I’ve been given the 230w model to trial for the weekend. The build quality and styling is everything you come to expect from the Audi brand, but the electric motor, well this is completely new. Driving it at first is a little strange. The lack of noise is rather odd, but this is quickly forgotten as the new driving experience is surprisingly good.
Because the batteries are lower down in the car it changes the centre of gravity, so when cornering it’s like the car is on rails, and the air suspension means you feel absolutely no roll. The power is instant, pulling off from a junction gives you the sense that you’re driving the most desirable car on the road, everything is so smooth, Not to mention the tech included in the vehicle, which is superb, this car oozes luxury driving and for £60,000 it should.
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But price isn’t the E-Trons biggest problem, its the chance of running out of power that fills me with fear! The 230w motor has a range of 189 miles fully charged yet the one we were given only had a fully charged range of 168 miles.
Around the city this cars performance was excellent. So feeling confident I took it out of town and that’s where the range of miles becomes frightening. We used 6 miles of range going up one single hill!!! This was scary, although you can recharge the fuel cells in motion I hardly got 4 miles back the whole 20 mile journey. Every time I approached a hill I did so with dread keeping one eye on the range to see how much I lost. My wife wanted to try the contactless charger, I didn’t let her in case it decreased our range further!
Climate change has to be tackled but I have concerns that vehicles like this will worry people just enough to put them off making a commitment to greener motoring until they are forced into it by legislation.
On the Saturday we decided to take the car for another drive, but fearful of range our destination was discussed at some length. I even had to check the map for hills such was my concern having not charged the vehicle from Friday’s outing.
We started out confidently, we even changed into sport mode and over took a couple of vehicles, but inevitably due to the range, we had to deviate from the route we had planned. But I must add, overtaking is sensational, the power is instant as soon as you touch the accelerator you’re away!
Overall the family found the car to be very comfortable and checking the available range became the latest driving game, it even kept the kids amused! Despite plenty of info from our friendly Audi dealer on the large number of charging stations around, we didn’t see any on our journey.
Having used the Audi E-Tron this weekend and despite being seduced by the drive, I can’t see everyone rushing to an electric vehicle yet. As much as I loved the car, the range and hassle of constant charging and planning for journeys just doesn’t work for me or my stress levels. At times I was more charged up than the car! Then there’s that price tag. Better range, say 450 miles, faster charging and much much cheaper prices are what’s needed here.
I also have grave concerns about the disposal of the battery technology at end of life and the massive amount of unregulated mining that goes in to produce the materials for batteries. It’s hard for me to say, but I think we need to press pause on electric vehicles and develop cheaper hydrogen powered vehicles for all.
But if we want to make a real impact on clean air and climate change then we must first look to air travel. My friend flew out to Croatia today with 28 others on the plane. If we want to save the planet then we need to consider the ban on flights like this just for holidays and ask the air industry to produce green aircraft.[/breno_vc_section_title]
Why did we create epic3?
Because we love our planet and we don’t want all the bad stuff to happen to our future generations! Ok that’s a bit too obvious isn’t it? Epic3 was created because we know that climate change is a scary subject and people don’t know what to do. Change is hard for everyone, but we can’t keep ignoring the problem. So whilst all of us, including governments and business work out a plan, we looked at what people could do before they are ready to buy an electric car or give up meat for good! Joining our community means you are doing something about climate change right now, today and that can only be a good thing.
Is my carbon footprint really that big?
There is no doubt that our very existence on the planet contributes to co2 in the atmosphere, after all its what we breath out! But it’s a question of balance and unfortunately our way of life is tipping things too far for our planet to cope with. Everything we do has an impact, from sending a text message to taking a long haul flight. That can seem overwhelming but it is time to take this challenge on and consider if the things we do, buy, or consume are worth the damage. Being a member of epic3 gives you the freedom to acknowledge your impact on the planet whilst considering the changes you can make. It doesn’t matter if you run a fleet of lorries or ride you bike to work, we all have a continued responsibility to look after the earth.
Isn't this just offsetting?
No, we’re not keen on the term offsetting, it implies we can just carry on without considering the planet. Extra trees are the best way to gobble up co2 but we could never plant enough to stop the damage at the rate we’re causing it. That’s why with epic3 you are supporting a mission that involves educating children and adults on how to protect the planet, investing in new climate positive idea’s and in changes to our communities that support a more sustainable way of life.
Can epic3 stop climate change?
A global effort is required to tackle climate change, we’d be very foolish to think we could do it all by ourselves. But if everyone on the planet took on the same mission as epic3 then yes, we can do this. We have to stop the planet’s temperature increasing and if we educate ourselves, protect our planets natural resources, plant more trees, consume and discard less and find alternative energy sources then it is still possible to stop the change that will have a devastating effect on our planet.
Are you a registered charity?
No we’re not, a charity has a board of volunteers who oversee and take responsibility for the financial and moral wellbeing of the operation. As founders of Epic3 we are so passionate about our message and vision that we wanted to remain at the heart of our business. Our enthusiasm for helping everyone to save the planet is the driving force for the direction of Epic3. Instead Epic3 is a Community Interest Company.
What is a community interest company?
A community interest company has to fulfil a community purpose, ours being “to help everyone fight climate change”. When we set up Epic3 we had to write a statement which set out our social mission. The mission is protected, giving you, our members peace of mind. Everything Epic3 does from planting trees to providing education is to fight climate change and prevent further damage to our beautiful planet.
Another benefit of being a community interest company is that there is a “lock” on our assets. This means that our profits are primarily directed back into the business and anything we acquire as a business must be used for our community purpose. So, land, trees, educational material, it’s all protected for the good of our cause, which we think is great news, and if Epic3 were to ever end, we have to transfer our assets to a similar CIC or charity.
What is the difference between an Individual and Business plan?
Who’s say’s size doesn’t matter eh? Well when it comes to fighting climate change we all have to be responsible for the size of the damage we’re causing. A family of four won’t be contributing to climate change as mush as a business running a fleet of lorries or a factory, so all our plans are designed with you, the user in mind. We must take control of our own impact on the planet, however small or big, if we are to make a difference in reducing the damage we’re making and that’s why Epic3 offers a range of plans to help everyone.
Where can I get news on the great thing Epic3 are doing?
We will update our website and social media regularly to let everyone know about the great things we’re achieving together. To really see epic3 in action why not book one of our free workshops for you local school or business?
Can I change plans?
Yes of course, if you think you could make a a greater contribution towards fighting climate change then you can upgrade your monthly plan at anytime. Just go to the My Account section of the website and select Change My Plan.
What if I change my mind?
Even though you may have a real passion for epic3’s vision we understand that there may be times when it’s just not practical to give back on a monthly basis. The great news is you can pause you plan at any time and reactivate when you feel ready. Details can be found in the My Account section under Change My Plan.