Current fleet
Tales from the battery-powered vehicles in the EV Fleet World car park
Jaguar I-Pace R-Dynamic HSE Black EV400 (90kWh)
List Price
BiK
2.4mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
197-217
miles (On fleet)
I have had trouble convincing friends that life with an electric car is somewhere around 90% good and 10% in need of improvement. Most of that 10% revolves around charging – and most of that has nothing to do with the car, beyond the range its battery provides.
So I analysed a few recent trips in the I-Pace. One involved driving to the NEC – approximately 115 miles – then on to St Albans (95 miles) for the recent Van Fleet World/Aptean by Paragon webinar. Charging at the NEC hub over a coffee made that an easy trip. Then charging again later that day while I was eating ensured that I could complete the next part, an onward trip to a Kia launch near Newbury (75 miles), then back home from there (approx. 50 miles).
Charging made me slightly later arriving at the NEC than I wanted but otherwise, it was not a problem. For the pleasure of travelling in a quiet car with abundant performance when needed, I don’t think the charge stops were too inconvenient, although I might have taken a different view if I was a woman travelling alone and needing to charge in the dark on a remote site.
Speaking of the dark, lighting is one area where the I-Pace excels. The adaptive LED headlights literally work brilliantly. Instead of dipping the headlights for traffic ahead, the system simply forms a dark cut-out around the vehicle which constantly changes shape and moves as the vehicle approaches or recedes. It does this by switching arrays on or off as needed. I have not once been flashed by an approaching vehicle and the system ensures that there is as much lighting as possible at any time.
John Kendall
Jaguar I-Pace R-Dynamic HSE Black EV400 (90kWh)
List Price
BiK
3.1mpkWh
Efficiency
miles (Range)
miles (On fleet)
The i5 was recently voted the best executive car on the market at the UK Car of the Year Awards, which are headed up by yours truly, alongside my fellow co-chairman – and also part of the Fleet World family – Alisdair Suttie.
And it’s very easy to see why the panel of 30 judges came to the conclusion that the electric 5 Series is at the top of its game. For one thing – and this might seem like an obvious thing to say – it’s JUST like a 5 Series, already a legendary model. I’ve spoken before about how BMW has arguably played it safe by converting the products it already had to EV, as opposed to more daring departures from the likes of the Korean manufacturers. And the i5 is a perfect example of how this pays dividends.
The interior layout, ride, driving experience (apart from the engine noise, obvs) is instantly recognisable. On the move, the i5 is quiet and comfortable, but also very competent. Should you wish to floor it – as you might have been tempted to in your ICE-powered ‘5’ – you can.
There is plenty of power there – and plenty of miles in the battery, too. The most recent charge provided 261 miles, but another one the other week nudged that total closer to 300 miles. Either way, it’s more than adequate for a round-trip to Essex, from where I’m writing these words.
Even the ride quality stands up to scrutiny, with the i5’s 20-inch wheels coping well with some pretty horrendous road surfaces all over the country. It’s firm, sure, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. Mrs Challen is always a good benchmark of how a car rides – if she’s happy and doesn’t pass comment, then it must be pretty good.
In the end, the BMW didn’t claim the big prize at the UK Car of the Year Awards – that accolade went to the Kia EV9 – but it won over a lot of fans on the panel and will surely do so in the wider world, too.
John Challen
