Possible new rider with questions

[Mondomensch]

That's probably overstating their similarities. Some Mini electrics do use the i3's propulsion motor and maybe motor electronics and transaxle. But I think that's about it. Even though some Mini battery packs are a similar capacity to the 94 Ah i3, the battery packs are different.

Sharing a platform usually means sharing the entire rolling skateboard chassis which definitely isn't true for the i3 and any Mini electric.

Yes, sorry for spreading my misremembered info. I must have been thinking about the powertrain.

 

[Buggs1a]

There’s no way in heck I’ll pay an equivalent of gas money. The whole point if ev is no gas. Cheaper. So what then? If evgo is such a rip off why in the hell use it. Sheesh.

Aren’t there ways or places that are like half or less then half gas? Not home.

The whole point in ev is save money on gas.

 

[Buggs1a]

This site isn’t fully updating the thread when I reload pages. It’s weird.

 

[Ollie]

Maybe I went to far in my diatribe. My recommendation (reading between this individuals lines) is to not go with an EV, and now with the old governor newsome going with a .30 cents a mile tax plan on ev's that he signed (test my ass). Washington will follow suit quite quickly. It makes an EV a horrible option for this situation. At best, go hybrid.
So now you have .50 cents to charge for 4 miles and .30 cents ($1.20 for 4 miles) a mile to drive. Just in basic math that's .42cents a mile to drive our I3. A mini I.C.E. would be .15 cents a mile based on $5 a gallon gas. How does it make any sense to recommend an ev to what seems a very limited income individual? Isn't that a $13.44 equivalent of a mini's 32mpg @ $5.00?
My comment about a mini cooper does not include electric. Full ICE. 32mpg and lots of good cheap used ones for sale.

 

[Mondomensch]

Maybe I went to far in my diatribe. My recommendation (reading between this individuals lines) is to not go with an EV, and now with the old governor newsome going with a .30 cents a mile tax plan on ev's that he signed (test my ass).

I’ve read 0.03 per mile - 3 cents. 30 would indeed be crazy, and you’re right about WA doing a similar charge, but it’s all cars for them!

Any add-on gps or tap into my car’s navigation would I’m afraid be quite likely to quickly develop a malfunction

WA state is already running into issues like would their tax apply to interstate trucks and vehicles driving in and out of the state. It’s hard to imagine vacationers from say ID having to stop at the WA border to have gps devices installed in their cars.

 

[Buggs1a]

Charging 100 mile range would be about less then half what it cost for gas here. Since the i3 is even less that is less then. Looked this up on electrify.

Ev all the way.

There’s no car that I know of with leg room like i3 and second gen Prius. I won’t do second gen Prius. But that’s the leg room I need. 18 Leaf was pathetic. Waaaaay too small. 18 Tesla model 3 sucks too. Too small. Need wider like i3 and second gen Prius. 17 Prius was ok. So maybe 10 Prius too but doubt it looking at photos. 16-17 leaf might be ok. It’s like 17 Prius looks like.

 

[Ollie]

Whew! .03 cents a mile is a bit of a difference. Apparently the news agency I listened to was way off base. Now I can go back and recompute.

That seems to be just about a wash. $5.00 for 32 miles in an ICE mini compared to $5.12 in my I3 on a 4.0 average per kwh. Unless you can do at home charging (which this person is limited). I'd say your still in for more on the I3 in this case. Lot's to consider.

 

[Buggs1a]

Yes lot to consider. I get say 380 miles or so on my cmax sel then gas up. I do this at about a quarter tank. Every time. Couple days ago this was $35. 9 gallon or so. This was at Safeway with 20 cents off per gallon. Sometimes only 10 cents off or no cents off. Just depends when I get gas and how much groceries I get in between fill ups.

Was with my cousin in law yesterday. We figured charging an ev was about $5 for 100 miles. At Electrify. 2.6 difference I think roughly. There’s a charging station about 15 minutes away from me. I be honest here and say I’m not 100% sure cus Electrify site doesn’t say x dollars per x distance. But my cousin in law looked at something like cost per heart maybe?? And that’s like x for 100 miles. I think. Forget.

So basically it maybe save half or slightly more then half for me. I’m it 100% sure cus I haven’t done this.

But, of all the cars I’ve seen I love the BMW i3. And maybe I can get a 2014 or 2015 Rex with premium sound and nav etc for around $7k-$9k. After gov discount and no tax on it.

Or maybe the Leaf 2016-2017 for same cost range at 107 mile range. With same premium sound and nav.

Or say 2010 Prius with everything for same price range.

To fill up the Prius would cost maybe $35-$55 depending on when I fill up getting maybe 400-450 miles. But an ev going by what my cousin in law and I figured, about $5 per 100 miles give or take.

Just estimates.

The BMW and Leaf would be my first choice. Not sure which cus the BMW only has 60-80 mile range real world. More like 60 maybe. To be safe. The Leaf maybe 80-110 miles maybe.

The Prius is last choice as its gas. And don’t think it has leg room I’m after like the bmw has and maybe the Leaf has. Based on pictures. And the Prius I don’t like the look of as much. BMW by far the best there.

Anyway sorry for long post. I’m co fused and very depressed.

 

[alohart]

Was with my cousin in law yesterday. We figured charging an ev was about $5 for 100 miles. At Electrify. 2.6 difference I think roughly. There’s a charging station about 15 minutes away from me. I be honest here and say I’m not 100% sure cus Electrify site doesn’t say x dollars per x distance. But my cousin in law looked at something like cost per heart maybe?? And that’s like x for 100 miles. I think. Forget.

A reasonable estimate for an i3's efficiency would be 4 miles/kWh over a year, lower in winter or when driving at higher speeds, higher in summer or when driving at lower speeds. 100 miles / 4 miles/kWh = 25 kWh would be consumed in 100 miles. $5 / 25 kWh = $0.20/kWh. $0.20/kWh is probably considerably less than the electricity rate of an Electrify America DC fast charger, maybe similar to the electricity rate of an AC Level 2 public charging station, and probably higher than your residential electricity rate. There might also be some free public charging stations. Trying to estimate the driving cost of an i3 really depends on where it's charged and how it's driven. Charging at home is always the least expensive because there's no public charging station owner that needs to cover costs plus make a profit.

When estimating the total cost of ownership, maintenance must also be considered. i3 tires are relatively expensive and can wear out faster than average. If you buy a REx, annual engine oil and filter changes must be included, but not with a BEV. BMW recommends that the brake fluid of all i3's be changed every 2 years as well as the cabin air filters, especially if the climate control system is used frequently and ambient air is on the dirtier side. i3 REx maintenance costs are probably similar to that of an ICE vehicle. Maintenance costs for an i3 BEV are likely lower than that of an ICE vehicle.

You might want to find out whether there are any local mechanics who would work on an i3. Unfortunately, there haven't been very many although that might be changing as more EV's are sold. Having to rely on a BMW dealer for maintenance and repairs would increase the cost of ownership compared with an independent mechanic.

 

[Buggs1a]

Ok thanks. Crap. I sigh. Prius way to go then? I love the i3 though.

 

[Buggs1a]

The i3 inside and out is awesome. The features are awesome too.

 

[Buggs1a]

Never mind. I’m outta here.