By Paul Homewood
h/t Ian Magness
Ray Bestwick bought an electric car last May in the hope of hassle-free motoring.
But with eight trips to the garage in little more than a year, the 62-year-old engineer cannot wait to put an end to his “soul-destroying” experience.
The Renault Megane E-Tech driver isn’t the only electric vehicle owner to face a multitude of problems, with a host of Telegraph readers detailing their reasons for pulling the plug on green energy.
Fears over range and a lack of charging infrastructure are the main factors behind owners turning their back on EVs.
Mr Bestwick, from Derbyshire, said: “My Renault is meant to have a range of 280 miles but it’s only ever reached over 200 twice out of about 30 times. I’m lucky to get 160 out of it, so it’s blatantly obvious there is a problem.
“I’ve taken it to three different Renault garages and they’ve all said there’s nothing wrong and it’s because of my driving style.
“I don’t agree with that at all – I’m 62 years old and drive in eco mode 90pc of the time. I’m after economy, not speed.
“It’s soul-destroying constantly getting told it’s my fault when it clearly isn’t.”
A recent investigation by What Car magazine found that electric cars have up to a third less range in reality than advertised. The data highlighted the disparity between the results of official government tests and those that can be achieved during real-world usage.
“I’m at the end of the line as it’s ridiculous,” Mr Bestwick said. “I’ve considered not paying the monthly lease but I don’t want any trouble so I’m waiting until next May when I can ditch it.
Renault told The Telegraph it is “sorry” to hear of Mr Bestwick’s concerns, but reiterated that a lack of range is likely down to driving style.
A spokesman said: “Investigations by our dealers suggest the range indicated is commensurate with Mr Bestwick’s driving style and car set-up.
“As with all cars, no matter if they are combustion engine or electric, driving style, environmental conditions and car set-up are significant contributors to achieve range in real-world driving.
Renault said techniques such as “making use of regenerative braking systems, moderating speed and the use of the heating or air-con” will help boost range.
Last week, The Telegraph reported that only 30pc of EV owners who part-exchange their car buy another electric motor – with the rest opting for either petrol, diesel or hybrid models.
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Perhaps the most pertinent statement is that “only 30pc of EV owners who part-exchange their car buy another electric motor”. That really is damning.
As for Renault, they really are in trouble when they blame the customer!
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July 1, 2024 at 06:45AM
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