To Buy Or Not To Buy That Is The Question

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EV2Go
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Post by EV2Go »

Recently my partner had her 2012 Toyota Corolla totaled while she slept in bed (guy was looking in the rear vision mirror and bang is that a stationary car I just hit?). The insurance has been sorted and I raised the question what about an EV?

I never really saw myself as an off the shelf EV sort of person, so I was just wondering since we are up for a newish car, is this the time to maybe jump into the EV production car pool?

What would we buy, and what would I expect to pay for it? Do the economics stack up, or do you buy electric because you just want to drive electric?

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Post by mikedufty »

I'm really happy with a second hand i-MiEV at around $15,000. Still not really cheaper than a petrol car, but way nicer and in the same ball park. Couldn't see myself paying $45,000 list price, and I don't think many (any?) were sold for that.

I think all the production EVs are pretty good. Price is the big thing holding them back. The PHEV outlander seems pretty competitive on price to comparable vehicles.

There seems to be good things coming in the next couple of years like Tesla model 3, next generation leaf, more PHEVs, Chinese EVs, but not sure how much will make it to Australia. I think they will get better and cheaper, so having a 2nd hand cheap one for the moment seems good.
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EV2Go
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Post by EV2Go »

Thanks, doesn't need to be cheaper comparable is just fine. So would the I-MiEV be the pick of the EV bunch?
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Post by mikedufty »

The i-miEV is probably the least attractive, but it is the cheapest and most available. It was originally only supplied as a 3 year lease, and all the leased ones came on the market 2nd (or "demo") in the last couple of years. The later models also got cleared out at half RRP after noone bought any for years.
It is only a 4 seater, and only has about 100km range and looks weird, but makes a great city (second) car.

I haven't driven a leaf, but they seem to have some advantage in that they have 5 seats and can be fitted with a tow bar and are more normal looking.

The Teslas seem great if you have the money.
BMW i3 seems to be good, but also not in the same price category as a corolla.

I think that is all the pure EVs available. A bit more choice in plug in hybrids, which would probably be better if you only have one car, the outlander PHEV does around 45km electric only, which means for a lot of the time it is effectively an EV unless going out of the city. Costs about the same as the luxury diesel model of the same car, and a few cheap used ones starting to become available.
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Post by EV2Go »

Did a bit of searching where do you find an I-miEV for $15k everything I am seeing is dearer?
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Post by mikedufty »

There was one posted on this forum for $13,500 a few weeks ago.

viewtopic.php?title=fs-2010-mitsubishi-imiev&t=4893

There were a lot available last year from dealers, but I think all sold now.
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Post by 4Springs »

The Leafs are pretty good right now, you might get a new one for a bit over $30,000.
The economics probably do stack up if you do a lot of kms. But the numbers will vary a lot based on your local electricity prices and fuel prices.
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Post by EV2Go »

Ok well I just showed the better half reecho's I-miEV and she said it was too small and she doesn't want a straight electric for emergency reasons... So looking at hybrids, would the Prius be the car of choice?
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Post by 4Springs »

Toyota Prius (I think there are a couple of different models?)
Audi e-tron
Mitsubishi Outlander
BMW i3 (with the petrol range extender option)

Any I've missed?

So there are a few choices. Depends on what you need and how much you have to spend. Toyota doesn't do any plug-in version but all the others are. BMW has the biggest battery.
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Post by EV2Go »

I think the Prius would be closest to the budget she wants to spend, and you can get some older models cheaper. How much would a battery pack be if you picked up say a 10 year old model needing new batteries?

Maybe could put a bigger pack in and convert it to plug in at the same time?
Last edited by EV2Go on Thu, 31 Mar 2016, 18:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by antiscab »

EV2Go wrote:How much would a battery pack be if you picked up say a 10 year old model needing new batteries?

Maybe could put a bigger pack in and convert it to plug in at the same time?


not a good plan IMO - at least not for a non project car

a piggy back battery can be reliable, but full replacement is a whole different level of hard
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Post by mikedufty »

4Springs wrote:
Any I've missed?

you forgot the Holden Volt
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Post by TooQik »

Don't forget the Toyota Camry Hybrid variants either.
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Post by EV2Go »

Thanks guys for all the input, still in the thinking stage, but all your help has been great.
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Post by mikedufty »

May be worth noting that a lot of currently happy i-MiEV owners initially Thought it was too small and ugly and not enough range.
The size is quite acceptable for a family of 4, how often do you carry 5 people?
How often do you drive more than 50km in a day?
I do think it is too limited if it is the only car in the household though.
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Post by EV2Go »

I have both a manual Ute and a bike, but we do drive to Toowoomba (~120klms) to see mum, and the last bit of the journey is up the range, so it really wouldn't be all that optimal with that range. For around Brisbane it would probably be ok.
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Post by T1 Terry »

Are there still any ex Brisbane Taxi Prius available? I bought a beat up 2008 unit for $1950, 700,000km on the clock but the battery was new/second hand 10,000km ago. I'll be driving it to our new home/workshop in Mannum SA from Lake Illawarra NSW on the week end, unbelievable as far as reliability goes, the taxi owner says he has replaced tyres, the little 12v battery and the main battery pack in that 700,000km, hard to beat that.

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Post by mikedufty »

EV2Go wrote: drive to Toowoomba (~120klms)

The 2010 i-MiEVs would not be suitable for that. Range is about 100km at best. More like 80 at highway speed so you probably wouldn't even make it to the ranges. But if you could use the ute for those trips it would be fine.
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