Yesterday I did the 195 miles from home to Halifax with no trouble. When I started my SR was telling me it had a range of 196 miles from full. I am not stupid enough to believe it.
I stopped at Southwaite after about 80 miles. Nobody else charging (although a Tesla was parked near the chargers). By the time I had strolled to the adjacent food court and taken possession of a cheese and ham toastie the app was already showing the car above 80%. By the time I had eaten the toastie and been to the loo it was at 92% and I had plenty to reach my destination.
I checked out Killington Lake just for reference as I passed. It's probably the best stop for me on this journey (but I was hungry by Southwaite). One Tesla charging, at least three chargers free. And better food and a nicer environment. I drove on.
I checked out Kirkby Lonsdale too, four chargers, one occupied by a BMW. I boosted the car back to 95% while I shopped in Booth's for a gift for my host in Halifax. I was still too full of toastie to investigate the teashops just round the corner.
I got to my destination with 72% charge remaining. Overkill, but I wanted a buffer in case the type 2 chargers opposite my friend's house proved problematic. However, after a bit of hassle trying to see the charger screen and my phone screen in the low evening sun, and chargers that didn't take contactless and had to be paid for using the phone app (which I had fortunately downloaded in advance), I succeeded, and the car was full by the time we had had dinner and done our Duolingo lessons.
All very stress-free and reassuring. In future I'll just barrel down the M6 to Killington Lake and have a late lunch, then go all the way, knowing that Kirkby Lonsdale is there as a backup. Although I may need to watch my range for the latter at Christmas in bad weather. Just over 140 miles in an SR in freezing conditions might be on the edge.
I used the aircon in the afternoon and the car seemed to be telling me that I'd lose about 10 miles of range from a full battery if I kept it on constantly (Might be more if I had to blast it in the height of summer, or keep the heater on in freezing conditions). The aircon gave a very comfortable cabin, it's less severe than the Golf's.
It was all very reassuring and I am losing my nervousness about travelling beyond the range of the car. Although in the long term something needs to be done about the siting of motorway chargers. ICE car drivers get bright lights and a canopy sheltering from the rain and a shop with actual people in it. EV drivers get a corner of the car park, no lights and no shelter and no help within easy summoning distance. Charging in the dark in torrential rain seems likely to be a nasty experience requiring heavy duty waterproofs. I think it's only a matter of time before a lone woman EV driver is attacked at one of these places. Somehow, I think EV chargers need to be provided with the same forecourt facilities ICE drivers take for granted. Lights, shelter, and human beings within call.
