The ESB recently launched the second ‘Great Electric Drive’ where members of the public and business community can become an ecar ambassador and take a four month trial in an electric car. We look at what the 24 new ecar ambassadors can expect from their electric car trial.
1) Lightning Quick Acceleration
Well that might be a small exaggeration but with lots of torque available from the word go, you will be astounded by the speed at which an electric car takes off. Electric car owners can enjoy winning lots of traffic light drag races and enjoy the surprised looks from other drivers.
2) Silence
This is one of the biggest culture shocks an EV driver will experience if they have switched from a petrol or diesel powered car. However, drivers who enjoy a fruity engine note will be disappointed. The acceleration of the vehicle may be accompanied by a small hissing sound and a little bit of road and tyre noise coming into the cabin, but that is where the noise ends, and most of the time you will be driving in near silence.
3) Range Anxiety
Road trips will need to be planned with meticulous attention to detail, even in a small country like Ireland where you can drive north to south or east to west in one day. Before your journey you will be crosschecking the distance of the journey against your range and taking into account how using the lights, radio, aircon, heaters etc will impact on your range. The ESB Charge Point App will be your new best friend.
4) Great Economy
With low running and maintenance costs you will be the smuggest driver in town. Electric cars are the cheapest cars to tax in Ireland, currently costing €120 per year. Charging your EV overnight will cost as little as €2 for a full charge, while everyone else is queuing up at the pumps to be fleeced for dwindling global fossil fuel supplies.
5) Attention
Electric cars are still a rarity so EV drivers can expect lots of attention on Irish roads. Remember you are a trailblazer, a pioneer of electric motoring, and bask in the glow with a smug grin. If you live in a small Irish town, you will reach new levels of notoriety and you will soon be known as “yer wan who drives the electric car”.
6) Car Parking Perks
Behind the wheel of an EV you can avail of those special car parking spaces for EVs that you will find dotted around city streets and car parks around the country. With limited numbers of EVs on Irish roads, there should always be a space for you. Unless a non-EV driver has selfishly decided to park in one!
13th March, 2014
