The Verdict?

We've recently arrived home after our travels through France, Southern Germany, Austria ,and Northern Italy. This is the first long trip that we have undertaken in our EV. Are we pleased with its performance?...Definitely! We chose a modest size vehicle, chiefly for its good range, and availability on the second hand market , and it did not let us down. The ride was supremely comfortable, and ultra quiet, and we covered good distances before needing to recharge. The ease of automatic driving is wonderful too. But of course we encountered some logistical problems along the way. Here is what we learned.

The driver is kept well informed about the amount of charge left, and the nearest charging systems We have bought an electronic card from our car manufacturer which allows us to use any charging station, and we are billed later. If we want to receive preferential rates, we must use Ionity stations. These can be specially selected on the map.

LESSON NUMBER ONE: The cost of charging your car can vary enormously. It is best to seek out your dedicated supplier if at all possible.

If you are running low never leave it until the last minute before recharging. That is, if you're not partial to suspense. It can be quite worrying to watch the available kilometres diminishing as you make for your chosen charging station. On the other hand it can also be quite a thrill to see this number rise again, as your journey takes you downhill, thanks to regenerative braking. So far, we have not run out of charge.

LESSON NUMBER TWO: Don't gamble!

It was nearly dark as we entered the Italian city of Turin on our long journey home. We planned to charge here before going on to Briançon, in France , where we would spend the night, and complete a full charge. But then we had a most unexpected surprise.

The service station that we selected happened to be in a large shopping centre. As is often the case, the electric chargers were hidden and difficult to find. When we finally arrived in front of the row of four chargers, every single cable had been cut off. We found another station close by. Alas, the cables were truncated at that one too. Had they been vandalised by 'motorheads', in protest at the concept of all-electric vehicles, perhaps? More likely it had been thieves who were looking to steal the expensive copper inside.

Third time lucky! This time we found an available charger by the side of a busy street in the centre of Turin. This charger was less powerful, but we were able to top up partially while enjoying a coffee at an adjacent café. By now, night had fallen.

We drove on, hoping to find a faster charging station further on in order to complete our journey to Briançon.

LESSON NUMBER THREE. Be prepared for surprises.

Briançon is a beautiful town in the heart of the French Alps. The next morning we found a car park in the old town, where there were four chargers. This worked beautifully for there was a boulangerie and coffee shop nearby. We put our car on fast charge , and then went for breakfast But this was a paying car park. Did we need to buy a parking ticket too? A friendly couple who were passing by, reassured us that this would not be necessary. However, I have read that some drivers of electric cars have been fined in English car parks for failing to pay the parking fee. It is best to be awareof this, and never to overstay , after charging is complete.

LESSON NUMBER FOUR: Check that there is no parking charge when you are recharging.

The next day after just one further charge in Provence, we arrived home. From now on we can charge quickly and cheaply here as we sleep, for B. has installed a fast charger. What's more, some of that electricity will come free of charge from our newly installed solar panels. What's not to like about electric vehicles? But guess what...we have one more word of caution. Look out for government subsidies. Just last week the French government announced a payment of 2,000€ to anyone purchasing a second hand EV vehicle, over 3 years old. That would have suited us very nicely, had it been brought in earlier. But we are still more than happy with our purchase.

LESSON NUMBER FIVE: Look out for government subsidies. (Alas, this one came too late. )