[tv trailer] Top Gear - Series 27

[Joanne]

Watched the first episode last night... like having a bit of team Lancashire on the telly innit!

[Theblacksheep]

This part actually made me think though; there will be no market for 2nd had electric cars (with the current generation) if the batteries only give a useable range for 5 years or so, your only realistic option would be to trade in or more expense (and carbon footprint) of new batteries. Who really can afford to buy a new expensive car with no return at the end? Not me or anyone I know that's for sure.

 

The residuals on second-hand electrics are currently very strong (depending on the car), some of the early models have appreciated in the last few years (30kwh leafs).

 

It really depends on what you define as usable too, the early 24kwh leaf had an EPA range of 73 miles, with a 70% guarantee for 8 years and 100k, leaving it with 50 miles at best by now. Most people just drive across town and pop to the shops, these same people are driving around in a big 4x4 when a 30-mile daily car EV would be fine for that purpose. People need to treat it like a phone and charge every day, rather than full-empty runs in an ICE. The amount of large cars we have now that do 5 miles on school runs is ridiculous.

 

The secondhand batteries are in big demand, not only for conversions, DIY home power backups and reused in powerwalls from manufactures. The biggest issue with battery cars now is battery supply. The companies that own the supply chain run the industry. So many manufacturers are behind the curve that they can make as many cars as they want, but can't buy the batteries. It's why you have 18-month waiting lists on Kona, why the Audi is only making 30k cars.

 

A Tesla Model S battery has the same guarantees, scrap-wise the used battery packs sell for 10k alone. Motors 7k each, you cant buy a complete one for less than £30k now and one has done 400k! So residuals are surprisingly good, whereas the 4x4 diesel SUV that you won't be able to drive within 50 miles of a city will have a very questionable residual value.

Edited June 25, 2019 by Theblacksheep

[jthompson]

I can see electric mopeds/motorbikes becoming wildly popular. Am I right in thinking that they're not yet legal on the roads in this country?

[Theblacksheep]

I can see electric mopeds/motorbikes becoming wildly popular. Am I right in thinking that they're not yet legal on the roads in this country?

 

Electric mopeds and motorbikes are legal. Not many companies mass produce them yet, lots of the big boys (inc Harley) are working on them.

 

eScooters are illegal.

[samjohnson]

yes scooter and moped are legal. But you must make sure you have scooter insurance.