Hi All
I've set up this separate thread on this question of whether EV conversions are economically worthwhile for city commuting in New Zealand as the question was popping up elsewhere. Let's for a moment assume the economics is all that matters (Yes, I know it isn't but this is an exercise!)
Let's say you do an EV conversion for $20,000 on your existing car and it lasts 10 years. Let's say your existing car would have also lasted 10 years as a petrol car - so we've cancelled out a lot of comparative costs. Let's put no value on your conversion time as this is a fun project.
Let's also assume an interest rate of between 6% and 14%. That would be loan repayments of $51 to $71 a week to finance depending on whether you have put it on a mortgage or a personal loan.
With a regular city commute plus weekend driving I would think that an equivalent saving of that sort of money is expected, so from those that claim it is uneconomic, what are the costs that blow out the figures? Am I overestimating savings? Will the battery need to be replaced at huge cost early?
On the plus side to this calcuation is lower mechnical maintenance costs - what do they amount to? Also there is an expected rising cost of petrol - what savings contribution is that likely to be. I am also imagining the future cost of electricity may be constrained by advances in home electricity generation - do you agree?
Richard
I've set up this separate thread on this question of whether EV conversions are economically worthwhile for city commuting in New Zealand as the question was popping up elsewhere. Let's for a moment assume the economics is all that matters (Yes, I know it isn't but this is an exercise!)
Let's say you do an EV conversion for $20,000 on your existing car and it lasts 10 years. Let's say your existing car would have also lasted 10 years as a petrol car - so we've cancelled out a lot of comparative costs. Let's put no value on your conversion time as this is a fun project.
Let's also assume an interest rate of between 6% and 14%. That would be loan repayments of $51 to $71 a week to finance depending on whether you have put it on a mortgage or a personal loan.
With a regular city commute plus weekend driving I would think that an equivalent saving of that sort of money is expected, so from those that claim it is uneconomic, what are the costs that blow out the figures? Am I overestimating savings? Will the battery need to be replaced at huge cost early?
On the plus side to this calcuation is lower mechnical maintenance costs - what do they amount to? Also there is an expected rising cost of petrol - what savings contribution is that likely to be. I am also imagining the future cost of electricity may be constrained by advances in home electricity generation - do you agree?
Richard