Bethany Weir
01 May 2023
With the UK moving quickly towards a world within which we all drive electric, our team are here to answer all the questions you may have about making a switch to an Electric Vehicle (EV). In the first of a series of blogs called ‘Living with Electric’, our team will give you a first-hand account of what it’s like to drive an EV – looking in detail at each vehicle. In this blog we hear from Account Manager Beth Weir who has been getting to know the all-new Volkswagen ID.3.
About me (Beth!):
We’re often asked questions about the transition to electric here at Pike + Bambridge. You can read online about ranges, battery sizes, tips to get more range… but what does it mean to LIVE with electric and how does it work in practice? I’m Beth, one of the Account Managers here at Pike + Bambridge. I’ve now had my electric car for a month, and I wanted to share my real experience of driving an EV. The questions below are those we’re often asked, however if you have any others, please just let us know and I’d love to help with the query. I live in a second floor flat in Edinburgh, with no immediate charge points near my flat, so you could say I’m a good test!
My car:
- WLTP Range: 261 miles
- Make and Model: Volkswagen ID.3 Electric Hatchback 150kW Life Pro Performance 58kWh 5Dr Auto
Why did I go electric?
Cost Savings. I have a company car, and for me it saved me so much money to move to an electric vehicle, it was worth me working through the potential challenges as it would save me so much over the year. Initially, the savings I thought about were from a tax perspective and that alone was enough to convince me, however since I’ve had the car the savings I have made on fuel have also been extremely noticeable.
Charging – is it easy?
As mentioned, I live in a second floor flat, so home charging is not an option. For me, I charge the car while I am in the gym, or at netball training. Depending on the charge point I usually get between 60-75 miles during a training session. There is also a charge point at my local supermarket which I would use for up to 2 hours if I needed an additional top-up.
If you can charge at home, that is a huge bonus, but it is possible to manage without. The key thing is working out how you can fit it into your lifestyle. I use an app called Zap Map. It’s handy and highlights the public charging network in your area.
What range am I getting?
The WLTP range (global test procedure standard for testing range) on the ID.3 Pro Performance claims 261 miles. I have been able to get up to 300 miles per charge if I am staying local. However, on longer journeys, 261 miles is probably more accurate. I haven’t yet used the car in Winter, and it will be interesting to see how the range copes in much colder weather.
What’s it like on longer journeys?
I have driven to Boat of Garten in the Highlands from Edinburgh, and reached there with plenty of miles to spare. The weather on the way up was dark and raining so I had air con on to de-mist the windscreen as well as lights and windscreen wipers. On the way back the weather was much better, and I used less range.
I find driving at 50-60mph you get a lot more range than if you’re driving at 70mph on the motorway. However, this doesn’t make me feel I need to drive slower everywhere I go, and I don’t really think about it.
The key is just to take an extra 20 mins planning the journey before you leave and seeing where possible charge points are. As mentioned before, apps like Zap Map and the in-car system make this really simple.
What’s different about it to drive?
The main differences are it feels much lighter to drive and more responsive. The acceleration of the vehicle is much quicker as well compared to Petrol or Diesel and it’s very easy to drive. People often comment on how quiet the vehicle is, but it doesn’t really change how it feels.
