Hey Breeps!
It’s SO nice to be back in the land of heat, fresh air and good food (see last week’s column to find out what I mean…) There’s much to tell but I’m most excited about my latest mode of transport.
This week I traded in my racing green Mini Cooper, which has been a wonderful car to me, because I have decided to go electric, with a new BMW i3 – and so far, so good. I’ve been on the freeway clocking 80mph comfortably and found the car is very easy to control, boasts the sort of great-looking interiors you’d expect from those clever Bavarians, as well as Sirius radio, parking assist rear cameras and heated seats….not that we need much of that in Cali but you never know come December.
My new car payment may be considerably higher than with the Mini, but once you factor in the savings I’ll make on gas – about $140 a month, and the California clean energy rebate I’m actually saving $50 a month. Then there are the tags that allow me to travel in the carpool lane. But the main reason is I just really want to do my bit to decrease my carbon footprint. I’m tired of hiking Runyon Canyon only to look down on the filthy brown haze of smog that covers this glorious city. Now hopefully more people will make the switch and go green and the city will reward us with more charging stations.
Oh, yes, where can I charge?
My car came with a handy app called iremote that has become my new best friend. It tells me what percentage of charge the car currently has, as well as the location of nearby charging stations and whether they are free. It also allows me to turn on the a/c BEFORE getting in the car, I can lock and unlock my car doors remotely and it will let me know where exactly I parked it in the shopping mall, in case I forget. Plus most parking garages have a charging deck and the best thing is the car comes with a home charging kit that plugs the car straight into a 240 volt outlet (same kind as your washing machine). There is also an SOS button, so if you happen to run into trouble or run out of charge, BMW will provide a complimentary roadside assistance.
Which only leaves the question of whether to buy or lease? There are pros and cons to both but if, like me, you use your car primarily for business the lease payments can usually be deducted at tax time, (check with your accountant).
For those of you ready to make the move to electric, shoot me an email at craig@britsin.la and I’ll connect you with my specialist….
Pub quiz
Eileen and I will be back hosting a special pub quiz this week at The Pikey, with great British prizes to be given away and a fun physical challenge. Its $5 to play and a chance for your team to take home the greenbacks.
Our Tuesday breakfast is back at Cecconis every Tuesday at 9.30am and because Saturdays proved so popular, we will soon be bringing back the Saturday social. So come to either or both, we’ll always be happy to see you
Cheers!
Craig
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