Do EVs Work for a Driving Instructor?

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

Do EVs Work for a Driving Instructor? This 30kW Nissan Leaf did.

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.

Do EVs Work for a Driving Instructor? This 40kW Nissan Leaf did.

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.

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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.

Eco Safe Driving Increases EV Range

Eco Safe Driver training in electric car

Driving style has a big affect on EV range as well as fuel economy in a fossil fuelled car. Eco safe driving techniques can increase range showing an average improvement of over 11% with eco safe driver training.

As I sit writing this in Lockdown through the winter of late 2020 and early 2021, and unable to teach, I realise I’ve not been able to asses the true winter range of my 40kW Nissan Leaf as this would be it’s first winter with me.

I was reminded of some eco safe driver training I did for a large organisation last winter as social media has many EV users saying how much their range has dropped in the cold weather. This article has a summary of the results of that training showing how a few eco safe driving tricks can increase range.

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Is An Electric Car Expensive?

There are many perceived barriers preventing people switching to an electric car. One of the biggest is that EVs cost more than a fossil car. They might cost a bit more to buy, however, is total cost of ownership any greater?

Because my car is my business the figures have to add up when buying a new car. So the total cost of ownership in the time the car will be with me is the most important factor and always well researched. So as a comparison the cost of ownership of a Peugeot 208 petrol and electric models has been analysed here and compared here to see which has the lowest cost of ownership.

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Goodbye Leaf, Hello Leaf

New 40kW Nissan Leaf

Goodbye 30kW Leaf, Hello 40kW Leaf

Using an electric car for driving lessons has proved very successful. Pupils have enjoyed learning in my previous 30kW Nissan Leaf. Running costs have been tiny and the on street residents charging bays installed by Portsmouth council have worked well for overnight charging. So in August I picked up a newer 40kW Leaf. Not quite new, a 10 months old ex demonstrator that had done very few miles.

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By The Time I Bought My Lunch The Car Was Charged

Rapid charging

One of the concerns about owning an EV is what happens if an unexpected trip comes up and the car isn’t charged.

I’m 4 months into 30kW Leaf ownership now. My daily use as a driving instructor works well starting each day with a full battery and charging for an hour at lunch time on the 5.5kWh public charging post I use. Usually finish the day with about 30% battery.

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Recharging Point Made

EV charging sign

At last the urban charging bay is complete. However, fossil fuelled cars blocking charging bays are a big problem to an EV owner with a low battery. There is a now little plate by the charging space I use saying “Electric vehicle recharging point only” this little piece of metal means ICE cars will get a ticket if they block the space. Portsmouth Council have confirmed this in an email so I shall report ICEing using the myPortsmouth app.

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Urban Baywatch

I’m becoming obsessed with a parking bay! The one I use to charge with the new Ubitricity charging points in Portsmouth. There’s a problem in so much as it’s not quite an EV charging bay yet.

Diesel Van Electric Bay

Just over two months into Nissan Leaf ownership and it’s fabulous. The car is smooth, quiet, fast and the running costs are about 15% of putting petrol in my previous Toyota Auris Hybrid. There’s no way I’d want to go back to an ICE car. Being an early adopter of running EV on public charging in Portsmouth has brought it’s frustrations though. I will say mainly caused by ICE cars but also because Portsmouth City Council seem to have fallen apart completing the on street charging project.

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