My Wife Used to Have an Electric Car, She No Longer Has One.

This is her completely honest experience of her Nissan Leaf. She is sharing as a warning and giving insight into the hidden pitfalls of electric cars. What is having an electric car like?

Marie is a teacher for a large academy in the Midlands. She’s run a Nissan Leaf for a few years but recently handed it back for a diesel car. The experience has been a mixed one, which won’t be a surprise for many. Especially those who have heard numerous reasons why electric cars aren’t practical. In a frank and surprising interview, she shared her experience so that you can learn from this. If you want more information on green motoring, you can find some here.

It was a big step for Marie to go electric. A mother of 3 with a demanding job and located in the countryside, miles from any charging infrastructure. Nightmare! However, a couple of years ago Marie made the decision to go electric and ordered a Nissan Leaf. Over 2 years Marie covered about 32,000 miles which she calculated as costing her just over £300.

Marie has a drive, doesn’t have a fast charger, and charges via an external socket overnight

Every morning after charging on off-peak energy, Marie found her car ready and waiting with 100 miles range. Winter was a problem though. Cars covered in ice and chillingly cold inside. Especially problematic with concerns about electric vehicle range in the cold. Marie was sometimes delayed by 10-15 minutes… as the husband’s traditional car had blocked her in and he struggled to de-ice it.

Marie had been clever. You see, she used a simple app to pre-warm and charge her car. Thus ensuring when she left the house she had a fully charged, warm, ice-free car waiting. By doing this off mains supply she also minimised any impact on range and never had any concerns. There was no panic about fuel, her car started at 100 miles every day. On the other hand, her husband was running on fumes for the 3-mile drive to the nearest petrol station. And a 10 minute stop. Once a week. oof.

Like many busy parents, Marie spends a lot of time shopping and ferrying children around. Just after payday, Marie was delighted to find free charging in her local Waitrose. Right by the store entrance too! Slightly before payday, Marie was equally as thrilled to find free charging in her local Asda. Which was also conveniently close to the front doors! She enjoyed reduced parking rates and free charging in Derby and Birmingham regularly. Marie’s husband is still driving up to higher and higher levels in the Lichfield multi-storey car park. Before trekking to the bottom to meet his wife…right by the entrance.

Of Course, Family Days Out are a Regular Occurrence

Trips to Chester zoo and to Bristol to see friends are fairly regular. As are trips to Chill factor at the Trafford Centre! As parents to 3, comfort stops every hour and a half are essential. Marie takes this opportunity to recharge at services at Ecotricity pumps. A couple of pounds and 40 minutes for 80% refill while the kids stretch their legs. In reality, the 200 mile trip to Bristol and back normally just needed one-stop, which the kids, presumably, welcomed greatly.

Twice a year, Marie takes the family on holiday. A few days prior, she calls Fleet Evolution and requests a 7-seater diesel for the duration. She has more room, more range, and the ability to put the kids in the boot seats if it gets too much! Then, Marie can hand the car back when she returns and switch back to low-cost motoring in a Leaf.

There are The Undisclosed Side Effects of Owning an Electric Car

Aside from that smug feeling when you charge publicly for free, electric cars can make you soft. No more de-icing cars or filling up. On the rarity that you decide to publicly charge, just plug it in and go chill, all for pennies.

Sadly, the “nearest pound” game will no longer be playable. (Trying to get exactly £20 of diesel in the car, which, to cover the same distance in a Leaf would cost around 60p-£6. Depending on where you charge).

You will develop a lack of patience when you go back to petrol or diesel. The most mundane task such as waiting at a petrol station will become frustrating and painful. Finding your diesel car on the drive, with 30 miles range, compared to your 270-mile electric car range every morning can be annoying. You also get brighter nights as you cause less pollution and smog.

Uh oh! You’ll miss out on Shell and Nectar points!

You’ll have to speak to people as EVERYONE stops to chat with others charging their EV. You might even start converting people.

Why Has Marie Gone Back to a Traditional Car?

Well, she has very recently ordered a Kia Niro electric, a 270-mile range and just she’s waiting for it. Her Leaf lease had ended and electrics are so popular we could only give her a diesel in the meantime.

The convenient truth is that you don’t need to compromise to drive an EV. If you have a drive or garage, the advantages are stronger. The compromise is the one everyone else makes: filling up daily, polluting, paying congestion charges, and parking miles away from entrances. Well, that’s if they can get a space.

Time to make the switch. Here are your options: waste hours filling up and spend over £1,000 a year on fuel; or, go electric and live without compromise, despite the odd time you might need to cover more than 250 miles. Better yet, cars are amazing value on our salary sacrifice car scheme. With a 270-mile electric car that’s cheaper to lease than a Golf or Focus. To see some typical pricing click here.