In 2021 our old diesel C Max finally became unbearably unreliable and we decided it was time for a replacement. Going up the ramp to join the A1 in the dark with a maximum speed of 30 mph had convinced us that car had to go. That and its increasingly expensive repair bills.
After a period of being without a car we decided that we still wanted to have a vehicle and that other models of use such as joining a car club didn’t fit our patterns of use. Wanting to do the right thing, we felt that were we to have a car, it had to be electric.
At this point we knew very little about running an EV. We knew a few people who had one and it sounded different from running a ‘normal’ car but it also sounded workable. After much deliberation we decided to lease an electric vehicle through the Octopus EV salary sacrifice scheme, available to us through my partner’s employer. The reduced costs of the salary sacrifice made it affordable and along with a car we got full insurance, servicing and breakdown cover.
We looked at many cars on offer. Primarily we wanted decent range and a big boot at an affordable price. This led us to the Nissan Leaf e+, essentially a Nissan Leaf with a bigger battery. It claimed to have a range of 235 miles on a full charge which we thought should be sufficient. Also, because we don’t have off street parking, having a bigger battery would reduce the number of trips to a charging station.
So, what is it like to run?
Here are the key points
- The car is very comfortable and much easier to drive than any previous vehicle I had driven.
- The 235 mile claimed range represents full battery to empty battery, in reality you wouldn’t want to go more than 150 miles without recharging.
- It is roomy and while we drive it very gently, it has great acceleration for when you need to overtake or get out of the way of other vehicles.
- Journeys take longer than in previous cars, but we arrive less tired
- Charging is easier than we expected. You need a smartphone with a few apps installed.
Range and charging
Our Nissan Leaf is supposed to have a range of 235 miles. Actual range is something less than 200 miles and we do not do more than 150 miles between charging. That leaves us with a margin of safety so we don’t get caught out with a flat battery. During the winter when the heating is on, these range figures drop.
All that said, we plan journeys so that we can take a break every 2 or 3 hours to recharge. That fits well with what makes for safe driving, we will have something to eat and take a break while the car is connected to a rapid charger. Journeys take longer but are also more relaxed.
Long journeys are very do-able. Recently we drove from Edinburgh to Glastonbury and back for a holiday. We took our time and the journey went well. It took 12 hours each way for a journey of 420 miles which was mostly on motorways. We stopped three times to recharge, using apps like ZapMap to locate charging stations each time we approached 30% of battery remaining.
At home we charge using a local (slower) public charger or plug into the 3 pin socket at our lockup if there’s a suitable parking space nearby. Finding somewhere to charge that is available has never been an issue yet, but we do like to plan which helps. A lot of spontaneity could be more challenging.
Would I drive an EV in the more sparsely populated parts of Scotland?
Well, we have taken our EV to the Highlands a few times. It would certainly be nice to have greater range but as long as journeys are planned and time is factored in for charging, our range is adequate. It would be another matter if we had to do long journeys on remote roads in the wintertime without a bit more range than we currently have. It would be better to have a vehicle with a real life range of over 200 miles because we would feel more secure where chargers are widely dispersed or we relied on a specific charger being available.
Further thoughts for the future
We will certainly stick with an EV. There’s no going back, it is easier to drive and charging is becoming more available day by day. The best news however is that second hand prices are falling and range is increasing. A couple of years ago it was impossible to buy an EV with a 400 mile range for under £35K. Now you can get one for under £25K. That is still a hefty wadge of money but prices are continuing to drop and range is continuing to rise.
At the time, moving to an EV felt like a leap in the dark. Now it just seems like a better choice.
Daniel Prince, Clean Energy Advisor
