15th Sept 2022 – Thoughts on lowest cost transport (for long distance)

Thoughts on lowest cost transport

I have a car tat I purchased years ago for less than £1000. It runs fine and I find that the cost in parts and MOT are about £250 a year.

It used to cost me £10 to do about 100 miles, but with fuel going up, it costs me a LOT more.

So I have been looking at having something extra (still keeping the car) for cheap travel.

So my conclusion is a Honda 50cc scooter (I cannot be bothered to do the CBT again).

These are my reasons:

Train

I would not use one ever because of threats of strike. No way am I going to go to London, then find I cannot get home. Not to mention the costs of tickets is way too high.

The plus side is I can take dogs and/or my bike on them often free.

Bike

Great for up to 10 miles or so, but a pain on hills. I use one most days, but I am looking at something that can do 200 or more miles.

Electric Bike

Bice for hills. But costly, and if the battery dies you have an expensive heavy frame that may be poor at cycling.

Probably OK for 10 or so miles, but the speed is not fast and not many will do over 100 miles, plus take ages to arrive.

Also still cost in charging.

Electric Scooter

These are not legal in the UK. But i have one just to pop to the shops on. Great for 5 or so miles.

Electric Car

Your looking at £30k, plus you still have to pay to charge it.

I have no garage so the only way I could charge one is to pay using a public charger.

Not sure I fancy spending an hour looking for a charger, then an hour or so charging it, and that is if no one else is using it.

The Citroen Ami would be worth considering, if they made the batteries hot swappable. The one it uses is tiny and only costs £100 (I think) to replace. If they put 4 in, rather than the single one, that would be great. The rage is has is about 50 miles or less. So 4 batteries you may get almost 200 mile range, and then take them out to charge at home. Also if they increased the speed from 28 or so miles per hour to 40 or 50. If they did that, it would be an ideal cheap transport.

So why a Honda scooter?

Not much more than an electric bike, and no fear of getting so far then running out of battery. Just take a canister with you and you can fill up if your not near a petrel station. No charging times too.

Honda bikes have a good reputation, so it should run and run.

Great to go through traffic, even at peak times.

Carry some items too.

One main one is fuel economy. They are reported to do bout 100 or more miles to a gallon.

Also (I may be wrong) they were/are exempt from the London silly car charges.

Downside is people may steal it.

https://www.newswagg.com/thoughts-on-lowest-cost-transport-for-long-distance/