Long distance trip in a BEV - the reality
Discussion
Just came back last Friday from a business trip in the North of Italy to my home near Paris, so I thought I would share the experience. My car is a DS N°8 with a 97 kWh battery and 450 miles of range (best version is 466 but I have the 21" wheels).
Set off with a full battery at 8:00, the sun was shining and I didn"t have many meetings so obviously I decided to do what any sane persone would do : take the scenic road through the Mont Cenis and the col de l'Iseran , adding 3 to 4 hours to the trip. That part of the journey involved a bit of spirited driving, so consumption was quite high but the regen going down helped keeping the average to a very reasonnable 18 kWh/100 km (3,4 mi/kWh) before reaching the motorway near Bourg-en-Bresse.
Took some pictures along the way :
Did a first 25 min charge near Chalon sur Saône after480km while having at late lunch, and a second one 2 hours later. To be honest I could have extended the first charge a little bit and have enough to get home with a reasonable margin, so let's say overall a 35 min charging time for a 850 km trip.
Cost-wise, electricity was around 110€ factoring the initial charge in Italy with a higher price vs. France, so probably 20€ less than a equivalent ICE.
So long story short, BEV long distance trip = it works... providing you have the right car. I wouldn't enjoy to attempt the same trip with a Renault 5 for instance.
Did I miss the thrill of a good ICE when driving in the Alps ? Yes for sure, but this is a company car so it was never going to be a 911 or an M3 anyway. At least the instant torque to pull out of tight corners was nice.
Set off with a full battery at 8:00, the sun was shining and I didn"t have many meetings so obviously I decided to do what any sane persone would do : take the scenic road through the Mont Cenis and the col de l'Iseran , adding 3 to 4 hours to the trip. That part of the journey involved a bit of spirited driving, so consumption was quite high but the regen going down helped keeping the average to a very reasonnable 18 kWh/100 km (3,4 mi/kWh) before reaching the motorway near Bourg-en-Bresse.
Took some pictures along the way :
Did a first 25 min charge near Chalon sur Saône after480km while having at late lunch, and a second one 2 hours later. To be honest I could have extended the first charge a little bit and have enough to get home with a reasonable margin, so let's say overall a 35 min charging time for a 850 km trip.
Cost-wise, electricity was around 110€ factoring the initial charge in Italy with a higher price vs. France, so probably 20€ less than a equivalent ICE.
So long story short, BEV long distance trip = it works... providing you have the right car. I wouldn't enjoy to attempt the same trip with a Renault 5 for instance.
Did I miss the thrill of a good ICE when driving in the Alps ? Yes for sure, but this is a company car so it was never going to be a 911 or an M3 anyway. At least the instant torque to pull out of tight corners was nice.
Lovely pics.
I'm regularly doing Stirling to west Yorkshire, so not anyway near the trip you've just done, but so far just faultless and hassle free.
(Apart from yesterday where my regular charging spot had new chargers being fitted and was closed). Range and charging in UK is just not an issue.
I'm regularly doing Stirling to west Yorkshire, so not anyway near the trip you've just done, but so far just faultless and hassle free.
(Apart from yesterday where my regular charging spot had new chargers being fitted and was closed). Range and charging in UK is just not an issue.
6pi said:
Just came back last Friday from a business trip in the North of Italy to my home near Paris, so I thought I would share the experience. My car is a DS N°8 with a 97 kWh battery and 450 miles of range (best version is 466 but I have the 21" wheels).
Set off with a full battery at 8:00, the sun was shining and I didn"t have many meetings so obviously I decided to do what any sane persone would do : take the scenic road through the Mont Cenis and the col de l'Iseran , adding 3 to 4 hours to the trip. That part of the journey involved a bit of spirited driving, so consumption was quite high but the regen going down helped keeping the average to a very reasonnable 18 kWh/100 km (3,4 mi/kWh) before reaching the motorway near Bourg-en-Bresse.
Took some pictures along the way :
Did a first 25 min charge near Chalon sur Saône after480km while having at late lunch, and a second one 2 hours later. To be honest I could have extended the first charge a little bit and have enough to get home with a reasonable margin, so let's say overall a 35 min charging time for a 850 km trip.
Cost-wise, electricity was around 110 factoring the initial charge in Italy with a higher price vs. France, so probably 20 less than a equivalent ICE.
So long story short, BEV long distance trip = it works... providing you have the right car. I wouldn't enjoy to attempt the same trip with a Renault 5 for instance.
Did I miss the thrill of a good ICE when driving in the Alps ? Yes for sure, but this is a company car so it was never going to be a 911 or an M3 anyway. At least the instant torque to pull out of tight corners was nice.
Lovely picture and a fun road trip. Try the highlands, there are some wonderful trips to be had also. Ouch why was the electricity so much?Set off with a full battery at 8:00, the sun was shining and I didn"t have many meetings so obviously I decided to do what any sane persone would do : take the scenic road through the Mont Cenis and the col de l'Iseran , adding 3 to 4 hours to the trip. That part of the journey involved a bit of spirited driving, so consumption was quite high but the regen going down helped keeping the average to a very reasonnable 18 kWh/100 km (3,4 mi/kWh) before reaching the motorway near Bourg-en-Bresse.
Took some pictures along the way :
Did a first 25 min charge near Chalon sur Saône after480km while having at late lunch, and a second one 2 hours later. To be honest I could have extended the first charge a little bit and have enough to get home with a reasonable margin, so let's say overall a 35 min charging time for a 850 km trip.
Cost-wise, electricity was around 110 factoring the initial charge in Italy with a higher price vs. France, so probably 20 less than a equivalent ICE.
So long story short, BEV long distance trip = it works... providing you have the right car. I wouldn't enjoy to attempt the same trip with a Renault 5 for instance.
Did I miss the thrill of a good ICE when driving in the Alps ? Yes for sure, but this is a company car so it was never going to be a 911 or an M3 anyway. At least the instant torque to pull out of tight corners was nice.
We drove from Ramsgate to just past Lake Como via Switzerland over The Gotthard Pass, came back via Mont Blanc then Geneva to Calais. I only charged at Tesla Superchargers, I wasn't on an economy run and it cost me 195£ total for charging. I didn't think it was that bad. Lovely photos op.
ashenfie said:
Lovely picture and a fun road trip. Try the highlands, there are some wonderful trips to be had also. Ouch why was the electricity so much?
Highlands are great, I did a roadtrip there with my bike some years ago and had a very good time. I may come back with the car one day, the charging network doesn't seem very dense at the moment but that's where having a big range is useful.Regarding costs, AC charging was 73 cts in Italy (so twice the usal price in France...) and highway charging in France 60 cts, so as usual public charging is way more exepensive than domestic charging. However I could have gotten the prices down with a subscription and/or chosing the right energy providers, but as the trip was on expenses I didn't bother.
reefer110 said:
Funny, don't recall where the OP suggested you couldn't do decent miles in a diesel. Odd how these threads have the abilty to attract the hard of thinking 
Indeed, Diesel will always have the edge regarding overall range but as long as I can complete a full day of driving without hassle I don't really care. And regarding depreciation, if we compare comparable things, not sure a brand new big diesel is completely depreciation-free nowadays.Good effort OP.
I did my first 'long' journey in my EV the other weekend. From Hampshire over to the Spa circuit in Belgium.
I just did my usual 'find a charger where you are going to be stopping anyway' routine, and charged at the Channel Tunnel, some random motorway services when we stopped for lunch, a supermarket in Verviers (loading up on beer) and then on the way back at another supermarket (more beer purchases) in Waterloo en route to checking out the battlefield, and again at the French side of the Channel.
Zero waiting about, and I don't think the car ever got below 40% full.
There even was a charger in the village we were staying, but I didn't need to use it.
I did my first 'long' journey in my EV the other weekend. From Hampshire over to the Spa circuit in Belgium.
I just did my usual 'find a charger where you are going to be stopping anyway' routine, and charged at the Channel Tunnel, some random motorway services when we stopped for lunch, a supermarket in Verviers (loading up on beer) and then on the way back at another supermarket (more beer purchases) in Waterloo en route to checking out the battlefield, and again at the French side of the Channel.
Zero waiting about, and I don't think the car ever got below 40% full.
There even was a charger in the village we were staying, but I didn't need to use it.
I’m glad it went well, it can be done and I’ve done the following amongst other journeys when I had my two Taycans:
West Sussex to Zurich (in one drive)
West Sussex to Copenhagen via Hamburg (two days) and then back and boy were the Autobahns fun! (Did this journey twice and I think I documented one run on PH many moons ago)
West Sussex to Zurich in one day and then back home in one day.
West Sussex to Zurich in one day and then onto Barcelona the next day
Barcelona to West Sussex back home overnight in one drive (over 1000 miles)
Over the course of three years I covered around 60,000 miles in my two Taycans around the UK and Europe and anyone who suggests you can’t do a long journey in an EV isn’t trying hard enough.
I’ve always found the charging network excellent and with the free Porsche charging card I paid no more than £0.30kWh on any charger regardless of speed or supplier
The Barcelona home run last November was also done with faulty pcm software so I simply stopped every 150-175 miles for a quick top up to make sure I didn’t run out of juice - that meant was a total pain ITA but it worked.
West Sussex to Zurich (in one drive)
West Sussex to Copenhagen via Hamburg (two days) and then back and boy were the Autobahns fun! (Did this journey twice and I think I documented one run on PH many moons ago)
West Sussex to Zurich in one day and then back home in one day.
West Sussex to Zurich in one day and then onto Barcelona the next day
Barcelona to West Sussex back home overnight in one drive (over 1000 miles)
Over the course of three years I covered around 60,000 miles in my two Taycans around the UK and Europe and anyone who suggests you can’t do a long journey in an EV isn’t trying hard enough.
I’ve always found the charging network excellent and with the free Porsche charging card I paid no more than £0.30kWh on any charger regardless of speed or supplier
The Barcelona home run last November was also done with faulty pcm software so I simply stopped every 150-175 miles for a quick top up to make sure I didn’t run out of juice - that meant was a total pain ITA but it worked.
OutInTheShed said:
Meh.
I drove my previous diesel from Devon to Scotland, drove around a bit, drove back into England, bought fuel 2 days later near York.
In a car that probably depreciated by about £12 that year.
Might be £13 now I drove my previous diesel from Devon to Scotland, drove around a bit, drove back into England, bought fuel 2 days later near York.
In a car that probably depreciated by about £12 that year.
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/record-pump-price...
reefer110 said:
Funny, don't recall where the OP suggested you couldn't do decent miles in a diesel. Odd how these threads have the abilty to attract the hard of thinking
The OP did indeed make a comparison to an internal combustion engine vehicle in the post.I agree the thread does indeed have the ability to attract the hard of thinking, you displaying this perfectly.
Always find this interesting as a recent EV owner. Think my car has a WLTP of 330 miles so realistically maybe 300 tops real-world.
From the Midlands that's basically Edinburgh.
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
From the Midlands that's basically Edinburgh.
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
butchstewie said:
Always find this interesting as a recent EV owner. Think my car has a WLTP of 330 miles so realistically maybe 300 tops real-world.
From the Midlands that's basically Edinburgh.
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
Same here.From the Midlands that's basically Edinburgh.
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
Went EV in June of this year. Already had a holiday to Orkney booked for August. West Mids to Orkney on three stops and an overnight stay. Return could have been done on three stops in one day, but as I wasn't doing an overnight on the return leg elected to stop four times.
Bought a month's membership of the Tesla network to keep the cost down.
TL;DR West Mids to Orkney was a doddle in an EV with a real word 300 mile range. My bladder and my ability remain focused were the limiting factors, rather than the State of Charge.
jingars said:
butchstewie said:
Always find this interesting as a recent EV owner. Think my car has a WLTP of 330 miles so realistically maybe 300 tops real-world.
From the Midlands that's basically Edinburgh.
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
Same here.From the Midlands that's basically Edinburgh.
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
Went EV in June of this year. Already had a holiday to Orkney booked for August. West Mids to Orkney on three stops and an overnight stay. Return could have been done on three stops in one day, but as I wasn't doing an overnight on the return leg elected to stop four times.
Bought a month's membership of the Tesla network to keep the cost down.
TL;DR West Mids to Orkney was a doddle in an EV with a real word 300 mile range. My bladder and my ability remain focused were the limiting factors, rather than the State of Charge.
That was 3 up in a fully laden car, using air con as it was in the middle of summer as well! We definitely could not have skipped on stopping due to bladders anyway. It has a WLTP range of 252 miles according to Jaguar ( https://www.jaguar.com/en-gb/jdx/jaguar-range/i-pa... ) but I've managed to get over 250 miles with 8% remaining after going to Warrington and back from Northampton. It has a 90kW battery and supposedly only 84.7kW is available, but I wonder if more of it is available. Otherwise, how would I be able to beat the published figures? butchstewie said:
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
I have found having lived with EVs for a number of years, the issue is not with the 400 mile drive where of course you want to stop and the car can charge, it is the self-created issue with a 135 mile trip to the airport and a 135 mile trip back a week or two later which with a 300 mile range theoretically should be doable on a single charge but possibly isn't.On those two 'to the airport and then back' journeys you don't really feel you want to stop on the way there because you want to get to the airport for your flight and you think you will have enough charge to get back, but neither do you really feel you want to stop on the way home because you want to get home.
Sure some airport parking operators do offer a 'charge your car' service, but then it always feels a bit exorbitant to pay around £25 when you only need a 'splash' of electricity to make sure you don't run out.
And I did exactly that return home journey last night, setting off with just over half a tank of electricity after the daytime run down a couple of weeks ago, but the cold night and a 70mph speed because the M26 was actually running unlike on the way down, meant getting home with under 5% of charge left in the tank.
OutInTheShed said:
Meh.
I drove my previous diesel from Devon to Scotland, drove around a bit, drove back into England, bought fuel 2 days later near York.
In a car that probably depreciated by about £12 that year.
But... you do end up having to drive an old diesel shed.I drove my previous diesel from Devon to Scotland, drove around a bit, drove back into England, bought fuel 2 days later near York.
In a car that probably depreciated by about £12 that year.
Swings and roundabouts
slievenashaska said:
I have found having lived with EVs for a number of years, the issue is not with the 400 mile drive where of course you want to stop and the car can charge, it is the self-created issue with a 135 mile trip to the airport and a 135 mile trip back a week or two later which with a 300 mile range theoretically should be doable on a single charge but possibly isn't.
On those two 'to the airport and then back' journeys you don't really feel you want to stop on the way there because you want to get to the airport for your flight and you think you will have enough charge to get back, but neither do you really feel you want to stop on the way home because you want to get home.
Sure some airport parking operators do offer a 'charge your car' service, but then it always feels a bit exorbitant to pay around £25 when you only need a 'splash' of electricity to make sure you don't run out.
And I did exactly that return home journey last night, setting off with just over half a tank of electricity after the daytime run down a couple of weeks ago, but the cold night and a 70mph speed because the M26 was actually running unlike on the way down, meant getting home with under 5% of charge left in the tank.
Where do you go with that though?On those two 'to the airport and then back' journeys you don't really feel you want to stop on the way there because you want to get to the airport for your flight and you think you will have enough charge to get back, but neither do you really feel you want to stop on the way home because you want to get home.
Sure some airport parking operators do offer a 'charge your car' service, but then it always feels a bit exorbitant to pay around £25 when you only need a 'splash' of electricity to make sure you don't run out.
And I did exactly that return home journey last night, setting off with just over half a tank of electricity after the daytime run down a couple of weeks ago, but the cold night and a 70mph speed because the M26 was actually running unlike on the way down, meant getting home with under 5% of charge left in the tank.
Buying a car based on the odd airport stay in mind seems a bit tail wagging the dog IMO.
slievenashaska said:
butchstewie said:
Despite all the usual "oooh it's only got 300 miles range" stuff I really couldn't see myself trying to drive that far without at least a couple of breaks.
I have found having lived with EVs for a number of years, the issue is not with the 400 mile drive where of course you want to stop and the car can charge, it is the self-created issue with a 135 mile trip to the airport and a 135 mile trip back a week or two later which with a 300 mile range theoretically should be doable on a single charge but possibly isn't.On those two 'to the airport and then back' journeys you don't really feel you want to stop on the way there because you want to get to the airport for your flight and you think you will have enough charge to get back, but neither do you really feel you want to stop on the way home because you want to get home.
Sure some airport parking operators do offer a 'charge your car' service, but then it always feels a bit exorbitant to pay around £25 when you only need a 'splash' of electricity to make sure you don't run out.
And I did exactly that return home journey last night, setting off with just over half a tank of electricity after the daytime run down a couple of weeks ago, but the cold night and a 70mph speed because the M26 was actually running unlike on the way down, meant getting home with under 5% of charge left in the tank.
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