How green is switching to an electric car?

[Coolcats]

This is about a Radio program on BBC Radio 4 you may be interested about how long it would take to get the benefit of purchasing a new vehicle. The test carried out was on a Corsa and E-Corsa. if you don't want to listen to the whole program jump in around 18 mins in to the broadcast makes interesting listening.

"In the first of a new series of Sliced Bread - Greg and the team look behind the promises and claims of changing to an electric vehicle. We ask - how many miles do you have to do in an electric car to offset the extra cost of buying one? What are those extra costs...how much is it to put an electric vehicle on the road....and is it better than running your old fossil-fuelled banger into the ground? We'll try to establish the break-even point of sticking with what you've got or making the change. We test one of the most popular electric cars in the UK - and hear from experts such as Mike Berners-Lee on the pros and cons of trying to go green."

 

[jwells]

Very interesting too! Won't be getting rid of my little diesel Skoda anytime soon!

 

[VXman]

I think my 20 year old VX220 and my 12 year old RS Megane are much greener despite being high performance petrol cars if you consider the costs of producing a new car from scratch, pollution from mining battery materials and future disposal of dead batteries. Sadly the government don't think so looking at how much they charge me for VED!

 

[haganap]

Not listened, but I heard a similar program which suggested 77000 miles need to be covered to cover the cost of making and disposing and everything in between.

put me off a Tesla, I keep floating the idea, but it seems pointless

 

[jockaneezer]

I heard bits of it while I was out and about today, the bits I picked up based on the average UK mileage was your have to own it for 11 years to end up on a par with the petrol model ?

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[dash300]

Whilst we are playing green Top Trumps I will offer my 1963 Landrover S2A into the game as well!

 

[RandallC]

HHHmmmmm,

Had more than a few issues with my VW golf diesel gt and traded for a hybrid jeep. Yes I know not much call for off road capability!

BUT

can now drive down any uk road without fear (within reason) of sustaining damage due to potholes! Yes the ride is a bit firm, No Don't need 4x4 most of the time.

Electric hadn't the range at time of purchase to reach far flung children without recharging and buying just out of lockdown the discount was, amazing.

However can happily leave home go to several local towns (some have Tesco that offer free charging stations) so can do most local shopping trips without burning any petrol.

Works well for non motorway journeys, wouldn't recommend a Hybrid for long distance motorway commutes.

 

[RandallC]

Whilst we are playing green Top Trumps I will offer my 1963 Landrover S2A into the game as well!

aaaahh the smell of unburnt fuel in the air!

as it passes by

 

[Marty Gilly and Pup]

Of course we must factor in that oil is a finite resource and will end one day. I suppose lithium in turn too. I don’t think we need to worry about that ourselves though…..

 

[autorouter]

Of course we must factor in that oil is a finite resource and will end one day. I suppose lithium in turn too. I don’t think we need to worry about that ourselves though…..

Absolutely. I mean, what have the future generations ever done for us?

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[Orion]

Absolutely. I mean, what have the future generations ever done for us?

As they say: Madness is hereditary - you get it from your kids!

 

[dash300]

aaaahh the smell of unburnt fuel in the air!

as it passes by

Unleaded Petrol so no nasty diesel particulates. How green am I !

 

[joe and sue]

Unleaded Petrol so no nasty diesel particulates. How green am I !

obviously not old enough to remember in the 90's when we were all conned into believing that Petrol was evil and that Diesel was much cleaner ? cheaper / safer, Well at least it was until well over 50% had converted, then prices overtook petrol, and it was the evil one, and everyone being conned into the next technology, Electric.
Wonder what will be next !!!

 

[82125]

all EV's are very green, (unless you choose one in blue, red e.t.c.)

 

[Langtoftlad]

Ah yes - EV's are green, pollution free and good for the planet & it's population...

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[TOT]

Until the likes of China and the US move to EV's big time, the saving in UK on CO2 is a drop in the ocean.

 

[63720]

This is about a Radio program on BBC Radio 4 you may be interested about how long it would take to get the benefit of purchasing a new vehicle. The test carried out was on a Corsa and E-Corsa. if you don't want to listen to the whole program jump in around 18 mins in to the broadcast makes interesting listening.

"In the first of a new series of Sliced Bread - Greg and the team look behind the promises and claims of changing to an electric vehicle. We ask - how many miles do you have to do in an electric car to offset the extra cost of buying one? What are those extra costs...how much is it to put an electric vehicle on the road....and is it better than running your old fossil-fuelled banger into the ground? We'll try to establish the break-even point of sticking with what you've got or making the change. We test one of the most popular electric cars in the UK - and hear from experts such as Mike Berners-Lee on the pros and cons of trying to go green."

To save me downloading the app what was the conclusion please?

 

[Tombola]

Ah yes - EV's are green, pollution free and good for the planet & it's population...

you dont have a phone or pc or many other lithium cobalt powered appliances then. Never get on a plane do you or use power.
the very PC you are using uses the same stuff you are talking about
people in glass houses spring to mind.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Years ago it was said the most environmentally friendly vehicle is the one you've got. But that's not very good for the economy so we should all landfill our liquid burners and buy electric

 

[Jamesh]

you dont have a phone or pc or many other lithium cobalt powered appliances then. Never get on a plane do you or use power.
the very PC you are using uses the same stuff you are talking about
people in glass houses spring to mind.

My phone is what 3.7v / 3ah?

A car 100x the size???

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[Coolcats]

To save me downloading the app what was the conclusion please?

Basically for the Corsa E if you buy new (not exchanging a vehicle) it takes about 11 years to break even and with current energy pricing the difference is between 7p per mile for electric and 17p for petrol, they did talk about other scenarios such as selling your existing car or leasing but in each case its x years before you break even

 

[Coolcats]

Years ago it was said the most environmentally friendly vehicle is the one you've got. But that's not very good for the economy so we should all landfill our liquid burners and buy electric

it was suggested in the broadcast keep the one you have

 

[cmcardle75]

Basically for the Corsa E if you buy new (not exchanging a vehicle) it takes about 11 years to break even and with current energy pricing the difference is between 7p per mile for electric and 17p for petrol, they did talk about other scenarios such as selling your existing car or leasing but in each case its x years before you break even

I didn't read it. However, clearly you break even immediately when leasing, so it is hard to see what they're talking about.

You get the benefit immediately, as most of the costs are combined into a single monthly payment, which is higher than the ICE leasing cost by less than the monthly cost of the fuel.

 

[LesW]

it was suggested in the broadcast keep the one you have

This has always been the case..

 

[Guigsy]

obviously not old enough to remember in the 90's when we were all conned into believing that Petrol was evil and that Diesel was much cleaner ? cheaper / safer, Well at least it was until well over 50% had converted, then prices overtook petrol, and it was the evil one, and everyone being conned into the next technology, Electric.
Wonder what will be next !!!

No. Diesel is much greener. It creates far less CO2. So diesel is still better than petrol for climate change. The issue is it also creates pollutants that affect local air quality.

Local air pollution and greenhouse gases are two different things.

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[Coolcats]

I didn't read it. However, clearly you break even immediately when leasing, so it is hard to see what they're talking about.

You get the benefit immediately, as most of the costs are combined into a single monthly payment, which is higher than the ICE leasing cost by less than the monthly cost of the fuel.

Erm no you don't, listen to the broadcast and you will find out why, (they have done the numbers so its not my opinion ).

 

[cmcardle75]

Erm no you don't, listen to the broadcast and you will find out why, (they have done the numbers so its not my opinion ).

I haven't got time to watch videos. If you'd like to explain why £305 per month lease + £20 per month electricity doesn't immediately cost less than £245 per month lease + £150 per month petrol, then let me know. These figures are based on actual lease prices I was offered on the EV and ICE (actually 48V mild hybrid) versions of the same car. Even if you had to shell out an extra £180 in deposit (assuming 3+35 months), you'd "break even" in under 3 months, or if you keep the deposit the same total, you could increase the monthly payment by about £5 and get payback immediately. It doesn't even take into account the much cheaper BEV servicing, which was not included in the lease quotes. I'm even quoting electricity at a higher rate than I pay, as I got locked into a lower rate than is currently available.

 

[Coolcats]

I haven't got time to watch videos. If you'd like to explain why £305 per month lease + £20 per month electricity doesn't immediately cost less than £245 per month lease + £150 per month petrol, then let me know. These figures are based on actual lease prices I was offered on the EV and ICE (actually 48V mild hybrid) versions of the same car. Even if you had to shell out an extra £180 in deposit (assuming 3+35 months), you'd "break even" in under 3 months, or if you keep the deposit the same total, you could increase the monthly payment by about £5 and get payback immediately. It doesn't even take into account the much cheaper BEV servicing, which was not included in the lease quotes. I'm even quoting electricity at a higher rate than I pay, as I got locked into a lower rate than is currently available.

Its not a Video its a audio stream and the context would be revealed, your spending £305 per month which in anyones books is a cost and not a saving (last time I checked my bank account that was the case) Electric has increased and petrol has come down.

The question is

"how many miles do you have to do in an electric car to offset the extra cost of buying one? What are those extra costs...how much is it to put an electric vehicle on the road....and is it better than running your old fossil-fuelled banger into the ground?"

e

 

[Tombola]

My phone is what 3.7v / 3ah?

A car 100x the size???

Try 1000 the size and youll get closer

and your point is ?

size matters we all know thats true....

we could go on forever, if you are going to throw stones be white .
So because your phone is small, then no kids were involved?
I just dont understand your reasoning, and by the looks of it, neither do you

 

[cmcardle75]

Its not a Video its a audio stream and the context would be revealed, your spending £305 per month which in anyones books is a cost and not a saving (last time I checked my bank account that was the case) Electric has increased and petrol has come down.

The question is

"how many miles do you have to do in an electric car to offset the extra cost of buying one? What are those extra costs...how much is it to put an electric vehicle on the road....and is it better than running your old fossil-fuelled banger into the ground?"

e

Oh, I thought you meant that leasing a new EV would take years to beat leasing a new ICE car.

What you mean is that leasing a brand new EV car costs more than keeping an old banger you already own. Who would have thought?

Although even there, with sufficient mileage the new lease may actually be cheaper. Bangernomics relies to some extent on luck. High maintenance costs and frequent wholesale replacements are just as likely as picking that golden car that keeps on going.

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