Who has or is planning to get an electric car / EV Talk

[Apple fanboy]

In the US it’s hard to find a decent used car (meaning won’t need work) for under $18K. Average Americans are being priced out of the car market entirely, to say nothing of EV’s.

It's Almost Impossible To Find A Decent Used Car Under $20,000

Sub-$20,000 cars comprise about 12 percent of the market today compared to almost 50 percent in 2019

jalopnik.com

This, in a country that basically requires you to have a car to obtain and keep a job unless you’re in an area with a somewhat functioning mass transit option.

This is true everywhere I’m afraid. Still more people than ever have the work from home option which is a good thing in my opinion. But of course plenty of jobs don’t work that way.

 

[jz0309]

This is true everywhere I’m afraid. Still more people than ever have the work from home option which is a good thing in my opinion. But of course plenty of jobs don’t work that way.

And the wfh model is fading out, here in the US with pretty much all companies now wanting people back in the office at least 3 days per week… so, that requires most people to have a car.
EVs offered are almost all above $40k now, with afaik 2 exceptions: Leaf and Bolt, and Bolt will be discontinued at the end of this year.
Every manufacturer seems to be wanting to milk us and focus on high end EVs (Cadillac Escalade for example), it’s a mess.
And while there are some affordable Chinese EVs, don’t think we’ll see them in the US

 

[NT1440]

And the wfh model is fading out, here in the US with pretty much all companies now wanting people back in the office at least 3 days per week… so, that requires most people to have a car.
EVs offered are almost all above $40k now, with afaik 2 exceptions: Leaf and Bolt, and Bolt will be discontinued at the end of this year.
Every manufacturer seems to be wanting to milk us and focus on high end EVs (Cadillac Escalade for example), it’s a mess.
And while there are some affordable Chinese EVs, don’t think we’ll see them in the US

I’ve said it before in this thread but I still stand by it, EV’s need their VW Beatle “Everyman” car champion.

None of this self driving nonsense, only the mandated safety features, not of these extra bells and whistles. America *desperately* needs that option but the manufacturers are only interested in low volume high profit these days.

If they’ll be allowed into the country, I think the inexpensive (but shockingly nice) Chinese EV market is going to explode here. All while the heads of GM are wondering why their ability to sell cars starting at $40K has dried up. Only the firmly middle class and above can buy a car these days, and that still requires financing.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And the wfh model is fading out, here in the US with pretty much all companies now wanting people back in the office at least 3 days per week… so, that requires most people to have a car.
EVs offered are almost all above $40k now, with afaik 2 exceptions: Leaf and Bolt, and Bolt will be discontinued at the end of this year.
Every manufacturer seems to be wanting to milk us and focus on high end EVs (Cadillac Escalade for example), it’s a mess.
And while there are some affordable Chinese EVs, don’t think we’ll see them in the US

Mixed here. But even being in the office 2-3 days means many families can have one less car.
I think you are probably right about not seeing Chinese cars in the US. Just like most US cars aren’t popular over here (except Tesla of course!).

 

[Apple fanboy]

I’ve said it before in this thread but I still stand by it, EV’s need their VW Beatle “Everyman” car champion.

None of this self driving nonsense, only the mandated safety features, not of these extra bells and whistles. America *desperately* needs that option but the manufacturers are only interested in low volume high profit these days.

If they’ll be allowed into the country, I think the inexpensive (but shockingly nice) Chinese EV market is going to explode here. All while the heads of GM are wondering why their ability to sell cars starting at $40K has dried up. Only the firmly middle class and above can buy a car these days, and that still requires financing.

Not everyone finances. Most yes, but I never have.

 

[jz0309]

Mixed here. But even being in the office 2-3 days means many families can have one less car.
I think you are probably right about not seeing Chinese cars in the US. Just like most US cars aren’t popular over here (except Tesla of course!).

The issue re Chinese EVs is currently purely a political one…

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

In the US it’s hard to find a decent used car (meaning won’t need work) for under $18K. Average Americans are being priced out of the car market entirely, to say nothing of EV’s.

It's Almost Impossible To Find A Decent Used Car Under $20,000

Sub-$20,000 cars comprise about 12 percent of the market today compared to almost 50 percent in 2019

jalopnik.com

This, in a country that basically requires you to have a car to obtain and keep a job unless you’re in an area with a somewhat functioning mass transit option.

That’s pretty much the same here in Europe, all secondhand cars have gone up in price and been held there for the past 2 years or so. We do get it a bit cheaper than mainland Europe as our export market is smaller due to us driving on the left and this reflects in both new and secondhand sale prices. However, they are still high and car buying is down due to we know what.

We have friends and there’s people I work with who would never spend more than £5k on a used car due to financial restraints. No idea what they will do in the coming years? They’ll probably either have to take out substantial loans or lease cars as reliable and consistent public transport is virtually non-existent in much of the country.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Mixed here. But even being in the office 2-3 days means many families can have one less car.
I think you are probably right about not seeing Chinese cars in the US. Just like most US cars aren’t popular over here (except Tesla of course!).

The WFH option is starting to decline here. I had it written into my contract last year on request and am able to as most of my job is done on a laptop. However, there is a campaign amongst many industries to reduce it or pull it completely and I see articles daily through LinkedIn. I couldn’t go down to one car even if I worked from home 3 days a week as my wife and I work an hour apart in terms of travel. The company I work for I am convinced, will be the last company on the planet to make provisions for EV’s or supply salary sacrifice schemes to help employees lol. This is the same company that completely removed an EV charger that was installed in 2019 because they didn’t want anybody using it, despite the ability to lock it. I’ll never understand that logic.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The WFH option is starting to decline here. I had it written into my contract last year on request and am able to as most of my job is done on a laptop. However, there is a campaign amongst many industries to reduce it or pull it completely and I see articles daily through LinkedIn. I couldn’t go down to one car even if I worked from home 3 days a week as my wife and I work an hour apart in terms of travel. The company I work for I am convinced, will be the last company on the planet to make provisions for EV’s or supply salary sacrifice schemes to help employees lol. This is the same company that completely removed an EV charger that was installed in 2019 because they didn’t want anybody using it, despite the ability to lock it. I’ll never understand that logic.

Time to look for another company?
Whenever we interview people for a position, they always ask for the provision of working from home.
We even had one guy who turned us down as he was told he would need to work in the office for his first months training.

As for businesses that don’t provide EV charging points etc, I think they will find it harder to compete in the jobs market. I mean two identical jobs and one has charging in the office (especially if it’s free or subsidised), and one doesn’t, which would you choose?

 

[NT1440]

Time to look for another company?
Whenever we interview people for a position, they always ask for the provision of working from home.
We even had one guy who turned us down as he was told he would need to work in the office for his first months training.

As for businesses that don’t provide EV charging points etc, I think they will find it harder to compete in the jobs market. I mean two identical jobs and one has charging in the office (especially if it’s free or subsidised), and one doesn’t, which would you choose?

Depends on the role, if it’s high enough on the rung you have a choice.

For the rest, companies are clearly trying to tamp down the pesky notion of labor having power over their conditions after we all got a bit too high and mighty during the pandemic. You know, insisting on wages above poverty levels…

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Time to look for another company?
Whenever we interview people for a position, they always ask for the provision of working from home.
We even had one guy who turned us down as he was told he would need to work in the office for his first months training.

It’s a consideration at the moment. We’ve lost people in our place both employed and interviewed due to our Site Director being against WFH despite doing it himself. I’m lucky he’s not my boss as my boss is in the Netherlands where there is a much more relaxed environment within our company. I nearly left last year and he let me write my new role/contract and gave me a £15k pay rise which is why I’m still there for now. The money is good, the culture is abysmal and there’s too many people who interfere and ignore process who are crap at their own jobs. It’s local and when I move I just have to accept i’ll be commuting an hour or so as I live out in the sticks when it comes to industry.

As for businesses that don’t provide EV charging points etc, I think they will find it harder to compete in the jobs market. I mean two identical jobs and one has charging in the office (especially if it’s free or subsidised), and one doesn’t, which would you choose?

I think the company I work for will have to have a couple of dozen people come for interviews and criticise the lack of EV provisions before they take any notice. They’ll only do it if forced and I will hint as much as I can. It’s only a matter of time before myself and other employees start buying EV’s and hopefully by then it becomes mandatory for companies to have facilities on site for charging.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Mixed here. But even being in the office 2-3 days means many families can have one less car.
I think you are probably right about not seeing Chinese cars in the US. Just like most US cars aren’t popular over here (except Tesla of course!).

That's what my wife and I did. My job went 100% remote when Covid hit and it is 100% remote for the foreseeable future. So we got rid of our 2 cars and got 1 EV last year. It ... isn't easy. I miss not having a vehicle. But it's saved us a lot of $.

But yeah, seems like the industry is pulling back from remote work despite the city freeways being crazily congested as ever (I know, I go with my wife to downtown LA now and then).

 

[Apple fanboy]

That's what my wife and I did. My job went 100% remote when Covid hit and it is 100% remote for the foreseeable future. So we got rid of our 2 cars and got 1 EV last year. It ... isn't easy. I miss not having a vehicle. But it's saved us a lot of $.

But yeah, seems like the industry is pulling back from remote work despite the city freeways being crazily congested as ever (I know, I go with my wife to downtown LA now and then).

My wife doesn’t work and the plan was when I got rid of my Golf, we would also get rid of her Kia Picanto. But she changed her mind. She says she’ll drive my i3 when either hers has an expensive issue or mine gets some dents and scratches on it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Just read an interesting article on the BBC news app. A pilot scheme where Durham County Council will cut a channel with a flap for EV owners to run a cable across their pavement to EVs parked on the street.
What a simple and excellent solution for some drivers who can’t currently charge at home.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Just read an interesting article on the BBC news app. A pilot scheme where Durham County Council will cut a channel with a flap for EV owners to run a cable across their pavement to EVs parked on the street.
What a simple and excellent solution for some drivers who can’t currently charge at home.

That is interesting. We had an article on Welsh news a while back where a street had a couple of EV owners and they had yellow rubber ramped covers over cables that were going across the pavement. The council still felt it was a hazard and discussion is taking place as to what can be done for the future. I think people will end up having to pay the councils to modify pavements in the long term. A significant proportion on the houses in the South wales valleys look like this:

So glad I have a driveway, but this above is yet another hurdle I think for mass adoption in the UK.

 

[960design]

EVs offered are almost all above $40k now, with afaik 2 exceptions: Leaf and Bolt, and Bolt will be discontinued at the end of this year.

I think you can get Model3s for $32k in the US ( with the current $7500 tax credit ).

 

[jz0309]

So glad I have a driveway, but this above is yet another hurdle I think for mass adoption in the UK.

Very true, and here in the US all those whol live in apartment/condos face the same issue, still a lot of work needs to be done

 

[jz0309]

I think you can get Model3s for $32k in the US ( with the current $7500 tax credit ).

Incentives are there, yes, your number is a bit off as you still have to pay taxes/license fees on that $40k and then you have to qualify for the fed tax credit…

 

[4sallypat]

In the US it’s hard to find a decent used car (meaning won’t need work) for under $18K. Average Americans are being priced out of the car market entirely, to say nothing of EV’s.
.......

If you are in the US, the IRA IRC 25 tax credit is available for used PHEV / EV as long as the sale price is under $25K.

If you are in the US, try looking at used Honda Clarity PHEV, Bolt EV, Leaf, Prius, etc...

$4000 tax credit makes the used PHEV / EV a pretty good buy.

 

[NT1440]

If you are in the US, the IRA IRC 25 tax credit is available for used PHEV / EV as long as the sale price is under $25K.

If you are in the US, try looking at used Honda Clarity PHEV, Bolt EV, Leaf, Prius, etc...

$4000 tax credit makes the used PHEV / EV a pretty good buy.

I have a 2005 Volvo XC70 that I maintain. I made the deliberate decision in 2018 to get a car that I knew would last forever if I worked on it.

Using that car I learned how to work on cars and now keep my friend’s cars safely on the road (brakes, tires, endlinks, axles, whatever it needs to stay reliable).

Because if this I know very few people who need a car right now, and I’m extremely glad because none of the people’s cars I keep functioning can afford to replace them. Credits keep the comfortable middle class comfortable, they do nothing for people that will never be able to afford a new (or even gently used) car. ALL cars in the US are just far and away too expensive, in a society completely designed around cars no less!

Volvo is hitting 180,000 this week during my vacation. Having rebuilt the head entirely for a burnt valve she’s got another 100,000 easy (more if I get around to rebuilding the spare transmission I have in the garage).

My plan is to wait until electric crate motors and batteries are far enough along that I can convert it to an electric farm truck in 10 years time or so…

 

[BigMcGuire]

I have a 2005 Volvo XC70 that I maintain. I made the deliberate decision in 2018 to get a car that I knew would last forever if I worked on it.

Using that car I learned how to work on cars and now keep my friend’s cars safely on the road (brakes, tires, endlinks, axles, whatever it needs to stay reliable).

Because if this I know very few people who need a car right now, and I’m extremely glad because none of the people’s cars I keep functioning can afford to replace them. Credits keep the comfortable middle class comfortable, they do nothing for people that will never be able to afford a new (or even gently used) car. ALL cars in the US are just far and away too expensive, in a society completely designed around cars no less!

Volvo is hitting 180,000 this week during my vacation. Having rebuilt the head entirely for a burnt valve she’s got another 100,000 easy (more if I get around to rebuilding the spare transmission I have in the garage).

My plan is to wait until electric crate motors and batteries are far enough along that I can convert it to an electric farm truck in 10 years time or so…

Selling our 2 2018 civics back in 2022 may not have been that smart - especially since they were almost completely paid off. Yes, we got 2 checks (in 2022) for 80%+ of what we paid for them, but ... I don't think I could afford a new car right now even if I wanted to lol. Just insane what they want for even a Civic today - I had 1.5% interest loans on our civics back in 2018 with 0% down. Now days it looks like it's almost impossible to get under 6-8% and $5k+ down.

I don't know how people afford cars today.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The trouble with cars is
Buy new you get hit by the insane costs and take the biggest hit on depreciation.
Buy an older car and get hit with the running costs. Yes you can be lucky with an older car, but not every time.

That’s true no matter what the power unit. However there is a lot less to go wrong on a EV, so I’m hoping to keep mine for longer than I keep my ICE cars for. Typically I keep a car at least 5 years.

Time will tell.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I have a 2005 Volvo XC70 that I maintain. I made the deliberate decision in 2018 to get a car that I knew would last forever if I worked on it.

Using that car I learned how to work on cars and now keep my friend’s cars safely on the road (brakes, tires, endlinks, axles, whatever it needs to stay reliable).

Because if this I know very few people who need a car right now, and I’m extremely glad because none of the people’s cars I keep functioning can afford to replace them. Credits keep the comfortable middle class comfortable, they do nothing for people that will never be able to afford a new (or even gently used) car. ALL cars in the US are just far and away too expensive, in a society completely designed around cars no less!

Volvo is hitting 180,000 this week during my vacation. Having rebuilt the head entirely for a burnt valve she’s got another 100,000 easy (more if I get around to rebuilding the spare transmission I have in the garage).

My plan is to wait until electric crate motors and batteries are far enough along that I can convert it to an electric farm truck in 10 years time or so…

I follow a YouTuber who is a used car dealer and he bought a 2004 XC70 that had done close to 350k miles and needed very little maintenance. He drove it across Europe for a video and it never missed a beat. It’s probably one of the best cars ever made and I considered one myself about 10 years ago. I’d probably still have it now if I had. My Audi A4 was cheap because I bought it off a relative and I’d struggle to find another immaculate one with such low mileage for a 2015 model. I’ll be using it for as long as possible and don’t see myself adding another EV to our drive in the next 5 years at least.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I follow a YouTuber who is a used car dealer and he bought a 2004 XC70 that had done close to 350k miles and needed very little maintenance. He drove it across Europe for a video and it never missed a beat. It’s probably one of the best cars ever made and I considered one myself about 10 years ago. I’d probably still have it now if I had. My Audi A4 was cheap because I bought it off a relative and I’d struggle to find another immaculate one with such low mileage for a 2015 model. I’ll be using it for as long as possible and don’t see myself adding another EV to our drive in the next 5 years at least.

My wife and I have two trucks (2001 Silverado, and 2013 Toyota Tundra), 2010 Toyota RAV4 V6, and a 2012 Toyota Corolla. The last new of these vehicles "purchased new" is the RAV4. The Corolla and the Silverado were used when we bought them, and the Tundra we inherited from our oldest so who passed away in March this year. We have other ICE vehicles too (side-by-side UTV, and an ATV, jet boat).

1. Silverado: purchased used and paid $5,000 perhaps 7 years ago. The odometer showed 184,000 miles back then, and around 217,000 now. The only major maintenance performed not too long after I purchased it was a power steering pump hose, and a water pump. If I well remember it costs around $500.00 for the work. During the winter months when taking photos of the Auroras while the ambient temperatures are below cero (-10 to perhaps -20 degrees F.) I keep the engine idling for several hours at a time to keep the cab warm.

2. RAV4 V6: the odometer shows nearly 79,000 miles. So far the only major maintenance was a "brake job" done by a local mechanic. New rotors and pads for a cost of $1,100 for parts and labor, and warranted for 2-years/24,000 miles. But the way my wife drives it the new brakes should last over 15 years

3. Corolla: The odometer shows around 65,000 miles (maybe 66,000). The only maintenance required was the replacement of the oil pressure sending unit, a $35.00 part purchased at the local NAPA store. I friend of mine replaced in about 5 minutes, since the sending unit is right buy the top edge of the block (easy access).

5. Tundra: I don't expect any major maintenance, but since my son loved driving this truck (5.7L engine), I plan to take it to a Toyota shop to perform any checks and maintenance it may need, including checking/replacing the timing chain, and so on. My son towed his 4,500-pound (dry) travel trailer, and the reason why the big engine . My wife and I want to keep it, even if we don't drive it very much.

The "ICE vehicle moving parts requiring a lot more maintenance than EV's" makes no difference to my wife and I. Major maintenance, if any, is done by the mechanic, and light maintenance (wiper blades, oil/filter, engine air filter, cabin air filter, etc.) is done by "mí".

 

[pacmania1982]

I've ordered a Jeep Avenger EV through a salary sacrifice scheme at work. It's due mid October:

It'll be my first ever brand new car and I'm excited about learning all the EV side of things.