Any GTAM'ers own an electric vehicle?

[Brian P]

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I recognise that youtuber. I lost patience with him years ago, and don't really care what he has to say.

As for Donut Labs / Verge Motorcycles ... the proof is in the pudding. They say they're starting production Q1 2026 ... let's see it.

 

[MacDoc]

See what Donut has to say Monday from the "third party".

 

[nobbie48]

12.5c/km vehicle cost plus <5c/km power (fuel), maintenance close to zero. May be the cheapest wheels around if if it can do the job for you. For the 12K in lease payments, you could get a 10 yo 200k km corolla that burns ~10c/km in gas plus fluids plus maintenance and it's hard for the ICE to win.

You can pick up a used 2024 w 18k km for $23K if you prefer to own. For a vehicle with a sticker of $42K, I don't think I would want to own. That is phenomenal depreciation.

Just check the lease terms carefully.

Ages ago my brother was offered a lease take over on a nice Pontiac, available because a sales rep was leaving.

There was a low mileage cap and here was under 10,000 Kms left on the clock with over a year left to use them. Extra Kms were @ $0.30 / Km. He passed on the offer.

In another case, a company lease came with a trade-in residual value adjustment at the end. That individual had picked a vehicle that negatively changed in value over three years. It was like turning in a smashed car.

Battery technology could be a factor in that. Battery technology is like the 100 MPG carburetor we kept hearing about growing up. What's a 2026 Corolla EV going to be worth in 2029 when the 2029 model has twice the range and is much lighter?

What's a three year old computer or smart phone worth?

IMO Lease is the way to go. The sellers get long term income but I don't know how they'll balance the books if residual values drop.

The massive discounts (bribes) make me wonder how much wiggle room there is in MSRP.

 

[MacDoc]

Battery technology could be a factor in that. Battery technology is like the 100 MPG carburetor we kept hearing about growing up. What's a 2026 Corolla EV going to be worth in 2029 when the 2029 model has twice the range and is much lighter?

No ...that's nonsense ....battery tech is in a disruptive mode just now with a couple of prominent non-lithium technologies moving into production this year.

Solid state battery SSB is less certain as far as time frame but is inevitable within a short time frame and may be a surprise sooner.

When the biggest battery company in the world, CATL, and the largest EV seller in the world BVD make production announcements...pays to pay attention when making large purchases.
CATL has two non-Lion technologies on the go moving to production.

Chinese battery giant CATL and automaker Changan have unveiled the world's first passenger car powered by sodium-ion batteries. The battery technology, aiming to hit public roads by mid-2026, could significantly reduce fire risks while improving performance in extreme heat and cold.Feb 6, 2026

CATL unveil world's first sodium-ion EV with about 248-mile ...​

stay tuned

 

[DJM]

Think I'm a bit of an EV whisperer. People have been picking my brain all week at work. Second one just texted me that they picked this one up in London today. They wanted leather seats and this one was the closest.

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