Rent My Ride

Sep 6, 20236 min read

Rent my Ride: Is Electric a go or no?

Product Review: We test the Mercedes EQC400 to see if this electric vehicle has the spark to revolutionize the automotive industry's down a path of eco friendly sustainable driving

We recently had the exhilarating opportunity to delve into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) with a generous upgrade from Europcar during our UK trip. While we've had brief encounters with Tesla S & 3 test drives, our hands-on experience with the evolving landscape of electric mobility was truly electrifying. Buckle up, as we dissect whether electric cars are the go, or no?!

Model:	Mercedes-Benz EQC
Acceleration:	0-100 km/h: 5.1 seconds
Battery charge time:	42h at 220V, 7.5h at 440V
Battery:	80 kWh 405 V lithium-ion
Cargo volume:	500 L, 1,460 L with seat area
Dimensions:	4,774 mm L x 1,884 mm W x 1,622 mm H
Number of doors:	5
Driveline:	Four-wheel drive

Over the past few years, passionate debates have raged about whether the EV evolution is a genuine revolution or a fleeting trend. This week, we engaged in countless discussions, unearthing a treasure trove of pros and cons, all of which we'll dive into shortly. But first, let's take a pit stop and analyze our recent tryst with EVs. To guide us through this journey, we've assembled a council of E-Experts to provide their invaluable insights on whether electric vehicles are steering us towards a brighter future.

Europcar had 2 EV options, the Tesla 3, or Mercedes EQC400, as well as their usual great range of Hybrid and ICE options (this is why we love Europcar the world over, they always have a great selection of new and interesting cars to try).

Mercedes 400 QTC: our first impressions

Our ride of choice, a nearly new Mercedes EQC400, commanded attention from the get-go. Boasting impressive specs including a substantial range, it was purported to travel up to 250 miles (or 400 km). Yet, we swiftly discovered that indulging in sports mode or challenging the 0-60mph acceleration at every light resulted in range depletion quicker than expected.

The Mercedes EQC400 is an incredible car, in every way. It’s big, it’s beautiful and it’s loaded with extras. Some useful, some fun, and some bordering on ridiculous (but we loved them all!). Being a Mercedes, it is, of course very well appointed, with fantastic technology to assist and entertain you in everyway, it’s worth taking a few minutes (or an hour), to get familiar with at least the basics and set it up, as it can be a little overwhelming! You’ll want to know what’s where before you start to avoid any hiccups, there’s a lot of alarms, warnings and flashing lights, which can be distracting, if you’re not familiar.

The first thing we had to get our head around is that an EV is more efficient in the city than on a long journey, this is the opposite of an internal combustion engine (ICE) which becomes more efficient on longer motorway trips (though there is a point when the fuel consumption starts to increase again at around 74mph / 118kmh). Around town and for short jaunts, EVs shine with remarkable efficiency, and their charging cost didn't stray too far from traditional fuel costs.

To be honest, we did miss the sound of a throaty V8 as we accelerated 0-60mph i (0-100km/h), but we had little time to think about it as we were pinned to our seat, and actually quite liked the almost silent, rapid velocity!

Our ride-along with family yielded intriguing reactions. The boys reveled in the thrill, while some of the girls clung to their seats, and one young relative even teared up in excitement. Comparisons ranged from a plane's takeoff to a magical flying carpet (not sure how they knew what this is like but I kind of agree!), embodying the unique magic of EV speed.

EV Range Anxiety

This is a term that captures the unease of monitoring range on the go. After a few days of fun and catching up with family & friends, we had a packed schedule and had to start thinking about our range.

We were full of confidence the first few days, but I found my self continuously calculating where we were going, what was on tomorrow and when we needed to recharge. I remember an old saying ‘Microsoft minutes’; things would say 19 hours to download but would rapidly drop to 1, or 2 – this is the opposite, I thought I had 250 miles (400km), but within 100m, I was in to double digits and starting to sweat when people wanted to go exploring in the coming days

This confidence did not last long we might need to recharge before our drive into the country for lunch the following day and started to panic. We had to start thinking, where will we recharge? How long will it take? How much will it cost? What if we found ourselves in the picturesque countryside, with no charging station? As EV newbies, our minds raced with questions: Could we download a UK-specific app? How many kWh were required? Should we knock on a neighbor's door for a charge?

Before we put our pedal to the metal for the trip, we caught up with a friend we who had been a pro EV operator for 5 years. They had a Jaguar E-Pace They showed me the app and how the charging stations work, they even found the charging point near to where I was staying and could see availability and rates!

Basic numbers, in the UK (We’ll convert to AUD, but am not familiar with the rates and how this currently works in Australia), were 7p, per Kw (0.13c) to slow charge at home (c8 hours), 65p, per KW (1.17c) to supercharge in 45minutes at the many options, shopping centres, pubs, supermarkets). This is an extraordinary difference for convenience, almost 10x!

We did learn that you don’t need an app, you can access via their website, but still need data to start with and then have to create an account, log in and tap your credit card. We calculated the first charge was going to cost us cGBP40 (AUD72).

Funnily enough, chatting with my nephew over breakfast, turns out, Audi installed an EV Charger at his house (ultimately, they were unable to deliver the car but forgot pick up the charger). Off we went to his house to charge up!

And now to our E -Experts...

Introducing our Panel of experts... These guys are passionate, and can be a little crazy! You should see the back and forth, and arguing that happens before they can provide their content that we’re allowed to publish. I provide the guidelines for the review and then these guys just hit these cars hard

The E-Enthusiast

"I’ll be honest, I am torn between the incredible rumble of a V8 accelerating and the almost silent, effortless charge of an EV. The velocity from 0-100kmh is exhilarating and awesome, I usually prefer manuals, but this EV. This is also a prestige master-piece, there is no denying, ICE, or EV, I love it. No idea how to use most of the features, I couldn’t even get CARPLAY working in 6 days we were rolling"

The E-Economist

"When I got asked if I wanted an upgrade, I got really excited. Until they said it was going to cost more than double what I had paid. After some negotiation and lot’s of smiling, it was agreed the additional cost would be GBP20 per day – That’s awesome, it’s worth the ‘investment’ to be able to experience this machine

The EV Revolution, the electric thing, I’m not so sure. If we had to pay full rate for charge on this ‘EV Experience’ it would have been expensive. AND, if Ryan hadn’t ordered that electric Audi, the charging would have cost almost the same as fuel!"

The E-Environmentalist

"Wow, wow, wow. It's like joining a Superhero team and getting a cape made of solar panels. I'm so excited that main stream manufacturers are releasing some really effective, efficient and awesome EV options. But I do wonder where the batteries go and how they will effect the environment moving forward??

We don’t have the data on how Mercedes are performing technically in this space, and also any information on their R&D projects which surely will add decades to their cost benefit and environmental aspirations"

The E-Easiest

"This was easy. I was so happy and super excited about my new ‘EV’, I was also excited to share with my friends. None of them had ever owned or rented a Mercedes GLE, EV! However, when I picked it up, oh, my, goodness! I felt like I needed a degree in technology to understand the myriad of menus, screens, options, sounds, warnings. I'm still trying to figure out how all the buttons and screens!"

In summation, our EV exploration yielded both promising advantages and notable drawbacks.

Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
Efficient Urban Travel: EVs excel in urban environments and short trips, offering remarkable efficiency and practicality.	Range Anxiety: Monitoring range can become a source of stress, particularly on long journeys or in unfamiliar terrain.
Silent Thrills: The silent acceleration of EVs can be exhilarating, while preserving the quietude of urban spaces.	Charging Infrastructure: Availability and cost of charging infrastructure can vary, impacting the convenience and affordability of EV travel.
Environmental Friendliness: EVs contribute to a cleaner, greener transportation landscape, reducing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.	Initial Costs: The initial purchase price of EVs can be relatively high, although operational costs may balance out in the long run.
Efficient Urban Travel: EVs excel in urban environments and short trips, offering remarkable efficiency and practicality.	Navigational Challenges: Navigating unfamiliar charging networks and interpreting charging metrics can be daunting for newcomers to the EV world.

The Final Verdict: Go or No-Go?

So, here we are, at the crossroads of electric transport revolution. Are EVs the automotive marvels of tomorrow, or just a fad? The answer, my friends, is a bit of both. EVs offer a taste of the future, a glimpse of what could be, and a wild ride that's sure to leave you buzzing. But they're not without their quirks, from range anxiety, charging escapades to umm, where are the batteries going to go??

Ultimately, the choice to go electric or stick with the petrol heads depends on your appetite for adventure, your love for silent speed, and your willingness to embrace the unknown. EVs are like that quirky relative who shows up at family gatherings - you might not always know what to expect, but you're in for a memorable ride.