Our cars: Mercedes EQC
We get the calculator out to assess EV’s efficiency
EVER since I took delivery of our Hyacinth Red Mercedes EQC last December, I’ve found myself drawing comparisons with the MINI Electric I ran previously. In many respects, the Merc comes out on top: it’s more practical, it’s faster, and it’s more luxurious. But arguably of greater importance for many EV buyers, it’ll do more miles on every full charge.
Almost immediately I saw my electricity bill rocket though. As things progressed into the new year and beyond, my calculations showed I was spending almost twice as much charging the EQC as I did the MINI.
When you think about it, the reasons are obvious. The Mercedes weighs a substantial 2,495kg, not far shy of twice the MINI’s 1,440kg. Heavier cars use more energy, of course, and just as a 2.5-tonne petrol SUV would see you making more frequent trips to the filling station, a big EV requires more electrons to get you from A to B.
This got me thinking: at the moment, electric car buyers seem more interested in how many miles their chosen model will do on a charge, rather than efficiency in the conventional sense. That, to me, is the equivalent of asking the salesperson how big the fuel tank is, rather than how many miles it’ll do for every gallon of fuel used.
I understand that many early adopters are wealthier individuals, perhaps looking to lessen their environmental impact or reduce commuting costs. But as electric vehicles become more mainstream, a shift in mindset is required from outright range, to how many miles a car can cover for every kilowatt-hour of energy used.
So, while my EQC will do a quoted 244 miles on a charge, the reality is that I’ve averaged only 2.4mi/kWh over almost 4,500 miles, or around 192 miles for every full top-up. Compare that with my MINI’s 4. 2mi/kWh (121-mile real-world range) and it’s easy to see how the costs tot up.
To give you an idea of the numbers involved, charging at home using the UK’s average price of 17. 2p/kWh for standard electricity (off-peak tariffs are available) the Mercedes costs £13.76 to replenish from empty. Using an InstaVolt public rapid charger (40p/kWh), that rises to £32: roughly seven or 17 pence per mile, respectively. The MINI is more like 4-10 pence per mile, depending on where you charge, and the price of electricity.
This means over 4,393 miles, if I charged exclusively at home, the EQC would have cost roughly £308 in electricity. That’s much less than fuelling a petrol or diesel-powered Mercedes GLC, but it’s far more than the £176 I would have spent running the MINI over the same distance. Charge using the public network and the difference would have been greater still. Don’t forget the EQC costs almost three times as much to buy, even if it is much more premium and practical.
Of course, running costs are just part of the ownership experience, and over the past nine months there has been plenty I’ve enjoyed about the Merc. The extra space has been welcome; with my daughter now 15 months old, the bigger boot and rear doors have made carrying her kit much easier.
Performance, while potent, isn’t something I’ve leaned on particularly regularly. Cars like this promote a more relaxed driving style, meaning I’ve often defaulted to the EQC’s Eco mode and ramped up the regenerative braking to its strongest setting. This makes it a doddle to drive in town, rarely needing the conventional brake pedal in everyday use.
Ride comfort is another area where the Mercedes excels. It’s whisper-quiet despite the huge 21-inch wheels, while the hi-tech dash, luxurious cabin and sumptuous seats make every journey a breeze. The stereo is a highlight, sounding crisp no matter what you’re listening to. It all helps make the EQC one of the most relaxing cars on sale.
So would I recommend an EQC? Yes and no. You can’t argue with the build quality, luxury and refinement, but at almost £75,000, expectations are unsurprisingly high. Ultimately, rivals are better to drive, and many are more efficient, not least those that are lighter, or less powerful.
“Over the past nine months there has been plenty I’ve enjoyed about the Mercedes”