Summary
As you may be aware (due to my frequent discussions), I have a strong passion for road trips! The sense of liberty that comes with driving to any destination and pausing at any moment is exhilarating. This very enthusiasm has led us to undertake several road trips throughout the US, Canada, Scotland, Iceland, and Italy (just to name a few).
While the destinations for our journeys have continuously varied, one aspect has remained constant: the necessity for fuel. This applies whether one is operating a fuel-consuming vehicle or an electric one.
However, I had never operated an electric vehicle before, let alone considered one for a road trip. How would we manage to charge it? I harbored concerns about potentially being stranded in remote areas with only sheep and badgers for company. My imagination explored all possible scenarios. 😉
In light of these apprehensions, EDF Energy proposed a transformative plan that could potentially alleviate our concerns… or so it was claimed!
The team provided us with a Nissan Leaf (for those unfamiliar, it is an electric vehicle) and paired us with a knowledgeable automotive expert who was well-versed in electric mobility. As neophytes in this arena, we intended to thoroughly inquire about everything related to electric vehicles!
It was reassuring to have a seasoned person who was genuinely invested in driving a vehicle that is beneficial to the environment.
Commencing from the charming city of Liverpool, we collected our vehicle keys and promptly met this automotive expert. Jim Chapman arrived in his luxurious Jaguar. After receiving ample reassurance from Jim and his promise to prevent us from running out of power, we embarked on our journey.
This marked the beginning of our electric road trip!
1.) Speed isn’t an issue
Prior to entering our Nissan Leaf, I had significant reservations about the vehicle’s speed. After all, I could still recall the milkman’s morning rounds, zooming through the streets at the modest speed of 3-5 miles per hour!
The moment we settled into the car, I recognized that my preconceptions were fundamentally incorrect. To familiarize ourselves with the vehicle in the early stages of our journey, we chose to follow Jim in his electric Jaguar. Naturally, his car was visibly more glamorous and quicker than ours, but our electric Leaf demonstrated impressive speed capabilities. This surprised me immensely, particularly as it felt remarkably similar to driving a conventional petrol car—only quieter.
Upon departing Liverpool, I pressed the accelerator on the dual-carriageway. Indeed, we made commendable progress on our journey—so much so that we managed to include a visit to the summit of Snowdon.
It was fantastic!
2.) Energy consumption
This being said, like any other vehicle, our Nissan Leaf required energy – an aspect that is essential for all cars. The significant advantage of driving an electric vehicle is the absence of fossil fuel needs, which admittedly feels gratifying. Additionally, we did not find ourselves endlessly searching for charging stations, which was an unexpectedly pleasant discovery (initially, I presumed that it would require charging after a few hours of operation).
Nevertheless, during a lengthy journey, significant driving is involved, and I had some concerns about potentially becoming stranded in isolated areas at various points along the way. However, I was mistaken.
The Nissan Leaf features a mileage display indicating our driving range, which allowed us to plan charging stops along our route. This range varied based on factors such as our speed or whether we activated certain features like heated seats or air conditioning.
For example, while we ventured over to surf at Snowdonia, we recharged the vehicle while enjoying the waves. We took this opportunity to attempt to teach Jim a few (non-existent) surfing tricks as well. Admittedly, we are quite poor at surfing and lack any natural talent for standing on a surfboard. 😄
Confidently, we entered the water, only to find that Jim was the sole one to successfully stand on the board. What a moment! (The video above showcases a rather entertaining collection of our surfing attempts. 😄)
Recharging the car was incredibly straightforward (it’s as simple as plugging it in) and various options for ‘fast charging’ and ‘normal charging’ facilitate swift battery replenishment. This is particularly advantageous for long-distance travel since, by the time one enjoys a coffee and snack, the vehicle is well on its way to being fully charged.
3.) Finding charging points
This was one of my predominant concerns, particularly considering our travel route from Liverpool to Snowdonia National Park. I mistakenly presumed that urban areas would provide plentiful charging stations, while the rural regions would be scarce.
Snowdonia National Park is one of the less densely populated regions in the UK, and this was evident as we navigated through the area. Fortunately, charging stations were readily available and could be easily located via various applications and websites that detailed their locations. It turned out to be much simpler than I had anticipated—even though we relied on Jim’s navigation skills to reach some of them. 😉
Numerous charging stations are available, many more than one might initially think (it is often the case that once you begin utilizing them, their prevalence becomes apparent).
Moreover, it is worth noting that we did not have to wait in obscure and unsettling corners for our charging process. Most of the locations we visited provided clearly designated charging spots, comparable to conventional parking spaces found at supermarkets, which are also excellent venues for locating chargers.
This was precisely our experience at Zipworld when we helped Yaya confront his fear of heights by racing down the mountain at over 100 mph. His screams were audible from miles away. Ha! He may typically attempt to downplay this, but the video evidence speaks volumes. 😉
4.) Electric is more sustainable
One aspect I have consistently acknowledged about electric vehicles is their sustainability compared to fuel-consuming cars. Operating on electric power and devoid of exhaust emissions gives us the capacity to make our journey to Wales significantly more environmentally friendly. Our extensive travel adventures have always emphasized the importance of sustainable alternatives, which we wholeheartedly appreciate.
No toxic exhausts, no reliance on fossil fuels, and considerably reduced environmental impact—this was a substantial accomplishment for us, especially given that we did not contribute any fumes to our surroundings. #winning
5.) Cheaper to run
Prior to our electric road trip, I was unaware of the significant cost efficiency associated with electric vehicles compared to purchasing petrol by the gallon.
For example, Jim drove his Jaguar from London and only charged it once during the trip, resulting in a travel expenditure of less than ten pounds.
Furthermore, charging your car at home is as effortless as connecting your phone to the charger. However, take note that you would need to utilize a specific electric car tariff (it is not advisable to plug it in without proper considerations). The convenience of home charging not only offers simplicity but also helps to lower costs even further compared to already economical public charging rates.
Initially, we learned about this exceptionally convenient option because EDF Energy provides a charging package that includes not only home charger installations and specific tariffs for home charging but also electric vehicle leasing services. Detailed information on these services can be found here.
6.) Super quiet
Another observation I made while operating the electric vehicle was its smooth and silent performance. It felt as if our Nissan Leaf was seamlessly gliding across the road.
This contrasts sharply with the rumbling sounds of a petrol or diesel engine and occasional sputtering noises. Furthermore, this quiet operation has additional advantages. Typically, I (Lloyd) am the designated driver while Yaya supplies the snacks—crisps, chocolates, sweets—no memorable road trip is complete without a selection of road trip snacks.
That said, if the vehicle produces significant noise, it seems like he tries to conveniently disregard my requests for additional snacks. Fortunately, during our electric road trip, Yaya had no justification to avoid sharing his assortment of snacks.
We truly relished our electric road trip with EDF Energy and our electric vehicle expert, Jim. He skillfully oriented us about the intricacies of electric driving, ensuring our adventure was seamless. You can watch our entire journey, filled with excitement, surfing, and snowy landscapes, here.
