[Indian2003]

I have been thinking about EVs ever since they went electric at work with about 80 EVs. Since the war price of diesel have doubled and reaching 3 euros a liter. From filling up for about 150 euros a month, I paid about 400 euros since the war.

I have decided to get an EV. I am in a dilemma as to which car I should get. There is the Renault Megane E-Tech which is yet to be released and the Kia e-Niro which has been tried and tested for 4 years. I have test driven the KIA and I liked it but it is old technology with a new badge on the 2022. It is a bit cheaper as they operate with discounts. I can get the car next week. I have to wait until September for the Renault.

They have only converted their ICE Niro to electric like the Soul.
I suspect that a new KIA built on a dedicated platform is just around the corner.

Here I am still undecided and on Monday I might sign a contract for the Renault. I will have to polish out some details with the dealer. I want a written promise from him that there wont be any campaigns with discounts until September before my car is delivered and that he will refund the difference if it does. I also want a discount for a charging station at home since they are included in the price of the Renault Zoe.

From the time I spoke to them 2 weeks ago, the prices have increased by 500 euros There is a shortage of EVs due to the war. The VAG group gets the wiring looms for their EVs from Ukraine and production has stopped.

How do I finance the car? I used to be a heavy smoker, smoking with both hands for 40 years and I stopped in 2009. I have saved all the money that I used for tobacco in a Harley Davidson petrol tank. This has paid for my trips to Malaysia and now a car.
Here is a review of the car:
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/renaul...eview-pictures



The model is the top specs Iconic because i want the leather seats. The front seats have electrical adjustments with massage of all things. I would liked to have height adjustment instead of massage.


Wheels are 20" alloys. Winter alloys are 18".


The colour I will choose will be a dark grey metalic colour. Black roof is optional extra.




Interior is full leather and has 2X12" LCD screens and wireless charging for the phone.


On all colours except red, there is a bronze coloured spoiler front and rear with an option to have the same colour of the car. I might just keep it.

[carthick1000]

Did you also checkout the following?

1. Hyundai Ioniq 5
2. Kia EV6
3. Skoda Enyaq iv

Are there any reasons to not choose them?

[DarthVeda]

Those 3 are in a different category altogether. Zoe is EV Hatchback and low on the purse too. The equivalent to Zoe would be the e208.

The ZOE might be old but it is still a great EV hatchback, and the successor to that is Megan E, which has got good reviews.

[TorqueMonster]

As far as I'm aware, the Megane is at 359000 Krone for the entry-level, while a Tesla Model 3 starts at about 400,000 Krone. For a slight premium, wouldn't a Model 3 be a better upgrade? Even otherwise, the Megane looks like a great car and congrats on the purchase.

[Indian2003]

Originally Posted by carthick1000

Did you also checkout the following?

1. Hyundai Ioniq 5
2. Kia EV6
3. Skoda Enyaq iv

Are there any reasons to not choose them?

I have looked at the Hyundai Ionic 5 but prices are way beyond what I am willing to pay for a car. I considered the EV6 but there will be a waiting period of at least 1 year to get the car.

Waiting 6 months for the Renault Megane is bad enough and I am seriously considering the KIA e-Niro. I can get it within a week and the warranty is 7 years and 8 years for the battery. Rust proofing and winter wheels are included in the price. I can get the car and a home charger for less than the price of the Megane.

[@og_adi]

Congrats on the booking @indian2003!
Any reason why Fisker Ocean wasn't considered? It made a strong initial impression to me and the mileage claimed is decent too.
One of my relatives is planning to pre-book the Ocean Sport in the US so it would be helpful if you could share your thoughts about it.

[Indian2003]

I did not want to wait months before getting a car. I went ahead and got the last car they had at the dealership. Is is the KIA e-Niro Exclusive with sunroof and all the bells and whistles and leather interior.
I just gave up talking to the guy at Renault.
With the KIA I got 4 winter alloy wheels, floor and boot rubber mats and 2 sets of charging cables.
They are preparing the car for delivery this week.

[carthick1000]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

I did not want to wait months before getting a car. I went ahead and got the last car they had at the dealership.

Given the supply chain shortages, new electric models having overbooked (and sometimes closed)order books, I think it’s a wise decision you went for one right from stock.

[SKC-auto]

Congrats on your new EV. I was reading about Norway EV sales at 85% in Mar 2022.

Just saw videos of new Niro EV.

https://youtu.be/aEqw7xh2yhY

Are the petrol prices(>2.5x increase according to @Indian2003) increased so drastically across Europe also after the war?

[Indian2003]

Originally Posted by carthick1000

Given the supply chain shortages, new electric models having overbooked (and sometimes closed)order books, I think it’s a wise decision you went for one right from stock.

I got a call from Renault today. Delivery will be delayed due to the war as Ukraine produced some parts mainly the cables for several makes of EVs. Prices have gone up by 1500 euros for now.

[Indian2003]

Originally Posted by SKC-auto

Are the petrol prices(>2.5x increase according to @Indian2003) increased so drastically across Europe also after the war?

Same as in most countries in Europe but in some countries further south the increase is not so much. I am blessed with taxes, about 70% of fuel prices are taxes. In Romania prices have doubled, same as in Germany.

[abhi_tjet]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

I did not want to wait months before getting a car. I went ahead and got the last car they had at the dealership. Is is the KIA e-Niro Exclusive

Congratulations Unni sir for the KIA EV. Norway, I assume, is one of the best place to own an EV.

What will happen to your VW? Will it stay along with EV?

P.S. - I am Abhishek. We met in Oslo somewhere in late 2014

[Indian2003]

Originally Posted by abhi_tjet

Congratulations Unni sir for the KIA EV. Norway, I assume, is one of the best place to own an EV.

What will happen to your VW? Will it stay along with EV?

Og course I remember you. Some of the incentives have gone but on the whole it is still much cheaper to drive an EV. They have introduced road tax and 50% toll charges on some roads.

I should be able to drive 2000 km for under 60 euros with home charging while my VW would cost me 400 euros. I used to drive about 2000 km a month.

The roads I normally drive on are still toll free but many places are introducing full parking charges.

I am still getting used to the car. I picked up the car on Monday and on Wednesday, had an AC Charger installed at home. Will post some pictures in a couple of days.

I am keeping the VW for a while while I prepare it for sale. I need to glue the furnitures and sort out a few electrical faults.

I will try to sell the car in Germany as the price for these cars are very much higher. They are becoming very rare there. Besides I have loads of extra gear fitted.

[Indian2003]

On Monday last week I went over to the dealer and picked up the car. I got 8 alloy wheels, summer and winter tyres, both charging cables, rubber mats, and 2 safety vests and the normal stuff like first aid kit and safety triangle. This is the top specs model with LED lights outside and inside.

I can preheat the batteries and the cabin in winter. Ride is smooth even better that the e-NV 200 at work. Acceleration is under 8 seconds in sports mode. There are paddles behind the steering wheel for adjusting brake regeneration. I have heating for all seats and cooling for the front seats. The drivers seat is electrically adjusted.

So far I am happy with the car. I have been in touch with a local group and all recomended the car.

The car has a 64kWh battery and a WLTP range of 450 km. I drove 240 km and had 57% of battery left in -6 degrees. It should be possible to do long trips with this car with DC fast charging on the way. The motoring club here managed 540 km in the summer.

[Indian2003]

The car has done 14,400 km so far and I will have the first service done on Friday this week. I pay a fixed sum every month to KIA for service, about ,025 euro cents a kilometer.
The total cost of electricity has come to about 150! euros. I drive a total of 130 km to work and back every day. 7000 km of this distance has been work related. I am paid 40 euro cents a kilometer to drive to work and back.
I never pay more than 7 euro cents a kWh. Looking at the chart, I charge often when electricity is cheapest
Here is my charging details from April when I bought the car.


I did a long trip this summer. I drove on cruise control and regenerated when possible. The car did very well. 10,84 kWh/100 km. Total used for 466 km one way was 50,55kWh which should have given me a range of 600 km. With normal driving i get between 450 and 480 km on 1 charge


This is the range shown with a full charge. The meter is quite accurate in the summer


The one thing that irritates me with teh car is all the beeping sound it makes when driving. I never know why sometimes and it is not possible to deactivate all of them.