Proving the staying power of the electric vehicle

Going on holiday in the UK with an EV. Sounds simple, right? Well, you won’t believe the number of people that still have range anxiety or think that EVs can’t go the distance. So, with some simple planning, we took a 400-mile staycation with a CUPRA Born.

It all came about when Dorset Cottage Holidays pinged my in-box asking if I’d be interested in staying in one of their properties with an EV charger installed. Great idea.

Setting off on the 148-mile jaunt from Buckinghamshire to Dorset, there was plenty of watts to get us there with ease. A full charge will see you right for around 189 miles.

Born packs plenty of torque, 310 Nm to be precise, and accelerates from 0-62 in 6.6 seconds. So let’s say warm hatch quick. But even when up to speed at 60 mph, there’s still plenty of shove to despatch overtakes efficiently.

Our first stop was The Blue Pool, a nature reserve and restaurant for a much needed lunch. We then spent the afternoon checking out the other-worldly Winspit Quarry and rambling along the Smugglers Way circular walk.

Arriving at the incredibly spacious ‘Daisy’s’ in a quiet Swanage close. We opened the gates to the courtyard area to give Born some much-needed rest. Plugging in was easy, using a supplied RFID card.

Now it’s not what you’d traditionally think of as a ‘holiday cottage’ in Dorset, with it being a relatively modern house. But it felt like a home from home nonetheless. Spotlessly clean with an eclectic mix of antique and modern furniture, there was the choice of three bedrooms, all with ensuites. It can cater for six, making it ideal for larger families.

Waking up the following morning, Born was happily charged and ready for the day ahead. But that only involved a 20-minute drive before we headed off to explore Brownsea Island. Which isn’t a place for cars, even if they are all-electric.

So Born was relegated to a car park ornament while we took a boat across to the island and did much exploring. Unfortunately, only seeing two of the famed red squirrels in the process. On the way back to base that evening, the augmented reality Head Up Display really stood out in the dim darkness. It’s unlike any other HUD I’ve seen before you actually get arrows that hover in front of you, where you need to turn. As you get closer, they get bigger and bigger, then vanish as you turn the corner. It takes distraction-free driving to another level.

Back on charge at ‘Daisy’s’ ready for the long journey home the next day.

Settling down for the evening, the living room, with its colossal sofa, made for the perfect reading spot with a cup of tea in hand.

Up early, packed, tidied and ready to leave for the check-out time of 10am. Saying goodbye to ‘Daisy’s’, we reflected on how easy the whole thing had been. From checking in to not worrying about finding a charger ‘in the wild’ and having somewhere so homey and snug to call base for the last two nights. But we weren’t heading home quite yet. A little detour on the way back saw us stop at Clouds Hill, the National Trust-owned property home to T.E. Lawrence.

Range on the CUPRA Born showed a healthy 175 miles. We had 147 to go until home. Sitting at 70 mph or just above for most of the journey, the range started to dip slightly. We still would have made it, but the consistently higher speeds were sapping the watts a bit quicker than I’d have liked. Backing off a little for the final 30/40 miles saw us home with 26 miles to spare.

While you still find plenty of naysayers regarding electric vehicles, how they’re a fad, they aren’t the answer, etc., using one in 2023 as an everyday, normal car is perfectly possible. Driving over 400 miles in most petrol or diesel vehicles would have required a petrol station fill-up. But choosing the right destination and charging where you’re staying just feels so much more convenient. Wake up every morning, and you’re refuelled and ready to go. All while emitting zero emissions when driving. Win, win.

A huge thanks to CUPRA UK for the press loan and, of course, Dorset Cottage Holidays for the two-night stay - dhcottages.co.uk