Would YOU SWITCH to an EV if THIS happened?

I asked you at the start of the year if you'd switch to an EV in 2024 and 63% of you said no. But...would you switch if this happened round the corner from where you live?
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[@npoleary]

Message me your thoughts! 💬 I might be on holiday for the next couple of weeks but I’ll happily reply to all of you! 😊 Don’t worry, there’s some amazing videos coming for you next week. Hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss it!

[@user-kf3qk8go4r]

Electric Vehicles, where do we start? Well, I am not a Luddite, but I don’t envisage EV’s will become the norm anytime soon. I believe we have reached saturation point and until and unless factors listed below change, that is how it will remain. People are perfectly entitled to have an opinion and spend their money as they see fit. My response is, ‘Caveat Emptor’ 1. Initial purchase price is a barrier to entrance. Couple this with poor residuals, why would you risk it. 2. Charging, unless you can charge at home, (44% will never be able to charge at home) you are a hostage to fortune, as to how and when you recharge. Planning a journey must be difficult, if not time consuming if you can’t charge at home. Then of course, there is the cost of charging away from home to consider? 3. Range anxiety, as with petrol/diesels, manufacturers have a habit of being economical with the truth re mpg. It is more critical with an EV, in that there are nothing like the same number of chargers away from home. Again, serious planning is required on longer journeys. Even when you get to a charger, it may be in use, and even if it’s available, a wait of at least 30 mins will be required. 4. The National Grid will need a monumental and expensive upgrade at a high cost. Who will pay for this? In conclusion, I see EV’s as a vanity trip for certain sections of society. I say get on with it, but don’t, for the above reason, include me.

[@macca779]

I have gone EV and will never go back! Charging at home is so good. Rapid Charging on the rare occasions I’m travelling hundreds of km and not going home is of no concern either as I combine it with rests for meals and toilet breaks.

[@npoleary]

Sounds like my ideal kind of scenario when I eventually do switch to EV! 🤓👍🏼 Thanks for sharing!

[@briertonp]

I’ve been a petrol head all of my life. I’ve built mentally fast cars that went through petrol so fast, you could almost watch the fuel gauge go down as I accelerated! One of my favourite cars I owned was a brand new M-B AMG CL65 bi-turbo. One morning I actually averaged 4mpg on one tank of fuel in that car. I filled up the tank at 9am and refilled it at midday; performance crashes economy every time… Last Friday, after much deliberation and consideration, I bought my first EV and I LOVE it!!! I might add, I also love my iPhone over my old Nokia N95 I owned BITD! 😂

[@npoleary]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! 4 MPG? I have driven a BRABUS once that managed to just about get double digits, you could see the fuel tank needle go down! 😅

[@JackBeckman]

Nope, not as it stands. I don’t want to plan for 30 minute stops. Charging here in the State is terrible unless you have a Tesla. But the build quality doesn’t seem great on Teslas, and I hate the interior with the big screen for nearly every function. Also, in addition to the upfront cost, insurance (at least over here) is very expensive. Cars sit around waiting for scarce, expensive parts if they aren’t outright totaled for small accidents. For some people the use case is there, and I’m glad they have that option. But for most of us they just don’t make sense yet. They will one day, but expect gasoline cars to be around for decades yet.

[@npoleary]

Very true! It’s down to the individual for sure and what works for them. Thanks for sharing! 🤓🙏

[@peachykeenJL]

"Mercedes-Benz is watering down its 2030 electric vehicle targets following a declining demand for EVs. Chief executive Ola Källenius said the motoring manufacturer will make petrol cars “well into the 2030s” despite previously pleading that its whole car line-up will be electric by the end of the decade." I'm not surprised at the statement from Merc. Too many jumped on the bandwagon and in the UK, especially here in Scotland, the infrastructure is super slow and few and far between. It'll happen eventually but the costs, both purchase and insurance, are prohibitive for so many. I'll admit I'm bias owning an awesome sounding M156 SL63 but until the EV world settles so it's use matches that of ICE I'll not be going near one any time soon.

[@johnmallett4983]

I like my 2023 MB E-450 “near hybrid”. Car charges the battery automatically, yet I get to enjoy higher mileage it provides and the 40kw battery? Helps with acceleration as there is little to no turbo lag! The best of both worlds.

[@itsharvey1112]

Good content Nick. Public charging prices vary considerably, those Shell ones you mention are circa 75p per kWh which is daylight robbery. After owning many A and C Class Mercedes I switched to Tesla Model Y long range and couldn’t be happier. Of course I do miss the premium interior styling but that aside they are a distant memory. The biggest challenge for the industry is to increase the speed of recharge rather than making larger batteries for long millage but clearly also requires more charging stations. Worth noting that Sainsbury are putting chargers in each of there store car parks , so that’s over a 1000 across the country. The Tesla experience is seamless as you say and streets ahead of the competition.

[@npoleary]

Thank you! Yes. Another topic for another day I think! Although I did another video recently which was about it depends where you get your electric from which went down quite well! It appeared in The Sun Newspaper 😅 (must have been a slow news day for them 😂 took me by surprise though!) Oh cool I didn’t know that about Sainsbury’s! That’s good to know 🤓

[@davidfennessey2727]

My Mercedes c 300 e state can do 50 to 60 miles on pure electric so enough for most days but the days you need to do 600 to a 1000 miles in one go just stopping for fuel and toilet is great my brother has had several ev and it ads about 4 to 5 hours on 800 mile trip

[@npoleary]

Ah yes some of these newer hybrids can do some insane ranges from their battery now!

[@specialkcitizen6263]

I own a model 3 long range. I drive from Brighton to Aberdeen once let month. I leave fully charged, and require one stop to fully charge to get me to Aberdeen. Your brother can't drive, your lying, or he has a waste of space ev that has 150 mile range.

[@davidfennessey2727]

@@specialkcitizen6263 ;well lets address these points Can’t drive we both hold HGV class 1 license and full motorbike licence and have done several track days all over Europe Here is a list of his EV he has owned Tesla Model X p 90 Tesla model X P100 Ludicrous Tesla model 3 Performance Porsche Taycan 4S large. Battery BMW i4 M50 Range your probably right doing 90 MPH in Febuary in France going Skiing with roof box 150 to 180 is about right As for lying its a bit presumptuous when you don’t know either if us I’m only telling you our experience oh and last week he got a message from Bmw that he has done the second Highest mileage in the M50 in the uk over 50000 miles good night

[@CSLR]

In 2021 I bought a Cupra Leon PHEV. The mix of petrol and electric suited me completely, the car was a very good drive. However, the computer systems failed on three occasions in the first six months and the final time after six weeks back at the dealer, I rejected the car as it had been too unreliable. I switched to an A200 which was like stepping into a proper grown-up car after the guinea-pig experience in the Cupra. True, its a 163hp vehicle after driving a (sometimes) 245hp car, but 20,000 miles later it has been economical (55mpg) and faultless. My new home however has a charging point already.........

[@northyorkshirechris5735]

I would very much like to swap to an EV this year for the following reasons: 1) I'm lucky enough to have off-road space for a charger and this is what I'd use most of the time. The thought of never having to go to a petrol station and handling smelly pumps again is a major benefit. Most public EV chargers are located near pubs/coffee shops/shopping centres etc, so it's not a major issue if you're on a long journey to stop for 30 mins or so. Looking at such as Zap Map, there's plenty of chargers and that's improving all the time; 2) Car cost - there are plenty of deals on EVs currently and there are far more to come during the next 12-24 months. Costs have definitely come down; 3) Charging cost - it currently costs me >£60 to fill my relatively small car up. To charge an EV at home costs 90%) of EV drivers would not go back to petrol/diesel. Indeed, a family member went plug-in hybrid earlier this year and wish he'd gone fully electric - most of his journeys are relatively local (

[@npoleary]

Thanks for sharing! Yes there is a lot of misinformation online sadly. I aim to cover loads more videos in the coming months of EV ownership (when I get an EV on test anyway!) But yes the costs are so cheap when you get your electricity from a cheap place 🤓

[@kingsaf3998]

I bought my first EV 8 months ago, I was so impressed I leased another EV two months ago. I have a home charger and a double driveway so no hassle charging either of them no matter what side of the drive I park. I never need to use any public charger so for cost and convenience for me is not an issue. I only pay 7.5 p per kilowatt and charge twice a week. Each charge cost about £4. To sum up for me the Ev’s are perfect but I do appreciate for a lot of people for one reason or another they are not suitable for them.

[@npoleary]

I’d love to do this with a future EV, however exactly as you said I appreciate not everyone can charge at home. Will be closely monitoring charging prices to see what happens in the coming years, some public chargers are very expensive!

[@simonstock2526]

I have switched to an EV this year, at the end of January. I had my home charger installed two weeks ago so had to survive on public chargers for the first 2.5 weeks. The experience of having a home charger is chalk and cheese from not having one. I can plug in when I come home and wake up in the morning to a full charge (or rather the recommended 80%) which even in winter will take me 160 miles. Most days I drive no more than about 40 so range is just not a concern. Regarding the Rapid Chargers - unless the ambient temperature is above 20C and the battery is warmed up you will get nowhere near the maximum possible charge rate, so most of the time the idea of being able to fully charge in 30 mins is pie in the sky. I would consider myself something of a petrolhead, having owned a few sporty and somewhat powerful cars, including a Lotus Elise, and enjoyed a few track days over the years. But I am loving being able to serenely waft around in an EV, and enjoying the challenge of learning how to maximise efficiency by coasting and varying the regen.

[@npoleary]

Amazing experience from the sounds of it! Thanks for sharing! This is what I’d love to do when getting an EV!

[@michaell663]

Charging at home daily is the only economical way to do it. In Sweden we have prices that differs every hour (in a year or so every 15 minutes) so the car smart chargers at the cheapest hours. Then you just have to take the hit when going on a road trip that requires fast chargers. They are usually considerably more expensive than charging at home. But I can't see myself going back to ICE. We have one left we run on HVO100 but I never drive it :). I prefer the preconditioned car in the morning.

[@npoleary]

Yeah same here in the UK on some chargers! Home charging is definitely the way to go!

[@Blade_625]

I made the switch from ICE to EV. I couldn’t be happier. In my mind, it’s like moving from a flip phone to a iPhone. EVs are a huge step from ICE, but not the end game. I also realized that an EV is not for everyone. A EV fit our family lifestyle perfectly, but I can see how other people would be highly resistant to the whole range / charging downtime. I think Toyota said it best. There are many ways to climb the co2 emissions mountain. EV’s are part of that equation.

[@npoleary]

Agree with all of this ☝️ For now, in 2024 it’s a choice and will fit certain lifestyles as we all use our cars differently! However the more range that manufacturers add to the cars, the shorter the charge times, the more chargepoints that are added, the easier the switch. But for some, they could switch today!

[@johnw65uk]

Like moving from a flip phone to an iPhone , so that will be one that has a battery life of 3 days to one that gets a day if your lucky 😅

[@briertonp]

@@johnw65ukso you’re still using a flip phone? Or do you just charge your smartphone whilst you’re sleeping, live EV owners do with their cars… 😉

[@old_lion]

Hi Nick, a good question. And a good short video. 👍🏼 My answer to your question is: Unfortunately no. I live here in a district that is governed by a “green” party. This party recently had cycle paths set up in front of the few charging stations on the road. The charging stations are no longer usable and are now being torn down. - We also have several thousand car sharing vehicles in the city. And car sharing users receive credits when they park their vehicles at charging stations and have them charged. This means that hardly any private person would not be able to charge their EV. And about Tesla: There are increasingly strict data protection regulations. This means that you can no longer reach many destinations with a Tesla because the areas (e.g. airports) are prohibited for Tesla (critical infrastructure). So I just bought a nice E-Class Coupe (C238) with a diesel engine. 🚙💨

[@npoleary]

Oh interesting thanks for sharing Sven! Ah very nice the diesels in Mercedes are awesome! ☺️

[@ufookoro1]

Lovely frank video. Just stumbled on your content and like what I saw. Up until tomorrow the 4th of March, I have had an Lexus Hybrid, and now my next car which arrives tomorrow is the Volvo XC40. Cannot wait to experience a full EV. My situation, is a little peculiar in that I will not have home charging available to me, so will be relying on public charging. It’s going to be an interesting one for me. So, yes, will be interesting to see how you roll out future content with some aspects focusing on EV and its future in the U.K.. Nice work

[@npoleary]

Oh awesome! New car day! Very nice! 👍🏼 Make sure you do your research and search for the best and cheapest chargers! Glad you enjoy the videos! I’ll keep em coming!

[@andalvarez]

Love your videos Nick. I've switched from 2 diesel cars to a Kona Electric and a B180 (both pre-owned) this year. I seldom need to travel over 100 miles. Whenever my family need to use the car, EV must be the first choice now because we love its fast response and low running cost. The B180 will only be used for extra long journey, or when large boot size is needed. I installed my own charger at home and charge my car only during non-peak hour (9p/kWh). If I need to change my cars again, I would definitely buy 2 EV. For extra long range in future, I would stop and has a fast charge. 3 hours driving and 1 hour break is reasonable, I think

[@npoleary]

Ah very nice! I’d love to get an EV in future!

[@peterking2794]

On long trips from southern France to north west England I share the driving with my wife, so we don't need to stop every three hours. Therefore, a brief stop to fill the petrol tank is a much better idea for us.

[@npoleary]

Road trips like that would be awesome! Especially if you have a Co-Driver! 👀

[@peterking2794]

Indeed they are, but I'd never consider doing so in an EV! Cheers!@@npoleary

[@dazkim2039]

I collect a 71 plate model 3 long range on Thursday my first step into the ev scene

[@npoleary]

Awesome! What colour and have you got a home charger sorted? (If you can get one)

[@dazkim2039]

@@npoleary we have gone for white with the 19inch alloys and having the Ohme home pro fitted Friday

[@loumello8813]

I had thought about an ev before leasing my current Mercedes GLE350, but, 2 problems - 1st the cost was way more than I wanted to pay. 2nd - so few charging stations here in Charelston South Carolina. Maybe in a few more years they will be more available and I'll look at it then.

[@npoleary]

I’m sure public charge stations will increase in the coming years! 🤓

[@sooperhooper]

We have a hybrid A class Merc & it's great but I thinks it's 3 things. 1.Cost of an EV. 2.Charging times of vehicles & range in winter. 3.Infrastructure of chargers,lots are broken & prices vary wildly & its fine if you can charge in your drive but millions of people don't have that option,I saw a video of a guy going to charge his car where 4 chargers were being used out of 5 & when he plugged his car into the 5th charger it hugely decreased the speed of the charge on the other 4 so he had to stop using it! As I said,we have a hybrid,If I was driving distances often,there is no chance I'd buy a full EV. I forgot to add,I see Mercedes chairman has released a statement turning on it's head the date of Mercedes going full electric & saying Mercedes will be making ICE for the foreseeable future & many other major car manufacturers are cutting right back on their EV cars & dates of being full electric,they just aren't selling after an initial burst when they became mainstream & grants were available.

[@npoleary]

Thanks for sharing! Yes we have interesting times ahead!

[@keithrookledge2031]

I note in the press today article on 'screens' in cars highlighted as a distraction when drive especially where there are no buttons. It seems that there is legislation proposed to make buttons compulsory of some functions. I personably do not like to use the screen when driving as it a distraction

[@elainebenes7971]

It's amazing how car companies are so oblivious to this. Every car review I've seen in the last year always sounds relieved when the AC controls have physical buttons. It's like we have to be grateful for a normal experience.

[@npoleary]

Haha @elainebenes7971 Yeah I have to make a point of it in videos because that’s what people want! 🤓 So I will clearly make it a section to highlight it so people can choose

[@TB-up4xi]

I have owned 40 various ICE cars since the 70's from budget Korean and Japanese to high end European, and US and Australian muscle cars, I now own 2 EVs, I have to say the Tesla I drive is the safest and least distracting of any one of my 42 cars. I NEVER touch the screen while driving everything I need is via the buttons on the wheel or voice command. This theory that the screen is distracting is a completele myth.

[@peterking2794]

I always thought it odd that using a phone or tablet while driving was illegal (and rightly so), but using a touch screen was OK. So, it's about time legislation was brought in. Personally, as a grumpy old Luddite, I hate in car tech and hate talking to it even more! Therefore, I will never ever use voice commands. It's the first thing I disable on any new gadget I have the misfortune to have in the house that has voice control as a feature.

[@northyorkshirechris5735]

I wouldn't buy the Tesla or Volvo EX30 (for example) as they are mostly devoid of buttons for key functions (new Teslas don't even come with indicator stalks!). I'm keen to make the move to an EV and there are thankfully manufacturers (like Mercedes) that have retained buttons (a sensible move) and I'll be aiming for something like that. That said, most new cars come with voice recognition so speaking an instruction isn't so bad. However, I'm old fashioned and buttons are for me! The choices are there...

[@PhilbyFavourites]

Wonderful conversationalist tone and delivery Nick. I might have said that a recent day in an EQE didn’t fill me full of joy, but my needs are smaller and even Teslas look like Mondeos on steroids…. Still haven’t found an EV that’s ticks ALL the boxes (and is inspiring to drive and gives you a warm feeling when you look back at it in the car park or drive).

[@npoleary]

Awh thank you! This one was a bit different, just my thoughts…off the top of my head 😅 Give it time, I’m sure they’ll be one, one day you’ll like!

[@GamePlayer-kj6gz]

Hi Nick, we owned Mercedes GLE 350de plug in hybrid for 3 years and been amazing throughout but charging it every now and then due to long commutes wasn’t that convenient. So I have switched to Mercedes GLE AMG 63s and loving the drive. No hassle of charging overnight. Just fill up and go😎

[@npoleary]

Ah nice! Proper V8! And the noise is great too!

[@user-rq6ie5ft3g]

Hi Nick, A thought provoking video! Yes, after a lot of thought I’ve decided to go for a Mercedes GLC300e PHEV, due for delivery end of May, and just had a Myenergi Zappi EV charger installed, so I’m all set for when the new car arrives. I chose a PHEV over a BEV for a) the cost and b) the still uncertain, seemingly disjointed/unjoined up EV charging infrastructure. However, as and when things improve I could well go ‘full fat’ EV. So, I’ll let you know how I get on after May. Kind regards, JK

[@npoleary]

Thanks for sharing! 🙏 As yes the range on those is very good! One of the best I’ve seen! Good you’ve got your charger sorted too! 👍🏼

[@sankeysinner8367]

I've got a 3 day old GLC 300e sitting on my drive. My first Merc, after 2 BMW 330e's. All good so far! Electric range at 100% charge is 70 miles and I expect will be a bit more in summer.

[@robbiedolan340]

I'm pretty open minded, I have only ever had petrol cars - but due to the ev car scheme at work i've ordered my first ever ev, Mercedes EQB 350 4MATIC. Looking forward to getting it!

[@npoleary]

Ah very nice! 👌🏼 Have you got a home charger sorted?

[@colinbaker70]

I'm considering an EV but want to be able to charge at home on an overnight tarif. BUT I wonder if overnight tarifs will get more and more expensive and closer to standard tarifs as more and more EV owners "join". I feel it needs a government requirement to encourage more people to go the EV way by making it compulsory for energy firms to permanently offer overnight tarifs which are no higher than for example a third of the standard tarif. That would tip the balance of my decision I think. This would help to offset the extra cost of buying an EV and of installing a home charger.

[@BenjaminFerdinand]

I'm on the British Gas EV tariff (8.95p/kwh overnight) and it does cross my mind from time to time about whether the prices one year will just double or if they could just scrap the EV tariff altogether, the home charging is my main justification for an EV (among some other general driving improvements) but if it went to 20p/kwh I don't think i could justify the additional EV cost over ICE anymore

[@npoleary]

I doubt home charging would double quite like that Prices for electricity it already expensive compared to what it used to be for home. If it doubled again that would be a problem for everyone not just EV owners!

[@northyorkshirechris5735]

As tax revenue from petrol/diesel declines, I am certain that the government will do something whether that's tax road usage or tax domestic electric for EV charging. Of course one way around this is to get solar panels - free electric is better still! And I suspect that many businesses (like pubs and hotels) will offer 'free' charging when using their facilities (as happens now). When I first started driving in the early 90s, I recall paying 44p per litre for petrol - it's now 3.5 times that. Petrol/diesel is only going to go one way - up. As the saying goes: there are two things certain in life, death and taxes!

[@joeclifford4953]

Interesting review. Following to see if your electric experience on longer journeys reflects local driving or not. I suspect as my neighbours have discovered it will not. Looking forward to seeing how you find it. Cheers Joe

[@npoleary]

Thanks Joe, I hope to be covering some more content on Tesla soon! That’s 3 videos on that one, just trying to get access to the next one. I’m hoping it’s the new Model 3 🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@Paul-sd8vk]

EV owner in australia for 10 years. 2 Tesla S, then 2 tesla s, now eqe53amg. Awaiting the new mini cooper ev to replace the last model s. My first tesla there was zero infrastructure in australia. It was home charging only. I actually never use infrastructure and always charge at home for free from my rooftop solar array (very solar friendly part of australia). I use commercial aircraft for interstate travel. Always have. Would I get another tesla…probably not. I loved my tesla’s, but after getting the eqe I realised that the tesla compromises can be resolved, and merc resolved them. Hence I no longer want basic interiors, hopeless wipers, terrible voice recognicion, nervous and very basic tacc, dangerous random braking autopilot, and far too many updates to fix bugs from the last update which brings new bugs. No regrets though, and never again will I own a petrol car with its noise, vibration, hideous cost to operate, and inconvenience of refueling.

[@npoleary]

Wow awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@sagalout]

I’ve had one for 4.5 years now. First one was a company car, then I retired but loved the EV driving experience so much I bought the next one outright (Tesla Model Y). Driven all over the country from Scotland to Devon and not queued for a charger once. I still love petrol engines cars and bikes though. Also own a V8 Mustang and a few motorbikes for fun, but as a daily I wouldn’t go back to ICE. Just back from a 1000 mile round trip to Scotland that cost a total of £80, in a 400hp car. The Mustang has similar specs, makes a better noise but would have cost closer to £300 😅

[@npoleary]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing! 🤓🙏

[@darrenrhoden6112]

Hi Nick, we have a bank of 6 x chargers in Pimperne, Blandford Forum and there always empty, every time I pass the place, so that says it all.

[@npoleary]

I’ve seen those! Instavolt right? I might have used them once 😅 But if I remember I don’t think there was anything next to them (cafe, restaurant etc) it was just some chargers on their own which could be why? Not sure just my thoughts on it

[@Uchejnr]

Great point, people are charging from home on cheap energy tariffs and not relying on public networks

[@johndavies6246]

I currently drive a 2016 B200d AMG Line, had it 5 years now and only put 25k onto the original 15k. I've driven a couple of EQA's as loan cars while mine was in for a service. I truly didn't notice the difference whilst driving it, ( except the silence ) so can't knock it on that basis. I have a bungalow with a drive and solar panels so I can't knock them on that basis either. I'm retired and probably an ideal candidate for an EV. My problem is that my old bones like the comfort and convenience of my Merc, and to replace my current car with an Mercedes EV is just too damn expensive!! An EQA 250 (+) of equivalent spec would cost between £30k for a 71 plate with 6000 miles or £36k for a 23 plate with 3000 miles. Mine has kept it's value well, paid £17.5k for it, valued 8 months ago at £13.5k. That still leaves me £20k short and loans are hard to come by once retired!! An EV would be supremely practical for me, but it's just too far out of reach for me!!☹😠 Great content generally, keep them coming>👍👍

[@npoleary]

Ah very nice! 👌🏼 I know I wish I could get an EV, maybe next time! But there are a few EV’s I’ve noticed coming out that are a lot more affordable than previous models showcased by manufacturers

[@celestemayse2446]

I switched to an EQS in 2022. It’s great for local driving. I live in N Texas and have a charger in my garage. But for long distance driving (beyond 300 miles) it’s a real challenge to find a charging station that works or that a gas powered car hasn’t parked in because it’s the closest space to a business. Sometimes finding a hotel that has charging is impossible. The infrastructure just isn’t there yet. Waiting for a plugin hybrid (like the Lexus TX) that gets decent range (35-40 miles) for local driving.

[@npoleary]

Are you able to use any rapid chargers like Tesla’s one’s yet? I know that they’ve been slowly opening up to non Tesla’s which is pretty cool. A quick look at the map (I’m in the states at the moment) there’s one opened up to Non-Tesla’s near Dallas (only applicable though if you’re going that way). And a few more towards Louisiana, Jackson and New Orleans for road trips (again only if you’re heading that way) Not actually sure what rapid chargepoints there are in America (not done a road trip there) but I’m sure it’ll get there! We’ll have to watch this space! 🤓

[@celestemayse2446]

@@npoleary it requires an adapter which I can purchase on Amazon. The problem is infrastructure. In the US 1 out of 4 chargers works and Tesla has been having issues with maintenance as well. Vandalism is another issue, copper wire and just overall shenanigans means that repairs are needed and not enough electricians to keep up with demand. There’s a new national program to build more charging stations, around 500,00 is the goal (160,000 now). Some cities have found creative ways to increase charging stations like LA. They retrofit them into street lights-the needed current is accessible and curbside parking is available. I imagine when that horseless carriage hit the streets it was the same thing-won’t last, get a horse! Change doesn’t happen overnight and this is no different.

[@npoleary]

Absolutely! Thanks for sharing! Ah interesting, I didn’t know they were being vandalised :( Hopefully that dies off and doesn’t happen in the future

[@chrisharris1402]

Nice , thought provoking vid . Personally not had any ev experience so would look at a self charging hybrid . I think people mey be put off by what they could be charged to plug it in , even at home . I go to fulham football most weekends and they are putting charging points into lamp posts as well as charging points

[@npoleary]

Thank you! 🙏 Yes more A/C overnight chargepoints are needed to make EV’s work Then it charges while you sleep

[@Mrslarkmeister]

I've had a Mercedes A250e plug in hybrid for the last few years and I've loved it so much. Lovely to drive and saved quite a bit of money not having to fuel up especially when the petrol prices went through the roof. I'm collecting my new Volvo EX30 in a couple of weeks. Got the extended range one to give me that little extra mileage. It's a fantastic car to drive and the acceleration is fun too.

[@npoleary]

Oh awesome! I’ve wanted to check that car out as the price point looked amazing! Wanted to find out why as it was cheaper than my own car! 😅

[@Mrslarkmeister]

@npoleary Hi Nick, I'm really looking forward to you getting behind the wheel of one, so you can do one of class reviews. You have taught me so much while having the Merc so really thank you 😊

[@npoleary]

Fingers crossed! 🤞🏼 I’ll reach out to them again 🤓

[@FellowDar]

Hi Nick, I live in U.S.A. I recently sold my C300 and bought an electric car; EQE500. I also installed a charger at home. I am very happy with it. I am afraid one of these days get a speeding ticket since I can not help myself experiencing fast accreditation of this car😀.

[@npoleary]

Ah very nice! Yeah I would love to get an electric car one day! Maybe my next one! 👀

[@ashixine]

Brand new star expert at Sandown. Your name has popped up quite a bit. I can see why. Keep up the good work Nick! 👊🏼

[@npoleary]

Ah awesome! Thank you! 🙏 Glad you’re enjoying the videos!

[@jasbo7288]

One of your best videos yet Nick, very personal..I'll tell you were I'm at I have a 2019 Merc B200d which I bought with my own money nearly 2.5 years ago and it's been flawless..simply brilliant best car I've had and so economical..I've test drove 3 EV's now and there's something holding me back..not sure if it's price, range or reliability or simply I'm now 51 years young and still like an engine car..but a nice impromptu video/chat Nick and let's see what the future brings..👍😁

[@npoleary]

Aha thank you! 🤓 Glad you enjoyed it! I like having these chats, there’s tonnes of comments and it’s interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts! 💭

[@petedee7847]

Interesting discussion Nick - I hear both sides of the argument from EV haters and EV evangelists, but here is my own experience. Following the Pandemic, my work schedule changed, and I found myself doing far fewer business miles, even as the world got back to 'normal' everyone still wanted to meet on Teams or Zoom or whatever. So 18 months ago I bought an EV, and it was great, especially as I had a charger at home. Then in the summer of 2023 my business miles started to creep up, and I found myself doing 500-600 mile round trips once or twice a week. To be honest, the EV behaved really well - I spent a bit more time planning my route, but never queued for a charger (I had my mental list of favourite locations) and never had a problem charging - but I found myself sitting in the car quite a bit waiting to top up the charge (I never ran it to empty), and this was OK but frustrating, adding an hour or more onto most long journeys. So in December 2023 I swapped for a c300e PHEV (after previously owning a a250e PHEV), and it just works so much better for those long journeys - there is something cathartic about getting into it in the morning with a full tank and a full charge and seeing a (accurate) range of 600+, and in the days when I am office based it runs solely on EV. The PHEV suits my work/life commitments at the moment. Would I go back to an EV? In a heartbeat, but only when those long business miles subside.

[@npoleary]

Ah fair enough! Thanks for sharing your experience! A C300 is very nice! 👌🏼

[@colinnicol9447]

I am on my second car since the government announced its timetable for EV’s and at the time I was concerned about two elements. Firstly range anxiety. Where the early cars had very poor range and secondly the availability of public chargers. My new car is a mild hybrid. Which I am happy with and my contract is three years, at which time I will probably change to EV, because by that time I hope cars will be in the 300mile plus range and far more stable high charge stations available. My only concern is the pricing which is at this time far too high.

[@npoleary]

Thanks for sharing! Yes let’s hope manufacturers bring out some more cost effective EV’s!

[@sankeysinner8367]

I use my Council company car scheme and it now only does plug-ins or full electrics. I've had 2 BMW 330e's and now have a very nice 3 day old Merc GLC300e sitting on the drive. It's showing 70 miles electric range when fully charged and of course also has a petrol engine for longer journeys. So the huge majority of my driving will be on electric, but I'll never have range anxiety of worries about the charging infrastructure. As more choices like this become available, I don't know why people would prefer a full electric. I can't see any advantages.

[@npoleary]

The hybrids of some cars these days like the GLC sound incredible 🙏 they can go so far! 👍🏼 Sadly not driven the hybrid version but I would imagine it’s amazing!

[@sankeysinner8367]

Yep, Loving it so far. Once I've got used to the menus it'll be ace. I know it's heavy, much heavier than a petrol equivalent, but it still feels like a soft ride and easy to drive, even on 20" wheels and on country lanes, as I was today.

[@DElionel1995]

Hi Nick, Thanks for the clear video! I have a 12/2023 a250e premium plus (from my work) and simply love it! I almost never use the (really snappy) petrol engine in my day to day use. The 50km real world range electric is enough for my day to day commuting between home, work and clients. I have a charger at home and at work. So I can really see why a EV is so appealing. The battery is alway ful at the start of the day. The reaction time and power is just so mutch better then ice and that with almost no sound. So driving experience for a daily car is amazing. Only reason I would never take a EV is for a fun car (for that I want a stick ice) and for vacation. There are moments charging is a hassle and time wasted. So if you got 2 cars there is no reason to not buy a EV!

[@npoleary]

Ah yeah awesome thanks for sharing! Yes if you have two cars then a single EV might even be more suitable!

[@thalesofmiletus2966]

Adding my 2c I own an EV (Kona 64kw) and had it for over 2 years. In that time I've driven over 33,000 miles. The car itself is excellent but it's not anymore excellent than a BMW X5 ICE vehicle as an example. That said the only problems that make me wish I had not bought one is charging. I can't charge at home. The local council EVSE's are always busy. The private company EVSE,s are extortionately expensive. Chargeplace Scotland keep a record of every charging I've done with them. On average two a week and three a week during winter. That way I can see how long I've had to wait on the car charging and that's not including waiting for an EVSE. It's over 800 hours so far. That to me is the problem if you can't charge at home. It's the time element. Some CPS EVSE's are very remote and there isn't a shop nearby. To be fair I should have done my homework better before buying. I assumed (wrongly) that charging would be quicker. I didn't appreciate battery state of charge, battery temperature etc which slows down the charging process considerably. Lesson learned.

[@npoleary]

Ah yes home charging is definitely the key May I ask how come? Is it apartment or no off road parking or something similar? Have you noticed the public chargers up north expensive to charge at all?

[@guantou2520]

Researched and Considered, then bought a GLC, had the EQG been available 12 months ago I would have placed an order. A G Wagen with hatchback running costs ..... what's not to like.

[@npoleary]

Haha that does sound pretty cool! I am really curious about that car though! Hopefully it might launch this year!

[@AllTechThings]

I have a Mercedes EV after a lot of soul searching and have to say ‘I love it’, It fits our use style, if you do a lot of around town driving it is perfect, it is still good on motorways but MP/KWH drops at higher speeds so ore planning. I also have installed a home charger so results in 2.5p per mile cost to run versus 25p per mile with pour previous diesel car. Chargers are everywhere so I don’t get anxiety anymore. I would say I have taken my Petrol Head friend out a few times, he loves it, it has amazing torque and can beat a lot of cars off the start line and I have all the gadgets which is a must for me - no regrets here.

[@npoleary]

Amazing thanks for sharing! One of the main reasons for me wanting to get an EV!

[@Praaguematic]

We have a hybrid (250e). I dont need drive that much in a city (live in Berlin). If I did, I dont know how to make EV work while living in an appartment due to charging. It's already a hassle w a hybrid. Had EV rented while in Portugal and half the chargers just dont work or charge super slowly. I need it to drive on long trips across Europe. Range anxiety is simply the deciding factor. Mainly outside of main highways (think French countryside).

[@npoleary]

Ah okay thanks for sharing! 🤓 Awesome with the plug-in hybrid! I would love to have gone for one!

[@raymitchell3757]

Hi Nick, Had a Mercedes GLE350de that had so many problems Mercedes bought it back! Switched to a Tesla Model Y Long range like the car you have on test. It cost £58k but today would be £56k Over 23k miles I have had no issues. Using Octapus Go cheap tarif the car costs me 3p/mile on usual mileage or less when the sun is shining. Tyres cost 5p/mile (£984 after 20k replacement) Insurance 5p/mile (£689 68yr old in Cornwall with Direct Line) and that is it. No servicing costs, over the air updates, my car is even better than the day I took ownership. Over my old diesel cars I save around £2,700 in diesel cost. Used Superchargers 57 times, have never queued and never had a failure. Usual cost of Tesla Superchargers is around 36p to 45p/kw peak rate, much less than Shell or BP and other stations up to almost a pound a kw!!! Ev driving, car is always in right gear with instant torque.Tesla make EV's the other carmakers just make electric cars, there is a difference.

[@npoleary]

Sounds like my idea of a dream with an EV! All of your points demonstrate why I would love to get one. Plus I have a charger at home now so I’m all set! 😅 So much useful info there, thanks for sharing 🤓

[@TB-up4xi]

@@npoleary Owning an EV in Australia is a no-brainer (esp Tesla) - 8c (4p) overnight EV rate max 33p at a Tesla supercharger, I get 5.7mi per kwh (lifetime - over 6 in summer) I spent $26,400 (GBP 13,800) on services, fuel, brakes and tyres on an Audi A4 over 4 years / 50k miles. So far after 1 Year of Tesla 3 ownership I have spent $0 on services, $235 ($GBP122) on fuel, $0 on brakes and tyres (both of which are cheaper and last longer than the Audi) and my insurance is $1018 (GBP529) vs 1262(656) for the Audi.

[@RussellBrown-qi1rp]

I wish Mercedes would buy my 350de back, it's been waiting for parts for 8 months! Great when it was working and suited me better than the loan EQC, which added 3 hours a week to my trip home at weekends. Only had thexEQC before Mercedes wanted it back and been in a smaller, cheaper car. Mercedes don't care about there customers.

[@npoleary]

8 months! My goodness! What’s the part needed?

[@raymitchell3757]

@@RussellBrown-qi1rpMy GLE waited 7months for a gearbox part which was not really the problem at all. After breaking down 4 times it was the hybrid battery that was replaced. Funny how I could charge at 7.4kw when I first had it then they reduced the max to 3.6kw after a software update. I think they had a serious problem with their batteries. And an EQC, max range 171miles and 159 when it was cold. Not fit for purpose. Good luck with Mercedes sorting you out. Had no issues with my Tesla model Y.

[@claveh5790]

Very reassuring TB thank you, just shows the mis-information that's doing the rounds. XXX

[@npoleary]

What misinformation have you seen?

[@fendermijstrats2352]

Even if I had the finances for this to be a consideration a hybrid would be my limit. I would never go full EV as in my view it was always a stupid idea and maybe manufacturers/govt should have spent as much time and effort pushing hydrogen vehicle development and infrastructure. All I think is in years to come used full EV's are going to be clogging up dealer forecourts, whether because of age or mileage, as no one will take a chance on the battery flaking out out of warranty.

[@npoleary]

For some EV’s do work in 2024. I believe some manufacturers have tried hydrogen and produced cars but not on a production level, there must be a reason why. Maybe a video idea one day!

[@supervillan326]

Totally agree. Hydrogen fuel cells seem to be a much better technology, more sustainable and more environmentally friendly. My assumption is that building the fuelling network might be a significant cost / challenge, (unless existing traditional forecourt infrastructure can be repurposed). I’m also unsure whether hydrogen fuel requires its own special manufacturing process or whether once again, existing manufacturing infrastructure can be utilised or repurposed. We really need an Elon Musk type character to do for HFC’s what Musk did for EV’s.🤞🙏

[@Paul-sd8vk]

Hydrogen has hopeles efficiency at high speed@@supervillan326

[@fendermijstrats2352]

@@npoleary Its been a while since I watched it but there is another channel that purchased a hydrogen BMW v12 to convert to petrol and I don't believe it had major manufacturing componentry differences. Plus haven't the Japanese car manufacturers been pushing hydrogen in their home market ?

[@npoleary]

Not sure Interesting though to see where it all goes!

[@Professor-Jack]

happy Holidays

[@malcdickinson06]

I have the Mercedes A250e , had it for 3 years. Very nice car, wish the battery was bigger, 34 miles. Thinking of going full electric next. Might go for the Tesla model y.

[@npoleary]

Nice! Have you seen last week’s video? And the video on Friday? I filmed 3 videos on that car, it was a shame to see it go back. But hope to cover more Tesla content soon!

[@malcdickinson06]

Yes I watched them. Very good content as usual. Waiting to see if Tesla update the model Y like they did the model 3.

[@npoleary]

They’re not planning to this year apparently But I aim to check out the Tesla Model 3 soon (new and old)

[@Rivz1up]

EQA facelifted model on route to Zeebrugge 🎉 look forward to the switch, currently in a Astra 16 plate 😅

[@npoleary]

Oh awesome! Got your home charger installed yet? 🤓

[@Rivz1up]

@@npoleary nooo, unfortunately no drive. Will be interesting to test the EV network in London. I’ve been through most your videos to do with EQ maybe more than once 😂 so definitely looking forward to switch.

[@npoleary]

Ah awesome! Make sure you do your research for the cheapest chargers! I’d recommend to check out ZapMap 🤓

[@Rivz1up]

@@npoleary definitely, Downloaded. Cheers Nick!

[@npoleary]

The average pence per kW in the UK for electricity at home is around 27p to 30p. Public chargers cost more but the cheaper the better. Avoid the 70p and 80p if you can, they charge faster but cost more (just like motorway services) And have a look too, most chargers out there might have a thing you can pay monthly for to reduce the cost 🤓

[@CaboSteveJ]

Enjoying my Mercedes C200 Cab for now, even in the English weather! There isn't an EV Cab on the market yet that I'm aware of and probably not affordable when they do (if) arrive. I am drooling a little over the Jaguar I-pace (pre-owned) 😁 though.....

[@npoleary]

Very nice! 👌🏼 There’s only a few: Fiat 500 Convertible Smart EQ Fortwo Cabrio (only used) Mini Electric Convertible As far as I recall (there might be more), but they face a challenge, boot space and EV battery size. However an electric convertible is probably a dream to drive! Haha nice! 👍🏼 they’re very fast!

[@Uchejnr]

Before people make up their mind, they must at least test drive one and see if it actually works for them. Some may find getting an EV is better than their current vehicle set up. Public charging is great if for long journeys, but it should never be used as your main charging source. It'll always be cheaper to charge at home (if you can have a changer installed) or work if they provide level 2 charging stations. I've been driving for just over 2 years now. Passed my test in a manual, then that was the last time I drove an ICE vehicle.

[@npoleary]

Very true! I see lots of negative comments from people who have never driven one. Of course people can have their own opinions but even in 2024 EV’s are still a choice. You don’t have to switch! 🤓 I’d love to in the coming years!

[@apolloxgod]

Always great Nick, yes, I switched!! Tesla Model Y

[@npoleary]

Thank you! I’m hoping to produce some Tesla Tips & Tricks videos this summer so keep an eye out!

[@jamesbrown120779]

My C 300 DE has about 20 miles of usable range, and diesel ICE. For me I can charge at a rapid charger for about an hour, at 79p a KWH. But I couldn’t afford to use the pure electric every day and recharge. I don’t have a home point, so reliant on public charging. If I had a pure EQ or Tesla EV - the thought of about £80 plus to fully charge scares me. Happy to discuss.

[@npoleary]

Yeah defo! Are you able to get a home chargepoint? That’s where savings can be made for sure! Although I do appreciate not everyone can do that.

[@PKua007]

I’ve had a few opportunities to drive EV while servicing my C class. I’ve even had EQB for a couple of days. Driving the electric motor was a very pleasant experience… until it came to charging it and seeing how the range vanishes when I go 100 mph (140 kph) on the highway (the speed limit in Poland). I won’t switch to EV for a long time - batteries and infrastructure must improve greatly. But it’s very likely I’ll go for a plugin hybrid the next time

[@npoleary]

Cool thanks for sharing! Oh that’s interesting with speeds of 100mph 😅 Sadly in the UK, we can only do 70mph (officially)

[@user-xu6zb8rq5e]

Hi Nick, thank you for the extra video and your thoughts on this subject. I am taking delivery of my first electric car, an EQA 250+, this coming Monday and perhaps my reasons for changing from diesel would be of interest to others. First of all I have never liked our reliance on fossil fuels ever since my days at school in London in the 1960s. Even though I had a free bus pass the traffic was so bad that I often walked home but via back streets due to the unbearable exhaust fumes on the main road. Granted cars have become a lot cleaner, but it is the same fumes and there are a lot more cars. So for me it was a matter of waiting till a realistic alternative was developed. With ranges exceeding 300 miles for some electric cars it is now quite realistic to switch. I am by no means saying that this is therefore the right time for everybody to switch. As you mention, electric cars do cost more at the moment and the sooner prices come down the better. The fact that the running costs are (or at least can be) significantly lower is of course a big help but no use to somebody who cannot afford the initial purchase costs. The other impediment is the need for convenient charging, as you and others have said. I am now lucky enough to have a drive so I can install a charger, it would be a different matter if I still lived in a flat as was the case till retirement fairly recently. We need the political will and commercial incentives to make charging convenient for all. As you mention there is an increasing amount of infrastructure so there is hope here. As to range anxiety this seems only relevant to those who need to make very long journeys (provided the owner has access to convenient and affordable charging at other times). However anybody making such journeys should be taking regular breaks for obvious safety reasons, so what is needed is the assurance that ultra fast chargers will be as available as current petrol stations and ideally even more so. We are back to infrastructure, its development should not take long really. It is now a given that people have access to broadband and indeed fibre. That was installed relatively quickly so why not ultra fast chargers?

[@npoleary]

Ah no worries! It’s an interesting topic for sure! More Ultra Rapid Chargers would be good but the problem is, they are very expensive to build and and very expensive for the end user in terms of cost per kWh. It’s more than double compared to home charging. So slower ones like AC charging should be somehow integrated into as many properties as possible and for flats and apartments, chargers installed right next to where people park. We’ll have to see what happens, whatever happens it’ll be interesting!

[@user-xu6zb8rq5e]

Thank you for taking the time to reply Nick. I should have been clearer about the ultra fast chargers, I was thinking of them in connection with people who need to make very long journeys and so need to be able to top up as quickly as possible. It is also the case that new infrastructure starts being expensive but often comes down in costs once it is more established, let's hope this happens here. I know you made a video about general costs for public chargers as compared to private ones, it would be interesting if you could revisit the topic at some point with a more detailed comparison of costs by type of chargers and perhaps by region. I guess this would be a fair amount of work but perhaps the information is more accessible to those in the car industry. I do agree that for most a slower charger is appropriate so long as they have convenient access to one.

[@npoleary]

Yes I will love to cover something along the lines of this topic again in the future 🤓🙏

[@robfinney310]

I have a Merc GLE450de. I like a phev and have run them for about 5 years now. The GLE has been horribly unreliable. It's been in the garsge for about 5 weeks even though it's only a year old. I'm definitely going to go Tesla model Y next. Your review has absolutely convinced me.

[@npoleary]

Ah awesome! Sorry to hear of your problems! By at least you’ve got your eye on the next one! Hoping to cover some more stuff soon on Tesla! Have you already got a home charge point installed?

[@tangoadvance8393]

I used these very chargers yesterday. At 81p a kWh they can all jog on. That’s nearly 1000 times more expensive than an off peak home charge. Yes a thousand times more expensive. It’s basically fraud in daylight.

[@npoleary]

Yeah I don’t know why public charging is so expensive I get that public chargers would need to be faster, but I bet you that they don’t pay that much importing it to the charger!!

[@karlhulme8014]

Range anxiety, charge rage, high prices, repair delays, huge depreciation, thermal runaway, insurance cost ( it can also affect your house insurance ! ) , tyre wear etc. etc. …. I’m about to take delivery of a diesel Mercedes.

[@npoleary]

The average range of EV’s is creeping up, some I’ve reviewed recently can almost do up to 400 miles now! EV’s today will always cost more because their running costs are less, however there are some EV’s coming out around the £30k mark which is interesting! For insurance, I’ve heard various stories that insurance has gone up for lots of people. Cool! Which one did you go for?

[@moragkerr9577]

Disclaimer, I already have an EV, and the decision was more driven by the fact that I have a good electrical supply in my garage than by the 50 kw charger that has been 5 minutes walk from my house for quite a few years now. There are aspects to EV charging that people who haven't owned one on a longer-term basis don't necessarily realise, and DC charging isn't (or shouldn't be) the main focus of the debate. EVs are most convenient when AC charged overnight wherever they're normally parked. This is usually cheaper than DC charging, and definitely a LOT cheaper if you can charge from your home electricity supply - progressing to SPECTACULARLY cheaper with a variable EV electricity tariff. I mean an order of magnitude cheaper. If you can charge at home then you literally don't care what DC chargers are in the neighbourhood - you'll never use them. If you don't have a driveway of any sort, then having a type 2 AC charger within easy walk of home is more important than a DC charger a short drive away. This is partly for cost reasons, as above, and also for convenience. It will always be more convenient to leave the car charging overnight while you do something else or sleep, than it will be to stand over it for 15 or 20 minutes at a DC charger. In addition, you can charge all the way to 100% if you want to on AC, whereas on DC charging becomes so much slower after about 80% you might as well give up and go away. With the increasing use of LFP batteries, which like being taken to 100% regularly (NMC prefers not to sit around at more than 80% as a rule) this becomes more attractive. Also, all batteries need to be taken to 100% on an AC charger and left for anything from 30 to 120 minutes to balance the cells, from time to time, and to have a

[@npoleary]

Well said! I couldn’t agree more! Most gravitate toward, I need EV’s to charge in 10 mins or I’m not swapping. When in fact, it’ll charge while you recharge your batteries! 😅 Plus it’s cheaper too. I would avoid DC’s where I can if I had one!

[@moragkerr9577]

@@npoleary When EV drivers on another thread were pointing out that it takes them mere seconds to plug in and unplug their cars, someone kept banging on about, but how long does it *actually* take to CHARGE? As if "eight hours" was a deal-breaker in these circumstances. Finally someone said, I suppose you'd never have a dishwasher either, because it takes maybe two hours to wash dishes you could wash in 20 minutes? On a motoring forum someone started a thread asking "what do you do while your car is charging?" One of the first replies was, "now you mention it, I don't think I've ever been awake while my car is charging!" I haven't used a public charger since December (when I drove to Yorkshire to visit friends) and I don't anticipate using one again till May, when I have a 450-mile trip planned. Nobody who has a convenient type 2 charger even needs to think about DC charging most of the time. The trouble is, so much media attention is given to DC charging (and its failings) that people contemplating buying an EV don't think about it this way. Public authorities are as bad. People making decisions about where to put chargers seem to concentrate far too much on DC units, and even when they do realise they should be installing AC units they often put unrealistic time limits on them. There's one charger company that has its AC chargers set to cut the power after four hours. Oh, you can leave your car there, plugged in, but they only let you get about 26 kwh, then it stops. Even in the middle of the night. It's ludicrous. We need a mind-set that sees AC as the normal way to charge an EV, and a campaign to ensure that everyone has access to a suitable AC post within maybe five minutes walk of their home. Lamp post chargers, bollards, AC posts in public and private car parks. If that was done, and it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than installing these DC monsters, the monsters would only be needed by people out on very long trips. There's a place for EVs with a very long range and that can charge up very quickly, but it's really a niche market.

[@npoleary]

Haha the dishwasher analogy is great! I love that 😅 Very true, A/C chargers would help so much with lampposts, driveways and other places suitable for A/C charging. Yes slower but technically should be cheaper. You’ll basically charge when you’re not using it. So many people have messaged me and said I need 400 - 500 miles charging in 10 mins, then I’ll switch. But would they really want to pay 80p per KW on that? AC is the way to go defo! Just need more of them! A lot more.

[@moragkerr9577]

@@npoleary I wonder how many people saying that have driveways or garages where they could charge overnight for 7p a unit? I'll bet a lot of them do. So how often do they do more than 400-500 miles round trip in a day? I'll bet they don't. Even supposing they do a lot of long motorway trips, do they really seriously intend to drive for 400-500 miles then only stop for ten minutes before driving on? How many hours are in their days? Are they eating behind the wheel, or what? We already have long range touring EVs that are fine for road trips for anyone who isn't into extreme endurance driving. Drive three hours, stop for 20 minutes. Do that again. By the time you've driven three legs you've been driving for nine hours and have probably covered more than 600 miles. With just two rest stops of 20 minutes each. I think it clicked with me immediately, because my nearest petrol station is nine miles away, and always having to think about when and where to stop (usually divert) to get petrol when I was out and about was a chore. The idea of letting the car quietly soak up electrons in the garage overnight was an instant hit. I also knew that it was a rare day indeed when I would want to drive more than 100-150 miles. People need to stop and think about this. How many days in the last year did you drive a distance that would have necessitated the need for a DC charger, if you had home (or near-home) charging that let you start every day on 100%? For me the answer was six, and two of these were a road trip I embarked on specifically to see how doable it was. (As it happens I enjoyed it so much I'm planning to do things this year I wouldn't have done in my 400-mile-range petrol car!) "Oh, but for those few days, I must have that range and that super-fast charging!" No, you don't, and you're a danger on the road if you think you do.

[@Jimbo23107]

All that about charging!,...... ice vehicles go to garage fill up drive away.

[@pgasper1]

I've had plug in hybrid c-class. That was good, cheap travelling around home and warm car in winter or cold in summer when it's hot anywhere else. I would choose electric car only if the range would be easily 1000 kilometres. Not just up to a 1000km. I currently have a diesel Audi A8 and I go 1300km on one tank with speeds within legal limits.

[@npoleary]

Wow that’s a lot of driving! You must behind the wheel a lot! 😅 How often do you do that? I barely do 16km a year 😅

[@pgasper1]

@@npoleary 3 times a year: winter skis, summer some southern Europe for sunshine and usually 1 or even 2 unplanned trips. I really considered electric car for cost and comfort reasons but charging time within travel would kill my holidays. I prefer driving for holidays, not flying. Thanks for your reply 😊

[@npoleary]

No worries! Thanks for sharing!

[@handscombmj]

Whilst I like the thought of EV’s and helping the environment, until the infrastructure and charging costs sort themselves out I think I am one more ICE car away from purchasing an EV. Assuming you can fine a charging point available the cost of charging away from home is ridiculous, as is the cost of buying and insuring an EV. I will get there but not yet. Very good thought provoking video Nick. Well done

[@npoleary]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video! I’d still say in 2024 it’s a small select few who can and will use an EV. I’d love to swap but cannot afford the actual car itself (new anyway)

[@frinosaur]

The main limitation for me is that there are absolutely no chargers near my home, the closest is a kilometer away. The sad thing is that I have a garage in a small garage complex nearby but it has no electricity. Garage owners will never agree to have it electrified in the next 10 years, and there is also no infrastructure to connect to easily. That is the main factor why no EV for me.

[@npoleary]

An thanks for sharing! Yes I’m hoping that governments think up a plan to help in this sort of situation with like a grant or something or by installing chargers into lamp posts. Something like that would help, but of course it depends on the situation.

[@BenjaminFerdinand]

I just bought an EQC 2 weeks ago, last year i wasnt even remotely considering an EV but since then, ive bought a property that can home an EV charger, which was installed last week and i have no regrets. I think EV ownership is conditional, i wouldnt buy one if i lived in a flat or somewhere i would have to rely on public charging as that is becoming extortionate now, even with my Mercedes Me subscription 😅 but i havent had a better driving experience than what ive had in the EQC. The first EV i drove was the MG5 as a courtesey car and it was amazing, and that put me on the idea of getting an EV

[@npoleary]

Ah thanks for sharing! 👍🏼🤓 Yes public charging is very expensive in some places!

[@InspectorGadget2014]

I just inherited a GLA (AMG edition) with extreme low milage and knowing I had my previous diesel car (which I still own) for over 20 years, I do not expect to go electric nor hybrid in 2024. I have driven an electric car (VW ID.3) when it was first released. Whilst I do liked it, I did miss (a wee bit) the "hands on the ground" feeling, a bit of a disconnect for me the driver from the road. But perhaps that is just me, not being used to driving in full comfort etc. There are a few things against EV's for me at the moment; they are relatively very, very expensive. Compared to ICE cars. Next to that, if you have issues/repairs with the battery, and it is not under warranty, you could get an extreme shocker (pun intended) for the repair/replacement bill. Of course it is up to the driver (read: charging habits) but the battery *can* degrade very rapidly, within 3 to 4 years, if not careful. I do believe the current generation EV's are all susceptible to too early battery-degradation purely to the current battery-technology. The good news is, that new(er) battery-technology (solid state, sodium etc) are on the horizon, so I do expect that within 3 to 4 years, battery-degradation will become a lesser issue in the long run. As for Telsa, I do appreciate the car but the build-quality (gaps, parts failing etc) and the over-engineered complexity can really bite you, if not careful. What I found impressive was how thru software-updates (which is about 70% of an EV, IMHO) Tesla is able to add features. But sadly also turn them off and even completely remove it. (I won't mention security, but that is also a thing with EV's. Including Tesla's) In the Netherlands the infrastructure is quite good for EV's. And even with the (quite substantial) costs for electric energy being ridiculously expensive, overall costs for an EV can be lower than the ICE car. (it used to be way better, including also the government funding etc). But let's be realistic, with all the measures taken by governments, the emission-free zones in towns and city's, car manufacturers more & more focussing onto EV's, eventually we all will be driving EV's. But IMHO it remains to be seen if only-EV's will happen in our life-time. As it is not only countries, but the whole world, our globe would need to do that transition. And that takes a lot of investments and efforts, not sure if we all are ready for that. In 5 years time, in 10 years time, in 20 years time. BTW, it is quite possible to also run a diesel car on alternative fuels, like (pure) sunflower oil, I have witnessed that very upclose. (without any modifications to the car)

[@npoleary]

Ah thanks for sharing! Lots of interesting points here 🤓 Yes will be interesting to see what happens in 5, 10 & 15 years!

[@profphilbell2075]

Great question Nick! To be honest, I’m am here because of the informative and helpful way you cover all things to do with Mercedes-Benz. I like really nice things with character. I don’t thing Tesla can hold a candle to Mercedes-Benz in the character and good taste stakes. So even if I do buy an EV, it will definitely be from Mercedes-Benz. So to answer your question. Probably not in Australia where I am from, any time soon. This is a very, very big country with a lot of open space, populated by nothing but plants and critters as the Americans say. I could be tempted however, to get an EV runaround. In fact it’s quite likely that I will. But, for a trip to the country, I’m taking my beautiful, petrol guzzling MB, purring along the highway like a happy cat.

[@npoleary]

Thank you! 🙏 Ah awesome! Got some exciting Mercedes content lined up soon! Yeah Australia is massive! Haha that sounds awesome too!

[@chuckskiles883]

What would make the big difference for me is the ability to fully charge in about the same amount of time it takes to fill up my gas tank. I don’t see that happening anytime soon, but I wouldn’t be in the market to change vehicles again until 2026, things may improve by then. I’m on my second GLC 300 and we love it. Since I’m retired and don’t drive my car every day fuel savings, while nice, is not as big an issue as it would be driving to work daily. Luxury , finishes and Dealer service are important to me and I don’t see that with Tesla like I do with my Mercedes.

[@npoleary]

Charging speeds are getting faster! I was only at a chargepoint the other day for about 10 mins and was good to go again to finish the journey. It was very impressive!

[@specialkcitizen6263]

I cannot recommend enough to buy a second hand ev. The sweet spot is 3 years old. You can get them with very low mileage. I would r recommend a Tesla. If on a budget a model 3 would be the one t o look at. If you can charge at home it's a no brainer. Evs are cool, and Teslas are very fast

[@gregthompson3231]

I loved this video as usual. Here are my thoughts on an EV. In 2016 I thought that I was ready for an EV. I wanted a car, that looked like a car. Unfortunately most EV's (not all) look like a playskool vehicle. Some call it a sucked on piece of candy. You know I love my Mercedes, however even the EQ lineup, why do they make them look like cheap plastic with weird front ends. That aside, my main concern as we have discussed is Fire. Yes, all cars can catch fire. However Lithium burns hotter, and faster, and the stats are out there to support the endless hours to try and put one out. Charging. I love that they are always adding them everywhere, however I don't drive that much. And it would be annoying to me that every time I parked my car, I felt I needed to plug it in. Currently both my new Mercedes do not have 500 miles on either. So I am not the norm. Keeping an EV for a long period might be costly with Battery Replacement. Sure, petrol cars might need a new engine, but they are not 30k plus for an engine. So for me, here are my must have's. Create a battery, or energy storage system that can prevent, or stop thermal runaway. Maybe solid storage. Create a car that doesn't look like a plastic toy kids would play with. Just a normal current style. Maybe better warranty, or extended for the battery, or storage system.

[@npoleary]

All good points! Thanks for sharing! (Glad you enjoyed the video!) Manufacturers have tried to improve range which does cause this shape you’ve seen. Although good for range of course it alter’s the car’s appearance. We’ll have to see where it goes in the coming years! 😇

[@essexandy189]

I got myself a New shooting brake 250e which i Love but as i don’t own my home or my parking space iv’e been turned down for a home charger so i will be going back to petrol instead of full electric

[@npoleary]

Ah very nice! Like the CLA 250e’s!

[@DavidSmith-wu3sp]

Make the jump to EV though a salary sacrifice scheme and having a home charger installed. Charging at home costs is one of the reasons I made the jump, the car can do 210 miles for £4.70. It would be a different story if I was buying an EV as they are too expensive with depreciation being high. I think this will change as battery technology is improving and so is recyclability of batteries.

[@npoleary]

Nice! What home charger have you gone for?

[@johngriffiths2547]

I have the new CLCe Hybrid. The range is very good, but the problem is when you are away from home, say a weekend away, trying to find a charger, the cost and the time it takes to charge. Its a right hassle. When you find one, invariably they don't work, you have to plug in the cable and wait for a few hours just to get between 60-80 miles. Whats more its flipping expensive. So, no, I wont bother again, been put off by EV's. A very disappointing experience. Thank goodness I can revert to petrol.

[@npoleary]

It all depends which charger you use for speeds. EV’s can charge via DC which is much faster than AC charging on a hybrid. But I do appreciate there are added costs.

[@mickwreay3034]

EQA250 owner and love it. I am however astounded by the hatred and general ignorance of non-EV owners. There is no pressure to buy an EV for at least 11 years 🤔 Mostly I hear all the same old anti-EV stories that do the rounds. Living in Germany I find the network easy to use, however I mainly charge at home.

[@npoleary]

Yes ☝️ agreed! I’m open to it! And will probably get one in the future, I’m excited for it!

[@fmsantoscar]

I have just purchased an EQE sedan. Best car I’ve had. Will never go back to ICE cars!

[@npoleary]

Awesome what colour did you go for? 🤓

[@fmsantoscar]

@@npoleary I got the selenite grey with the 21 inch AMG RW1 wheels.

[@npoleary]

Nice! 👌🏼

[@parenteseswebdev]

I bought a Merc from Mercedes and now were trying to sell it 7 months later and it's lost thousands 6 grand. I'll write a review and warn others. Were moving to eu so hense the sale.

[@npoleary]

Was that a new one? I bought a new one and would be in a similar position (apart from the selling part). New cars regardless of who makes them will always do that so unavoidable sadly :(

[@RpR_Makes]

Nick, the problem with EV’s for me is that they are an emerging technology and everyone buying one is test driver for the manufacturers. It is a bit like Betamax and VHS. I feel that until the industry sets a standard for rapid charging (like Tesla superchargers) then it is not practical for drivers to buy cars that use different charger types, with different charge speeds. This maybe why people think let the industry sort itself out first with either EV, Hybrid, synthetic fuels or continuation of efficient petrol and diesel cars. When it has settled a winner will emerge. Governments should not however be allowed to force a decision.

[@npoleary]

Yes I do agree that governments should not force, they do enough forcing with regulations and rules which manufacturers have to follow which affects the user experience enough to make it annoying. (Another topic for another day) We’ll have to see what happens in the coming years! Thanks for watching and commenting! 👍🏼🤓

[@claveh5790]

I have a Fiat 500e on a lease and charge at home but I will not be buying one and that's not because I don't adore the car, I ❤ it! I'll explain: The cost to buy, repair, service, insure and very shortly tax too are really high and it's just far too expensive 😢, I'm also very fearful that the car will suddenly just burst into flames or get stuck at 30mph as someone has reported in Scotland. I live in a town in the South West but charging around the area is poor, if charging was as good as Tesla charging that might be different. Depreciation seems an issue, insurance expensive and repair or write off to battery is too. I do try not to be negative but it's hard with EVs.😢 XXX

[@npoleary]

Yes tax is a thing to consider Free at the moment but what happens when it changes? I hope it’s cheap at the very least! Let’s hope charging infrastructure continues to grow! 👍🏼

[@TB-up4xi]

Australia has had BEVs since 2013, 200,000 on the road in 2023, the number of charging related fires in those 11 years? .......0. In fact the total number of fires for BEVs in 2023 was 4, of which 1 was arson and 1 was a detached battery left out in the rain, = 20 fires per year per million cars on the road. In 2022 Australia had 20.7 million petrol and diesel cars on the road, between 2022 and 2023 there were 44,091 ICE car fires - that's 1,035 fires per year per million cars on the road. Your BEV is infinely less likey to catch fire than an ICE or Hybrid car - be safe.

[@claveh5790]

Thanks for that information ​@@TB-up4xireassuring to hear the drop of truth in the sea of lies. XXX

[@jameson1895]

When I can tow my 2 berth touring caravan to Cornwall from the Midlands on one charge and charge the car with the caravan still attached I might think more seriously about it

[@npoleary]

Don’t think they’ll ever be able to do that sadly! Not for a long time at the very least. But you raise a valid point! Towing anything with an EV is amazing the torque is available right across the board. The huge negative is the range, it has a massive effect. Anyone who tows, I can’t recommend an EV at all, have to stick with Diesel (ideally). Petrol works too but diesel would be better 👍🏼

[@jameson1895]

Yes, absolutely right Nick - that’s why I bought a CLA SB 220d a few weeks back, having towed with several C Class 220d saloons over the years

[@npoleary]

Very nice! 👍🏼

[@labilabi678]

I decided to make the switch to an hybrid , brand new GLE350DE, hoping I would get a cool car , given the price charging and brand. But was totally disappointed because : endless issues with finding an available charging point as most were unavailable and too expensive . Even when found had to wait 1 hour because of the queues , times more , to get the battery charged . As such ended up using my hybrid on diesel only . As well electric charging proved very expensive . Further the performance of the car for the brand , expectations and price was very poor! So given that I was using the hybrid exclusively on diesel I reached the conclusion that was pointless to keep the car any longer as the original purpose failed . So, bought a brand new GLE450d and I am with it, it is cheaper even if it has a higher engine than 350de.

[@npoleary]

Ah fair enough! I’m guessing you couldn’t charge at home? This is where most benefits in terms of cost will help. Glad you managed to sort something in the end though, I’ve driven a GLE 450d before and it was really smooth, lovely engine!

[@labilabi678]

@@npoleary yes, could not charge at home . But still happy I ditched it as the performance was very sluggish , given the money paid and reputation of the brand .

[@kenjacobsen4767]

Never, takes to long to charge it. Can not go long distance. If you do you have waste time standing around waiting for it to charge and that is if you can find a charging station on your route.

[@npoleary]

Charge times for me to complete a journey the other day were to the toilet and back to the car. It said I was good to go in less than 10 mins! Charging at home is while you sleep but public charging is much faster.

[@stuartbaker4444]

I have an A 200 Mercedes and four motorcycles. I’m a petrol head. I love the sound the feeling the smell of petrol engines. Taking them apart tuning and servicing them. I don’t even like diesel. So would never enter my head to buy an electric car. What are you supposed to do with them. Put different tyres on. Maybe an electric scooter to commute to work and back. Otherwise I don’t get them at all. I nearly got run over by one I didn’t hear it coming that didn’t help either.😂

[@npoleary]

4 motorcycles? 😅 what a collection! Wow! 😯

[@jlrguy2702]

I bought an EV, 2 years ago, but even with nearly 300 miles range it was too annoying with work, even the normal commute is 150 miles, some days it's 280 miles and just have to charge it every single day to make sure I had enough for the next day, permanently needing to charge it to 100% as I didn't know if I would need the extra range the next day. Times money, I don't have time to sit at charger stations for 20/30 minutes, as it's not just that 20/30 minutes it's also having to get to the charger station, probably another 5-15 mins even if it is on the motorway, I've still got to find an empty charge bay, glad I got a tesla so it's all pretty straight forward in that respect though. What most people don't factor in though is that 30 minutes is not just time, it's £60 in lost revenue for me, or time I could spend with the family, and my time is more precious to me as I can't get it back. So we kept the Model X for the Mrs and went back to using a diesel, 850 miles range on one tank I need to fill up once a week and takes me 10 minutes a week to fill up, no messing about it the wet when I get homes, no cold cables to handle in the morning, no fannying about at customers trying to see if a charger is free or getting someone to move their car for me, or stopping on the motorway. Then there's the warranty, great 150k miles 8yrs, that's fine except 4yrs and I'll be out of warranty passing the 150k, plus even with the cheap home charger It would still cost me nearly £20 to top it up from 5-10%, around £80 per week, for what I pay £85 for in my diesel. Travelling to Europe which I do each month was a pain in the ass leaving the car at the airport and needing to make sure there was enough charge to get home. Just generally having to think about the state of charge, every time I had something to do, plan in stops if needed, it's all too much hassle. plus if I have to stop even to get a charge just enough to get home, say 40% it's still 15 mins charge and 25 minutes of my day wasted, so the cost to me is around £55 in time and £20 in charge costs. For someone who travels less than 40 miles a day most days and has 250 miles plus of range that only needs to charge every week or so, EVs are great, especially if you drive into towns and cities, they are no brainer, where time is not something that valuable to you if you need to stop and charge it doesn't matter. Even if you get a 100 mile range and only need to travel 10 miles per day, there's some cheap motoring to be had. For me, it just didn't suit my daily needs.

[@npoleary]

All good points! Thanks for sharing!

[@supervillan326]

I was considering an EV, (I was really tempted by the top of the range Kia EV6), but have decided against it, although not for the standard reasons such as higher cost of purchase, range anxiety, infrastructure issues, rising electricity costs and charging times. Firstly, battery’s are not environmentally friendly, (there is no clean way to dispose of them so they will all end up in landfills as things stand). EV’s may not even be CO2 friendly if you don’t know how the electricity you’re using is being generated. Secondly, insurance costs are becoming a real issue as the write off threshold for EV’s is a lot lower due to the high cost of repairs. With insurance companies having to write off expensive EV’s for damage they would repair on a normal car, premiums are soaring. Thirdly, the depreciation is shocking as there is no second hand market. Dealers don’t want second hand EV’s because they can’t tell how degraded the batteries might be, (mileage and age is not a good indicator of battery health). The high cost of replacing EV batteries is prohibitive, so they can’t resell them. If you research the price of second hand e-Trons, Tesla’s and Porsche Taycans for example, you will find there are lots of them available and the prices are a fraction of their original RRP. Fourth, EV’s don’t last as long as traditional cars. The aforementioned battery degradation means they will become progressively more difficult to drive reasonable distances between charges. Once this becomes a significant problem after 6-8 years, the car won’t be easy to sell and certainly not without taking a large financial hit, so the best option will be to buy a new car which will be more cost effective than replacing the batteries, (further compounding the future issue of what to do with all the depleted batteries). Finally, EV parts are in short supply, with many manufacturers, (Tesla in particular), prioritising parts for new car manufacture over parts for repair and maintenance. Repair times on EV’s can often take weeks / months, even for simple routine maintenance or minor damage. For all these reasons, I’ve decided to stick with petrol / diesel for the next few years.

[@npoleary]

Fair enough 👍🏼 What petrol / diesel car did you go for? All of your points are something to consider for sure! Regarding the batteries and environmental impact, sadly everything we do will always have an impact but I guess it’s how manufacturers and what they do to help offset some of it. Apple have been making a a very good stance on that recently in their keynote presentations! I’ve too also heard about the insurance issues with some EV’s, I did get a quote for the Tesla Model Y I drove and it was only a couple of hundred more than what I pay now. (It’s a lot faster than mine so that’s expected). But I have heard from others especially around London that it can be very expensive. Depreciation always happens in cars, I think people would be shocked at the depreciation of my own car, but that’s just what happens with new cars. Maybe another video for another day. Thanks for watching and sharing! 🤓👍🏼🤓

[@supervillan326]

Think I’ll be buying and selling my CLA35 at the end of my PCP then getting a Cupra Ateca 300 Vzn on PCP. I can’t justify the cost of owning and running the Mercedes sadly, (or leasing a new one given the sharp increase in leasing costs over the past 4yrs - I really wanted to upgrade to a CLA45 S).😢 By flipping my current car, the profit when offset against the cost of the lease, should mean the CLA 35 only cost me around £300 per month to lease over the last 4yrs including the full maintenance package. This feels like the sensible approach and I should still get some decent thrills from the new car, (albeit without the premium CLA interior luxury). Great channel by the way. You have a very nice style / manner to your presenting and your videos have been all incredibly informative over the last 4 years, (Mercedes related and otherwise). Keep up the fantastic work! 👍👏🙂

[@npoleary]

Oooo nice a CLA 35! Very good! One of my favourites. Well this is one of the main reasons why I have started to diversify and cover more topics than I have done before. Prices have risen steeply and after months of research last year I decided to get started and cover more brands than I have done before. There will be plenty of people who currently have a nice premium luxury car who sadly just can’t quite stretch to the next new model. Myself included possibly in the future, I can only just about afford an A 180 😂 So I decided to start covering other brands in preparation for when people may choose other cars. I don’t want to lose my fans! 😅 I do know someone at Seat, so could check them out in the future 👀 For now though I’ve made videos on Mercedes, BMW, VW and Tesla. Soon in the summer, Dashcams as well!

[@Paul-sd8vk]

Wow, some very uninformed ‘facts’ you have there. It is interesting how people make stuff up to justify their reason for not wanting to make a change. Eg “routine maintenance takes weeks/months”. Such rubbish. Tesla do not even require maintenance, and any crash shop can do minor damage in the exact time and manner of any other car.

[@supervillan326]

@@Paul-sd8vk Wow! Why does every exchange on social media have to be an argument between people entrenched in their respective positions and unwilling to consider opposing viewpoints?! Respectfully, my brother had a Tesla for 4 years and had a huge wait every time he needed anything done to the car. For the last year he owned it, he spent more time driving curtesy cars than his Tesla, (and some of those issues were only for wheel damage after curbing his car). He had none of the “standard worries” I have, loved the car, got an amazing tax break on the lease costs and powered his car at home via solar panels at no cost, yet he’s now recently gone back to a petrol powered golf. Unlike you I suspect, I don’t have an agenda, (as I said, despite my brother’s Tesla experience, I was very seriously considering the Kia EV6 before I started doing some EV research). The results of my research, (as shared in my comments), put me off. I genuinely don’t care about the choices others make and I have no desire to influence the decisions of other people. I’ve merely shared my own decision based on the research I’ve done, (as requested by Nick). Everyone is free to do their own research and reach their own conclusions. Feel free to agree, (or disagree in your case), as you see fit, but given the time I took to lay out the logic and the reasoning, you could at least respect the research and the decision, then present your own counter “facts” as you understand them. Believe it or not, I’ve not ordered my new car yet and am still very open to being persuaded, (one of the reasons I posted in fact). I REALLY like the top of the range Kia EV6! I suspect that because of your own unconscious, (or conscious), bias, you’ve played the man instead of the ball. Hardly a credible counter argument, as opposed to actually addressing the legitimate concerns I raised about the downsides of going EV?!🤨

[@mohammadtariq1541]

Not sure yet about EV😮

[@PhilT993]

Funny you should ask. I live in Canada and traded out of a Mercedes ML350 into my new Tesla Model 3 Long Range in December 2020. I am definitely a car guy and have owned over 50 cars in my many decades. I have worked on cars and raced cars for many years so I understand them. The Tesla has been very reliable through winters and summers and has been seamless to take on many long trips. I charge mostly at home on a 240v outlet. I have though grown very weary of the loud road noise, harsh ride, stark interior and many other concerns. I maintain that Tesla makes the best EVs , but they don't make the best cars. I also want to trade back into an SUV. I drive myself crazy trying to decide what to buy next. I would like to stay with an EV, but the DC Fast Charging network (CCS) where I live is pathetic, so unfortunately Tesla is the only option for a future EV at this point. Now that all other EVs are starting to get access to the Tesla Superchargers, I think it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better in 3-4 years. I think I will go back to ICE while that works itself out. I keep coming back to Mercedes as my preferred choice for their safety tech, ride, comfort and luxury interior. I won't ask you to answer here, but ask yourself, if I offered to buy you that Model Y or a top spec GLC300 to drive as your daily for the next 4 years, which one would you rather own? Cheers, Phil

[@npoleary]

Ah awesome! Thanks for sharing! Yes there are interesting times ahead for sure and one of the reasons for me covering more manufacturers than before. Choosing a Tesla Model Y or Mercedes GLC 300? Well I would love an EV for my next car but there are certainly other factors to consider for just those two models. Running a Mercedes GLC 300 petrol here in the UK would be very expensive for me, I often travel across the UK covering various manufacturers so that would be costly. I now have an Ohme Chargepoint at home so a Tesla would be better here. However, swap the GLC for a diesel or even better a plug-in hybrid then I’d probably consider one of those. I’d have to do some number crunching! Either way both would be better than my current car, we have a puppy at the moment who’s growing! Haha 😅

[@PhilT993]

@@npoleary My ML350 was a diesel and it was great until it wasn't. The Bluetec system was very clean, but is a very complex system. When it started to give problems it was very expensive to fix. Diesel fuel, for some reason is just about the same price as premium fuel here now, so that blows diesel out of the water here. Just not worth it anymore. Also Mercedes Canada hasn't made any diesels available here ever since "Dieselgate" years ago. I have considered PHEV as well, but the GLE 450e is just a bit long to fit into my garage and still get through the door behind it. Again, strangely the GLC PHEV is not offered here yet either. So this brings me back to the GLC 300 4Matic. Not particularly looking forward to the premium fuel at about $1.75CDN per litre or the VERY expensive Mercedes Service A, Service B schedule again, but that is just the cost of ownership. Love the Mercedes safety systems of Radar, U/S sensors and cameras instead of theTesla system which has only cameras now. In my experience they can't "see" well in bad weather and fail to operate properly, giving warnings on the screen while forcing the car to slow down. My car came with radar and ultrasonic sensors, which worked well until Tesla decided to turn them off through a software "upgrade".

[@WakieB113]

I have a Toyota bZ4X I’m trying to get rid of it due to poor range and terrible charging speeds…..charging speeds are one of the most important things about an EV

[@npoleary]

Some EV’s can charge quite fast now but it will always cost more. Can you charge at home? 🤓

[@RussellBrown-qi1rp]

I had a brief experience of an EQC, and while it was a nice car, I would never buy a car with anything less than a stated range of 350+ miles. Real world range on the EQC was more like 180 miles, and that was with minimal to no heating on!

[@npoleary]

It makes a huge difference when cars have a heat pump. Some newer Mercedes (ones released since the EQC) are way more efficient in the winter so the range loss isn’t as bad.

[@RussellBrown-qi1rp]

Don't heat pumps only help with reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling the car, and pre-conditioning the battery temperature ready for fast charging? I would have liked to try an EQS, which of course has a significantly bigger battery also. Mercedes PHEV leads the way on electric range, but sadly I don't think I will buy another Mercedes after the way I have been treated. I have been waiting for parts longer than it would take to get a new GLE 350de, and Mercedes have ignored suggestions to take my car as trade in or buy it off me, and haven't even extended my warranty, something I have had to pay for even though I am without the car. Why would anyone in there right mind pay over £80k for a GLE PHEV to end up driving a £40k diesel. May just as well spend less in the first place or chose another brand. I am leaning towards an X5 50e.

[@ronniebrown6225]

I have driven a few EV's and the least liked is Tesla, purely because I find them bland and boring. As for charging network I did a quick check ( most recent figures I could find) London has 18,628 public charging points. Scotland has 4696 and within that Glasgow 400, Edinburgh 397, Aberdeen 168 and Dundee 177. which leaves 3554 to cover every other area in Scotland from the Borders up to John O'Groats this also includes islands such as Skye. Arran etc. Personally, I don't think electric cars are the long-term future. I would only consider a mild hybrid ( self charging) and even then that's to help with fuel economy. but at 67 years of age I'm not the target for EV sales.

[@npoleary]

Ah interesting in the charge points Well it grows and grows everyday, I only found that one local to me when getting fuel 😅 Still more work to do though!

[@CATCHMOUSKY1949]

Hello Nick, the only way electric will take off is if people have the confidence that the batteries will last as long as a normal petrol/diesel car ie 15 to twenty years, you have to move all the lease cars after three years and at the moment the garage forecourts are full of them and knowone will purchase them for fear of the battery condition, there will have to be a insurance system to cover the huge replacement cost of a new battery, manufacturers are selling these vehicles at huge losses to them the whole EV market is collapsing, China has huge areas of thousands of EV rotting in fields brand new never registered, then there is the risk of fire and the potential destructive power of such a runaway in your garage, I have a Volkswagen blue motion Golf sixty five thousand miles and like new, I have had it eleven years never had any problems with it only ever taxed and insured it and it has never failed a M.O.T now convince me that an EV would be my next car, I tell you what do a program on the depreciation garage visits and costs of repairs of EV's and the replacement cost of a three year old EV's battery?they all look good when they are shiny new however what about the family man two children mortgage just surviving and the potential risk of a EV and that's the problem with them! you can purchase a three year old diesel and if you look after it you can expect 15/20 years of use will the battery in an EV still be working after this time probably maybe with a range of about ten miles if lucky and the value of the car will be net zero, electric cars are losing 50/% in the first year so you would think this is the time to purchase one if you are a gambler ,

[@npoleary]

They’re all good points however all EV manufacturers offer a warranty on their batteries. Usually 8 years or sometimes even 10. So even if something went wrong, it would be replaced as long as the user looked after it of course just like any car. In terms of depreciation, all cars depreciate (well most of them anyway 😅) especially new ones, of course some more than others. We’ll just have to watch this space and see what happens in the coming years 🙏

[@Paul-sd8vk]

I’ve sold 3 tesla model S on a car selling website each at least 5 years old with zero issues making a sale quickly.

[@vheverett]

No point until solid state batteries are the norm, prices of current expensive EVs will crash when these batteries reduce weight and increase range, and reduce charge times.

[@npoleary]

I’ve heard of solid state batteries but not seen anyone buy them in a car yet (unless I’ve missed it)

[@vheverett]

@@npolearyyou cant yet but they are due on Toyota/Nissan from 2025, Ford and BMW have an option on them. They will likely be very expensive initially but will affect the prices of existing non solid state battery cars . The weight saving will likely increase the number of miles per kWh. Plus fast charging is inherent as there are no liquids they can take more heat. 20% more range, 10 minute fast charging and ranges proposed of 600mls provided weight is kept in check and aerodynamic designs chosen. Personally I think plugin hybrids make a lot of sense currently, they would make more sense if they were plugin hybrid diesels. I'm not anti-full EVs I have driven one and liked it just too pricey for me currently.

[@andrewwilson3448]

Would I change to an EV or plug in hybrid - still a definite No. Why? Because of the reasons that are not normally considered: 1. The national Grid currently (no pun intended) could not cope with the projected number of EVs and plug-in hybrids. There would need to be a major overhaul of the system which would cost billions (based on the need for additional nuclear powered generating stations). 2. Probably the government will start charging VED for EVs as the amount of revenue from petrol/diesel drops. 3. Possible charging per mile could be introduced for all vehicles. 4. Due to the large number of different charging points, there is confusion over the amount charged and the number of apps required to cover all charging types. 5. Like all rechargeable batteries, there are recommended ways of charging that will not be followed by all EV owners. This will result in battery degradation and reduced mileage. Will this put owners off. Also, what happens when the battery needs replacement, as it eventually will, what infrastructure is in place for recycling/replacement and at what cost? 6. Insurance costs are starting to rise for EVs at a greater rate than for ICEs due to reports of fires and costly repairs. In addition, there are not the number of service centres to be able to cope with the projected numbers of cars requiring service and/or repair. 7. Lastly, EVs are a cul-de-sac that governments and manufacturers are leading us down. In 10 years time it will be seen as a costly mistake.

[@npoleary]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🏼

[@joeclifford4953]

Just a second point for evs is the battery life, which reflects on the second-hand residual value. Evidence suggests they are a huge liability as they approach the 8 year mark.

[@npoleary]

Hmmm, most EV manufacturers offer warranty up to 8 years and sometimes 10 years. And yet they do live on much longer than the warranty period. Guess we’ll have to kind of watch this space and keep an eye on it!

[@joeclifford4953]

@npoleary True. Renault makes you lease the battery separately, which is an additional cost to ownership

[@npoleary]

Do they still do that? I presumed they stopped that 🤷‍♂️

[@Paul-sd8vk]

Not sure what evidence you are referring to, but its super easy to go online in australia and see that 8 year old tesla’s do actually sell and yes they sell for less than the purchase price, but that depreciation is actually slightly better than most equivalent ice cars.

[@joeclifford4953]

​@Paul-sd8vk Hi Paul. Australia does not represent the rest of the world and only a very small percentage of Tesla sales. Look around and you will see a sea of scrap yards full of Teslas that are uneconomical repairs

[@jamesbrown120779]

Nick - I have a PHEV C class

[@npoleary]

Ah nice! 👌🏼 You enjoying it?

[@user-backtobikes]

I bought a Mercedes EQC in January but when we initially saw the car we didn’t know it was electric I had never even contemplated buying an electric car but after the test drive we went ahead and bought it not knowing anything really about EV’s

[@npoleary]

Ah awesome! Have you got a charger installed at home? 🤓

[@user-backtobikes]

@@npoleary yes I had a Pod point charger installed a week after I got the car and it’s very good

[@waynejohn8]

Sadly, living in South Africa is a non-starter. the grid here and Eskom is a f@@up!!!

[@npoleary]

Maybe it might develop in the future? Fingers crossed!

[@SeersantLoom]

One can't really say "the infrastructure is getting there" only by seeing charging stations popping up. These can and will be throttled down to trickle chargers when grid usage is nearing max capacity. With EV-s getting more common, electricity prices will go up. Probably up to a point where there is little difference between EV and ICE. EV-s are pushed and hyped as tech that will save the planet but not everything is not as green as it may seem. As for me, EV-s are both out of reach and also not a complete replacement for my current ICE car. Not enough cargo space/seats, low range, issues operating in cold. I would not take Tesla, even as a paid job owning/driving one. I may be overreacting here but it is a driving spy cam and security risk, like every other newer car that has its own internet connection. I like simple cars, the less gizmos the better. Much easier to pass annual inspection when there are less devices that can go wrong.

[@npoleary]

When I say that I’m comparing it to how it was years ago. To clarify there is still a long way to go, but the more chargepoints that pop up the better! And it’s not all about DC charging as these always cost more. AC charging (often at home) is where it works for most EV owners. Although again I will add, not everyone can do this so again this is where there’s still work to do. Still in 2024, it’s a choice and won’t be suitable for everyone! 🤓

[@RichardAylward-lu1pc]

I have switched to EV and have a home charging wallbox I will not be going back

[@npoleary]

Nice! 👌🏼

[@user-qg8qw1kq5w]

Had self charging hybrid plug in hybrid and 2 full electric much prefer the full electric have a charger at home & charge over night had Tesla model 3 loved it have a EQA NOT A TESLA but it’s a good car not such a stiff ride as the Tesla

[@npoleary]

Nice! Yeah charging at home is the way to go! Much cheaper than public charging!

[@christ0001]

Even I if ignore the serious lacking of charging infrastructure and the vast distances of this island continent, by the time I consider replacing my current car, hydrogen fuel cars may start to be ramping up for mass production if not already so. I am hedging my bet on that instead.

[@npoleary]

Fair enough! 🤓 Some brand have made concept hydrogen cars but for some reason it hasn’t taken off. Not sure why, could be a video idea one day! 🤓

[@TB-up4xi]

Hydrogen is dead and was the worst idea ever for car transport. All of the private hydrogen stations in the Nordics are being decommissioned rapidly, by the end of Q1 2024 there will be no commercial hydrogen stations in Sweden, Norway or Denmark, Shell is decomissioning all their hydrogen stations in California due to supply and maintenance cost issues. Toyota is offering $40k discounts (yes $12k for a formerly $52k car) in the US to get rid of them. The only way to make hydrogen in enough volume for cars is by passing electricity through it (which gets you 40% as far in a fuel cell vehicle than using that same electriricy to power a BEV directly) or splitting it from fossil fuel. BTW if you are contemplating a hydrogen combustion engine - they are not only less efficient than a fuel cell, they are less efficient than a petrol engine and still produce high NOX levels. You also might be surprised at the charging infratructure in Australia - especially for Tesla, I drove Sydney to Melbourne last boxing day - plenty of empty chargers at Gundagai and Euroa on the way it was cheaper and faster than in my Audi pterol, on a trip to WA we even came across a supercharger at Lancelin, WA, I think the population doubled when we rocked up....

[@Professor-Jack]

99 thumbs up only with 1,117 views come on guys ladies get your thumbs out

[@npoleary]

Haha thanks Professor Jack, if people want to like, they can like! Or message me, that way I can reply! 😜