EV CHARGING
FALSE CLAIMS WHO: OLLIE KEW, ROAD TEST EDITOR
The I-Pace was plugged in at a grim M3 services when a fellow electric Jag driver pulled in alongside. “Excuse me, how much range are you getting?,” the distraught gentleman enquired. I replied it was good for 210-ish on a mild day but only about 170 miles with the heater toasty in mid-February. “What? The website dealer said it does 300!” he spluttered. “That’s on the NEDC test cycle – in reality, you’ll struggle to match the 240-mile WLTP claim,” said I. At that moment, I learned that not all EV early-adopters are big tech-heads. Some just bought the car because it looks cool.
IT’S THE FUTURE WHO: OLLIE MARRIAGE, MOTORING EDITOR
Last year I drove a Tesla to meet a Taycan in Germany. The End. It really was as simple as that. The satnav plotted my route, told me where to stop and for how long. Not once did I have to get my wallet out. A little slower than petrol, but cleaner, greener and less smelly. Apart from the Supercharger next to the truckers’ lay-by. Use a urinal, eh lads?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WHO: ROWAN HORNCASTLE, TG.COM
A few years ago, Paul Horrell and I took an I-Pace from London to Land’s End. It was the height of summer (and my birthday) and, to save range, we weren’t using the aircon. Suddenly, the range tumbled. We nursed it to a charger, but someone had blocked both bays. Hot and flustered, Paul nerfed the car into the space regardless. With nothing to do for three hours while it charged, we iced down our nerves with a fudge knickerbocker glory. Well, it was my birthday after all. Only for the whole scenario to be played out again a few hours later. Then again a few hours after that. We ran out of juice on the way home at 3am, so ended up on a breakdown lorry, before having to spend the night sleeping in the car. A birthday to remember, that’s for sure.
SCHOOLBOY ERROR WHO: STEPHEN DOBIE, DEPUTY EDITOR TG.COM
Taking one of the very first Nissan Leafs home almost 10 years ago, with no ability to charge, but its range figure more than twice my commute, was wholly optimistic, it turns out. A fact
I had to explain when I drove round to my housemate’s girlfriend’s house and threaded a cable through her kitchen window to nick her electricity overnight so I could actually get back to work the next day.
SUPERMARKET RAGE WHO: SAM BURNETT, SUB-EDITOR
What they don’t tell you about switching to EVs is the emotional roller coaster – driving to Paris to see the in-laws last Christmas was the sternest test our marriage has yet faced. And at the supermarket recently, I was so enraged to find a combustionengined interloper in the charging spot that I marched in, demanded to speak to the manager and told them I’d never shop there again. I sometimes sneak in for bread.