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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment

There’s no need to fear switching to an electric car

Electric Car Charging Points, Uxbridge, London Borough of Hillingdon, UK - 23 Aug 2023Mandatory Credit: Photo by Maureen McLean/Shutterstock (14065992b) An electric car charging outside a pub in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon. More and more rapid charging points are being installed across towns in the UK Electric Car Charging Points, Uxbridge, London Borough of Hillingdon, UK - 23 Aug 2023
Thea Galena has never had any problem finding charging stations. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock

Brava, Charlotte Naughton – fearmongering is the right word regarding electric vehicles (I travelled the UK and Ireland in an electric car, and what a shocker: nothing went wrong, 23 August). Most of our charging is done at home, but on the beaten track around the country we have not, in 18 months, had any problem finding charging stations, nor spent more than half an hour at a rapid charge point. And there are plenty of networks that don’t charge a subscription.

Our modestly priced Corsa-e does not particularly like a long drive in the cold, wet and dark, but with an average range of 190 miles, we have never been stranded. And we have never regretted converting to a driving experience that is comfortable, powerful in performance and, so far, blessedly fault-free.
Thea Galena
London

• I was especially taken with Charlotte Naughton’s comment that her electric car journey took longer than usual, though it was more relaxing. I remember that when I was a child it took two days to drive from Manchester to a summer holiday in Cornwall. That was probably 55 years ago, and since then as a society we appear to have come to consider it our absolute right to travel faster and often further than ever before.

It is important that people now accept that if journeys are to be taken, they may well take longer. For only a tiny proportion of human history has it been possible to take long and speedy journeys. It’s not such a big issue to slow down again.
Ian Dawson
Heywood, Lancashire

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

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