EV general discussion

[Shadowness]

But I'm posting about my specific situation, so whatever else does or doesn't exist isn't relevant for me. My next vehicle is highly likely to be a van, and therefore, the increases in EV running costs are making it less and less likely for that to be an EV.

Which makes sense now, but this was the first time you mentioned a van, unless I'm mistaken. So we're not comparing apples with apples.

 

[Journey]

What is a 5-seater van, is that like a van with two in the front and three in the back and then van space behind the three seats, like a Mercedes V-class but bigger?

 

[Haggisman]

Which makes sense now, but this was the first time you mentioned a van, unless I'm mistaken. So we're not comparing apples with apples.

Yeah, that's fair, I have mentioned it a couple of times in the thread before, but obviously can't expect people to keep up with all 43k posts

What is a 5-seater van, is that like a van with two in the front and three in the back and then van space behind the three seats, like a Mercedes V-class but bigger?

Yes, i.e. a PV5 or ID.Buzz. ICE versions I've been looking at include something like an i800, vito dualiner, vivaro life, the various VW transporter derivatives (I can always pull the extra seats out if they have more than 5), or even something a bit different like an Alphard or Elgrand (although they're a bit thirsty!).

Unfortunately the 50kwh versions of the various Stellantis models don't have the range, or they'd do the job.

The spreadsheet I've thrown together suggests that maybe something cheap & cheerful like a 20kw Zoe or leaf for day to day use, coupled with an ICE van might even be the best option, despite having to pay double VED & insurance

 

[robj20]

I would love for you to post a link for a 5 seater van which will do ~150+ miles on the motorway in winter for £8-10k, because so far I've failed to find one!

Granted an old ICE van is going to need repairs, but again, £20k pays for a lot of repairs.

Yeah my maths isn't working out in favour of an EV as much as I want one.
The £200 alone is £165 more than I pay now that's about 2 months worth of fuel.
Add in the extra £360 that's another 3 months of fuel.
So is an EV going to save enough over 7 months. I can't rely on works free charging all the time.
While you can get cheap EVs they are generally not the same class as the ICE for the same price, I'm already struggling to find a suitable EV replacement for a Mondeo at a cost I can handle.
No matter what I'm going to run this car into the ground but it's already showing signs of needing little things done.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Your rational for buying an ICE van os an EV one doesn’t exist in the segment of the market you are looking to buy a vehicle from.

It’s a perfectly reasonable conclusion.

The point is your comments about electric prices going up is ‘yet another reason to not to buy another EV’ is what prompted this exchange but in reality it’s irrelevant because you can’t buy an EV if you are looking to spend £10k on a 5 seat van because one doesn’t exist.

Yeah my maths isn't working out in favour of an EV as much as I want one.
The £200 alone is £165 more than I pay now that's about 2 months worth of fuel.
Add in the extra £360 that's another 3 months of fuel.
So is an EV going to save enough over 7 months. I can't rely on works free charging all the time.
While you can get cheap EVs they are generally not the same class as the ICE for the same price, I'm already struggling to find a suitable EV replacement for a Mondeo at a cost I can handle.
No matter what I'm going to run this car into the ground but it's already showing signs of needing little things done.

Does anyone even make an ICE equivalent of a Mondeo for a Mondeo type price these days?

That segment of the market is pretty dead.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

What is a 5-seater van, is that like a van with two in the front and three in the back and then van space behind the three seats, like a Mercedes V-class but bigger?

Think Ford transit custom with a crew cab.

So yes, 2 front, bench in the back next to the sliding door (which would have windows) and a much smaller ‘van space’ behind the bulkhead.

 

[robj20]

Your rational for buying an ICE van os an EV one doesn’t exist in the segment of the market you are looking to buy a vehicle from.

It’s a perfectly reasonable conclusion.

The point is your comments about electric prices going up is ‘yet another reason to not to buy another EV’ is what prompted this exchange but in reality it’s irrelevant because you can’t buy an EV if you are looking to spend £10k on a 5 seat van because one doesn’t exist.



Does anyone even make an ICE equivalent of a Mondeo for a Mondeo type price these days?

That segment of the market is pretty dead.

No but I can replace my Mondeo with a newer lower milage version and have another 8+ years motoring.
I just can't wrap my head around my dirty bag for the environment diesel being £35 a year to tax and a super clean EV going to cost £560. You'd think it would be the other way around.

One thing I meant to ask is how much is servicing on an EV it mostly seems to be checks, and the pollen filter. So is that going to save me £200 a year bit needing oil filler, oil, fuel filter and air filter.
Or do the checks cost £200 a year.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

No but I can replace my Mondeo with a newer lower milage version and have another 8+ years motoring.

Which is fair enough.

Owning an EV and not having somewhere to charge it at home would be an utter chore anyway.

And I say that as someone who has 12 rapid chargers within 10 min walk of my house. I still wouldn’t do it.

 

[robj20]

Which is fair enough.

Owning an EV and not having somewhere to charge it at home would be an utter chore anyway.

And I say that as someone who has 12 rapid chargers within 10 min walk of my house. I still wouldn’t do it.

No issue charging at home here, I think that's someone else.

 

[Haggisman]

Your rational for buying an ICE van os an EV one doesn’t exist in the segment of the market you are looking to buy a vehicle from.

It’s a perfectly reasonable conclusion.

The point is your comments about electric prices going up is ‘yet another reason to not to buy another EV’ is what prompted this exchange but in reality it’s irrelevant because you can’t buy an EV if you are looking to spend £10k on a 5 seat van because one doesn’t exist.

I'm not necessarily looking to spend £10k on a 5 seat van, but the amount I'm willing/able to pay for the vehicle is inversely proportional to how much it's going to cost me to run it, which I'd imagine is true for most people... So if the cost to run it has increased by £1k/year, that's obviously going to decrease my purchasing budget.

Theres also the fact that if things get really grim, I can cut down my mileage a lot more easily than any finance/loan payments!

 

[Jonnycoupe]

The irony of using the word "myopic" and yet completely missing the last sentence

Not really, you suggested the delta had shrank. It hasnt.

 

[Haggisman]

Not really, you suggested the delta had shrank. It hasnt.

Depends how much mileage one does surely?

 

[cuke2u]

For anyone who is on IOG variable still, new rates are rolling out now. Check your email!


Current prices until 15th October 2026

51.326p/day
28.827p day
6.571p night

New prices from 16th October 2026

51.672p/day
36.294p day (ooofff as the kids said 5 years ago)
6.6p night

Edit: IOG loyalty fix is:

Night rate (23:30 - 05:30)

6.6p​

Day rate (05:30 - 23:30)

35.89p​

Standing charge

51.67p​

£50 exit fee.

Looks like they want you to fix!

My rates are as below:

 

[chanjy]

Right that's it for me, going to get off the fence. Someone send me a referral for EDF please, going to take that 18m fix I think and lock in at 32.91p/kWh!

 

[dannyjo22]

So my delivery date has been pushed forward for 3 weeks time. I'm staying with EDF and going on their over night tariff. I need to get a charger installed, a family member installs them and he's saying to go Zappi, or should I just use the podpoint that EDF use/recommend?

 

[chanjy]

But I'm posting about my specific situation, so whatever else does or doesn't exist isn't relevant for me. My next vehicle is highly likely to be a van, and therefore, the increases in EV running costs are making it less and less likely for that to be an EV.

Yes, a PV5 would be the ideal vehicle and was initially my first choice, but with an extra ~£1000/year in VED/eVED/fuel, coupled with the existing higher insurance and servicing costs (I can service a 10 year old van myself), it's becoming less attractive.

How are you getting a PV5 over £50k for the increased eVED?

 

[Haggisman]

How are you getting a PV5 over £50k for the increased eVED?

eVED is the 0.03p per mile coming in 2028

 

[m4rmite]

Yet another reason not to get another EV when my current one goes back in March - IOG prices have increased significantly so I've moved to a flat rate tariff with another supplier (after being with Octopus for almost 8 years).

The night rate is higher by 17p, but the day rate is lower by 10p and standing charge lower by 10p as well. Given my day usage is 2.5x my night, and I've moved as much stuff as I can to the night rate already, it works out about £150 less/year overall, plus I can charge the car whenever.

I realise diesel prices have also increased significantly (and may well continue to do so), but even with that taken into account the delta in price between a suitable EV vs ICE wipes out the majority of savings. Coupled with VED and eVED, and the ICE vehicle wins purely on financial terms.

Are you sure you turned your calculator on correctly?

Ah I take it back. I see you were talking about a van not a car.

 

[Haggisman]

Are you sure you turned your calculator on correctly?

Ah I take it back. I see you were talking about a van not a car.

Yeah, if I was after a car then I'd be sticking with EV no questions asked, as others have already pointed out there are plenty of options on the 2nd hand market these days.

Unfortunately the way things are going it looks like it's a choice between eating nothing but beans on toast, going back to ICE or getting rid of the dog and/or kids and sticking with a car

Edit: a possible compromise would be a large phev, e.g. a superb, doing most mileage on the battery and using the ICE for longer journeys, but would still involve some very careful tetris when packing the car on camping trips etc, or grabbing a trailer to tow. Would have to do some more research into how the batteries hold up though.

Edit 2: I guess a decent sized EV which can tow would potentially be an option - the "van" part isn't needed on a day-to-day basis, maybe only a couple of times a month, so something which can take a trailer and/or bike rack would work. I did consider the Model Y, but insurance is really high

 

[m4rmite]

Yeah, if I was after a car then I'd be sticking with EV no questions asked, as others have already pointed out there are plenty of options on the 2nd hand market these days.

Unfortunately the way things are going it looks like it's a choice between eating nothing but beans on toast, going back to ICE or getting rid of the dog and/or kids and sticking with a car

I know s good foster home for the kids if you want their number?