One dark day. Almost 2 really.

EV’s are the way of the future. That’s what I thought after an effusive appraisal by (formerly) good friend and travel companion Alan about our rental car options. The lights on our journey (or the electrons that keep it all humming) were almost snuffed out, and forward progress halted courtesy of the complexity of managing this erstwhile saviour of our planet.
Should we have detected a hint of foreboding at the Car Rental office in Bordeaux? “We only charge to 80% - but you can return it at the same level” already we will need to recharge before our first stop at Le Bouyssou. Should we have changed horses when the navigator in the car couldn’t even find Le Bouyssou. (Is it that remote?). We did struggle through a lengthy recharge en route and made it safely (and eventually) to our hosts hideaway.
A new day, a new dawn and new hope. Until we are having breakfast with our hosts who exclaims “how did you even get here in an EV - how will you get out? Oh no, why an EV in the French country side?”. All hope is dashed - presentiment then almost hatched.
The drive from Le Bouyssou to Pau to meet our cycling buddies is suppose to be 3hours 52 minutes. It took 14hours with a series of faulty chargers, apps that would not accept credit card details, chargers that suggest 18hr 12min charge times. One charger in Cahors happily started with 2hr 59 elapsed proposal, but when we returned 3+ hours later, had only added 1%.
Only with considerable online assistance from the aforementioned Alan, who has savant level knowledge of all things EV, we’re we able to navigate through 2 more recharges to arrive in the very lovely city of Pau.
The next morning we joined in the uniquely EV experience of standing abound chatting to other EV owners while waiting for the bloody things to charge. To be fair we met some very nice people.
They are lovely cars to drive. BUT…

Regina described the EV experience as “un spectacle de merde”. And she means it!

Take away learning - don’t go into the French outback in an EV.Read more