That is the story Jonathan and Michelle advised me after our final Espresso, Cake and EVs assembly at Bracken Ridge Tavern. He went from first impressions of a pal’s Toyota Prius, to a Hyundai Ioniq, and ended up with a Tesla Mannequin Y — with a detour in a Hyundai i30 diesel. The journey started when Jonathan watched the film, “Who Killed the Electrical Automotive?”
“In 2002, my sister’s pal had a Toyota Prius. I didn’t even have my driver’s licence but, however sitting in that automobile felt so subsequent stage. Who knew they wouldn’t transfer on? I used to be in Melbourne and amazed by the environment friendly, futuristic automobile. I watched the animation of the regenerative braking going again into the battery. Twenty years in the past, we have been on the precipice of the longer term. Why hasn’t Toyota superior considerably since then?”
Jonathan and Michelle purchased their first new automobile collectively in 2010, a Hyundai i30 diesel. Again then, diesel was touted as probably the most environmentally pleasant gasoline supply and there weren’t many EVs round on the time. The Prius was twice the value.
When it was time to go electrical, Jonathan researched electrical car choices for fairly some time. He wished a Tesla however solely the Mannequin S and X have been out there and method past their price range. So, he widened the search and checked out the Kona Electrical and the Kia e-Niro, because it was named in Europe. Tesla Bjorn did a great comparability and after this evaluate Jonathan knew what he wished. In March 2019, Jonathan went to Zupps and checked out a petroleum Kona. The EV was not out there but. However the boot was tiny. By now, a child had arrived they usually wanted room for a pram. The sensible salesman advised the Ioniq Electrical with a 28 kWh battery (we’re referring right here to the sooner model of the Ioniq, not the Ioniq 5). One check drive later, Jonathan was in love. Please notice: the Mannequin 3 was not but out there in Australia, and any method, the boot entry wouldn’t enable for the pram.
Jonathan and his Hyundai Ioniq. Photograph courtesy of Michelle Curro.
Jonathan nonetheless misses their Ioniq. “The driving suggestions was nice. The automobile would go from zero to 100 in about 8 seconds, which was loads. The brand new Mannequin Y isn’t significantly better. The Ioniq in sports activities mode had loads of go. Suspension was softer within the Ioniq. Within the 3.5 years we drove it we by no means had an issue with the 260 km vary on the guessometer (GOM). It was moderately correct. If I turned on A/C the vary would drop to compensate. It was a dwell calculation. We constantly used 9.5 kWh per 100 km on the each day commute (round 60km distance). So, the GOM was correct and constant. The app wasn’t intricate however it did the job and didn’t use a lot energy. If you happen to left the automobile parked, if you got here again even two days later, the ability was successfully the identical.” No vampire drain!
After-baby beard. Photograph courtesy of Michelle Curro.
Jonathan and his ever rising household acquired their Tesla Mannequin Y on September 22, 2022. With two youngsters now, they have been having hassle becoming every part into the Ioniq. With the pram for purchasing journeys and all of the junk you need to cart round, it was nice to have two boots and a frunk. He bought the Ioniq for A$50,000, saved it for 3.5 years, then bought it wholesale (as a result of it was handy) for $28,000.
The completely happy couple with their new supply. Photograph courtesy of Michelle Curro.
Jonathan is eager to inform me about charging choices. He says that is probably the most frequent query when discussing EVs. He’s on a time of use (TOU) plan with Powershop. “Our Ioniq was a 4 four-hour cost at 7 kW, midnight to 4 am. This might value 8.73 cents per kWh on weekdays. This equates to $2.44 to cost the Ioniq for 230 km. The Mannequin Y prices us about $5 charged over two nights to journey 350+ km.”
Earlier than making any choices about an electrical energy supplier, please take into account all choices.
Due to Jonathan and Michelle for sharing their electrical journey. Let me know you probably have a narrative to inform.
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