Category Archives: Blog

Posts related to personal experiences, and the FuelIncluded.com website.

The i3 on our drive (Image: T. Larkum)

BMW i3 Family Test Drive

Blog, BMW, Electric Cars, i3
BMW i3 at Wollaston BMW, Northampton (Image: T. Larkum)
BMW i3 at Wollaston BMW, Northampton (Image: T. Larkum)

In June I took the family for a test drive in a BMW i3 as the PCP for our Renault ZOE was into its last few months. I had had two i3 drives in the previous couple of years, with cars from BMW at Warwick and Milton Keynes, but this was a chance for the rest of the family to try it out.

The i3 waiting for us (Image: T. Larkum)
The i3 waiting for us (Image: T. Larkum)

We arranged the test drive at our local BMW dealer this time, Wollaston BMW in Northampton. As well as the i3 charging up ready for our drive it was nice to see an i8, the i3’s pricier brother.

BMW i8 on charge (Image: T. Larkum)
BMW i8 on charge (Image: T. Larkum)

I had a good drive, as did my wife, and neither of us could see any objections. Our daughters also seemed happy with the ride, and the eldest felt that it was bigger in the back than our ZOE. That may partly be due, of course, to the i3 having just two seats in the back rather than three.

Jess demonstrating use of the rear ‘coach’ doors (Image: T. Larkum)
Jess demonstrating use of the rear ‘coach’ doors (Image: T. Larkum)

We took the i3 home as Wollaston had given us a generous time allowance for the test (about two hours). It looked good on the drive, but the main purpose was to confirm that it fitted fine in the garage and that it was happy to charge on the Chargemaster charge point installed for the ZOE.

The i3 trying out our garage (Image: T. Larkum)
The i3 trying out our garage (Image: T. Larkum)

We had a good look around the car. The boot is a bit smaller than we’d like, certainly smaller than that in the ZOE, but unlike in the ZOE the rear seatback splits allowing for some flexibility when carrying large loads with just three people.

The i3’s ‘froot’ (front boot) (Image: T. Larkum)
The i3’s ‘froot’ (front boot) (Image: T. Larkum)

The i3 has a ‘froot’ – the UK ‘front boot’ equivalent of the US Tesla’s ‘frunk’ or ‘front trunk’ – but it’s not large enough for most purposes. It does, however, handily take the usual car-specific bits – warning triangle, first aid kit, charging cable, etc. – that would otherwise be rolling around the boot. It exists, of course, because the i3 is rear-wheel drive.

The i3 on our drive (Image: T. Larkum)
The i3 on our drive (Image: T. Larkum)

Overall the i3 was a big hit, and we ordered one for the family soon after; we went for the longer-range i3 94Ah but that’s a story for another day.

Renault ZOE Primer: First Drive

Blog, Electric Cars, Renault, ZOE

This is a quick introduction to using the ZOE. It is intended to give just the basic information required for a test drive, use of a ZOE from a hire/rental company, or to get your ZOE home the day you buy it.

Rapid Charging the ZOE (Image: T. Larkum)
Rapid Charging the ZOE (Image: T. Larkum)

Doors

  1. The ZOE is a five door car designed to look like a three door car: the rear doors are opened by pressing on the concealed black handles (marked with a thumbprint) next to the windows.
  2. ZOE uses keyless entry, i.e. it opens electronically via a key fob rather than with a physical key. There are two methods, the simplest is to lock and unlock the doors using the buttons on the key fob.

Driving

  1. The ZOE has been designed to feel like a small automatic car so it has a large gear lever beside the driver. It has the usual positions from front to back: Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N) and Drive (D); these modes and the current selection are shown on the dashboard when power is on.
  2. To start the car:
    1. The gear lever must be in Park (all the way forward).
    2. The key fob must be somewhere within the car.
    3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
    4. Press the Start/Stop button to the left of the steering wheel.
    5. The car will start with an audible chime and ‘READY’ will show on the dashboard – the car is ready to move.
  3. To move away engage the Drive gear position (with foot still on brake) and release the handbrake (beside the driver’s seat).
  4. Note that the ZOE has been programmed with ‘creep’, i.e. it will move forward like an automatic even when the accelerator is not pressed.
  5. The ZOE has both conventional and electronic brakes and at low speed, below about 10mph, the brakes can feel a bit ‘grabby’ especially if you are not used to it; take care in car parks and other confined spaces.
  6. There will be an external sound for warning pedestrians when you drive forward up to about 20mph. Note, however, there is no warning sound when reversing.
  7. Once in Drive mode, since there is no gearbox, you can accelerate up to maximum speed (about 84mph) without changing gear.
  8. You can come to a complete stop in Drive If you are stopping for any length of time you should then engage the handbrake and Park mode.
  9. To turn off completely use the Start/Stop

Charging

  1. If charging from a home charge point ensure it is powered up and ready (a Chargemaster/Polar charge point shows an amber light, for example).
  2. Ensure the car is in Park mode, the handbrake is engaged and the motor is off (no ‘READY’ sign).
  3. Release the charging port door (it carries the Renault badge on the nose) using the button on the key fob.
  4. Open the charging port door (which swings to your left) and the internal charging port cover (which swings to your right) by hand.
  5. Insert the charging cable from the charge point. This should be followed by an audible click as the ZOE locks the connector into place (it cannot be pulled out by hand).
  6. If charging from a public charge point, at this point you need to initiate a charge (the method will depend on the charge point model).
  7. The ZOE dashboard will read ‘Ongoing Checks’ as it communicates with the charge point. The charge point will also likely give an indication (a Chargemaster/Polar unit will show amber and green lights, for example).
  8. When the charge begins it will be accompanied by a high pitched whine (not always audible to everyone). The dashboard will show how long the charge will take as ‘Time Remaining : ’ plus an hours:minutes display. It will also show the percentage charge complete.
  9. The car should be locked if unattended, but operating the locks and doors has no effect on the charge operation.
  10. The ZOE may sit at 99% for a long time to battery balance – it does no harm to stop charging at this or any other point occasionally if it’s convenient (e.g. when in a rush).
  11. If at a public charge point the charge should be stopped at the charge point. A home charge point can be turned off or left on and the cable simply disconnected.
  12. Release the charge cable connector using the button on the key fob, and withdraw the connector.
  13. Close the charging port cover and charging port door; charging is complete.
Nissan Leaf

New Nissan Leaf fuel included July 2016

Blog, Electric Cars, Leaf, Leaf 30kWh, Nissan

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