Little on the outside, large on range

[Gomev]

I'm probably in a small minority but my thinking is that I would like a small EV but with a long range.
This hasn't always been my thoughts but has slowly percolated to the top. I have always liked big cars since having a family and got used to comfy cruising after the boyhood boy racer went and parked in the back room. Now the family has long gone I'm leaning now towards smaller vehicles.
When I progressed to EVs my first had a smallish range, (ZS EV Gen1), but when I saw the MG5 had longer range, 250, that was for me and I believed that range was sufficient for anybody really. In practical common sense terms it still is.
However when I moved away from MG for various reasons I got a Kona Gen1 facelift, as in my profile pic, and the WLTP for that is 302 miles (and easily achievable when it's not cold). I have got used to that and find it very useful having the extra range. We have a friend that lives in Northumberland and a day trip to visit is around 240 miles. Doing this without even considering a charge during the day is handy, not to mention economically cheaper.

So not to cut a long story short, I quite fancy a small car with a range of 300 (achievable) miles. Say a Renault 5 or similar with a WLTP of 350. I know the arguments of why carry around a big battery when you're only travelling locally 90 percent of the time ? However if we carry that argument to it's conclusion we would only ever have cars with small range.

This is a case of range convenience and not of anxiety. Am I alone ?

 

[Bam Bam]

I quite fancy a small car with a range of 300 (achievable) miles. Say a Renault 5 or similar with a WLTP of 350.

So maybe a car which sacrificed the back seats or boot space to extra battery?

I wonder if an expert could Jerry-rig such a vehicle?

Old cars get converted to electric after all.

 

[salty]

I'm probably in a small minority but my thinking is that I would like a small EV but with a long range.
This hasn't always been my thoughts but has slowly percolated to the top. I have always liked big cars since having a family and got used to comfy cruising after the boyhood boy racer went and parked in the back room. Now the family has long gone I'm leaning now towards smaller vehicles.
When I progressed to EVs my first had a smallish range, (ZS EV Gen1), but when I saw the MG5 had longer range, 250, that was for me and I believed that range was sufficient for anybody really. In practical common sense terms it still is.
However when I moved away from MG for various reasons I got a Kona Gen1 facelift, as in my profile pic, and the WLTP for that is 302 miles (and easily achievable when it's not cold). I have got used to that and find it very useful having the extra range. We have a friend that lives in Northumberland and a day trip to visit is around 240 miles. Doing this without even considering a charge during the day is handy, not to mention economically cheaper.

So not to cut a long story short, I quite fancy a small car with a range of 300 (achievable) miles. Say a Renault 5 or similar with a WLTP of 350. I know the arguments of why carry around a big battery when you're only travelling locally 90 percent of the time ? However if we carry that argument to it's conclusion we would only ever have cars with small range.

This is a case of range convenience and not of anxiety. Am I alone ?

Agree. Small car, Big range would suit a lot of people.

 

[Ian Key]

Agree. Small car, Big range would suit a lot of people.

Sounds good. A small SUV with wide doors so those with arthritic knees can get in and out easier and a low sill to the boot so my dogs can get in and out without being lifted

 

[GaryMG4]

I think 'longest day trip' is the key. Mine is around 180 miles, comfortably achieved with my car, any time of year. As for size, our eNiro is too big except that we use is to carry two kayaks and the associated gear when the size really works well. So the range/size equation really is the one that works for your circumstances. I enjoyed the years where an MX5 was my daily drive but I expect now I would tire of the inelegant attempts to get out due to knees not cooperating.

 

[Gomev]

So maybe a car which sacrificed the back seats or boot space to extra battery?

I wonder if an expert could Jerry-rig such a vehicle?

Old cars get converted to electric after all.

Battery density is improving all the time, a small battery with the same energy will be available soon. Also the smaller car will be lighter so efficiency would be better.

Sounds good. A small SUV with wide doors so those with arthritic knees can get in and out easier and a low sill to the boot so my dogs can get in and out without being lifted

I agree. the trouble is people/manufacturers/motoring journalists only think of smaller cars as urban cars, whatever they may be.
The Kona I have now pretty much fits the bill, it's more than comfortable enough for the two of us, can fit four in when needed but I wouldn't like to be behind me for too long The newer generation though is larger, as is the way these days, and consequently less efficient.

 

[Bam Bam]

Battery density is improving all the time, a small battery with the same energy will be available soon. Also the smaller car will be lighter so efficiency would be better.

In that hypothetical case there isn't as much of a trade-off. The world would be a better place if there were more types of battery.

Not all small cars would end up with massive range I don't think - extra cost and potential to make a car with a regular battery even lighter and more roomy would be an improvement to those as well.