My first electric vehicle trial

Kia Essendon kindly offered Interleasing an electric vehicle to trial for a week. Having been out of the industry for 5 years prior to 2021, I thought there wouldn’t be too much to learn! Oh, how mistaken was I??? I immediately contacted our GM to ask if I could take this vehicle, to assist me on my education process of EVs and being able to talk about them from experience.

I’d like to share my findings with you, and I am open to any questions you may have ([email protected] or 0428 767 703).

The Niro S EV is packed with features and looks, good on the road. It’s sleek and easy to drive. I am not going to talk too much about the vehicle itself, more my personal experience of infrastructure/charging/range anxiety etc.

The Niro was provided full of power 15th February, I drove it to pick my dog up from day care (yes I know, not normal, but I prefer my furniture intact when I get home!). Buddy happily sat in the boot of the vehicle which has plenty of space for a medium sized dog. From the city to Brunswick East and then to home in Pascoe Vale. The vehicle was driven twice on the weekend with me picking up a lalor friend, heading out to Whittlesea to see my horses. As with combustion engines, the dash provides information on the kilometres available on the charge, so for those with range anxiety, this really is no different to a fuel vehicle, it’s about understanding the charging infrastructure.

Luckily for me, Interleasing are already 30% electrified for our own vehicle fleet, with a range of different vehicles (Telsa 3, Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro) ??and personal circumstances, i.e. employee living in an apartment block, so I could ask for advice on how I find the Fox Chargers, which Kia provided me a card for. Upon the advice of a regular EV user, I downloaded the Chargefox app, set up some preferences, charger type (1 or 2), charging level (KWs – the higher the quicker the charge), what chargers are free to charge and whether they are in use or available.

After the weekend, I was down to 140kms and decided before I headed to the office Tuesday 21st February, I would give it some charge and see how it all works. I didn’t ask for any advice on this, as I wanted to see if it was easy for someone like me (technophobe), I can honestly say it was really easy! I found a free charge 11KWs 2.1kms from my house, in Glenroy by the community hub. So, I loaded the dog and off we went. When I arrived as the APP said, both chargers were working and available.

I read the clear instructions on the charger, tapped the RFID card, and plugged the vehicle in. Off I went with the dog for a 45-minute walk around the area.

When I arrived back, I tapped the card off, put the plug back and got in the car. 45 minutes gained me 60kms, which I thought was very reasonable, given it was free!

The following day I headed into the office and had plenty of juice to get there and back. That afternoon I checked how I could get more charge in a shorter space of time to get me through until I dropped the vehicle back to Essendon Thursday morning. I remembered I had seen a number of EVs plugged in about 2.1kms from home, I looked at the Chargefox app and discovered a free 50kw charger was available, I headed out of the office, picked the dog up from day care and plugged the vehicle in on the way home. Buddy and I walked home, prepared dinner, walked back and the vehicle went to 467kms within an hour and a half.

I did spot another EV parked up, clearly waiting to use the charger, I motioned I was finished, there were two available chargers however, only one parking spot. Not sure why this is?

I have added some photos to this blog, as one, which did make me chuckle – a note on the vehicle – Get plug share! Subsequently I have investigated what plug share is, if you have an EV it is best to register for the following reasons –

·??????Tailor it to your vehicle

·??????Long distanced trip planner

·??????Bookmark favourite locations

·??????Share reviews and help other EV drivers.

As a Ford Ranger ute driver, I tow horses on a regular basis, I would be keen to see what new EV utes are coming to Australia.

The moral of this story is EVs can work for most people, it’s a case of being planned, using APPs, reading reviews and understanding where you have time to charge up, if you don’t have a charger at home, if you do, plug it in every night like you would your mobile phone.