Molly, customer and Partnership Marketing Executive for the Scheme drove in the EV rally Cymru. Molly shares her experience driving an electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (eWAV) through the scenic Welsh countryside.
Image 1: The team who took part in the EV rally
I recently took part in the EV Rally Cymru across Wales with some of my colleagues to see what driving an eWAV and using public charging was like. With me was Graham, Accessible Vehicle Partnerships Manager, Ross, Scheme Stakeholder Executive and Lisa, Scheme Stakeholder Assistant.
I’m a wheelchair user and have been a Scheme customer for over 22 years. Driving an eWAV was a new experience for me; it was larger and higher than I’m used to. But thankfully I had Graham, a WAV expert, to share the driving.
EVs are much quieter than petrol or diesel cars. Without the rumbling of a traditional engine we were able to chat the whole 15+ hour journey. Even when driving high speeds and Ross sitting towards the back, we were able to enjoy each other’s company.
When we signed up for a trip through Wales in mid-November, I think we all expected it to be quite soggy. Instead, we got the most glorious sunshine on both days. This meant that we were able to fully enjoy the stunning views of Wales. Some particular highlights being the Brecon Beacons National Park, Poppit Sands and a beautiful National Grid site in Trawfynydd.
My favourite checkpoint was our stop at The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. Not only am I a huge book lover, it also featured a large bank of charging bays including disabled charging bays. Being able to stop at a landmark and also know there is accessible charging available was really reassuring.
EVs range can be impacted by a number of things including weight and road conditions, which were all things we had to consider as part of the challenge in the EV rally. Given that we were often travelling through some very rural parts of Wales it was important that we planned our stops in advance. The Motability Go Charge app was a huge help. It allowed us to find chargers that were along our route, filter for the fastest ones, and even gave us live availability updates so we could get back on the road quicker. This meant we were stopping in a location that was right for our needs.
Given the current changes in the car market, I’ve been thinking a lot about my next Scheme vehicle and whether it is the right time for me to go electric. Being able to experience an EV firsthand and navigate public charging stations was invaluable, allowing me to identify both the challenges and the solutions that will help me transition to an EV. Having resources like the GoCharge app was a game-changer. I soon came to realise that there were some brands of chargepoints that I preferred, as they were more consistently accessible and easy to use and I would specifically look for those on the app. The trip deepened my understanding of the transition to EVs and highlighted areas that would need careful consideration. However, the experience strengthened my interest in exploring this path further—and doing so amidst the breathtaking Welsh countryside was an unforgettable bonus.
Find an electric car with the Motability Scheme
You can see the full range of electric vehicles (EVs) available on the Motability Scheme. Simply click the ‘Electric’ box under ‘Fuel Type’ in our Find a vehicle tool.
