Credo Eco Finance’s mission to drive businesses green by finding the right finance solution and product for your needs means the personal touch when it comes to lenders and products. So we want to make sure we are giving the best possible advice and current information on the market, and the only way to do that is by test driving and understanding electric cars.
Marketing manager Fran Brown was impressed by the new Fiat 500e.
“It is a mission of mine to learn more about electric cars so I can share knowledge with people now considering one for their next purchase.
Thanks to Andrew Sturman of Motorvogue in Norwich, who loaned me a Fiat 500 La Prima for 24 hours, I was able to live the reality of driving and living with an electric vehicle.
I set off with 161 miles of battery range, according to the well laid-out information system, and travelled home on country roads.
The car was set on ‘Range’ mode so, when you take your foot off the accelerator, it naturally uses the regenerative braking system to manage energy efficiency. It felt strange at first, as you don’t need to use the brake until you want to fully stop, but I soon got used to it.
‘Normal’ mode gives the full responsive acceleration but you use more battery power.
City driving was easy. The Fiat 500e was nippy when needed, gliding effortlessly through the streets.
It’s a lovely electric hatchback, especially in range-topping La Prima spec with a panoramic sunroof. A convertible cabrio provides even more open-top motoring.
The 10in touchscreen works well and mirrors your iPhone or android device options once connected.
My journey home is 38 miles and I arrived with 128 miles of range remaining so driving on country roads had added a few extra miles of range thanks to regenerative braking trickling energy back into the battery.
The next morning I took the A11 to cruise at higher speeds and really test battery capacity. I left with 128 miles and arrived at work with 84 miles left. I had used 11 miles more range on the faster road. Had I given the car a short charge overnight, that small difference in range usage would have been largely immaterial.
The worry of range anxiety – running out of charge – resonated with me as it does with many people who opt not to buy electric. Driving back to the dealership, knowing I hadn’t charged up overnight, made me worry that if I ‘floored it’ I would quickly lose battery range and might not make it but I soon realised it was not an issue.
If you do cut it fine, a ‘Sherpa’ battery-saving mode limits you to 50mph, turns off air conditioning and gives even stronger regenerative braking to maximise battery efficiency.
I found the Fiat 500e fun to drive, holding the road well with quick, responsive steering.
So, after just 24 hours, I’m an EV convert!”
If you are considering ‘switching’ to electric for you or your business, then please get in touch and we can help you through the process.
Tel: 01603 381955 or e-mail [email protected]
