Retired engineer’s electric car journey

A retired engineer from Auray in the Morbihan, Didier, drives about 25,000 km per year with his wife Marie-Christine to visit their children at both ends of France. In June, the couple received a Mercedes CLA 200, the small battery version of the electric sedan.

Engineer’s background and electric car considerations

Didier, 71 years old and trained as an engineer, spent his career in construction and supervised the design and construction of several thousand homes, always exceeding insulation and consumption standards. He and his wife have been considering electrification for a long time, having previously driven a Toyota Prius about fifteen years ago but were not convinced due to lack of autonomy and options.

Specific criteria for electric car selection

Didier set himself a three-point specification: very low consumption, especially on the motorway; a battery of up to about 60 kWh; and a fast recharge of 15 to 80% in about twenty minutes. His definition of autonomy is pragmatic: "The good criterion is to be able to drive at least two hours on the motorway."

Mercedes CLA 200 and its LFP battery

He therefore waited for the CLA 200 and its LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery of 58 kWh. To explain the choice of this version, he relies on the two parts of the Supertest published by Automobile Propre in January. The first measures the actual consumption and ranges of the CLA, the second its charging times.

Pricing and purchase details

The dealership agrees to go under the 47,000 € ceiling that qualifies for the "coup de pouce" prime for energy efficiency certificates (CEE), and the couple ends up paying their CLA 200 about 42,000 € and it is delivered to them on June 10, 2026. In four months, the sedan has traveled nearly 8,000 km.

Performance and cost comparison

Didier calculates an average consumption of 12.4 kWh/100 km in mixed use, slightly above the WLTP homologated value (12.3 kWh/100 km). The result is all the more notable because summer included five heatwave episodes, with the air conditioning on. He also enjoys a comparison: on paper, only the electric Renault Twingo does better, with 800 kg and a meter less.

Charging and energy costs

The charging is done at home, on a 7 kW charger limited to 6 kW by a 6 kVA subscription he has not changed. One night is enough. Thanks to the LFP chemistry, Didier charges up to 100% without any hesitation. He thus has about 50 kWh of usable battery while keeping 15% in reserve, or about 400 km.

Driving experience and comfort

Marie-Christine, who drives as much as her husband, places it at the top of their ranking: "Of all the cars we have had, it is the best and the most comfortable." The couple has fully adopted the One Pedal driving style up to a complete stop, where the regenerative braking slows the car as soon as you lift your foot.

Long-distance trip and data collection

Early October, the couple descended from Auray to Nay, near Pau: 712 km, two-thirds of which were motorway at 130 km/h, the rest on expressways and bypasses. Return six days later, by the same route. Didier records everything in a table: battery level, average speed and consumption displayed at each stage, but also temperature, wind strength and direction, rain.

Impact of weather on consumption

Why this meticulous weather recording? "The wind is an extremely important element. Headwind or tailwind, it completely changes the results." On the way, between Niort and Bordeaux, a 20 km/h wind from the south was enough to increase the consumption of the leg to 14.6 kWh/100 km.

Charging efficiency and practicality

The pace of the journey, however, has not changed: three stops, like with a gasoline car, including two with charging. The charges from 25 to 90% took 26 and 27 minutes, without preheating the battery, during lunch and a coffee. Didier calculated that arriving at each charging station with 10% and only recharging what was necessary, 22 minutes in total would have been enough.

Motorway charging and autonomy

On the 800 V motorway charging stations, in Plug & Charge, no problems: you plug in, the car identifies itself, the charge starts. According to his summary, the CLA 200 could thus cover 900 km in three stages in the same day, equivalent to a Lorient-Genève trip.

Real-world performance and context

What still holds back These figures need to be put into context, and Didier is the first to do so. His 14.7 kWh/100 km on the motorway are significantly lower than the 17.0 kWh/100 km measured by Automobile Propre on the same CLA 200 during a 500 km Lyon-Paris trip. The difference is mainly due to driving.

Factors affecting consumption

In his own assessment, Didier lists what will increase consumption: temperatures below 5 °C, strong headwind, Sport mode, trailer or bike carrier. The charges also take longer in cold weather without preheating. The experience was not perfect either outside the motorway.

Satisfaction and cost savings

After four months, the couple is completely satisfied. Nothing has changed in their travel habits, and the energy budget has collapsed. Over eight years and about 200,000 km, Didier calculated that the difference of about 12 € per 100 km represents about 24,000 € saved, more than half the purchase price.

Environmental impact and advice

He also emphasizes the improvement in his carbon footprint: according to his estimates, about 40 tonnes of CO2 for his previous gasoline car over its lifetime (200,000 km), compared to only 3 tonnes for the small battery of the CLA 200. He also makes a remark to our editorial team. In January, Automobile Propre updated its list of the best cars for long trips. Didier took the average: 83 kWh battery and 62,000 €. "It is not necessarily a good message for people who are a bit hesitant, who may think they do not have the means."