Our 2 car family has had a x1 EV and x1 ICE policy for the last few years. Current EV is a Model Y (replaced our 2019 Model 3 in mid 2022) and the current ICE is a 2022 VW Transporter camper van. The Model Y is our main vehicle, charge on off peak electricity at home, cheap to run etc. The VW van is a diesel DSG and is mainly used as a 2nd vehicle when needed but comes into its own for weekend camping trips, holidays etc.
As well as all local driving, the Model Y is also used for regular (1 or 2 times per month) drives from South Wales to Scotland, usually visiting Glasgow and the Borders region. The Borders is not good for public charging options, I always divert to Gretna to charge up before heading east. My Chargeplace Scotland experience in the Borders has been unreliable at best, on one trip I had to jump between Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels and Melrose to find a charge point. Inefficient and time wasting. The other reasonably regular trip for us is Normandy in France, another rural black spot when it comes to charging options.
I’ve also found more recently that wait times for Tesla chargers at Gretna, Tebay etc have added significant time to what is already a long journey. And this week I had a different charging issue, drove to Heathrow and back (approx 200 miles round trip), thought I’d do that OK after charging to 100% overnight. But no, had to stop for 30 mins at Membury on the way back, not something I enjoyed late last night when I just wanted to get home after a long week away.
So, much though I love the Model Y driving experience I’m wondering if a “step back to move forward” strategy may work better for us given that the EV public charging infrastructure does not seem to be keeping pace (or I’ve simply realised that it doesn’t fit our needs as much as I thought it did).
We’re keeping the VW camper van so options are:
1) STICK - Use the Model Y for most journeys but use the VW van for longer journeys to Scotland, Normandy etc. Not the most efficient though, it does approx 25-28mpg for short journeys, but on a longer run can get up to 35mpg. And it’s diesel so has an environmental impact of course although is a new diesel so as clean as they get.
2) TWIST - Replace the Model Y with a small plug in hybrid SUV, with a decent hatch for carting the dog around. Something with approx 40-50 mile electric range as we have the home charging wall box already so it would cover most of our local driving efficiently and with no CO2 emissions. But would also be suitable for longer journeys using petrol without the diversions or time to deal with public charging. One concern I have on this strategy is that the MPG for those longer journeys may actually be no better than the VW camper van. Another is that I was a real PHEV sceptic so this would be quite an about turn But it might make sense.
I’m not entirely sure what the best option is. Opinions, thoughts from the friendly TMC community appreciated.
As well as all local driving, the Model Y is also used for regular (1 or 2 times per month) drives from South Wales to Scotland, usually visiting Glasgow and the Borders region. The Borders is not good for public charging options, I always divert to Gretna to charge up before heading east. My Chargeplace Scotland experience in the Borders has been unreliable at best, on one trip I had to jump between Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels and Melrose to find a charge point. Inefficient and time wasting. The other reasonably regular trip for us is Normandy in France, another rural black spot when it comes to charging options.
I’ve also found more recently that wait times for Tesla chargers at Gretna, Tebay etc have added significant time to what is already a long journey. And this week I had a different charging issue, drove to Heathrow and back (approx 200 miles round trip), thought I’d do that OK after charging to 100% overnight. But no, had to stop for 30 mins at Membury on the way back, not something I enjoyed late last night when I just wanted to get home after a long week away.
So, much though I love the Model Y driving experience I’m wondering if a “step back to move forward” strategy may work better for us given that the EV public charging infrastructure does not seem to be keeping pace (or I’ve simply realised that it doesn’t fit our needs as much as I thought it did).
We’re keeping the VW camper van so options are:
1) STICK - Use the Model Y for most journeys but use the VW van for longer journeys to Scotland, Normandy etc. Not the most efficient though, it does approx 25-28mpg for short journeys, but on a longer run can get up to 35mpg. And it’s diesel so has an environmental impact of course although is a new diesel so as clean as they get.
2) TWIST - Replace the Model Y with a small plug in hybrid SUV, with a decent hatch for carting the dog around. Something with approx 40-50 mile electric range as we have the home charging wall box already so it would cover most of our local driving efficiently and with no CO2 emissions. But would also be suitable for longer journeys using petrol without the diversions or time to deal with public charging. One concern I have on this strategy is that the MPG for those longer journeys may actually be no better than the VW camper van. Another is that I was a real PHEV sceptic so this would be quite an about turn But it might make sense.
I’m not entirely sure what the best option is. Opinions, thoughts from the friendly TMC community appreciated.