FIVE OF THE BEST ELECTRIC CARS It’s electrifying!

Battery-operated motors are mounting a real charge

AFTER a slow start, the momentum behind sales of BEVs (battery electric vehicles) had finally accelerated. In January and February alone, before the crisis, 1,283 were registered, 50 more than in all of 2018.

Anyone who owns one surely is laughing if they have a home charger, because they haven’t even had to touch a petrol of diesel pump — it’s the ultimate social distancing.

Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. In February, which seems like decades ago, I was in Oxford to drive the superb new 182hp MINI Cooper Electric (from €27,765), which hurtles from 0100kph in just 7.3 seconds. Also in February, I had a first spin in the new 136hp Peugeot e-208 (from €27,334), which manages it in 8.1 seconds, with driving range of 340km. I will, at some point, review both in full, but for now here is my pick of the BEVs on the market.

ANY other carmaker might say it finally has an electric model. Mercedes-Benz, never behind the door when hyping its own wares, inverts the slogan and instead says — ‘Electric has a Mercedes’.

The EQC, a coupé-looking crossover not a million miles away from the existing GLC, is not cheap at an entry-level €81,950 (all prices quoted are net of the relevant SEAI grant and VAT rebate), though the limited edition 1886 model I drove was the best part of €100,000. From the outside, it looks little different from other Mercedes models, save for the blue detailing about the body, and the lack of roof rails makes it appear just a little a flat and fey.

The low waistline does add character though, and the coupe-style roof recess at the rear gives an elegant sense of proportion. Up front, an optical fibre band ties it together horizontally, and the large Mercedes star embedded in the grille leaves you in no doubt about what it is you’re driving.

The cabin is luxurious and the ambient lighting in particular is spectacular. It comes with the brilliant MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) entertainment system operated with simple voice commands prompted when you say ‘hey, Mercedes’.

As for driving it, well, the power is fantastic, with asynchronous motors attached to each axle, allowing power delivery to the axle that needs it most, the front one in low to medium load range, with the rear kicking in for dynamism.

MERCEDES-BENZ EQC 400 4MATIC