By Daniel Butler-Hawkes
WITH a month of bank holidays coming up, and the long summer break only a few weeks away, the chances are that many families may be considering a trip off the rock.
If that holiday is likely to see you clocking up the miles as you tour Britain or Europe, then, just as anyone with a standard petrol or diesel car will be keeping a close eye on the fuel gauge, EV drivers will be monitoring their mileage.
While many EVs have ideal ranges for the shorter journeys typically undertaken in the Island, some of these cars may be less suited for longer trips up and down motorways or through picturesque rural or seaside villages.
However, the good news is that, as the choice of EVs becomes ever wider, manufacturers are responding to this demand for greater ranges, with bigger batteries reducing the number of times that motorists need to stop and recharge.
From Jersey, the latest EVs will comfortably get you to Disneyland Paris or La Rochelle without the need to stop. You could even make the journey to the South of France or even into Spain with one stop to recharge.
In the UK, you can get into the Lake District on a single charge, or comfortably make it to Edinburgh, stopping once for a quick top up.
And for the more adventurous, in a VW ID.7 it would be possible to get from Lands End to John O’Groats or St Malo to Milan with just one stop.
Here, we take a look at some of the higher-range vehicles which have just entered the market or are due to be released in the near future.
- Volkswagen ID.7
With the manufacturer saying that the ‘future lies in range’, the new all-electric ID.7 offers up to 435 miles of electric range.
According to the company, the ‘fully electric fastback combines high-range values, fast charging, ample space and intuitive operation’.
While the model is not yet on sale, anyone interested in learning more can sign up for updates about the car’s release on the Volkswagen website.
- Hyundai Ioniq 6
While Tesla may be a recognised leader in the world of EVs, Hyundai also produces several models, with one of the newest being the Ioniq 6, which is due out soon.
Not only does the Ioniq 6 offer up to 338 miles of range but the car’s 800-volt technology means that it charges quickly.
Indeed, Hyundai says: ‘When connected to a 220kW ultra-fast charger, the Ioniq 6 is capable of going from 10% charge to 80% in as little as 18 to 36 minutes.’
- Mercedes EQE
Also offering up to 388 miles’ range, the Mercedes EQE has been modelled on the manufacturer’s E-Class, with a strong focus on appearance and performance.
As well as its range and sleek lines, the car features Mercedes’ most up-to-date infotainment system.
- BMW i4
The first all-electric Gran Coupé, BMW says that the i4 delivers both performance and comfort.
With the i4 eDrive40 offering up to 365 miles in range, the company’s website says that the car is ‘equipped with fifth-generation BME eDrive technology, delivering up to 544hp and spacious interiors’.
While some EVs feature built-in navigation and route-planning technology, there are also many websites and apps available which can help you to plot your journey based on your vehicle’s range and the location of charging points.
Zap Map, for example, features a handy route planner showing you the positions of more than 35,000 charging points across the UK.
Just as you would if you were using your sat nav, you enter your start and end destinations into the planner, and the website will plot your route for you.
