Monthly Archives: July 2023

Used electric vehicle prices down 19% year-on-year

July 31, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

June marked another month of contracting prices for used electric vehicles (EVs), with the average retail value (£31,430) falling 19.1% year-on-year, new data suggests from the Auto Trader Retail Price Index.

It makes June the sixth consecutive month of year-on-year decline, with average EV prices falling by around £5,000 since January (£36,179) and nearly £9,500 since their peak in July 2022 (£40,728).

Finance and leasing terms of brand-new electric cars bought three-four years ago have ended, which has, as expected, resulted in a very strong increase in supply over recent months, particularly from fleets.

While consumer demand for second-hand EVs has been robust, up 6% year-on-year in June, it’s been unable to keep pace with the sharp increase in availability – supply was up 174% year-on-year last month.

Auto Trader says it is this imbalance that has caused prices to contract recently, as opposed to any loss in consumer appetite.

However, supply growth levels are softening. June was the lowest level in nine months and down significantly on the 303% increase recorded in January.

Used EV values beginning to stabilise

As such, despite June marking the highest rate of year-on-year price contraction recorded by Auto Trader, there are strong signs of used EV values beginning to stabilise, with June also seeing the lowest level of month-on-month price contraction (-0.9%) since August last year.

The drop in average EV prices is rapidly closing the upfront price gap between many electric models and their ICE counterparts, and in some cases, has already made them cheaper.

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Here are the cheapest new EVs you can currently buy

July 28, 2023Dacia, Dacia Spring, Electric Cars, Fiat, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

Next year will see various well-priced EVs come to market, but let’s look at what are currently the most affordable

It’s an exciting time in the electric car world at the moment, with more and more models going on sale.

There is big news today, too, with Dacia’s announcement that it will bring its compact EV, called the Spring, to the UK next year. The Spring has been on sale since 2021 in other European markets and has the title of Europe’s most affordable new electric car – something that it will likely be when it comes to the UK as well.

The Spring is set to become the UK’s cheapest new electric car when it arrives next year. (Dacia)

But if you can’t quite wait for the Dacia Spring to arrive, what are currently the cheapest new EVs today? Let’s take a look.

The MG4 is currently the cheapest new EV. (MG)

MG is now one of the key players in the electric car segment, with its affordable EVs really resonating with buyers that want to go electric, but without having to splash vast amounts of cash.

Its new MG4 is also currently the UK’s most affordable EV, with a starting price of £26,995. That buys the entry-level model, equipped with a 51kWh battery that’s able to achieve a credible claimed 218 miles from a charge.

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Confirmed: Dacia’s tiny cheap EV is springing over to Britain

July 27, 2023Buying/Leasing, Dacia, Dacia Spring, Electric Cars, FAQ, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

Could the Dacia Spring be cheaper and more eco-friendly than walking? Well no. But it’ll be close…

Back in March 2021, Dacia gave us some Bad News. Despite offering the new Spring EV for a hilariously low price in Germany, the company resoundingly kiboshed hopes that the ultra-affordable electric supermini would make the Channel hop to UK shores.

Well guess what… there’s Good News at long last. Dacia has announced with some fanfare that it’s changed its mind. Brits will be able to buy the new entry-level EV from next year. Take that, cost of living crisis.

Prices aren’t confirmed yet, given interest rates are fluctuating more wildly than Glastonbury 2024 headliner predictions, but with a pre-grant price of around €20k in Germany, hopes are high this could be the cheapest five-door EV on British soil.

For not much money, you get not much range. Obviously. The battery is a 27kWh tiddler that manages a mere 143 miles, and with only 44bhp and a 19-second 0-62mph dawdle, it’s more placid than Tesla Plaid.

But when most UK commutes take place at 000.1mph in appalling traffic, do we care? This is like a bargain basement Honda E (with more range!). A Renault Zoe a la Primark. A more practical Fiat 500e outta the middle aisle of Lidl. It could be 2024’s most relevant car.

Why is Dacia so confident that we’ll like it? Well, it’s been watching how people in other nations use their Springs. Big Brother, anyone?

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Aston Martin agrees deal to make electric vehicles with US firm Lucid

July 26, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

British carmaker to use components from Lucid to produce luxury high-performance battery electric models

Aston Martin has struck a deal with the US firm Lucid to start making “ultra-luxury high-performance electric vehicles” from 2025.

The British luxury carmaker, whose losses more than doubled last year to almost £500m, has struck a cash and shares deal valued at £182m in which Lucid will take a 3.7% stake in London-listed Aston Martin.

The carmaker, which sold 6,400 luxury vehicles last year and has spent heavily on new models, said it would select powertrain components from Lucid for initial and certain future battery electric vehicle (BEV) models.

The company said the deal, which involves a minimum spend of £177m with Lucid, would help drive its plan to launch its first BEV in 2025.

“Combined with our internal development, this [deal with Lucid] will allow us to create a single bespoke BEV platform suitable for all future Aston Martin products, all the way from hypercars to sports cars and SUVs,” said Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin’s chief technology officer.

Mercedes-Benz holds a 9.4% stake in Aston Martin as part of a long-term strategic deal that includes technology sharing and representation on the British carmaker’s board.

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Street-racing in a Nissan Leaf is pushing Texans go to electric

July 25, 2023Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

Teresa Porter pulled up to the red light and turned to eyeball the crimson pickup truck to her right. Her silver fingernails gripped the steering wheel. Her foot sank hard into the brake, ready to pounce on the accelerator.

“He came to play,” she muttered, turning back to face the road. Her brow furrowed under a mop of curly hair. Lil Jon’s “Get Low” pumped from her speakers.

When the light turned green, the pickup roared to life and peeled out with a screech. But it was no match for Porter, who quickly sprinted to the lead. “Smoked him off the line,” she said later of her victory.

The most unusual thing about this short one-block drag race? Porter’s car was silent. The winning vehicle was electric. A Nissan Leaf.

Cruising the main drag here on a Saturday night is more than a joyride for Porter, the 46-year-old founder of the Heart of Texas Electric Vehicle Association. A trash-talking, L&M-smoking gear head who spent her childhood fixing cars and hanging out at dirt-track races, she is on a one-woman, uphill mission to convince Central Texas to go electric.

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Off-peak kerbside EV charging costs drop by 10% in one month, says AA

July 24, 2023Away From Home, Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The AA has revealed that off-peak slow kerbside electric vehicle (EV) charging in residential streets has dropped more than 10% in the past month to 33p/kWh.

According to the May 2023 AA EV Recharge Report, peak slow charging has also dropped by more than a quarter from 72p to 53p.

A reduction in the cost of kerbside EV charging is a positive for many within the industry. Previously, many had highlighted that with the introduction of the Energy Price Guarantee, home charging became significantly cheaper than public charging.

This caused issues when considering a “just transition” with this causing further EV charging disparity in the UK with those that are able to afford a driveway able to benefit from cheaper charging rates.

But with AA declaring that slow kerbside charging rates are now beginning to drop, this is a major boost for the industry and could well support the greater adoption of EVs on UK roads.

“Drivers without a driveway looking to switch to an EV will be happy to see off-peak kerbside charging now cheaper than the Energy Price Guarantee. This means they will feel some of the benefit EV owners with dedicated off-street parking have,” said Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA.

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Electric cars are ‘far more reliable and cost-effective’ than petrol and diesel vehicles

July 21, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, FAQ, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, SalesRepost

Electric cars are “far more reliable” than petrol and diesel vehicles, according to one expert who spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about how EVs were better than ICE vehicles.

The popularity of electric cars is growing massively, with the UK seeing its one-millionth EV registered last year, hinting at further growth to come.

With the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles just a few years away, many are looking at electric cars as their next vehicle to purchase.

While some people will have concerns about the reliability of electric cars and whether they will suit their needs, many are confident that people will adjust.

Farhad Tailor, managing director at V12 Sports and Classics, spoke about his experience with electric cars and whether they are easier to maintain.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, he said: “Based on our experience, there are far less things that go wrong with an EV.

“For customers, they are far more reliable and cost-effective to maintain than an internal combustion engine vehicle.

“A typical annual service can take as little as half an hour as it just involves a visual check.”

He added that the same can be said for second-hand electric cars, despite some having fears of EV batteries degrading over time.

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Southampton City Council: Rise in electric cars improves air quality

July 20, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, PollutionRepost

A COUNCIL scheme to improve the air quality in Southampton has taken shape as the number of electric cars in the city has risen over 50 per cent from the previous year.

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Ora Funky Cat UK review: electric hatchack comes up short on range, price and quality

July 19, 2023Buying a new car, Electric Cars, ID.3, Leaf, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Opinion, Renault, Volkswagen, ZOERepost

The first in a new wave of Chinese electric cars stands out for its looks but little else in a crowded market

There’s something to be said for making a splash when launching a new brand or product.

Good or bad, an eye-catching design and an interesting name can help establish a brand in the minds of the public and pave the way for future plans. So Ora is certainly onto a winner with the Funky Cat which not only has a name you won’t forget but brings a wide-eyed and unusual look that’ll stand out in most car parks.

Ora is one of a wave of Chinese brands setting their sights on the UK with a host of electric cars, and the Funky Cat is its first offering, aiming to compete with models such as the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4 in the electric hatchback segment.

Volkswagen ID.3 electric car (Image: Volkswagen.com)

We’re largely past the days of Chinese cars being carbon copies of European models but there is an element of Mini to the Funky Cat’s front end and smidge of first-gen Leaf to the sloping, wide tailgate. It looks better in the metal than in photos, which don’t do its proportions any favours, but it still divided opinion during our time with it and is likely to be a bit of a Marmite prospect on the roads.

Under the funky skin, the Funky Cat packs a 48kWh battery and a 169bhp motor. That offers fairly middle-of-the-road performance, with 0-62mph of 8.3 seconds and the usual initial surge tailing off as speeds rise.

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A standards war? A win for consumers? What the Ford and GM Tesla deals mean

July 18, 2023Away From Home, Charging, Ford, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

And imagine if EV charging eventually follows the gas station model.

The news that rocked the electric transportation world earlier this month — General Motors’ deal to give its drivers access to the Tesla Supercharger network — is no doubt a big turning point for EVs in the U.S. It followed an identical deal in May between Ford and Tesla. Earlier this week, Rivian said its customers could access Tesla’s charging network starting in 2024. Together, these pacts could have serious ripple effects for the development of the charging network across the country.

Jaguar I-PACE at Fully Charged Live show (Image: T. Larkum)

But they also generate a lot more questions than answers. Will these partnerships create a standards war between types of EV chargers? And will that hurt or help consumers? Experts don’t agree on that point, and they make varying predictions for what this news portends. It could usher in a new model for charging akin to gas stations, or it could be little more than a blip for drivers who will simply end up with a lot more charging options.

“I think it’s great news for the industry, and more generally for EV drivers, and for accelerating the electrification of the transportation fleet,” said Jeff Allen, executive director of Forth Mobility, an electric transportation advocacy group. “It’s creating more options for folks to charge, for one thing. And it is also going to push everybody to up their game in terms of reliability and customer experience.”

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