[Juniper]

Hello

I’m looking at choosing my second motability car, I’m going Electric car this time and really like the look and features on Hyundai kona, I’ve never driven electric before so will be doing a test drive but I’m a bit nervous about what to expect as haven’t done a test drive before, when I got my first car I was a learner driver in it so chose one that met my needs and was big enough for mobility equipment and didn’t test drive it first. I’ve been looking online and will probably do a 30 minutes test drive, but what’s the protocol and what should I expect to happen, also are electric much harder than petrol automatics I don’t want to look like an idiot at the dealership, even though that’s probably what I am.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Topic

[David M]

Electric vehicles are easier to drive. The only thing you have to watch out for is the instant and powerful acceleration. Just treat the accelerator very gently until you get used to it.

[Glos Guy]

Our local Hyundai dealer was brilliant, in that they allowed me to have two 24 hour test drives with different cars. A 30 minute test drive tells you nothing. All new cars will impress over 30 minutes, but it’s only when you have them for a day that you start to get a more balanced view.

I am used to driving autos, so didn’t really notice any difference when driving an EV, other than the regeneration aspects that, personally, I really disliked (when you take your foot off the accelerator the car can feel like it’s braking – usually this can be adjusted so it’s less intrusive – but others love it).

Just relax and try to enjoy it. I love test drives, but have taken many cars back well before the full day has ended as I’d established after half a day that I didn’t like them 😂

At the risk of stating the obvious, presumably you can charge at home? If not, personally I wouldn’t go down the EV route.

[Juniper]

Thank you David M for the help and advice 🙂

Thank you Glos Guy for your help and advice, no I haven’t yet got at home charging but am looking Into it, also with it being my first electric car on the scheme I can get the home charger and I’ve spoken to OHME already and qualify for a standard installation and I have off road parking, that’s the main reason I didn’t want a 24 hour test as I can’t yet charge it.🙂

 

[Rene]

Juniper wrote:

Thank you David M for the help and advice Thank you Glos Guy for your help and advice, no I haven’t yet got at home charging but am looking Into it, also with it being my first electric car on the scheme I can get the home charger and I’ve spoken to OHME already and qualify for a standard installation and I have off road parking, that’s the main reason I didn’t want a 24 hour test as I can’t yet charge it.

Well, you certainly could charge it, at a public charger, for like 15 minutes. Would give you an impression as well, as to what charging is like.

If you’re a bit anxious about that (like i was with a few things) – assuming you have the car for 24h, just drive at night to the charger. All the time in the world to figure out how it works.

Further, assuming a Kona, you’ll not deplete the battery in 24h. If you use it “as intended”, as in, go shopping with it, maybe picking up a takeout in the evening, you’ll be hard pressed to deplete the battery. Within the 24h period you can also go through the car proper (infotainment, storage etc), see how it parks at home etc pp.

We’re currently booked for a 48h test drive on a Ford Explorer, and are very much looking forward to playing with all the buttons and other toys the car offers, with no time pressure or constant glances at the clock to make sure we stick with a given (short) timeframe. It’s just much, much more convenient and telling to keep a car for even a 12h test drive (pick up in the morning, drop off afternoon/evening).

Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.

[kezo]

My mum (79) had a Kona electric last August, Given she hadn’t had auto for the last 40 odd years and it was the first EV, she took to it like a duck does to water, so I’m sure yo will have no issues and recommend at least a 2hr test drive on your own.

If you have driven automatics before, it will be very much like for like and you can play around with the regen setting once you are use to the car.

The Kona’s power delivery is linear, so your not going to get a big power boost right from the off, as the old Kona did and some EV’s do, so just drive as you would normally.

[Juniper]

Thank you kezo for your help and advice 😀

Thanks everyone I am definitely feeling a little better and not as nervous now about the whole process 🤗

 

[tintim]

@Juniper Hi, Having own a EV for over a year the only advice I can give you is, for convenience, are you able to charge the car at home? If your answer is ‘yes’ an EV is a great option. There are some amazing Electric cars available on the scheme at the moment that will hopefully meet your requirements. So take your time and enjoy the process of taking as many test drives of different makes and models you can before finally ordering your next Motability car and good luck.

[Glos Guy]

Any dealer who supplies an EV for an all day test drive and hasn’t ensured that it is fully charged prior to handing it over to the customer would be daft. That said, it’s always worth reminding them the day before, as stranger things have happened 😂

[MFillingham]

Driving an EV is easy.  It’ll take a bit of getting used to, mostly because they accelerate a good deal better than ICE.  If you’ve experience of driving an automatic, you’ll get used tot he lack of gears quite quickly.  Regen can be a major difference to start with, I’d suggest starting with it low and turn it up as you feel more comfortable.

 

I’d also strongly suggest taking a lot of time to get used to the car.  There’s no point in getting a car that was fantastic initially because it’s a newer car than you’re used to or because it’s smoother than the old car.  You need to get through the novelty and start to nitpick to really understand whether it’s something you’re truly comfortable with for the next 3 years.

 

As for driving an EV, I’ve started and others have contributed to this thread: https://forum.whichmobilitycar.co.uk/forums/topic/ev-hints-and-tips/   give it a read and you’ll get some insights.

Some more threads for reading, if you’re bored.

BEV purchasing process, including charger install.

Ownership of a Battery Electric Vehicle

 

• This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by MFillingham.

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I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.

Mark

[Juniper]

Thank you tintim for your help and advice 🙂

Thank you mfillinghan for your help and advice 🙂

I think I will definitely look at doing a longer test drive luckily I haven’t got it booked yet, as every time I went to book it I got too nervous and didn’t. I feel a lot better about it though now, thank you everybody

[Glos Guy]

Juniper wrote:

I think I will definitely look at doing a longer test drive luckily I haven’t got it booked yet, as every time I went to book it I got too nervous and didn’t. I feel a lot better about it though now, thank you everybody

Keep in mind that dealerships are under a lot of pressure to sell EVs, as the majority of private buyers don’t want them so, even though you are a Motability customer, it’s in their interest to bend over backwards for you. I always say that I have to live with the car for 3 years, so can’t possibly make an informed decision without a decent unaccompanied test drive, ideally 24 hours (so I can test it in the dark) but a full day otherwise.

I like to drive cars on my most frequent journeys, on the motorway, check them in my garage and, of course, drive them ‘keenly’ to see what the performance is like! Most cars that I test drive are ICE cars, so I always reset the fuel computer when I pick the car up to see what the mpg is like when I’m driving. EVs obviously express economy differently, but keep an eye on the range. The first EV that I drove was a BMW iX1 30e and I was staggered at how the remaining range plummeted (versus the actual miles driven) during the day and I actually took it back early as I think it was going to run out of puff and I didn’t want the faff or cost of charging it on a fast charger. I sense that you might be quite a cautious driver, so this will be less of an issue for you!

[Juniper]

Oh I didn’t realise that, I thought everyone was buying them and they were the favourite choice, I’m only getting one as it’s financially best and I know there trying to stop making ICE vehicles.

 I am a cautious driver yes, I don’t really enjoy driving but rely on it to get out, I’m not too worried about unexpectedly running out of power I’m a bit too organised/control freak 🤣

Thank you for the advice on taking it on your frequent journeys, I hadn’t thought of that but it makes sense.

[Glos Guy]

Juniper wrote:

Oh I didn’t realise that, I thought everyone was buying them and they were the favourite choice

Even now, only one in four new car private buyers is choosing an EV. As far as the used market goes (which is by far the biggest segment) EV take up amongst private buyers is even less, with only around 6% of buyers choosing an EV.

EVs are far more popular on this forum than in the market in general. As Motability customers we are shielded from the biggest negatives aspects of EV ownership (high up front costs, crippling depreciation and higher insurance premiums) plus, of course, we can have a home charger fitted free of charge. If you have the ability to charge at home and would rarely need to use public chargers, the cost savings can be significant, so we can benefit from the biggest advantage of an EV whilst being shielded from the things that are stopping private buyers from getting them. I’d better stop now as I’m talking myself into getting one 😂

[Juniper]

I’m glad I learned something, thanks so much for your advice 🤗

[Author]

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