It’s been nearly 4 years years since I started teaching in an EV. A lot has happened in the world of electric cars in this short time and with a new car on its way I thought it would be a good time to review life as a driving instructor using an EV and ask how well do an EVs work for a driving instructor?
Two Nissan Leafs
My First EV was a 30kW Nissan Leaf Tekna. There’s some learning and getting used to running an EV. It’s not difficult just different. After the initial excitement everyday use is uneventful, as it should be. Even without off street parking I’ve found EVs easier to live with than an ICE car. The 30kW Leaf would do a day at work with an overnight charge to fill the battery with a top up plugged into a street lamp charger over lunch time. It was a car full of character with its bug eyed design and digital dashboard.
Then came my current car a 40kW MK2 Leaf Tekna. It’s a step up in quality with the Tekna interior very close to the quality of some premium manufacturers. The MK2 Leaf may lack the cheeky character of the MK1 but it makes up for it in the refinement. With a range of around 170 miles while teaching the 40kW would easily do a days work without a lunchtime top up.
Read more: Do EVs Work for a Driving Instructor?
On Street Charging
Without off street parking I’ve relied on off street charging installed by Portsmouth City Council. Our council have been quite forward thinking in a city built by the Victorians where few people have off street parking. Residents can request a charging bay near their home if they own an EV. This has meant from the initial 37 units wired into street lamps there are now over 100 in the city. I have one opposite my home, the one I requested, and another 3 nearby.
Generally getting an overnight charge hasn’t been a problem. There have been occasional frustrations where I’ve come home and had to go a little further to find a charger. However, it can be difficult finding a parking space for any car in the city so finding an EV charger is no more frustrating than parking an ICE car, easier most of the time.
Teaching in an EV
Teaching in the EVs has been fantastic. Comfort levels are high for a day at work. The car is quiet and smooth. Pupils love driving an EV and for the more nervous pupils you can teach in an automatic car the calmness in the cabin makes it easier for them. I certainly finish each day more refreshed. I put this down to the lack of constant engine vibration throughout the day and fumes from the car entering the cabin.
The Leaf was easy to prepare for teaching with dual control kits available from He-Man.
How well do EVs Work for a Driving Instructor?
Exceptionally well. An EV is a much better training environment that an ICE car. It’s a nicer car to own and cost of ownership can be really low keeping the business finances in order. Personally, I couldn’t imagine going back to an ICE car. Everything about it would feel like a step back in time to an old fashioned technology.
My next EV
Which brings me onto the replacement for the 40kW Leaf, of course it’s an EV. It was difficult deciding on a car to replace the Leaf because, while some technologies in it might to be the very latest EV technology, it is a brilliant car. In Tekna specification it outclasses a lot of the competition.
I have a new car on order which was expecting it in spring 2023. However, the date has come forward to December 2022. I’m very excited and will keep the make and model as a surprise for the moment. Watch out for updates here on my Electric Instructor blog pages. All will be revealed soon.
