Five epic journeys, and the electric cars we’d use on them

Electric cars are getting better all the time, as technology improves at a rapid rate and ranges creep up ever further. Many electric vehicles now offer mileage from a single charge comparable to a reasonably frugal petrol car with a full tank, making long distance road trips much more achievable. So here’s a handful of journeys that are now possible with some of the latest EVs on the market today.

Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower – 285 miles

One of the UK’s greatest landmarks to France’s most recognisable structure, the route from London to Paris is perhaps more well known as a Eurostar route or a big cycling challenge. But let’s inject a bit of fun and perhaps a bit of jeopardy by driving between the two in a BMW IX3. Big, roomy and comfortable, it’d be a relaxing journey until you realised that your range would click to zero just as you pulled up right at the foot of the 324 metre high tower. Can you hypermile in an electric car?

A lap of the M25 – 117 miles

Okay, so the M25 isn’t going to be on anyone’s wish list, but let’s for a moment just imagine that the road is clear, the speed cameras are turned off and those annoying bumpy bits by Heathrow have been smoothed out. The result? A 117 mile lap around one of the world’s greatest cities with one or two decent views along the way. The car we’d use? The Mazda MX-30 is Mazda’s first all-electric vehicle, and has a quoted range of 124 miles, seven more than you’d need for a complete circuit. Best hope you don’t get stuck in traffic though...

Coventry to Land’s End – 284 miles

The UK government continues to advise on holidaying in the UK rather than taking risks abroad, cue thousands of Midlanders escaping to the seaside this summer, with Cornwall one of the top destinations on many ‘staycation’ lists. So why not take a Jaguar I-PACE from the Jaguar HQ in Coventry all the way down the M5, through Devon and keep going until reaching England’s most westerly point? And you’ll do it, safe in the knowledge that there’ll be eight miles of power left by the time you’ll get there.

Kiev to Minsk – 323 miles

Now this doesn’t sound too exciting, after all Eastern Europe isn’t particularly renowned for the best driving roads. But this route takes you through vast swathes of countryside, large expanses of forest, and a few lengthy stretches of motorway. All sounds pleasant enough, until you find out the first northern stretch of your route takes you right past the Chernobyl Nuclear Exclusion Zone. Naturally, you’ll want to get past that fairly quickly, so grab a Tesla Model 3 Performance and blast your way out of Ukraine before your brain gets turned to mush. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to Minsk with around six miles of juice left.

San Francisco to Los Angeles – 381 miles

Who wouldn’t want to drive between two of the USA’s greatest cities on the Pacific coast? The almost guaranteed glorious weather, the Golden Gate Bridge and a pass through Hollywood, does it get much better than that? It’s a bit of a jaunt though, so you’ll need the electric car with the longest range on sale right now; the Tesla Model S Long Range. The main issue? You’ll fall short of your destination by just two miles, so you’ll have to flag down a star of the silver screen for the final 3,200 metres of your journey.