Fully on board with electric cars
There are still many myths surrounding electric cars – from range anxiety to complicated charging processes. Our Key Account Manager, Seline Widmer, also had her doubts at first when she discovered that her company car would be electric. But her initial scepticism quickly gave way to enthusiasm. Seline shares her experiences and explains why many of the common preconceptions are unfounded.
What was your first reaction when you heard that your company car would be electric?
To be honest, I was initially sceptical. As I drive about 30,000 kilometres a year and make many trips across Switzerland – from Basel to Valais – I asked myself whether there would be enough charging stations on my routes. How long would I have to wait at a charging station? And would I have to reschedule my appointments?
Which preconceptions have been proven wrong in practice?
The biggest preconception definitely concerns the range. For someone who doesn’t drive over 400 kilometres a day, it’s not an issue at all. Switzerland is very well equipped with a network of fast charging stations along the main transport routes. I can recharge my vehicle at many stations in just 15 minutes. And when I’m at the Westside shopping center in Bern, for example, I charge my car during my lunch break or while doing my weekly shopping. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to it.
What challenges did you face when you switched to an electric car?
The biggest change was to plan time for charging. It simply takes longer than refuelling. But the car’s performance is unbeatable – which not only makes driving more fun, but also improves safety.
How has your driving behaviour changed?
I drive with even more foresight and make extensive use of regenerative braking to recover energy. Many drivers try to beat the arrival time indicated on the navigation device. I take on this challenge in terms of efficiency. It really is a lot of fun. It’s almost like a little game where I try to optimize the vehicle’s range.
How do you organize your charging when you’re on the go? And, be honest, is charging complicated?
Charging is really easy. For efficiency’s sake, I only use the Post Company Cars charging card, and the charging works perfectly. I plan my routes and look for charging stations in the Post E-Mobility App. It’s particularly practical when I charge up in the evening after my last customer appointment. We also have charging stations at our offices, which makes things even easier.
How was your experience with the charging infrastructure when you travelled to the south of France?
The trip was very relaxing. I planned breaks for charging in advance and that really helped me take things slowly. There were charging stations at almost every motorway service station. Thanks to the app, I was able to conveniently monitor the charging process and let the air conditioning run so I could get back into a cool car. This is very convenient and you don’t lose any range when the vehicle is charging up and the interior is being cooled at the same time.
How does your electric car cope with demanding tasks such as towing a horse trailer?
I knew from the outset that the power consumption would be higher with a horse trailer and that the range would be reduced. But I was very interested to see how much of an impact these changes would really have. When travelling on country roads, I noticed that consumption with a trailer was around 5 kWh higher than without a trailer. On the motorway, consumption with the trailer was significantly higher, which is mainly due to the trailer’s air resistance. Speed plays less of a role as I don’t drive faster than 85 km/h with the trailer anyway. On country roads, I often let the vehicle coast and use regenerative braking to recover energy. I drive with great care because I have the horse in the trailer, and I appreciate the car’s smooth regenerative braking. This significantly reduces wear on the brakes. Another very pleasant feature is linear acceleration without having to use the clutch, making travelling with the trailer very comfortable. The biggest plus for me is that I can now get to all regional events and training sessions with my towing vehicle again. I no longer have to rely on a second vehicle, which makes things much more flexible for me.
What advice would you give to people who still have doubts about electric cars?
Just give it a try and let the driving fun and experience win you over. Range and charging infrastructure are no longer excuses these days. With YellowDrive, our car subscription for companies, you can easily test an electric car over several months and try out its suitability for everyday use.
How do you see the future of electromobility in fleet management?
The switch to electric vehicles is unstoppable. Technology is developing rapidly and I believe that the transformation is far more positive than many people think at the moment.
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