Why the Y..? That is the question being asked now I’m driving an electric vehicle. It is a question I am happy to answer because I did a lot of research before we purchased it. After one of our drivers bought a 2024 Model Y for himself and demonstrated the fuel savings, it verified the research. I sense the trepidation in some passengers and on reflection, investing in new technology is a challenging decision.
Thinking back, my first executive car sounded awesome. It was an Audi A6 with a V6 petrol engine. I had it before DrivenByQ was established in 2005. I bought the Audi with 150,000 miles on the clock. The theory was, a big engine would be under less strain and it would prolong the life of the car. When I sold it with 217,000 miles on the clock, it was still going strong.
Turbo Diesel Technology
From Audi, I moved to Volvo with another petrol engine saloon car. I soon realised, I should have bought a diesel. In hindsight, the cohort of turbo diesels on sale at the start of the Millennium were increasingly impressive. They delivered more torque and power than an equivalent petrol engine but with greater fuel efficiency. I eventually had five Volvos, all equipped the impressive D5 turbo diesel engine.
When DrivenByQ moved to Mercedes, we kept a Volvo V70 on the fleet as a backup. It proved reliable for many years and eventually clocked over 427,000 miles. Controversially, diesel technology has improved vastly in the last two decades. It is still a viable option for anyone covering motorway miles and we planned to buy another diesel car.
As a company, we naturally gravitated to another Mercedes but, things have changed! Our last E Class was £44,000 when new. Combined with a 14% discount and low interest rates it was a good deal. In comparison, the latest (equivalent) Mercedes E Class is £68,000 and interest rates are not attractive. There is no discount either. So, alternative cars were researched.
Alternative Vehicle Technology
First was a (PHEV) hybrid car. This initially looked an option but, a motorway trip where the internal combustion engine carries a heavy battery is not efficient. In addition, few garages will fix a hybrid car when it goes wrong. Regular technicians are not adequately trained or qualified for such a task. Diagnosing faults or ordering parts can be similarly tricky.
Next, I looked at battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Most used ternary or NMC battery technology which has a bad press for catching fire. They are also slow to charge and suffer from long-term battery degradation. The best option is LFP or Lithium Iron Phosphate Technology. There are two leading manufacturers in this field: BYD and CATL. Both of which supply Tesla.
BEV Charging
The next issue to overcome was the conundrum of public charging. Although there are lots of networks and chargers popping up, most cost twice as much (per mile) as an equivalent diesel vehicle. One network stood out however and that was Tesla. With up to 250kW charging available from as little as 38p/kWh, it was a clear winner.
Once we knew Tesla provided the best option, we just had to decide which model was most suitable. Of the four models on sale in the UK, the S and X are only available as left-hand-drive. Of the two remaining vehicles, the Model 3 was just too small. It didn’t have the boot space of an E Class nor the luggage capacity. This is why the Y was the only real choice.
It took many hours of research and investigation to reach a decision. Deciding when is the right time to invest in an electric vehicle is equally challenging. Listening to our corporate customers however, new regulations are coming. A suppliers carbon footprint is an issue and low emissions are crucial. This is why the Y became our new car in 2025.