tesla Supercharger to use - they are faster than most other DC chargers, cheaper, and normally have free stations. It's also funny to see the Tesla drivers look down their noses at a Kia.

We've done almost 11,000 miles, and over 90% of the charging that we have done is on a regular 13 amp plug, overnight on the Octopus cheap rate. This means that we're paying about 2p per mile for fuel!!!!!

Yes, the range is a little lower over winter than in the summer (say 220 miles rather than 240), but overall switching to an EV has been a resounding success. Of course, we're fortunate to have a dedicated garage close to the house, so we don't have to worry about how we charge the car overnight.

- Andy

[Platy767]

In our local (Sydney) news recently was a story about a chap who bought a new EV, lived in a rented apartment and wanted to install a power socket in his car space (connected back through his meter) so he could charge overnight. Sounds simple?

Refused by the strata committee (home owners association?). The risk of fire (and subsequent insurance cost increase) was such that he would have been required to install fancy fire control system at his cost. No go for him because he's only on a 12month lease in the apartment. Probably he should have checked these conditions and requirements before buying an EV.

Not the story I was referring to , but similar and with some more background.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2024-12-17/strata-residents-banning-electric-vehicle-ev-charging/104707754

Mark

[Skyline2uk]

I have (last April) gone from a manual 64 plate Ford Focus Ecoboost to an Automatic Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid.

Won't go into the gizmos and what not (just to say it's like going from The Write Flyer to The Enterprise), but the drive train:

I like the concept. It's a real "Mild" hybrid, if you plug in and charge up full (which the manual says you shouldn't do often!) then you get 39 miles pure electric MAX.

That last part is in lab conditions I suspect becuase I have seen nothing like that, but I can easily go to the supermarket pure EV if I so choose.

I have no means to charge it at home (which is annoying and a huge hole in the Gov push for pure EV), but take the chance to charge when out and about.

Note that you cannot use fast-charging DC stations with this type, only the slower AC ones (like you would have at home).

Most of the time the system is in "intelligent hybrid" mode which switches between the two motors as it deems fit. It has regenerative braking which harvests energy for the battery when you lift off or brake. This is shown on the dash when the "power meter", which is there instead of a rev meter, goes into negative "charge" territory.

Note the lack of a Rev-meter renders the "flappy paddles" and manual mode almost useless...

The car is set up to encourage you to drive "one pedal", lifting off when safe to use minimal fuel. If you put the car in sport mode the regenerative brakes when you lift off is almost savage!

The one thing I would complain about is that the car seems to be designed with the assumption you have home charging and thus use leccy for small journeys. As I can't, I have had multiple times when I get a "low battery (referring to the traditional starter motor battery) car may not start" warning....

Becuase I do short journeys to shops etc and that drains the starter battery when I can't charge the big one for the leccy motor (if that makes sense?).

I do like the car but it's highlighted some more issues with the electric future.

Skyline2uk

[PLD]

I've never understood the hype over your average hybrid.

People I've spoke to say they get 40-50mpg.

My wife's 2018 plate 2.0ltr VW Golf Estate auto knocks out 60+mpg just running around, 70+mpg on a steady run.

Similar feelings here:
My current car is a 2017 Vauxhall Astra mk7 Sport Tourer - 1.4 petrol Turbo 150 bhp.
Official MPG is 47.9 @ 120kph/74mph (I easily get over 50 at 70 mph) and 125 g/km CO2 emissions.

Nearest equivalent performance from the mk8 [ i.e. Peugeot 308 with a Vauxhall badge on it...] is the 147 bhp 1.5 Turbo hybrid.
Official MPG is 46.3 @ 120kph/74mph and 128 g/km CO2 emissions. (Only pure Petrol offered is a 128bhp 1.2 turbo which a claimed to do 49.6 mpg)

So the supposed "Environmentally Friendly" hybrid, needs a bigger IC engine, which by the manufacturer's own figures uses MORE fuel and creates MORE pollution to travel the same distance!! Primarily I suspect due to the fact it's almost 300kg heavier (due to the weight of the batteries?)...
It's also a higher insurance group (27 vs 18) so for me, the increase in insurance cost would be greater than the reduced Road Tax...

[Portpatrick]

We bought our  "next car" last September.  Our 3rd VW Golf.  Replaced our near 9 year old Match (with a lively 1.0 engine) with the latest plug in hybrid.  Alleged range c 80 miles.  More like 55 to 60 in reality.  Still enough for our normal local driving to need 1 or 2 charges a week. No complaints so far!

[Railwaygun]

my Hybrid Jazz does 60mpg, and has 600m range! It has an enormous boot area ( 5 door)  area ( rear seats fold flat) an Honda reliability ( I'm on my 4th jazz!)

so no range anxiety!!

[Roy L S]

I have (last April) gone from a manual 64 plate Ford Focus Ecoboost to an Automatic Audi A3 Plug-in Hybrid.

Won't go into the gizmos and what not (just to say it's like going from The Write Flyer to The Enterprise), but the drive train:

I like the concept. It's a real "Mild" hybrid, if you plug in and charge up full (which the manual says you shouldn't do often!) then you get 39 miles pure electric MAX.

That last part is in lab conditions I suspect becuase I have seen nothing like that, but I can easily go to the supermarket pure EV if I so choose.

I have no means to charge it at home (which is annoying and a huge hole in the Gov push for pure EV), but take the chance to charge when out and about.

Note that you cannot use fast-charging DC stations with this type, only the slower AC ones (like you would have at home).

Most of the time the system is in "intelligent hybrid" mode which switches between the two motors as it deems fit. It has regenerative braking which harvests energy for the battery when you lift off or brake. This is shown on the dash when the "power meter", which is there instead of a rev meter, goes into negative "charge" territory.

Note the lack of a Rev-meter renders the "flappy paddles" and manual mode almost useless...

The car is set up to encourage you to drive "one pedal", lifting off when safe to use minimal fuel. If you put the car in sport mode the regenerative brakes when you lift off is almost savage!

The one thing I would complain about is that the car seems to be designed with the assumption you have home charging and thus use leccy for small journeys. As I can't, I have had multiple times when I get a "low battery (referring to the traditional starter motor battery) car may not start" warning....

Becuase I do short journeys to shops etc and that drains the starter battery when I can't charge the big one for the leccy motor (if that makes sense?).

I do like the car but it's highlighted some more issues with the electric future.

Skyline2uk

I take it your "Mild" description is tongue in cheek in relation to your car's range on battery electric power as from what you describe your car clearly isn't a Mild hybrid in the sense recognised by the motor industry.

I personally think it is horses for courses, what will suit one person won't suit another, my little petrol Ibiza FR does 50 - 55 MPG on a run with sensible driving and have pretty low emissions BUT around town and on short runs that MPG drops considerably whereas Dawn's new MG3 Hybrid, because it runs mostly on electric in town which is much more efficient, still returns well over 50 mpg regardless.

when I do replace my car, my current research would have me leaning towards a self-charging "full" hybrid (as opposed to mild) but technology (especially battery technology) is moving rapidly, and as well as improving range is also showing signs of shifting away from some of the more environmentally harmful substances such as lithium and cobalt, so in two or three years, who knows 

[Platy767]

There seems to be some sort of brand loyalty going on here - no doubt due to the good experiences. Just my limited observation, but is there a reason people replace their (much loved) vehicles so much?

Do you do the same with where you live?

Does it have to do with the best economic, mechanical, gizmos or other time to change?
I can't imagine everyone/anyone is overtly wealthy, 'cause we are all N gauge modellers!

Mark

[PLD]

is there a reason people replace their (much loved) vehicles so much?

Do you do the same with where you live?

the average motor vehicle has a much shorter design life than a house... (Even a Barratt shoe-box...)

[Platy767]

is there a reason people replace their (much loved) vehicles so much?

Do you do the same with where you live?

the average motor vehicle has a much shorter design life than a house... (Even a Barratt shoe-box...)

Quite so, but people dispose of vehicles before they are life expired and move houses before they fall down around them.

[Bealman]

I had a Toyota Celica for 15 years and loved it. The only reason I got rid of it was because the upholstery degraded so badly in the Aussie UV, that I had to drive it standing up

A subsequent Mitsubishi Magna was total crap, so a return to a little Toyota Corolla was deemed to be the right path.

Best car I've ever had.

So the answer to Mark's question is, yes.

[njee20]

I know!

It's modern automatic gearboxes. The Golf has a seven speed 'box & a more fuel efficient engine.
The vehicle it replaced was a 1.6ltr 2014 manual Golf hatchback. It was less fuel efficient.

If it's any consolation I've got a 2.0 litre 2019 Golf with the 7-speed DSG 'box and the long term average is a whopping 32mpg, so it's not just modern gearboxes!

A big appeal for me on hybrid vs EV is that the hybrids at least have retained a semblance of similarity in price to their ICE equivalents, whilst EVs seem to all be £10k+ more, and that buys a lot of petrol. For me I'd go plug-in hybrid, but we do have the ability to charge at home.

[RailGooner]

my Hybrid Jazz does 60mpg, and has 600m range! It has an enormous boot area ( 5 door)  area ( rear seats fold flat) an Honda reliability ( I'm on my 4th jazz!)

so no range anxiety!!

Agreed. Bought a Honda Jazz Advance Sport last year. This Christmas used just 1/2 tank to journey Oxford-Bridgewater-Oxford.

[emjaybee]

I know!

It's modern automatic gearboxes. The Golf has a seven speed 'box & a more fuel efficient engine.
The vehicle it replaced was a 1.6ltr 2014 manual Golf hatchback. It was less fuel efficient.

If it's any consolation I've got a 2.0 litre 2019 Golf with the 7-speed DSG 'box and the long term average is a whopping 32mpg, so it's not just modern gearboxes!

A big appeal for me on hybrid vs EV is that the hybrids at least have retained a semblance of similarity in price to their ICE equivalents, whilst EVs seem to all be £10k+ more, and that buys a lot of petrol. For me I'd go plug-in hybrid, but we do have the ability to charge at home.

Seriously?

My wife's Golf has NEVER done less than 55mpg.

It was only that low because she was driving in 'Sport' mode and hadn't realised.

[njee20]

Yep, but it's a Golf R, so it's 4WD, and has 300bhp! Use of "race" mode will happily see you into the low 20s, no use whatsoever on public roads, mind!