As part of Scotland's Climate Week, Greg Steel, Ph.D. Head of Sustainable Construction, talks about owning an electric car.
After three years of ownership, it’s great. Fundamentally, it is just a car with a very efficient fuel system. I jump in, drive to work and drive home again, but it has many benefits that far outweigh any negatives.
When you look at the research from around the world, even in the worst-case scenario, there is a reduction in life cycle emissions compared to fossil fuel-powered vehicles, and the more we decarbonise the grid, the better it gets. That has to be a good thing.
It is cheap to run. I am lucky to have a home charger, and 80% of my charging is from home. It’s like plugging in your mobile phone to charge once a week. Over 32,000 miles, it has cost, on average, 7p/mile. Servicing is minimal, with an annual brake check and lubrication. No parts or repairs are needed, and the car is still on the original tyres.
I like the little things, like over-the-air software updates. The infotainment system is refreshed regularly, keeping it feeling like new. New features are unlocked, like matrix headlights, which are a bit weird, but the technology is amazing.
‘Dog mode’ is brilliant, too, if you need to pop into the shops; the air conditioning is set, and the dog is safe and secure.
The only downside is the range—less than an ICE car—but after three years, I can honestly say that the ‘range anxiety’ has gone. With a tiny bit of planning for longer journeys, with coffee and cake stops, it is actually okay, and compared to three years ago, there are loads more chargers now.
It makes perfect sense if you mainly drive shorter distances and can charge at home. As I mentioned, there is so much more choice now—and they are fun to drive, too.
Greg Steel, Ph.D. Head of Sustainable Construction
#ScotClimateWeek
Scotland's Climate Week - Stories for Change
