When Grant Logan’s Motability Scheme lease was up for renewal, he explored his options and discovered a range of appealing EVs available on the Motability Scheme1. Intrigued by the advantages of electric driving, he decided to delve deeper.
“I’ve been interested in EVs for years,” says Grant. “I remember thinking ‘it’ll be years before they'll be available on the Motability Scheme’. Then when they did become available, I was still in contract”.
Cheap and easy charging
Grant’s local car dealership Synter Sunningdale arranged for EVs to be delivered to his home for test drives, making the process much more convenient. “I was able to just try the cars out on the driveway and whittle them down to my top three,” he says. “Once I was off bed rest, I was able to go to the dealer and go out for a test drive”.
Grant decided on the BMW i4. He finds that home charging has simplified his driving experience, particularly as his shoulder issues made managing fuel stops, and handling his wheelchair, challenging. With his new EV, these concerns are now a thing of the past.
“I have my own off-street parking and an EV charger on my wall. The simplicity of charging won me over. Just plug in, forget about it, and let the system charge during off-peak times to minimise costs. I programme the car to charge overnight during off-peak hours, cutting costs significantly to about £10 per full charge. I don’t have to worry about going to petrol stations. My travel costs have been greatly reduced. It's been a joy so far”.
Loving the EV life
Grant particularly appreciates the advanced technology in his car, such as the pre-warming and pre-cooling functions; checking the remaining charge; and using Spotify - all from his phone. “Pre-setting the car's climate beforehand means no more freezing mornings or sweltering afternoons,” says Grant.
He’s impressed with the acceleration on the car, too - much quicker than any other car he had driven before. The heads-up display is another favourite feature. As a fan of rock music, he particularly enjoys listening to the Foo Fighters while on the road.
Grant is not concerned about range, as his longest trips are currently to London for both work - he’s CEO of Ability Today and social events. “I still wonder about the ease of long-distance travel, but it's a fantastic alternative to an expensive, carbon-spewing petrol or diesel car. Having the EV makes driving a pleasure. The quiet engine makes you feel much more connected with your surroundings”.
Grant enjoys the independence and freedom his car gives him: “My Motability car allows me to travel wherever I choose, and visit my friends and family all over the country,” he says. “Having a new car gives me the security to feel I can travel to business meetings without worry, I know the car will get me there and I have the breakdown cover included with the RAC, if I ever needed to use it”.
If you’re considering switching to an EV, Grant highly recommends exploring the options available and utilising the Motability Scheme’s support: “Do your own research about EV chargers and how easy it will be to charge your car from home or using the public network. If you can charge from home, make sure that you can get on the relevant energy tariffs and if an EV is right for you. It is important to try out several different car manufacturers”.
Future plans
Grant is excited about future adventures and trips in his new EV. He’s considering visiting Scotland, his homeland: “I want to take in the beautiful scenery. Like any trip, it will take some planning to make sure I can charge the car on route, but I can’t wait to experience driving my EV on those challenging roads”.
