aminorjourney wrote:
In the past two years I would have to say that 90% of all EVs I've seen for sale have duff batteries and are being sold for that very reason. Surely leasing the batteries means that the cars have higher retail value? Perhaps an option to buy out the batteries would be a good idea alongside an optional rental scheme then?
In Norway sellers are asking silly money for used Think and PSA electic vehicles. The lack of alternatives has pushed up the price. The new Think has been delayed and the waiting list is long. I agree that many cars for sale have battery packs with problems but this is not dwelt upon in the adverts. Funny how morals go out the window where selling is concerned.
I have spoken to a few that have been burned through no fault of their own.
Some packs have gone through a recondisioning process at the national railway workhop but this is a violent process and many blocks have been destroyed, during and a short time after. I would personally steer clear of these cars. I`m talking SAFT NiCads here.
In Norway, Think are asking over 100 pounds inc.VAT a month for renting the battery pack but this will be a flexible sum depending on the savings an elecric vehicle brings in your country. Here there are many benefits, such as free parking, no road tax and free through toll gates. Think promises savings over ICE vehicles and help the environment as well.
I haven`t read all the messages here yet but as we all wish the new Think every success I shall dwell on the positive aspects of battery hire.
Think are committing themselves not only to replacement of the battery pack but ensuring that peripherals such as the charger are fuctioning optimally with the replacement battery technology. This has proved almost impossible with the old Think because the software for reprogramming of the BMS has been sat on.(Meanies).
I look forward to buying a 4-5 year old new Think that is on the verge of a battery replacement. just think how good the batteries might be then!
I have a feeling that battery hire will be more attractive to women, who generally have no pretensions of being able to change a pack themselves. There is a premium for driving trouble free and there will be so little to go wrong with electric cars that they will be laughing all the way to the bank. On the other hand, leasing batteries will be an affront to the average handyman. More fool them- they can use their skills to keep the old cars on the road!
We are not used to all this Big Brother stuff in Norway, Vikings are still a real problem though
One of our local club members is developing an SMS diagnostic system for Reva cars, the small Indian ones pop in London that go under another name. This enables the service workshop to analyse the vehicles remotely without the need for a trip to the workshop. Simple things can be corrected as well.
All well and good but we hear that Think are developing a parallel system where it is conceivable that late payment for the leasing agreement will be punished by reducing the power from the battery pack. Eventually the pack will be turned off.
Let me finally add that the garantee period here for vehicles is 5 years by statute so tinkering within that period would be unwise. After that one could try to get the pack repossessed and fit another but would that be wise?