Is it Worth Getting an Electric Car Now?
My 1st EV Experience – The Jaguar iPace
Since November 2019, I’ve been an electric car (EV) owner. My journey into the world of EVs began just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. My first EV was a Jaguar iPace, a car that, while not winning any beauty contests in my eyes, more than made up for it with its power. I have since moved onto a BMW i4 Brooklyn Grey M50. I will discuss this in greater detail, later in this Blog.
We installed an electric charger at our office to make the EV experience even more convenient. This setup allowed me to charge during the working week. For the first year, my mileage was predominantly confined to local driving, thanks to the COVID lockdown that hit us in February 2020.
Enjoying My EV During Lockdown
For my daily 16-mile round-trip commute, the iPace proved to be an excellent companion. The joy of driving on quiet, pandemic-emptied roads added an extra layer of pleasure to my daily routine. Despite the challenging circumstances, I found solace in my work environment, with one of our production team members and our bookkeeper as my only colleagues. Operating a business during such uncertain times for our industry and the world was no small feat, especially with most of our staff on furlough.
Yet, I relished this new normal. The daily commute on practically empty roads became a cherished ritual, with lovely weather during that hot summer. It was when half the country and my neighbours spent their furloughs partying and sunbathing in their gardens. Nothing beats the sensation of cruising along the open road, windows down, and the symphony of the pavement beneath your wheels with zero engine noise.
While the iPace excelled in many aspects, I found it ironic that my favourite feature was its Karman stereo system. That summer, I cranked up the volume countless times on my way home from work, savouring the sound quality as I drove. Every Heartbeat with Pete Tong and Zara Larsson is a song that sticks with me, and I can visualise and hear it now as I move through Basingstoke’s ghostly, quiet town.
Winter Disappointments and Range Anxiety
However, my enthusiasm waned during the following winter. Living at the bottom of a hill, I had hoped that with the iPace’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system, I’d be able to conquer the rare but challenging snowy conditions. To my disappointment, the iPace refused to start when the first snowfall arrived, even though its battery was fully charged. The culprit was a secondary battery system that seemed to dislike the cold, and that was supposed to run the electrical ignition system (or something like that, as I’m certainly no mechanic or car expert). A call to Jaguar assistance led to a tow truck retrieving my stranded vehicle, leaving me awaiting a chance to test the iPace in snowy conditions the following winter.
That Christmas, we embarked on an ill-fated trip to the New Forest, nestled between Christmas and New Year. The restlessness of my wife, daughters, and me, cooped up at home, led us to drive towards Beaulieu in the New Forest. We had never experienced the festive season in this picturesque region, and we were eager to see if it would genuinely exude the Christmas charm we had discussed during a previous drive through the area’s stunning landscapes.
Heading for Beaulieu
Setting off in the iPace, I knew we would need some charge, so I suggested a stop at Winchester Services, where I knew there were two chargers. Upon arrival, we plugged the car in, but it remained unresponsive. I tried the routine reboot (a familiar ritual for many EV drivers at charging stations), but still, no luck. The second pump was out of order, displaying a faulty readout.
A quick Google search led us to another charging station in Winchester boasting a 50KWh charger. However, we were beaten to it by another car that was connecting. Faced with a dilemma, we contemplated waiting or moving on. By this time, the car’s range was dwindling, with just enough to get us home and not much spare mileage. I knew Winchester North services had more chargers than the southbound side, so I reassured my family that we could charge there and still salvage our trip to Beaulieu. While we waited, I promised to treat them to coffee and cake at Costa.
Crossing Fingers at Winchester Services
With crossed fingers, we pulled into the services. Two chargers had cars tethered to them. However, the displays on the available chargers showed a familiar fault error. The operational chargers with cars on charge were unoccupied as their owners were inside the services. The displays didn’t indicate whether the vehicles were almost done charging. That’s when a gentleman in another car informed me that he was waiting to use one charger, and the family in the car next to him was waiting for the other. Needless to say, my wife and kids were far from thrilled when I relayed the situation.
We decided to head back home, and for the remainder of the Christmas holidays, we relied on my wife’s Mini for transportation until I returned to work and could plug my Jaguar in for charging. This experience brought to the forefront the term “range anxiety,” a common concern for EV drivers. I, too, had encountered it on numerous occasions. However, one particular frustration I had with public charging stations at the time was the lack of a queuing system. Unlike a petrol station, where you line up in an orderly fashion, with EVs, you find a space as close as possible to the charger and wait, hoping to grab it as soon as the previous user departs….. too much stress for my liking!
Reluctance on Long Journeys and Unease with the Public Charging Network
I extended the lease on my iPace for an additional year due to its low mileage. It was low due to COVID-19 and associated lockdowns, so next to zero social mileage and no business mileage for visiting customers. While the car served its purpose, I didn’t have the confidence to take it on long journeys because the public charging network was severely lacking.
On one occasion, I had to rush to Peterborough for my youngest daughter’s passport office appointment, and we did manage to find a working charger on the return journey. However, I used my wife’s Mini when planning to visit Manchester for a University Open Day instead. It was peculiar, considering I had a car worth £70,000 to £80,000, yet still found myself driving a tiny Mini with a manual gearbox, which I disliked, given my years of automatic driving.
Conflicted Feelings After Three Years of EV Ownership
So, how did I genuinely feel after three years of owning an EV? To put it simply, I wouldn’t say I liked it. If it wasn’t for the company car tax benefits, I would have switched back to a combustion engine car without a second thought.
The Transition from Jaguar to the BMW i4 Brooklyn Grey M50
Earlier this year, I made a significant change by trading in my Jaguar iPace for a BMW i4 M50. Since then, my experience as an EV owner has improved immensely. I went from an unattractive car to a stunning one, transitioning from the usual black colour I had been accustomed to since 2000 to a beautiful Brooklyn Grey, which I adore.
Everything about the M50, from the driving position to its aesthetics, styling, and especially performance, has thoroughly satisfied me. While the Jaguar was quick, the M50 was even faster. The Jaguar, being large and heavy, sometimes made me wonder if it would come to a stop when I pressed the brakes. In contrast, the BMW stops on a sixpence.
While the Jaguar used to rumble along the roads, the BMW i4 Brooklyn Grey M50 glides along with what feels like minimal effort. The only aspect of the Jaguar I miss is its stereo system, as the Harman Kardon stereo in the M50, whilst good, doesn’t quite measure up
Real-World EV Drive Experience – Journey to the NEC
Recently, I had a trip to the NEC planned for an exhibition, coinciding with the launch of this Blog. I was heading to The Motorhome And Caravan Show, a topic for a future article. Still, I also thought it would make sense to write about my ‘real-world’ journey to and from Birmingham. I aimed to address two fundamental questions: Have things improved for EV drivers, and are we indeed prepared for the EV rollout scheduled for the mid-2030s?
The day before the Expo, I charged my car at work. I usually let the range drop to around 50 miles before plugging back in. To reach a maximum battery capacity (approximately 230 miles is a typical fully charged reading). In that case, it typically takes around 8 hours, given that our work charger is slower. I arrived home with 97% charge remaining and a range of 214 miles, so I was all set for the journey the following morning.
An Early Start
On the following day, I was in my car by 7:07 a.m., with the charge percentage at 96% and a promising range of 230 miles. I used the BMW’s voice command system to navigate to Birmingham NEC—a notable improvement over the Jaguar’s system. It calculated a journey time of 2 hours and 5 minutes, leaving me with a range of 110 miles. This was just enough to consider a round trip, albeit with little margin for error.
The drive north was challenging, courtesy of storm Brabant. The weather worsened as I progressed, with some rain reaching biblical proportions. The southbound A34 showed significant flooding and queuing traffic. Given the conditions, I planned to navigate the Expo quickly to begin my journey home early, aiming to avoid a late return.
Approaching Oxford, my driving was cautious. Remarkably, after 40 miles, the range had increased to 232 miles—an unexpected gain of 2 miles. However, as I joined the M40, the storm unleashed its full fury, reducing my speed to 40 mph due to the intense spray and rain. The situation didn’t improve on the M42, with traffic crawling nose to tail and large floods encroaching from a nearby construction site, just miles from the NEC.
Arrival at Birmingham NEC and Charging Decisions
Despite the dreadful weather, I arrived at the NEC by 9:37, which was a surprisingly smooth journey under the circumstances. My car displayed a 54% charge and a range of 153 miles. The possibility of returning home without recharging was real. However, I opted for caution and decided to charge on the way back. With the return trip estimated at 110 miles, I theoretically could have had 33 miles to spare. Yet, the weekend was ahead, and I pondered whether I’d need the car. Would the remaining charge suffice for my Monday commute and the welcomed recharge at work? I chose not to risk it.
Fortunately, the Rain Eased
As I walked into the Expo, thankfully, the rain had eased a bit. My first stop? A food point within the halls for a coffee and croissant. There, I quickly Googled and found an InstaVolt charging station at Banbury. I noted the postcode, planning to head there afterwards.
The show was incredible. It was vast, with countless caravans, motorhomes, and related accessories on display. My interest in this field dates back to my childhood. It intensified during lockdown, as I became hooked on van life videos and outdoor adventure vlogs on YouTube. Being stuck at home made the desire for outdoor adventures grow. This passion will significantly influence my future blog content.
BMW Range – Charging and Journey Back Home
Returning to my car amidst pouring rain, I stowed my coat in the boot and settled into the cockpit. After starting the car, activating the wipers, and blasting the blower to clear the windscreen, I noticed the car had 54% charge left, with a range of 143 miles. My next stop? Banbury, and the EV chargers at Stroud Park, just off junction 11 on the M40.
Arriving at Stroud Park, I was met with the welcome sight of multiple EV chargers, all seemingly high-capacity, offering at least 50KW charging. I parked, connected the charger, selected the right plug, and tapped my card for payment. Sometimes, this process is tricky, involving repeated plugging, unplugging, and screen tapping. However, it’s likely something I’d get used to with more frequent use of public chargers.
My range is 93 miles now, and my battery charge is 36%. I started charging at 13:37, and it was telling me I’d be at 100% at 14:54. I was close to a Costa, so I decided to grab a coffee and get back home. By the time I was back at the car and untethered, the battery was at 68% with a range of 177 miles, so that was enough for me since my home was only 73 miles away now. It was now 13:58.
Navigational Challenges and the Evolving EV Infrastructure
After powering up, I switched from music to “Parenting Hell” by Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe. It’s a must-listen for laughs. As I started my trip, the sat nav warned of a 1 hour 49-minute journey amid heavy traffic. Storm Brabant seemed to have caused more chaos while I was at the NEC. On the M40, torrential rain and poor visibility slowed traffic to a crawl. Then, my sat nav suggested an alternate route home.
Owning an EV presents unique challenges. The faster alternative route took me through High Wycombe and Maidenhead, onto the M4 to Reading, and finally the A33 back to Basingstoke. This detour added 20 miles but was manageable with a planned charging stop.
I followed the suggestion and arrived home at 15:56 with 35% charge and 90 miles left. Despite the longer route, it saved time by avoiding traffic near Oxford.
Insights from the Trip to Birmingham in my BMW i4 Brooklyn Grey
From this journey, I gathered several insights:
The Charging Network is Growing: The availability of chargers, like those in Banbury and at the NEC with BP Pulse, is impressive. The NEC site, near a Starbucks, offers over 200 charging points, perfect for exhibitors.
Planning is Key: With EVs, you must plan your trips and charging stops carefully, keeping an eye on charge levels and charger availability.
Charging Costs Can Add Up: Public charging isn’t cheap. My Banbury charge cost £24.55, which is more than £0.29 per mile for 84 miles. Though I prefer using my work charger, the cost difference with petrol, around £0.16 per mile, is noticeable.
Charging Costs Plus Coffees
Charging stations often pair with other services, suggesting you might grab a coffee while waiting. It seems I often do, about 80% of the time when charging away from work.
Time Is Less of a Concern: With the EV infrastructure improving, charging time, like the 21 minutes for 84 miles I experienced, becomes less of an issue, especially during long trips where breaks are needed.
Environmental and Social Benefits: Driving an EV feels like contributing positively to the environment. It also offers unique social interactions at charging stations, unlike at petrol pumps.
Final Reflections on EV Ownership and the Future
In conclusion, I’ve fully embraced EVs and can’t imagine returning to combustion engines. Recognising the privilege, I appreciate the advances in EV technology and the ongoing debates, such as battery lifecycle and disposal.
For those contemplating an EV, especially the BMW i4 Brooklyn Grey M50, my latest blog post delves into whether it’s a worthwhile investment.
For further insights and a deeper dive into my EV journey, including the BMW i4 Brooklyn Grey M50, check out my latest blog post: “Is the BMW i4 M50 worth buying?“