Electric cars.
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Just bought one. Any thoughts before I collect it next week?
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Is there a new model coming out. Or put another way.. Why?
Pull up a chair this may be a long one
Do you know about the Hybrid 12v battery problem if no carry on reading -
The hybrid 12v battery doesn't crank the engine it only powers the 12v circuits so manufacturers tend to fit a very small battery saving cost and weight.
When covid hit and drivers were not allowed to leave the house they found their cars wouldn't start several days later due to them not being used Toyota advised hybrid owners to sit in the car in "READY" mode which allows the engine to start and stop as needed to charge the traction battery which in turn charges the 12v battery unfortunately a lot of owners didn't get this message and ended up with flat batteries the emergency services used jump packs to power the 12v circuit which would then allow the engine to start and start the aforementioned charging process.
Now covid lockdown is a thing of the past some owners are still experiencing he same problem due to them making regular very short journeys or not using the car for several days at a time Toyota have started to fit higher capacity batteries but if you don't do the milage its still going to go flat eventually so if you do not drive often or do short journeys buy something similar to the pack below and keep it in the glove box not to boot as you cannot open the boot if there is no power this will get you up and running should the 12v battery go flat.
Some owners use trickle chargers or solar panels if they are not using the car for several days at a time, i don't think i will have any issues as although i do not drive high mileages i have plenty of opportunities to use READY MODE when SWMBO is in the supermarket shopping which would also get me out of trapesing round the isles so a win win for us hybrid drivers
Don't be put off your purchase these cars are not unreliable they just operate in a different way to an ICE car and if you drive them regularly like most owners you will never have a problem.
There is a very good Yaris Cross forum here if you need more info -
https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/forum/49-yaris-yaris-cross-club/
Halfords booster pack -
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/b...rters/noco-gb20-500a-jump-starter-721880.html
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Much appreciated. I heard of that problem but you have explained it very clearly. CheersPull up a chair this may be a long one
Do you know about the Hybrid 12v battery problem if no carry on reading -
Because a hybrid 12v battery doesn't crank the engine it only powers the 12v circuits manufacturers tend to fit a very small battery saving cost and weight.
When covid hit and drivers were not allowed to leave the house they found their cars wouldn't start several days later due to them not being used Toyota advised hybrid owners to sit in the car in "READY" mode which allows the engine to start and stop as needed to charge the traction battery which in turn charges the 12v battery unfortunately a lot of owners didn't get this message and ended up with flat batteries the emergency services used jump packs to power the 12v circuit which would then allow the engine to start and start the aforementioned charging process.
Now covid lockdown is a thing of the past some owners are still experiencing he same problem due to them making regular very short journeys or not using the car for several days at a time Toyota have started to fit higher capacity batteries but if you don't do the milage its still going to go flat eventually so if you do not drive often or do short journeys buy something similar to the pack below and keep it in the glove box not to boot as you cannot open the boot if there is no power this will get you up and running should the 12v battery go flat.
Some owners use trickle chargers or solar panels if they are not using the car for several days at a time, i don't think i will have any issues as although i do not drive high mileages i have plenty of opportunities to use READY MODE when SWMBO is in the supermarket shopping which would also get me out of trapesing round the isles so a win win for us hybrid drivers
Don't be put off your purchase these cars are not unreliable they just operate in a different way to an ICE car and if you drive them regularly like most owners you will never have a problem.
There is a very good Yaris Cross forum here if you need more info -
https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/forum/49-yaris-yaris-cross-club/
Halfords booster pack -
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/b...rters/noco-gb20-500a-jump-starter-721880.html
View attachment 104475
And thanks for that link
Matt
Which spec did you go for?
I am tempted to go for the selectable all wheel drive at my age it's probably going to be my last car so I may as well have all the bells and whistles.
I am tempted to go for the selectable all wheel drive at my age it's probably going to be my last car so I may as well have all the bells and whistles.
Yes, same here. At 71 probably my last car - and yes - we went for the Dynamic which has selectable 4-wheel drive.
Wanted a sun roof but they are not standard. Went fer a 2 year old 19,000 mile silver grey.
Collect in a week or so.
Nice, I recently chanced to a Yaris I couldn't afford to buy a cross so that will be my next buy when I can afford it.
Don't think i will ever own an EV not that i don't want to i to am 71 own a nissan juke 20 plate 1L turbo which is great 14100 miles on the clock 22 months to go on the pcp and i will just buy it when that is up
I have the specced-up version of it, and it's a very comfortable drive. That's a cracking price.
That's a belting price for a new car, I test drove one before I plumbed for the Tesla and was very impressed with it. Just let down imho by underwhelming performance (I'm a petrol head ) so I was prepared to sacrifice comfort for a bit more powaaaaar
Going back in time a little while to the Luton airport fire and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Services have concluded it was nothing to do with EVs, not even exacerbated by them.
The fire was started by a diesel car, and they specifically call out plastic fuel tanks on ICE cars and a lack of sprinklers as exacerbating the problem.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/364663/electric-cars-not-blame-luton-airport-car-park-fire
The fire was started by a diesel car, and they specifically call out plastic fuel tanks on ICE cars and a lack of sprinklers as exacerbating the problem.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/364663/electric-cars-not-blame-luton-airport-car-park-fire
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Just looking through 77 cars tagged as brand new and electric under £20k at :
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-se...a&price-to=20000&sort=price-asc&year-from=new
Lowest prices per model :
Citroen Ami 5.4kWh - £7,975
Dacia Spring 26.8kWh - £14,135
Nissan Leaf 39kWh - £16,999 (and lots at £19k)
Mazda MX-30 35.5kWh - £17,995
MG ZS 51.1kWh - £18,490 (and lots at £20k)
MG5 61.1kWh - £19,495 (ditto)
MG4 51kWh - £19,944
Vauxhall Corsa-e 50kWh - £19,995
Citroen e-C4 50kWh - £20,000
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-se...a&price-to=20000&sort=price-asc&year-from=new
Lowest prices per model :
Citroen Ami 5.4kWh - £7,975
Dacia Spring 26.8kWh - £14,135
Nissan Leaf 39kWh - £16,999 (and lots at £19k)
Mazda MX-30 35.5kWh - £17,995
MG ZS 51.1kWh - £18,490 (and lots at £20k)
MG5 61.1kWh - £19,495 (ditto)
MG4 51kWh - £19,944
Vauxhall Corsa-e 50kWh - £19,995
Citroen e-C4 50kWh - £20,000
The market has really settled amazing prices for some cars with decent range the MG5 sticks out as great buy practical big boot and decent range, I nearly took a 4 year old one on PCP so glad I didn't now. Just a shame am tied to my current deal but the Kona is working out to be very efficient and actually nice to drive, slowly coming round to this EV malarkey, once I get a better tariff in place, i should finally see some savings.
I will stand by my original thoughts though if you are not fortunate to have a home charging option, the price of public charging needed to be fully investigated to see if any savings.
Also from April 2025 the VED is the same ie no saving for an EV and subject to the expensive car tax supplement of £410 per year if the LIST price is over £40,000, (doesn't matter if you get a great deal its the list price) this applies for 5 years. (yes also applies to ICE) this is on top of the standard £190 VED.
Have to take all this into consideration now.
But in saying that try getting such a good deal on a new ICE or hybrid
This is the thing - I'm now in the market for a car and I'm keen on an EV, but it's difficult to make it stack up at the moment.
I don't do much mileage (5-6k per year), so I won't save a lot compared to an ICE car, but around half of what I do is longer journeys that can be as much as 250 miles, meaning that even with a planned stop I need a longer range model (60kWh battery).
Most of the affordable second hand cars are 50kWh batteries or less meaning my only real options below £20k are the Hyundai Kona and MG4. They both seem nice, but it's not exactly the breadth of choice I'd hoped for.
I kind of feel I'm a couple of years early and there's a high chance I'll end up buying a 3 year old petrol car to bridge things for a few years.
I have a 2020 Kona 64kw it's better than I thought comfy handles ok and quick enough. Charges at 70kw on DC and 10kw on AC. Get a solid 250 and some depends on weather and right foot. The radar cruise is superb on longer journeys even let's you adjust the gap to vehicle in front works very well. Boot not massive but takes 4 adult better than my old focus.
Only downside is traction on wet roads you can light up the front end in the dry it's fine, can see why rwd is the preferred option for EVs
My Skoda Enyaq can get a bit squirrelly in wet and icey conditions, it’s fun though.
All good to know. Everyone I've mentioned this to has praised the electric Kona but said the boot is small. For me the boot is basically a dog carrier so that's fine by me.
The newest model is the one I'd ideally like, but second hand cars of that model haven't had the bulk of their depreciation yet so I'm loathe to buy one yet.
Going to take a look at a 2021/22 facelifted model at the weekend to see what the Mrs thinks.
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