How did it all begin? It was March 2024. Our car at the time, a BMW 5 Series diesel, was involved in an accident that wasn’t our fault – an economic write-off. We needed a new car.
Going electric
I had been interested in electric mobility for quite a while: countless YouTube videos, blogs, forums. On top of that came our own experience: on holiday we had rented a Fiat 500e several times and loved it every time. When we suddenly had to buy a car, it was clear: now is the time for an electric car.
Why the ID.3
We chose a VW ID.3 Pro S. I liked the design, and the specs were right: a large 77 kWh battery, good range and decent charging power. We didn’t buy it, though: we went for a car subscription with Carvolution. No sooner said than done – on 17 June 2024 I was able to pick up the ID.3.
First day, first road trip
Right on the day of the pick-up, our first big road trip began: from Zug to Hereford on the border with Wales. Straight across Switzerland and France to Calais, then by ferry to Dover and on to Hereford.
Charging: we bet on Tesla
Back then I didn’t have much experience with charging cards and charging stations. But shortly before, the news had come out that many Tesla Superchargers were open to other brands too. That convinced me: Tesla offered very good value for money at the time, and Superchargers could be found practically everywhere in Europe. So on this trip I charged almost exclusively at Tesla. In the end it was ten charging sessions over around 2,400 kilometres, 392 kWh for around 160 Swiss francs – 92 percent of the energy came from Tesla. The map shows all charging stops on the way there and back; every other station is on our charging map.
That’s how our story with the electric car began – and this blog tells it from there, trip by trip.