Electric Vehicles

[escortrod]

When I get back to the US I am going to need two cars. One will be a small-medium sized SUV (most likely the Mazda CX-5), and the other will likely be a small used EV. The three main contenders for the latter are the Chevy Spark EV, Fiat 500e and Smart Fortwo ED. The Chevy reviews the best, but the Fiat has slightly greater real-world range and is better equipped. The Smart is by far the cheapest (about half the price of the Chevy). I also have something of a soft-spot for Smart Fortwos.

 

Does anybody on here own one of these EVs? If so, what has your experience of ownership been like? I would be particularly interested to know what range you average, and in what conditions.

 

(N.b. I'm not looking to start a debate about EVs here, just looking for experiences).

[+ not2rowdy]

Nearby local dealer service should be a high consideration. It could be a bitch to get an EV to a dealer beyond it nominal range.

[escortrod]

Nearby local dealer service should be a high consideration. It could be a bitch to get an EV to a dealer beyond it nominal range.

That's one benefit of the Spark, there are nearby dealers that should be able to service it. That said it won't be that big a deal for me to trailer the 500e or Smart to LA for an annual service.

[+ Lance_Navarro]

I've driven the 500e and it's alot of fun with a surprising amount of power.

[LaffingBear]

I have no experience with the cars

 

Make certain you consider all elements of charging.

 

Example: CA law about condo HOAs and electric vehicle charging.

 

Condos with common garages/parking can prohibit charging the vehicle on common power. But, condos must let an owner install their own, separately metered, charging station at their space or in their garage.

 

That would mean pulling new electrical service, a new meter, etc. Costly!

 

People mistakenly think they can just drive home and plug into the outlet in the garage. Your neighbors and fellow association members dont want to share in the cost of your car.

 

If you own a free-standing home... this was irrelevant for you. Sorry

[escortrod]

I have no experience with the cars

 

Make certain you consider all elements of charging.

 

Example: CA law about condo HOAs and electric vehicle charging.

 

Condos with common garages/parking can prohibit charging the vehicle on common power. But, condos must let an owner install their own, separately metered, charging station at their space or in their garage.

 

That would mean pulling new electrical service, a new meter, etc. Costly!

 

People mistakenly think they can just drive home and plug into the outlet in the garage. Your neighbors and fellow association members dont want to share in the cost of your car.

 

If you own a free-standing home... this was irrelevant for you. Sorry

It is indeed irrelevant for me, but thanks.

[bigvalboy]

When I get back to the US I am going to need two cars. One will be a small-medium sized SUV (most likely the Mazda CX-5), and the other will likely be a small used EV. The three main contenders for the latter are the Chevy Spark EV, Fiat 500e and Smart Fortwo ED. The Chevy reviews the best, but the Fiat has slightly greater real-world range and is better equipped. The Smart is by far the cheapest (about half the price of the Chevy). I also have something of a soft-spot for Smart Fortwos.

 

Does anybody on here own one of these EVs? If so, what has your experience of ownership been like? I would be particularly interested to know what range you average, and in what conditions.

 

(N.b. I'm not looking to start a debate about EVs here, just looking for experiences).

 

Don't buy anything Fiat...

 

And I too have a soft spot for the Smart ED, though it is not deserved.

[escortrod]

Don't buy anything Fiat...

 

And I too have a soft spot for the Smart ED, though it is not deserved.

Sorry, I might have rolled my eyes a bit there. Is there a particular reason you say that (with specific reference to the 500e)?

[bigvalboy]

Sorry, I might have rolled my eyes a bit there. Is there a particular reason you say that (with specific reference to the 500e)?

 

With specific reference, no...but in my opinion, there is nothing in the Fiat lineup that is worthy of consideration, Abarth included. That said, you did ask in your original question "Just looking for experiences" so I hesitated to comment. Sorry, feel free to ignore.

[escortrod]

With specific reference, no...but in my opinion, there is nothing in the Fiat lineup that is worthy of consideration. That said, you did ask in your original question "Just looking for experiences" so I hesitated to comment. Sorry, feel free to ignore.

No problem. In this specific context the 500e is pretty competitive. It has the largest battery, the most equipment, and can be charged fastest (unless the Spark is equipped with the optional SAE combo charger).

 

I'm not generally a fan of FCA vehicles, I must admit, but there are a few models that are pretty good within their segment. The 124 is rather nice, and a good alternative to the Miata if you seek a little more comfort and practicality than it provides. The Alfa Giulietta is beautiful, and great to drive (better than anything else in the segment for me, with the Jaguar XE not far behind). The Jeep Renegade is about the only car in the small crossover segment that is decent off-road (especially in Trailhawk form). The Chrysler Pacifica reviews extremely well, if minivans are your thing.

[bigvalboy]

No problem. In this specific context the 500e is pretty competitive. It has the largest battery, the most equipment, and can be charged fastest (unless the Spark is equipped with the optional SAE combo charger).

 

I'm not generally a fan of FCA vehicles, I must admit, but there are a few models that are pretty good within their segment. The 124 is rather nice, and a good alternative to the Miata if you seek a little more comfort and practicality than it provides. The Alfa Giulietta is beautiful, and great to drive (better than anything else in the segment for me, with the Jaguar XE not far behind). The Jeep Renegade is about the only car in the small crossover segment that is decent off-road (especially in Trailhawk form). The Chrysler Pacifica reviews extremely well, if minivans are your thing.

 

lol...I can see that we are at opposite ends of the spectrum on this. I wouldn't even know where to start the discussion, so rather than risk a hijack of the thread, I will leave it here, and wish you all the best in your car search.

Edited July 15, 2017 by bigvalboy

[+ pitman]

Don't buy anything Fiat...

 

And I too have a soft spot for the Smart ED, though it is not deserved.

My husband had a Fiat in the '70s. He claimed the name was an acronym for "Fix It Again Tony". We once rented a Turkish-made Fiat in Turkey; it was a very "interesting" experience. Opening/closing the trunk and back seat doors proved to be a major challenge. They are much better cars now. I recently test-drove a 500e and liked it quite a lot.

[samhexum]

About 150 General Motor Co. dealers are parting ways with Cadillac instead of investing in costly upgrades required to sell electric cars, according to FOX Business.

 

GM recently gave the dealers the choice: accept a buyout ranging from $300,000 to more than $1 million to exit the brand or spend about $200,000 to upgrade their dealerships for the sale of electric vehicles.

 

About 17% of Cadillac’s 880 US dealerships agreed to take the offer to end their franchise agreements for the luxury brand, because many of them own other GM brands like Chevrolet and Buick and don’t sell many Cadillacs.

 

That decision illustrates that even as the value of electric vehicles rises, many car industry insiders remain skeptical about selling and investing in the products.

 

Dealers are weighing costly facility investments like electrical-system upgrades against uncertainty about demand for the vehicles, which now account for about 2% of U.S. vehicle sales. Some retailers say they are putting off orders of electric models, worried they will sit too long on their lots.

 

Even in markets where electric vehicles are more popular, like San Francisco, dealers say the lack of commuting during the pandemic has led to a drop off in demand for cars like GM’s Chevrolet Bolt.

 

Cadillac global brand chief Rory Harvey confirmed that the company offered buyouts to dealers, but declined to specify how many had taken them or the value of the offers.

 

“The future dealer requirements are a logical and necessary next step on our path towards electrification,” Mr. Harvey said. Those who aren’t ready to make that commitment are getting fair compensation for exiting the brand, he added.

 

As plug-in models take up more space in showrooms, they are also likely to reshape the economics of running a dealership, analysts and executives say. Electric vehicles have fewer components and require less frequent maintenance, for example, posing a threat to dealers’ parts and service business, a key profit source.

 

Cadillac is set to play a central role in GM’s electric-vehicle push, which is among the most aggressive of legacy auto makers.

 

The nation’s largest car company last month said it would boost its spending on electrics, as well as driverless-car development, by more than a third compared with previous plans, up to $27 billion by mid-decade. That represents the majority of GM’s planned capital spending, even though electrics account for only about 2% of its global sales today.

 

Minnesota Cadillac dealer Todd Snell said he views the upfront costs for electric cars as an investment in the future, even if he is uncertain how quickly sales will take off, especially in his farming community.

 

“I’m not 100% convinced electric cars will be the silver bullet everyone says they will be, but I do think they will become an important part of the business,” Mr. Snell said. “We’re looking to get bigger and, hopefully, be around for the future.”

 

Cadillac will get first dibs on electric-vehicle innovations as the company rolls them out, and its dealerships could feature plug-in models only by 2030, GM executives have said.

 

The brand’s first all-electric model, a sporty crossover SUV called the Lyriq, is scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2022. Executives hope it will be the beginning of a new image for the brand, which dominated the luxury market as recently as the 1990’s.

 

Cadillac dealer Claude Burns plans to spend the money to sell electric vehicles but he is unsure how quickly he will be able to recoup his investment, which he figures will end up being less than $200,000.

 

But he also noted the growing number of Teslas — which are marketed directly to customers without a dealership — on the roadways around his South Carolina community.

 

“It looks to me like to me this electric-vehicle market might be fixing to take off,” he said. “So I decided I’m going to hang with Cadillac.”

 

My husband had a Fiat in the '70s. He claimed the name was an acronym for "Fix It Again Tony".

 

A friend in college told me FORD stood for Fix Or Repair Daily or Found On Road Dead.

[jjkrkwood]

I can barely remember to put gas in my car, let alone remember to CHARGE it..... Hell my flip phone is DEAD most of the time ! ?

[+ Charlie]

I wonder what @escortrod did about the car? If I had seen the thread when it first appeared, I would have pointed out the possible disadvantages of buying a used example of those models.