Shropshire Star

Electric driving gives new spark

Electric car charging points are popping up across Shropshire and Mid Wales as the greener way to drive sees a surge in popularity, writes Jennifer Meierhans.

Published

The Government is offering cash incentives to get families and businesses to make the switch to zero emissions.

And at just 2p a mile with no road tax the numbers seem to add up on paper.

But I wanted to experience electric driving to see if it proves as nifty as it is thrifty.

The Nissan Leaf
  • Fuel cost – from 2p a mile

  • Maximum range – 80 to 100 miles

  • Top speed – 93mph

  • Zero CO2 emissions

  • No road tax

  • 8,000 charging points across the UK

I picked up a Leaf from Greenhous Nissan in Shrewsbury, where salesman Andy Evans got me up to speed on all things electric.

On first impression the Leaf looked to me like any other family hatchback, if a little futuristic, with its sculptured stand out headlamps – but I quite liked its appearance.

The Acenta model I tried out was keyless and had sat nav, a reverse parking camera and Bluetooth as standard – so going green does not mean foregoing life's little luxuries.

Andy told me that the car was priced at £23,590 after a £5,000 electric vehicle grant from the Office of Low Emissions.

He showed me two charging sockets neatly hidden under the Nissan badge on the bonnet.

If I owned a Leaf, British Gas would fit a home wall charger for free which would fill the battery in just four hours for about £2, Andy told me. Nissan say owning a Leaf will only add about £260 a year to the average driver's electricity bill.

I don't have a home wall charger so for me the regular three pin plug in the garage filled it up over night.

The second socket is for rapid charging at service stations and public car parks which is mostly free and can take the battery from zero to 80 per cent full in 30 minutes.

Once up to speed I could not wait to get behind the wheel. I've always driven manual cars and the Leaf drives like an automatic so only using my right foot took a little getting used to. But after a few minutes I couldn't believe how easy it was just to hit stop and go.

It really does go – unlike petrol and diesel cars which you have to rev, the power is instant. And it's almost silent too – the amount of people who wandered out in front of me because they hadn't heard me coming was astonishing.

Jennifer at the wheel of the Nissan Leaf Acenta which comes with a host of mod cons

The steering was really light and the speed and agility meant it was perfect for nipping around town.

Nissan say a full charge can get you as far as 120 miles provided you drive economically but over the week I got about 80 to 100.

I had to ask what would happen if the battery ran out and it turns out it's just like running out of fuel – easily avoided.

The battery charge is displayed as a percentage just like a mobile phone and your remaining mileage range is always recalculating and can actually recharge thanks to brake energy regeneration.

But if disaster does strike there's a number to call roadside assistance who can recover you to home or nearest charge station.

I had a close shave when I took a ride out from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton on a full charge but when I got in the car to drive home the battery was showing only 25 per cent.

I realised I had forgotten to put the car into eco mode and had my foot down all the way, with the heating and radio blasting.

I took it easier on the way back and made it home just as the battery displayed zero.

Most days I drove seven miles in to the Shrewsbury office with a couple of trips to the Ketley HQ and a few social trips out and about in the evenings and I loved it.

I had no problem charging up in my garage every night and only tried out the charge point at Asda in Shrewsbury to experience what it was like.

With the majority of drivers travelling less than 80 miles a day, the cars are most likely to be charged at home and the rapid chargers used only on long journeys.

I didn't miss queuing at a petrol station or handing over £40 every time.

And I was really thrilled with the smart phone app which meant I could remotely time the car to start charging on cheap electricity tariffs in the evening or time the heating to come on in the morning while I am still lying in bed.

If I was regularly driving more than 100 miles a day then I think I might find it a bit of a pain to stop half way for a charge. But the Leaf certainly proved it could take the pace and met all my driving demands.

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