Electric Cars - High Torque Dreams or Range Anxiety Nightmares?

Over the past couple of years, I've had the opportunity to test drive over a dozen electric and hybrid cars. During this two year period I was able to experience a market developing in front of my own eyes. From my first experience of the Renault Twizy right through to the 'Insane Mode' of the Tesla Model S P85D, it has been an incredible ride so far, taking me from visiting Tesla's main store in Hounslow to interviewing ex Formula One driver Mark Webber at Silverstone!

Before embarking on this adventure, I was under the impression that automobile development was a slow process with development taking years from inception to delivery to the customers. What I in fact found with the electric car market was an industry moving at breakneck speed with cars updating their driving systems 'over the air' and in front of my eyes. I experienced a super-charged 'Moore's Law' with manufacturers on a automotive gold-rush, developing new technologies set to unify our driving and power needs for decades to come.

Each of the manufacturers models I tested were different in many ways. Some were designed from existing gas powered models. Their internal combustion engines removed and replaced by electric power plants, lithium-ion batteries hidden under seats or floor panels, aerodynamic wheel designs replacing traditional high end styled alloys. Others were designed as electric or hybrid vehicles from the ground up. So distant from existing designs that they almost brought about an 'uncanny valley' feeling, they were recognisable, but not close enough to feel comfortable viewing them.

I was able to see the lightbulb moment when manufacturers realised that hybrids could be BOTH electric and gas powered at the same time and consequently produced the simply awe inspiring Porsche 918 Spyder and McLaren P1 (I didn't drive these sadly). This awesome other worldly technology immediatelty began to filter down to the BMW i8, VW Golf GTE, Audi A3 eTron and Volvo V60 Twin Engine, producing amazing power and torque along with their quirky 'synthesised' engine sound enhancements, added to fill the 'uncanny' void of performance without natural engine roar.

I watched as Tesla, the 'small' electric vehicle company from Silicon Valley, showed the world how to build an electric car and then go on to demonstrate that you don't need a V12 engine to reach 60mph in under 3 seconds. Door handles 'presented' themselves to me and I watched as cars charged in 30 minutes. Of course I experienced new breeds of 'Sports' settings, named made things like 'Insane' and 'Ludicrous'. I sat in cars that drove themselves, if not a little unnervingly on London's M25!

During those two years, I was able to see the UK charging network evolve from a London centric system to finding rapid charge points in Suffolk villages. I experienced range anxiety a few times, but I never felt alone as the cars seemed more than aware of their rapidly depleting energy reserves than I did, urging me with increasing urgency to provide them with much needed juice and suggesting the closest source in case I didn't know. At one point the Nissan Leaf I was driving was practically sobbing at me to charge it as I neared home.

I had many, many conversations at charging points with other 'EV' drivers, exchanging stories and experiences. I was approached at service stations by people wanting to talk about the cars, wanting to sit in them and in some cases they wanting to have their photos taken next to or sitting in them! The most common question was 'What's the range then?', when I answered, it never seemed enough, even for someone commuting 10 miles a day. I would spend time explaining that home and workplace charging mean't that the vehicle was getting topped up all the time, but the range 'thing' will take a while to convince people.

The performance of these vehicles is something you are never prepared for, especially pure electric vehicles. Pulling away silently with instant maximum torque is both exciting and in some cases scary. The weight of the cars is generally very low down, so handling is generally excellent even for a two ton car.

So, after two years of 'testing', I waved goodbye to the final car (for now) which was a Tesla Model S P85D and went back to my normal life. I was however left safe in the knowledge that the electric and hybrid market are here to stay. Content that very soon all of our journeys in cars will be cleaner, safer and a whole lot more fun!