With the weight of many EVs that’ll be a ‘thing’ to be concerned about, especially suspension parts.
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Only for certain low powered models, thankfully.
Yep, but all cars have those! And they wear out on all cars!
You said…
I said…
“You missed off tyres and suspension components.”
Eh?
Most cars have brake pads and brake fluid, not all I grant but most. And these wear out too just like a battery powered car. 
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Just to complicate things, I want to point out that brake pads don’t wear out nearly as quickly on EVs because a lot of the braking is done by the regenerative braking system (recharging the EV’s main battery).
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I know. They are a pain in the arse on country roads because they won’t maintain a consistent speed because they slow down on the descents to charge the battery but this action isn’t accompanied by brake lights. I just have to get past at the earliest opportunity.
It probably varies by the car. My wife’s BMW i3 does put the brake lights on when the regenerative braking system kicks in. And EVs don’t automatically slow down going downhill. It depends what the driver does with the main pedal, just like on any car.
I have to contest this statement. In my experience, both of our BMW’s gave regular trouble, and cost a fortune to keep on the road. My Vauxhall Vivaro van has passed all its MOT’s without any cost other than the test fee itself, and it has never once broken down. My van is 7 years old, is on its factory fitted exhaust, has had one change of brake pads, and obviously service items are renewed whenever applicable.
It does not accelerate as well as my old BMW did, but I’m not in that much of a hurry these days. Remarkably, it IS as comfortable, both to sit in and to drive.
I have to admit that there is no kudos in driving an old van, but my self esteem is in good order, so I’m OK with that.
Now here’s the really good part. My van is worth more than I paid for it. I recently rejected an offer of £4k more than I paid for it.
Having had regular access to good cars (Ferrari, Lambo’s, Bentleys etc), and the middle management fleet/lease cars (BMW, Audi, Lexus etc.), I find all they are actually any good for is propping up one’s ego. Despite being able to afford any of the aforementioned cars, both to buy and keep on the road, I find myself with yet another van. Go figure. Each to their own I guess.
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Yea thats what i meant, all cars have them and they wear out, consumables
EVs no oil changes, no filters, no spark plugs. No timing belts.Essentially 1 moving part in the motor and a much simpler gearbox.
They do have a mother of a high voltage system, but so far they seem pretty reliable.
4 BMWs so far - 3 ICEs and an EV (i3). Quite a few issues with the ICEs mostly under warranty, but my 335d was just a disaster and I sold it just before warranty expiry as it would have cost me a kidney per year.
The most reliable has been the i3 - trouble-free in fact, however servicing (twice) has been just under £400 each time and no one at BMW has been able to explain to me coherently what exactly is being done apart from getting the car in and out, plugging it in and essentially “having a look” and making sure my brake pads, tyres and wheels are ok and there.
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I have driven BMWs for about 30 years and have just gotten rid of my 325i after 12 years. The services had gotten worse and more expensive. I did use a good independent for a bit but at some point he said that the electronics were just getting too complex for him to manage sensibly. So back to the main dealer! Apart from the suspension, my biggest recent cost was the replacement of the fuel injectors. Which to my astonishment had chips in them!! so a year ago, no one could get chips and I had a bells and whistle 320M courtesy car. It was truly awful to drive, I was desperate to get mine back but with 140k on the clock was becoming too expensive to service. Bought a EV and while it is full of frustrating elements, probably because I was so used to my BMWs, I wouldn’t go back to a petrol car. They are well worth considering.
Did you buy a full ev or a hybrid and what did you choose?thanks
What strange opinions and what’s all this ego, kudos or status? I’m talking about build quality, safety and driver experience, not shallowy how I feel.
BTW IMO vans are great and full of kudos or whatever you want to label it. Rich houses have on them driveways. It’s an indication they’re an active household. Perhaps you’ve not driven a recent VW Caddy or Transporter?
I’ve had Vauxhall for 30 years and glad to get rid of them. They’re poorly built, cost a lot to keep on the roads after about 8-9 years and parts fail way before then.
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Not the first time I’ve been accused of having strange opinions, and I suspect not the last either.
I’ve had a few transporters in my time and I fail to see what the fuss about them is. Just expensive imo.
I guess we have had very different experiences with Vauxhall. I love mine and hope it lasts many more years.
I’ve got a couple of good BMW specialists nearby and they charge c£60/hour. Both are established businesses, and both have good reputations.
I always think the word “technician” means “fitter”, and that actual mechanics are an increasingly rare breed.
It seems to be the same with plumbing and heating: you can be Gas Safe accredited etc, but really not understand (or care) what you are doing.
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I had a similar thought when driving my Peugeot hybrid. With engine breaking on the use of the brakes is much reduced. I’m not sure if the lights come on when braking is activated but they should
Brake lights do come in on my Polestar when charging on coast down.
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All EVs and hybrids have to light up brake lights above a certain degree of deceleration by law I believe. Independent of using the brake ie just in regen.
Of course my automatic ICE Volvo doesn’t light up the brake lights when I hold it in a low gear to slow down…
Bruce
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A full EV. I eventually went for a Tesla. Yes, I know! And it is full of quirks but I’m getting used to it. The biggest issue for me is that all controls are on a screen rather than on at the end of stalks on the steering column. I find that distracting!
I deciding a hybrid didn’t count as you still used petrol which if course was the point of getting an EV. I have the longer range so get over 300 miles on a charge. And that costs £40 at a supercharge cost or about half that at home.
Fair point. My alternate view is that 90% of the time at least my hybrid runs purely fully electric. And hybrid means that when I do a long run (on holiday we had a 600km drive in a day) I can complete it without long stops to charge
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