Ray Bestwick’s experience with his Renault Megane E-Tech has been overwhelmingly negative, leading him to abandon electric vehicles (EVs) in favor of petrol or hybrids. Despite the car’s advertised range of 280 miles, Bestwick rarely achieves more than 160 miles. His frustrations are compounded by multiple trips to the garage and unhelpful responses from Renault, which blames his driving style. This disparity between advertised and real-world EV range is a common issue, as highlighted by What Car magazine’s findings that EVs often have significantly less range in practice. Bestwick, like many other EV owners, plans to revert to traditional vehicles after his lease ends, citing the soul-destroying experience and high depreciation of EVs as primary reasons.
The broader sentiment among EV owners, as reported by Telegraph readers, reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of EV technology and infrastructure. Range anxiety and the lack of reliable charging stations are major concerns, particularly for long-distance travel. For instance, Nigel Pullen finds his Skoda Enyaq inadequate for longer journeys and plans to switch to a petrol-hybrid. Many drivers criticize the inadequate public charging infrastructure and high costs. Additionally, there are environmental concerns regarding the overall green credentials of EVs, especially when considering the manufacturing and import processes.
