Early Adoption of Electric Vehicles

Jean-Charles from Grasse has been driving electric vehicles since 2020, starting with a Renault Zoé 52 kWh and later upgrading to an MG4 in the Luxury trim. Over twenty years, he has owned only a few cars, including a Nissan Micra with a manual transmission and several Renault models.

Motivations for Switching to EVs

Jean-Charles transitioned to electric vehicles mainly for environmental reasons, expressing that driving gasoline-powered cars made him feel guilty. He also noted savings on fuel and the convenience of having a home parking space for installing a reinforced socket. He benefited from a Tempo subscription with EDF and an offer from Octopus that provided a 20% discount on the regulated rate.

Experience with the Renault Zoé

The Renault Zoé 52 kWh provided sufficient range for holidays and weekends, though Jean-Charles avoided fast charging due to its cost. He successfully traveled 1,200 km from his home to Rennes in two days, recharging at free stations. However, he encountered issues with the regeneration system, which occasionally stopped, causing free wheeling for a few seconds. Renault described this as a rare behavior and stated it could not be resolved.

Choice of the MG4

When selecting the MG4, Jean-Charles considered other models such as the Tesla Model 3 and Renault Megane E-Tech but found the MG4 more affordable. With financial aids, the MG4 Luxury trim fit within his budget. He tested the MG4 for an hour, noting its improved dynamics compared to the Zoé. However, he experienced some issues with driving assistance, including sudden steering movements and unexpected braking, which have improved with updates but are still present.

Software and Charging Issues

Jean-Charles noted that the MG4's software has some bugs, such as Android Auto connectivity issues and voice assistant interruptions. He would have preferred a major update to fix these issues. The MG4 has a 61.7 kWh battery, allowing him to travel up to 1,000 km in a day, though he prefers Tesla charging stations for reliability. He noted that public AC stations can be unreliable, requiring patience.

Performance and Practicality

In terms of autonomy and consumption, the MG4 consumes around 12 kWh/100 km in mixed conditions, increasing to 18-25 kWh/100 km on the motorway. Jean-Charles noted that the MG4 has a 450 km autonomy on nice days and 350 km in winter. The regenerative braking is good but not very powerful, and the One-Pedal functionality is not available. The battery health is at 97% after 48,000 km.

Limitations and Future Plans

Jean-Charles mentioned that the MG4 is not spacious, making it unsuitable for a family with children. He noted that the dealership experience was minimal, with unfriendly staff. He observed an increase in EV adoption among his colleagues, with some also switching to MG4 and Fiat 500e. He does not plan to switch his MG4 soon due to current EV prices and delivery delays, considering more affordable models like the Tesla Model 3 or versatile city cars like the Renault 5 E-Tech or Volkswagen ID. Polo.