Robert Lee and his wife Mikaela live with their two children in a modern low-energy house north of Stockholm. This week they celebrate one year as all-electric car owners. One Mercedes EQS 450+ and one EQE 350+.
In view of the sharp decrease in value of all new cars, not least premium ones, Robert and Mikaela tend to keep theirs for six or seven years or so. And one year ago they took the plunge from diesel to all-electric.
Hi Robert. Both these cars have rather hefty price tags … what about overall economy?
“It was time to trade in our cars, and as a car-loving techie I was interested in the new technology. Looking around I was also becoming a bit concerned about the quality and reliability of the latest premium gasoline-driven cars.
“In six or seven years of ownership the lower costs of fuel and maintenance will hopefully, more or less make up for the premium price of electric. On top of that we would save some money on lower taxation and so on. But that’s of course different in every country.
“Whether you go for gasoline or electric, the main cost item is of course the depreciation of value, and with this kind of cars … in the first two-three years, it’s got to be said: it’s brutal!”
What about fuel … I mean energy consumption?
”During this first year I drove the 450 around 21,000 kilometers, mostly on highways, and that car averaged 2,7kWh/10km. Mikaela drove some 12,000 kilometers, mostly in and around Greater Stockholm, and her car wanted 2,1kWh/10km. Consumption turned out to be nearly twice as high during the cold winter months than during summer.
“In Sweden, with average Swedish costs for gasoline and electricity the two of us have saved the equivalent of around 6,000 Euro on fuels, in this first year alone. In six or seven years … the prices of gasoline and electricity are bound to vary but … in the long-term all-electric seems like a rather safe bet.
You work with a solar energy company as a Senior advisor but I don’t see any solar panels on your roof. How come?
“Great question. When we built the house five years ago we calculated that the ROI of solar panels in this energy-efficient house would be rather long, and solar technology was evolving fast so we decided to wait. Besides that, we usually charge the cars at work so we didn’t even bother to invest in a charger at home yet …But I do keep an eye on both energy prices and new charging technology, so that may change soon.
“One of many factors to consider is geographical location. In our location energy consumption is low in the summer, and solar panels generate very little energy in the winter when we consume most of it. Another factor is the design of the building itself. We chose a hip roof to minimize snow-related maintenance costs. But the irregular shapes and angles of such a roof is not optimal for solar panels.
What are your best tips to a first-time all-electric buyer?
Hybrid or all electric? Let your driving pattern decide!
- Don’t just look at the price tag, consider the long-term economies
- Always make sure to plan your trips ahead,
- Don’t forget to check out the charging stations along your route
- Make good use of your car’s built-in GPS system. Even if you know where you’re going and even if the app in your smartphone may be cooler or smarter it’s not connected to your car’s vital data. And keep the car a few years longer.
Apart from that … do what you always do when you buy a new car
