Just before Easter I took the plunge to change my car and bought an EV. An MG S5 long-range to be precise. I had been mulling over doing so for about a year, so it was hardly a rushed process. I am pleased with the car, although the after-sales service from the dealership has left a little to be desired.
Inevitably it prompted some conversations, and it has been surprising how many people have had grave expressions on their faces when I said what my new car was. Some have said that they would happily get a hybrid, or even a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), but a fully electric car (BEV) was far too risky. Several people have said how anxious they would be about getting to their destination, worried about whether there would be chargers, whether they would or work, or how long the queue would be. "I get 50 mpg from my hybrid" said one person, so I kept quiet that my non-hybrid 10yr old diesel car would do 55.
It is a classic example where the emotions of anxiety really don't line up with the facts. I have driven over 3,000 miles so far, including going down to Dorset, and there have been chargers available everywhere I needed them. I can't drive more than about 150-200 miles without a break, and it hasn't been difficult to plan in a coffee stop or meal break to top up if needed.
The real-world range of my car seems to be about 250-260 miles in summer conditions with the air-con on, which has been more than enough for any day's travel (I've been averaging 4.3 miles per kWh for the technically minded). Public charging is already widely available, new outlets are appearing all the time, and there are plenty of apps that can help. Anyone on Octopus can get 8% discount on any charger using Electroverse and the cost gets charged to your domestic electricity bill. If pricing is less of a concern, you can now pay contactless if you don't want to get into apps and subscriptions, although it can often be worth it. My new hobby is tracking down the best deals on charging - especially on faster chargers. We had a pub meal recently while an charging using the evyve app at a weekend, and got a 20-80% charge done at 48p/kWh while we ate. (Motorway service area chargers can be 80p/kWh or more)
However, I am very aware that I am fortunate in having a driveway where I can mainly charge my car at home. You can now easily get an electricity tariff for around 8p/kWh that reduces running costs to about 2p per mile in fuel. It's not the same for someone living in a terraced house (although there are now some trials of solutions for that). Anyone needing to rely on public charging would need to look carefully on which brands of charger were available locally, and also at charger subscriptions to get the best overall deal.
In June 2026, 3 cars in 10 sold were completely electrically powered, and more affordable EVs are coming out all the time. If the time has come to consider a change, don't be scared of at least considering an EV - I would never go back now that I have taken the plunge.
No comments:
Post a Comment