Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:45 am
#1914343
Last week I gave back the Renault Zoe I'd had on two month loan. Interesting trial.
As others have said before, the driving experience was totally effortless. I was surprised how much I noticed this, but it really is a different experience to an ICE car.
The vehicle itself was seriously bland. A bit plasticy, cheap feeling and basic. But then it's sold as a "van" (and wasn't particularly well specced) so perhaps that shouldn't be surprising. Anyway I wasn't trialling it as a Renault, but as an EV...
Relying on local public charging points is a total and utter nightmare. In my first 10 attempted charges locally, eight of the chargers were out of use. Thankfully the charger 100 yards from my front door was serviceable for all but two weeks of the trial (albeit slow), so that was my main charge point overnight. Interestingly of the two sockets on the charger, one was much quicker than the other - but still below it's supposed 22kW.
We did one "longer" journey in the thing: a 200 mile round trip to see the in-laws. Arrived there with having used 48% of a charge, and very much not willing to risk getting home on the remainder. Took an hour to find a serviceable charger with the correct adaptor (type 2) within a reasonable distance of Maidenhead, by which time charge was even lower. In the end we found one but it involved a collection / drop off from FIL in his diesel barge which felt a bit ridiculous. And then the charger was so slow, I was only at 65% by the time it booted me off. Attempted a charge at Cobham on the way home but at least five others in front of me in the queue so sod that. Naturally the traffic was awful, and by the time I got home I was on 8% and starting to get seriously jittery.
The other big lesson was just how much driving style effects range. We drove Canterbury to Gatwick on a Friday evening after work. In full on "get-there-I-want-a-beer" mode we used about 40% of a charge. Coming home a few days later at a much more sedate pace (though still not using "eco" mode - its 62mph limit on the motorway is not fun) and it was IIRC 22% of a charge...that was an eye opener.
Would I buy one? Yes, as a run around but absolutely NOT if reliant on public chargers. And for those of us who depend on local on street parking, that feels a long way away.