2.500 electrified kilometers

2025-10-06

We bought our beloved little red car when it was three years old, and it’s been with us for the last ten years. Packing it for summer vacations became a high-level Tetris game once the little one joined the team. And as with all things that age gracefully, it started getting a few glitches. It was time for something new.

We took the plunge and bought a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Knowing we’d likely drive it for at least the next decade, I just couldn’t justify burning oil in the 2030‘s.

When we finally picked it up, it was just in time for our summer vacation. I felt genuinely adventurous.

How far would we get on a single charge? Would it be easy to find charging points? Would I need to plan routes more carefully? How much would electricity cost compared to gas? And how would the little one handle longer, more frequent breaks?

Fast-forward to today: 2,500 km on the clock. Time for a quick recap. ⸻

🚗 First Impressions

I really like this car. We checked off many of the options hoping it won’t feel outdated in a few years, and they make a real difference — especially on long drives or in bad weather. It’s comforting when your car knows the road turns left in dense fog.

⚡ The Driving Experience

I love how it drives. The single-speed electric motor delivers instant power, accelerates quickly, and runs smoothly. It’s a very different experience — one I enjoy a lot, even if not everyone does.

📦 Space & Practicality

It’s larger than our old car but still far from being a full-blown SUV. Fitting in a stroller and luggage still takes some Tetris skills, but we managed to get everything in the trunk this time.

🛣️ Range & Charging on the Autobahn

On the Autobahn, we get around 250 km per charge. That sounds terrible, but it really isn’t (let’s see if I still say that in a few months). We usually stop every two to two and a half hours anyway. With a fast DC charger, a 25-minute stop is enough — just enough time for a toilet break, a coffee, and a check-in with the little one.

🔌 Charging Infrastructure

There are many ways to recharge in Central Europe. Some stations appeared available but turned out to be out of order — still, there was always an alternative nearby. At least, theoretically…

💸 The Pricing Chaos

Here’s where it gets frustrating. The pricing system feels like a scam.

Different operators? Fine. Different prices? Also fine. But different prices depending on how you pay? Not fine.

The difference can be up to 300%. We saw chargers where we paid around €0.40/kWh with one card, €1.00 if we used a credit card, and €1.20 with another charging card we also own. Imagine going to a gas station and paying double just because you used Amex instead of Visa.

⸻

All in all, I’m happy with the switch. It’s a new kind of adventure — quieter, cleaner, and oddly more fun. Let’s see where the next 10 years take us.

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