One of the issues that MotorMartin has regarding Electric Vehicles (EV) is highlighted in https://motormartin.com/2016/04/24/mitsubishi-outlander-phev-are-friends-electric/ and yet here, a story has arrived where ‘range anxiety’ is not a phrase that’s been heard of before.
MotorMartin certainly admires those who are at the front of the queue when new technology is released, especially when the customer is essentially an extended test driver. But the Nissan LEAF? A car so alien and different when first released in 2011 that it’s only now, in 2016, becoming a slightly more regular site charging at the services up and down the Country.
And now, news has arrived at MotorMartin Towers that amongst the current (sic) increase in the awareness and popularity of alternative fuel cars, ‘Plug in’ adventurer Christopher Ramsey, an electric vehicle enthusiast, has just completed the North Coast 500, a challenging 516-mile circuitous route around the Highlands of Scotland, in the new Nissan LEAF 30kWh.
Christopher has informed MotorMartin that he believes it’s the first time a 100% electric vehicle has been used to complete the full route, which starts and ends at Inverness Castle. Pitched as ‘Scotland’s answer to Route 66’, the scenic journey takes in the castles, beaches and wildlife of some of the most remote parts of the British Isles and not where you’d traditionally head out to in a pure EV.
Ramsey is no stranger to putting electric cars through epic drives. Only in September last year, Plug In Adventures completed the 1,652-mile journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back again – for free – in an all-electric Nissan LEAF. As an EV owner, one of Chris’ aims is to demonstrate that the UK charging infrastructure has expanded enough to allow long distance EV journeys to start becoming the norm after all, with regular charging stations, ‘range anxiety’ could soon be dismissed into the past.
Chris Ramsey shared with MotorMartin that; “It’s no secret that I’m an EV advocate – I genuinely enjoy owning and running a Nissan LEAF, knowing that I’m doing my bit for the environment whilst benefitting from the low-running costs. There’s still scepticism about the capabilities of EVs on long journeys though, and that’s why I delight in pushing all-electric travel to the limits and taking on the really big drives. Doing that proves these cars can easily provide the day-to-day range of almost any driver.”
Before continuing to say that, “Whilst this was definitely the most difficult challenge I have taken on to date – mostly due to a couple of off-line rapid chargers on the West Coast stretch of the route – I loved every minute of it.”
“The North Coast 500 was a simply stunning route to enjoy in the LEAF. The views were incredible and the quiet drivetrain meant we were able to better enjoy the sounds of the drive like the waves crashing on the beaches and the birdlife overhead – a very sensory experience!” Sounds fantastic.
Plug In Adventureswas founded by Chris in 2011 and was born from a combined love of adventure and electric vehicles. Comprising a group of EV enthusiasts based in Scotland, its aim is to engage with the public in unique and different ways, championing all things EV-related. Follow @Pluginadventure on Twitter for all of the latest from the team.
A MotorMartin well done then to Chris and his EV driving colleagues in their continuing quest to get the more cynical amongst us to reconsider what we need when it comes to future vehicle purchases.
There’s still plenty more work to go to change the driving habits of a nation but everyone’s got to start somewhere.
To find out more about the North Coast 500, visit www.northcoast500.com
Where will you go?