Electric cars may only represent a small portion of the car market as a whole, but change is coming. You need only see how many manufacturers now offer a hybrid car and how many, such as Volkswagen, see electric as the next big thing.
The question, then, is whether you are ready because choosing an electric car can be somewhat daunting. But then you could make life easier and buy a model that you know is a proven workhorse. One of the most obvious examples being the e-Golf.
The e-Golf features the same design, the same interior space for five adults, the same Ikea-friendly boot and the same level of technology as the latest MKVII Golf, including navigation (controllable using your voice or a gesture), Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and emergency braking assist in case you fail to react in 0me.
But where the combustion engine used to sit, you get a 134bhp electric motor. One that operates in blissful silence so you can enjoy your music more and, when combined with the 36.8kWh battery, is good for 144 miles of range, according to the new and more difficult WLTP test.
Volkswagen’s e-Golf also emits zero emissions locally, which is better for your lungs and those around you, and can be charged using green energy sources such as solar and wind.
Plug in… and play
It helps, too, that the e-Golf lacks the often maligned stigma of the Toyota Prius (AKA The ‘Uber Mobile’) and is much easier to look at. You also get decent performance, the sort that is the difference between sneaking out at a busy roundabout and getting beeped, and handling as dependable as it is predictable.
Parking should be less hassle, too, thanks to Volkswagen’s Park Assist feature, which helps you find a space and puts the car in it. Meanwhile on a motorway the blind spot sensors, which light up if there is something in your blind spot (funnily enough), help reduce the chance of ruining the paintjob.
As for creature comforts, the e-Golf features Vienna leather and the seats are designed to make long journeys as enjoyable as possible. You also get some ambient lighting to jazz the interior up a bit, plus a digital display behind the steering wheel for displaying all the useful stuff. Range to empty, speed, navigation directions — those sorts of things.
For longer journeys, you can use the e-Golf’s in-built Zap-Map app to help you zap the car with electric when it is running low. Using a fast charger, you can go from 0 to 80 per cent charge in 45 minutes, which is enough to stretch your legs and grab a coffee. Bear in mind there is no need to queue up to buy fuel.
Fast charging will soon have you on your way
There is a decent selection of electric cars on the market. The e-Golf is a safe go-to for those who wanted a jack-of-all-trades car and the £29,230 (including the £3,500 Government Plug-in grant) e-Golf is the more nature-friendly, tech-savvy alternative. One your kids won’t be embarrassed to go out in.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
