In July 2025, my partner and I took a big leap and signed a lease on our first electric vehicle. It was a big decision, not least because it would mean saying goodbye to my 15-year-old Mazda 2 (aptly named ‘Baz’ because he was the bashed-up Mazda) which had been through many of life’s ups and downs with us.
Test Drives
The process of finding a new car started off surprisingly fun. We test drove a mix of second-hand hybrids and electric vehicles. Each one had its quirks, such as the Hyundai Ioniq with a creaky centre console, and a mustard-coloured Toyota Yaris Cross. All-in-all it was a great experience to really understand what we would want and need from a car.
Time to Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet was a necessity, I can promise you this. We scored each car based on factors that were important to us – range, driver comfort, visibility, dashboard display, boot space, and we did the maths on the monthly cost for each vehicle, new and used. Based on the dealership’s offers on new vehicles, our calculations showed us it would be ever so slightly cheaper to sign a lease on a brand-new car than to take out a bank loan to buy one second-hand. So, with our interests in becoming more self-sufficient and building personal climate resilience, we decided that if we were going to commit to a brand-new vehicle, we would take a big step into the future and go electric.
The Big Concerns
This wasn’t a decision we made lightly. We rent a flat, so home charging isn’t an option. That meant relying on public charging points and family home chargers as a backup, which initially felt daunting compared to the convenience of petrol stations. We also love to travel, so I wondered how charging stops would affect our road trips. Would it slow us down too much? Would there be enough chargers on the way?
Research Stage
Aside from test driving, we also relied on YouTube car reviews and Reddit posts to get an average-Joe perspective on owning an EV in 2025. We discovered communities of people comparing EVs, talking about charging strategies, and found ourselves intrigued by people’s videos and storytelling of their ‘car camping’ experiences.
Choosing the Car
After all the research, test drives and calculations, we signed an agreement for a Hyundai Kona Electric with a 65kWh battery which has a range of 320~ miles. Compared to my little Mazda, it feels safe, smooth and comfortable. It’s automatic and the cruise control makes longer journeys easy, and we’re enjoying the convenience of charging the car in the Vicarage Lane Car Park while working from the office.
The Learning Curve
Of course, it hasn’t been completely smooth sailing. On one trip to visit my dad, we rolled up with just 9% battery left. We turned off the air con, unplugged our phones and kept the speed steady at 60mph to eke out every last mile. Another time, we tried to charge at the big Tesco in St. Leonards-on-Sea (a black hole for phone signal), which gave us a stark realisation about how much new cars rely on apps to start/stop functions of the car. We soon found the somewhat hidden manual override, but it was a lesson learned.
New Adventures: Car Camping
One of the unexpected joys of having this car has been embracing car camping. We’d held off from big road trips in recent years because my Mazda was getting too old and unreliable. By using the car’s ‘Utility Mode’, we can sleep with the climate controls running, using only about 4% of the battery power overnight. So far, we’ve camped out on the seafront, we’re planning a trip around Cornwall in a couple of weeks, and we’re already thinking about a European road trip next year.
Life with an EV
Leasing an electric car felt like a massive decision, but so far, one we’re very happy with. While we’ve had to make certain considerations, such as charging takes more thought than filling a tank, the overall experience so far has been exciting, fun and a real adventure.
With the Government’s push for more EVs on the road and the new Car Scheme available on Vivup, please feel free to reach out if you’re curious and want to talk through the quirks or practicalities in more detail. I’m more than happy to try to answer any questions, share what we’ve learned so far, and offer any advice that might help you think about your own options.