Saving over R700 on a trip from Pretoria to the Free State in an electric car

Thank you.

Going through that list there are not that many specs that are excluded from the base line of one vs the ultimate of the other. It's not like one is the most bare bones of VW Polo Vivo.
True, but many from what I have seen are optional on the XC while being Standard on the EX. Ultimately I guess it is to each their own. For me what powers a vehicle is not even a factor when deciding what to buy.
 
0 hours, the previous article explains how we planned the trip:

During the first fast DC charging session of around an hour we had breakfast, the most important meal of the day, at Wimpy. Also got to use my FNB eBucks benefit so free burger and chips.

The second time we were at the DC charger for about 20 minutes because that is all we needed to get home. Got coffee and chatted with an E-tron owner, lekker times. Could also have watched some YouTube and Prime Video on the screen but didn't have to bother.

All of the AC charging time was done either overnight at home or while we were exploring Clarens, one of the primary goals of our trip, where we also shopped and had lunch. Bear in mind we could have spent probably half an hour less there and would still have charged up to 100%.
He should have asked how many hours was spent waiting for the car charge.
 
Imagine you connect and go for lunch or visit the mall for 2 hours like the article mentions, and you come back to see some guy disconnected you because he was in a rush to get home lol

Nee dankie, petrol or diesel for me. Imagine trying to squeeze your charge to get to Harrismith or something on the way to Durbs and they're burning tyres so you have to take a 50km detour through a town that's not seen an EV before lol. Too much stress.
Cannot do that. The charging cable locks with your vehicle and only unlocks once the target charge level is reached.

Also, there are 7 fast charging stations on that route, one every 82km. Detours will not be an issue unless you skip several stations.

 
True, but many from what I have seen are optional on the XC while being Standard on the EX. Ultimately I guess it is to each their own. For me what powers a vehicle is not even a factor when deciding what to buy.
Another problem with EVs, everyone includes optional extras as standard just because it's "newer" tech instead of allowing choice.
 
Well lets also factor in the cost of the hours of charging.
The cost of the base X30 electric is R775,900 (without the BS fees).

Over 72 months with a 10% deposit, no balloon and 13% interest you will be paying R14k pm.
To afford that I would say you need to earn 3x that amount NETT. So R45kpm after tax.
Average person works 20 days a month, 8 hours a day, which means each hour is worth R281.25.
And this is what's killing EVs for those that can afford them. You lose more with the time waiting to charge than you would save on petrol.
 
All those hours were overnight, when your petrol car would have not been in use anyway. I struggle to fathom why so many people don't understand this concept.
21 hours is not overnight.
That's plug the car into charge at 5pm, and only setting off at 2pm the next day. I am at Bloem before you've even left if I am doing it in a petrol car and leaving at 9am.
 
Another problem with EVs, everyone includes optional extras as standard just because it's "newer" tech instead of allowing choice.
This is a standard practice across ALL vehicles, not just EV's. The Essential Spec is entry level with options, with Ultimate Spec being the top of the range with many options as standard. You can always buy an entry level EV with less standard equipment and more options.
Audi, BMW, Merc, VW, Toyota, etc. all do it across all their models for decades. Nothing new.

Here is a more realistic comparison: XC40 Essential vs EX30 Core
 
True, but many from what I have seen are optional on the XC while being Standard on the EX. Ultimately I guess it is to each their own. For me what powers a vehicle is not even a factor when deciding what to buy.

The issue is that one must take in consideration things like purchase cost vs these supposed savings the headline refers to.

How hampered must that entry level EX (in driving range and such) :eek:
 
21 hours is not overnight.
That's plug the car into charge at 5pm, and only setting off at 2pm the next day. I am at Bloem before you've even left if I am doing it in a petrol car and leaving at 9am.
It was charged with AC on more than one night...After the first night, I went to work as normal and returned and plugged in again for another night.

The energy and time consumed charging for the one day's work commute was deducted as it did not form part of the road trip. Not difficult to do.

You charge an EV like a smartphone, plug it in when you can.
 
21 hours is not overnight.
That's plug the car into charge at 5pm, and only setting off at 2pm the next day. I am at Bloem before you've even left if I am doing it in a petrol car and leaving at 9am.
Obviously not one evening.
 
The issue is that one must take in consideration things like purchase cost vs these supposed savings the headline refers to.

How hampered must that entry level EX (in driving range and such) :eek:
This is a link that compares the 2 entry level models: XC40 Essential vs EX30 Core
I think they stack up pretty close to one another.

In terms of Range, at 344km the average daily commute of 44km should not be a problem for the vast majority of car owners.
Long distance might be a little bit of an issue that requires planning. But if the experts are to be believed (and I do from personal experience), in order to be a safe driver you need to stop every 200km or 2 hours for a refresher break. In that refresher break you can easily charge from 30/40% back up 80% or so in 30 minutes. So on a long drive between say Cape Town and JHB, it might take you 3 hours longer in an EV.
 
This is a standard practice across ALL vehicles, not just EV's. The Essential Spec is entry level with options, with Ultimate Spec being the top of the range with many options as standard. You can always buy an entry level EV with less standard equipment and more options.
Audi, BMW, Merc, VW, Toyota, etc. all do it across all their models for decades. Nothing new.

Here is a more realistic comparison: XC40 Essential vs EX30 Core
Not what I'm talking about. I can go for an entry level VW with a radio or a top of the range BMW with assisted parking and touchscreen. With EVs though the mentality is that because it's new tech (it's actually existed for over 60 years though) it must include all the bells and whistles. Yeah I know there are cheaper options but they also skimp on things like range. Just give me the option of having 400km range without also thinking I want self driving and telemetry with it.
 
Not what I'm talking about. I can go for an entry level VW with a radio or a top of the range BMW with assisted parking and touchscreen. With EVs though the mentality is that because it's new tech (it's actually existed for over 60 years though) it must include all the bells and whistles. Yeah I know there are cheaper options but they also skimp on things like range. Just give me the option of having 400km range without also thinking I want self driving and telemetry with it.
A ok, so you have an issue with the way the car is packaged and not that it is an EV per say. Well, I have a list as long as a roll of toilet paper of issues I have with various cars and how they are packaged for sale.

Unfortunately, this is common practice across all manufacturers, and not just cars. Pretty much all products work like that.
When new cars or car types are launched, car companies tend to target the affluent market first as they are the most likely to be early adopters, hence the Bells and Whistles. Once economies of scale start kicking in and unit prices start to drop of the various components and most importantly the batteries, the bargain box EV's will come as well.
 
Exactly my same question
Then the next step is comparing the savings and how many km to drive to break even on car costs.
Purchase, service, battery replacement, insurance. Would time value of money be too much to ask as well?

I have a aqua hybrid. Biggest problem is theft (in NZ)
 
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