2.500 electrified kilometers
We bought our beloved little red car when it was three years old, and it’s been with us for the last ten years. Packing it for summer vacations became a high-level Tetris game once the little one joined the team. And as with all things that age gracefully, it started getting a few glitches. It was time for something new.
We took the plunge and bought a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Knowing we’d likely drive it for at least the next decade, I just couldn’t justify burning oil in the 2030‘s.
When we finally picked it up, it was just in time for our summer vacation. I felt genuinely adventurous.
How far would we get on a single charge? Would it be easy to find charging points? Would I need to plan routes more carefully? How much would electricity cost compared to gas? And how would the little one handle longer, more frequent breaks?
Fast-forward to today: 2,500 km on the clock. Time for a quick recap.
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🚗 First Impressions
I really like this car. We checked off many of the options hoping it won’t feel outdated in a few years, and they make a real difference — especially on long drives or in bad weather. It’s comforting when your car knows the road turns left in dense fog.
⚡ The Driving Experience
I love how it drives. The single-speed electric motor delivers instant power, accelerates quickly, and runs smoothly. It’s a very different experience — one I enjoy a lot, even if not everyone does.
📦 Space & Practicality
It’s larger than our old car but still far from being a full-blown SUV. Fitting in a stroller and luggage still takes some Tetris skills, but we managed to get everything in the trunk this time.
🛣️ Range & Charging on the Autobahn
On the Autobahn, we get around 250 km per charge. That sounds terrible, but it really isn’t (let’s see if I still say that in a few months). We usually stop every two to two and a half hours anyway. With a fast DC charger, a 25-minute stop is enough — just enough time for a toilet break, a coffee, and a check-in with the little one.
🔌 Charging Infrastructure
There are many ways to recharge in Central Europe. Some stations appeared available but turned out to be out of order — still, there was always an alternative nearby. At least, theoretically…
💸 The Pricing Chaos
Here’s where it gets frustrating. The pricing system feels like a scam.
Different operators? Fine. Different prices? Also fine. But different prices depending on how you pay? Not fine.
The difference can be up to 300%. We saw chargers where we paid around €0.40/kWh with one card, €1.00 if we used a credit card, and €1.20 with another charging card we also own. Imagine going to a gas station and paying double just because you used Amex instead of Visa.
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All in all, I’m happy with the switch. It’s a new kind of adventure — quieter, cleaner, and oddly more fun. Let’s see where the next 10 years take us.