I drove across Europe in an EV – it was cost-effective & relaxing… but there were lessons learned along the way

The Sun

3 days ago

A FOOTBALL fan went on the trip of a lifetime across Europe in an electric vehicle to watch England bring it home at the recent Women's Euros final.
Footy-mad Liv Cooper was determined to reach the tournament's showpiece at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, by travelling the 1,602-mile round trip from her home in Manchester - all in an EV.
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In an exclusive chat with Sun Motors, Liv explained she wanted to challenge herself to reach the match as sustainably and cost-effectively as possible, while testing the limits of long-distance EV travel.
Taking to the open road in a Volkswagen ID.7, Liv was impressed by the car's comfort and smooth performance, while making use of OVO's Charge app to plan her charging stops with live updates and availability.
'The Volkswagen ID.7 really impressed me - it felt more like gliding than driving,' Liv said.
'It was smooth, silent and seriously comfortable over long distances. The range was solid, and with a bit of planning, it didn't feel limiting at all.'
Liv was also surprised by how affordable the trip was in an EV, especially with the costs split between herself and a companion.
'The savings were noticeable,' she said.
'Charging costs split between two people were significantly cheaper than flying, even at the fast-charging rates.
'With the efficiency of the car, we didn't need to stop constantly to recharge, so I was surprised at how little it cost for the full journey.'
However, Liv admits the trip wasn't all smooth sailing.
Range anxiety - the worry that an EV's battery will run out of charge before reaching a destination or charging station - was an issue at times, particularly in rural areas.
'There were a couple of moments where I was keeping a close eye on the battery, especially in more rural areas,' she said.
'Having a good route plan and using OVO's reliable Charge app made all the difference.
'We made sure to check where we could charge before setting off, which meant we could stay flexible with our journey. We also topped up whenever possible if we knew we had a longer leg ahead.'
Liv also encountered slower-than-expected chargers and some European stations that didn't accept UK payment methods or had poor signal for loading the app.
'On the downside, the charging infrastructure in some areas of Europe still needs work,' Liv said.
'We found a lot didn't take UK cards or Apple Pay, although if you're using the OVO Charge app, you don't have this problem.
'Some of the service stations also had bad signal, so it sometimes took a while to get the app to load.
'But overall, the positives far outweighed the negatives - the fast chargers were quick and provided a nice break, it's a more comfortable ride, and it's better for the planet.'
Liv says the trip has changed her perspective on EV ownership.
'I used to think EVs were mostly for city driving, but this trip changed that,' she said.
'With the right car and a bit of prep, long-distance EV travel is actually really enjoyable.'
She also says it made arriving in Switzerland for the final in such a sustainable way all the more rewarding.
Liv said: 'It felt empowering to travel in an EV to the Women's Euros final.
'Football is all about passion and community, and arriving in a way that aligned with my values made it even more meaningful.
'We all talk about supporting the game we love, but making more sustainable choices is one way we can support the planet too and I'm certain it's going to be spoken a lot more about in football more generally over the next couple of years.'
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