Driving to Les Arcs

[warnergb7]

Just back from a week of skiing in Les Arcs and first time in Taycan (J1.2 4S CT). Just thought I would post a few random thoughts / observartions!

1. It’s so nice to drive on the motorways in France. Quiet, effortless and just lovely for when you want to nip past someone. I have the acoustic glass which probably helps but it was incredible how peaceful
2. We have the toll tag - pop it in the dotted area by the mirror and it works perfectly. Blasting out the barrier post the toll is a lot of fun!
3. Left SE London on 100%. Drove to Reims without charging then charged whilst we had dinner at the hotel. Set off again in the morning on 100%, one charge about half way to the mountains and then one charge whilst we shopped in Bourg St Maurice. Arrived at the resort with 80% charge. So basically, three chargers in total.
4. On the way down, I would argue the car was quicker than using a diesel. All the charging was either done whilst we ate or shopped. Contrast the diesel where you do that anyway but Still have to fill up and pay.
5. On the way back home, charging was less successful. Amazing coming down the mountain and went from 80% to 85%. We then needed a loo stop before the car was needing to be charged and whilst we could have charged anyway, there was a queue so didn’t bother. That meant another stop circa 40 minutes later. Felt a waste but needs must!
6. Needed one more charge on the way home than we needed on the way down. Maybe that’s because we left London on 100% and not the 80/85% when we left the resort. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t hanging around.
7. Topped up at the Ionity in Coquelles near the tunnel. Car went from 30% to over 55% in a few minutes.
8. Turns out there are Engenie (or maybe it was Total) chargers next to the Tesla one by the Flexiplus lounge so probably didn’t need that Ionity stop but a) they are probably slow and b) there are maybe 2 and on a busy day you’d be out of luck.
9. Overall range on the way home was 2.5m/kwh with an average speed of 64 mph which taking into account the mountain down, some busy A roads etc I guess is pretty good. Was hoping for more and I reckon if you put the cruise control at 125kmph you’d do much better.
10. The in built range manager on the sat nav is great. Really good at finding chargers, seemed very accurate and updated nicely. I know it was March and not Christmas week but it really was no bother at all in an electric car and apart from perhaps a weak bladder or two which meant a stop or so more than needed, I honestly think its better and certainly no worse than diesel / petrol.
11. Oh, finally, there is a really good E.Leclerc supermarket just off the motorway in Reims. Has 19 fast Ionity chargers right outside. Ideal for a charge and buying a load of wine to bring back.
12. Thanks for those that gave me tips in advance, especially @Poshfpg . Really useful and reassuring,.

Sponsored

 

[ItsNot AboutTheMoney]

Did you noticed a lot of EVs in France? Especially in the country side?

Last summer I visited Switzerland, I would recommend going to the Matterhorn !!!

 

[warnergb7]

To be honest, wasn’t really looking. I guess I saw a few Teslas around and the charging stops certainly weren’t empty. Our drive was mainly motorways and a blast up and down the mountain. Unlike your normal holiday ski weekend, the roads were relatively quiet.

 

[Gru]

Did you noticed a lot of EVs in France? Especially in the country side?

Last summer I visited Switzerland, I would recommend going to the Matterhorn !!!

Zermatt ? only EVs there for at least 20 yrs ! but a different kind of EV ?

Parking in Tasch, where they have around 120 EV charging spots wasn't that full a couple of months ago

 

[Poshfpg]

Just back from a week of skiing in Les Arcs and first time in Taycan (J1.2 4S CT). Just thought I would post a few random thoughts / observartions!

1. It’s so nice to drive on the motorways in France. Quiet, effortless and just lovely for when you want to nip past someone. I have the acoustic glass which probably helps but it was incredible how peaceful
2. We have the toll tag - pop it in the dotted area by the mirror and it works perfectly. Blasting out the barrier post the toll is a lot of fun!
3. Left SE London on 100%. Drove to Reims without charging then charged whilst we had dinner at the hotel. Set off again in the morning on 100%, one charge about half way to the mountains and then one charge whilst we shopped in Bourg St Maurice. Arrived at the resort with 80% charge. So basically, three chargers in total.
4. On the way down, I would argue the car was quicker than using a diesel. All the charging was either done whilst we ate or shopped. Contrast the diesel where you do that anyway but Still have to fill up and pay.
5. On the way back home, charging was less successful. Amazing coming down the mountain and went from 80% to 85%. We then needed a loo stop before the car was needing to be charged and whilst we could have charged anyway, there was a queue so didn’t bother. That meant another stop circa 40 minutes later. Felt a waste but needs must!
6. Needed one more charge on the way home than we needed on the way down. Maybe that’s because we left London on 100% and not the 80/85% when we left the resort. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t hanging around.
7. Topped up at the Ionity in Coquelles near the tunnel. Car went from 30% to over 55% in a few minutes.
8. Turns out there are Engenie (or maybe it was Total) chargers next to the Tesla one by the Flexiplus lounge so probably didn’t need that Ionity stop but a) they are probably slow and b) there are maybe 2 and on a busy day you’d be out of luck.
9. Overall range on the way home was 2.5m/kwh with an average speed of 64 mph which taking into account the mountain down, some busy A roads etc I guess is pretty good. Was hoping for more and I reckon if you put the cruise control at 125kmph you’d do much better.
10. The in built range manager on the sat nav is great. Really good at finding chargers, seemed very accurate and updated nicely. I know it was March and not Christmas week but it really was no bother at all in an electric car and apart from perhaps a weak bladder or two which meant a stop or so more than needed, I honestly think its better and certainly no worse than diesel / petrol.
11. Oh, finally, there is a really good E.Leclerc supermarket just off the motorway in Reims. Has 19 fast Ionity chargers right outside. Ideal for a charge and buying a load of wine to bring back.
12. Thanks for those that gave me tips in advance, especially @Poshfpg . Really useful and reassuring,.

That is an insanely good range result, congrats. I did 4 charges Friday on almost the exact same trip with the car in single figure % rolling in each time. Last one was around Lyon airport as opposed to Bourg so the J1.2 is a massive improvement.

 

[Gareth Swain]

Just done Annecy to Calais (stayed in Les Arcs first so its the right thread). Result is 2.7miles per KWh

 

[Gareth Swain]

Car is J1.1 GTS ST. Pleased with that result. Fabulous drive.

 

[warnergb7]

Impressive. How loaded was the car?

 

[Gareth Swain]

3 up, full boot. 20 inch turbo aero wheels on winter tyres. 10,000 miles on a July 2023 car.. Temperature was between 5 deg and 12 deg C. Mostly dry.

 

[warnergb7]

Impressed you got better range than I did. We were perhaps a bit more loaded up and I don’t have aero wheels. But mine is the J1.2 so all a bit confusing. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the drive. I loved it. The car is just so good on the motorway and I’d love a trip up and down those mountain roads without my wife next to me who doesn’t quite appreciate the speed the thing goes at. I know there are some issues with these cars as you read the forum and it’s certainly not perfect but it is really is just so nice to drive. I passed a volcano grey version of mine about 20 minutes into the journey home and just thought: wow these cars look good.

 

[Poshfpg]

We came back on Monday. 4 of us plus a Great Dane in the boot so fully loaded. 4S CT with 25,000 miles also on 20” turbo aero Winters. Average speed a bit skewed by never turning the car off at chargers or in the tunnel but this was fast motorway speeds all the way.

The way out was understandably a bit lower, 2.3mi/kwh as you’re going uphill

Happy with that level of efficiency on Winters at speed.

Sponsored