Living with an Electric Car Without Home Charging: Challenging But Possible - A Real-World Test
Relying solely on public charging for an electric vehicle presents significant challenges, as discovered during a month-long test with a Mini Cooper Electric.
Public Charging Experience:
- Found a nearby 22kW AC charger in a free car park
- Four-hour parking limit proved problematic for full charges
- Developed strategy of frequent small top-ups at supermarkets and public locations
- Regular 80-mile commutes required planning charges the day before
Electric Mini Cooper front view
Cost Analysis:
- Covered 1,150 miles at £219.67 total cost
- Approximately 20 pence per mile
- Compared to 17p/mile for a petrol MX-5 (35mpg)
- More expensive than efficient petrol cars (12p/mile at 50mpg)
Nissan Leaf charging at power station
Performance Details:
- Achieved 3.7 miles per kWh efficiency
- Real-world range of 200 miles (versus 242 claimed)
- Performed well despite winter conditions
Electric Mini Cooper charging
Key Considerations for Potential Buyers:
- Not recommended without home charging access
- Beneficial for company car drivers (reduced BIK tax)
- Consider workplace charging options
- Explore landlord agreements for charging installation
- Home charging can reduce costs to £3.78 per 200 miles (vs £29.70 public charging)
Electric Mini Cooper charging time chart
Future Improvements Needed:
- Infrastructure development for non-home charging users
- Potential VAT reduction on public charging
- Better solutions for apartment dwellers
Mini Cooper SE charging at station
Red Mazda MX-5 front view
Mini Cooper electric car dashboard display
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