Simon's Blog

So I have now been the proud owner of an Electric Vehicle (EV) for two months. What are my initial thoughts? Before answering that I think it is only reasonable to point out I think EV’s are the way forward. So if you are expecting an diatribe about such vehicles then I am sorry this is not going to happen.

I firmly believe that all of us are responsible for the climate disaster that is now starting to unfold. So I believe we should all try and do things to help ameliorate the worst aspects of what is to come. I am also aware that buying a new EV has a huge carbon footprint compared to continuing to run my 13 year old car.

EVs are the future for personal transportation and in the not too distant future they will be what most of us will be driving.

So that is my bias clearly laid out and it influences what I am about to write.

Thought One – They don’t smell

This reminds me of when smoking was prohibited in the work place and pubs. Those of us who didn’t smoke no longer came home smelling of stale smoke. When I refuel my car I no longer smell of diesel. It is just a much more pleasant experience.

Thought Two – They are not performance vehicles

Good old energy density. Oil has a significantly higher energy density than electric batteries. As a result of that EVs are heavier. My own car is at least 400 kg heavier than a petrol version. The result is a much lower ‘performance’ overall.

Now I am sure there are performance EVs but they will always have to deal with the mass of the battery they carry. Anyway I have spent enough time in my life driving ‘fast‘. I am enjoying driving smoothly. My EV is much better suited cruising than sprinting.

Thought Three – Charging

I haven’t installed a home charger at the moment. This is by design. I wanted to get used to using the public charging system and this has been easier than I ever thought. However, I do need to put another disclaimer in here. Within 2 km from where I live there are over 30 150 kWh plus chargers. As my car can only charge at a maximum speed of 100 kWh these are more than fast enough.

What it does mean it usually takes me less than 30 minutes to charge to 80%. I can usually grab a coffee or do some shopping whilst charging. It is really convenient. Of course this costs a lot more than home charging but I am usually able to get at least a 10% reduction in the upfront costs.

The reality is that it costs me just about the same as refuelling my 13 year old diesel car. (That was before the crazy Trump war added an extra 40 plus pence per litre.). So still cost effective and convenient. When I fit a home charger my cost will fall by around 80 %. So something nice to look forward to.

Thought Four – The sound of silence

The car is so quiet when you are travelling. Now I am not driving a budget EV so the sound insulation should be good. But it is what it is. This is car I drive and this is my experience. It is so bloody quiet. I really do like it.

So there we have some thoughts after two months of owning an EV. It will be interesting comparing these thoughts with what I might think after owning the car for twelve months. Only time will be able to address that.

I don’t regret the change and I would recommend it to anyone. It is not the same as changing one ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car for another. You have to learn to live with the differences. ( I am sure that I will learn many other things along the way either good or bad.) But it really isn’t a problem.

However you must remember these are my views and experiences. Your circumstances may well be different and these may place constraints on you that I have no experience of. So I respect if you are more circumspect about the change. As the well worn phase goes…

“Your mileage may vary…”