Took an electric car on a 350-mile adventure, and oh boy, it wasn’t as smooth as I’d hoped! Ever wondered what it’d be like to swap your trusty diesel for a shiny electric beauty? Well, I’ve got stories to tell!
Let me introduce you to the Volvo C40 Recharge Twin Pro—our ride for the day. It’s sleek, fast, and practically whispers through the roads. Sounds perfect, right? But let’s dive into the real deal about long-distance electric vehicle travel.
**The Plan**: Drive from Cornwall to Bristol and back. Sounds easy enough. But here’s where the plot twists.
**Charging Challenge**: The Volvo boasted a theoretical range of 273 miles, but reality hit hard with only 180 miles. A peek into the pockets? Charging wasn’t cheap! Initial home charge: roughly £20. A quick top-up during the journey set me back £19.62 for just 55 extra miles. Yikes!
**Pit Stops Galore**: Those hoping for a quick splash-and-dash like with petrol might need to brace themselves. Fast charging en route was quick-ish, but wow, those fast chargers know how to drain your wallet. Stopped at Exeter? £43.45 added to the bill for 126 miles extra. It felt like someone had swiped my wallet when I wasn’t watching.
Traffic anxiety was amplified by range anxiety—countless moments spent calculating if I’d roll up to the next charger or if it’d be me and a dark night road. My 18-year-old diesel never gave me this type of heart workout!
The journey meant balancing nerves, time, and cost. Sure, home charging’s a savvy saver—if only all of it could be done that way! My round-trip cost hit nearly £90, compared to a mere £40 for diesel.
Verdict? The electric future excites with zero emissions and smooth rides, but on-the-road charging costs? They’ve gotta come down. A reminder that while we’ve come far in EV tech, we’ve still a journey ahead in making it universally practical, especially for long trips. If your travels are mostly local, I’d say give electric a thought—just plan those longer journeys carefully! 🚗⚡