Vicars test Renault EV against diesel Jag

TL;DR

Two vicars with no EV experience tested the Renault 4 E-Tech against their diesel Jaguar XF.
Real-world range hit 180-200 miles, priced at £25,945 after grant, but charging needs planning.
They loved the drive and style but worry about public chargers and home setup for longer trips.

The story at a glance

Two Church of England vicars, Adam and Charlotte Gompertz, swapped their diesel Jaguar XF for the new Renault 4 E-Tech electric SUV to test if they could go EV. Living near Shrewsbury without a home charger, they tried daily use including local trips and longer drives to Birmingham and beyond. The piece reports on their real-life switch now as UK EV sales hit 23% in 2025 and head toward 80% by 2030. Electric cars are rising fast amid the push to greener motoring.

Key points

Renault 4 E-Tech offers 249-mile WLTP range, but real-world use gave 180-200 miles; smooth drive impressed Charlotte for short trips despite "bings and bongs like a spaceship".
No home charger meant using a three-pin plug at 5-8 miles per hour; fine for Charlotte's local drives, too slow for Adam's longer journeys needing full charges.
Public charging worked at McDonald's rapids but frustrated with apps, emails for receipts, and planning; Adam took 10-30 minutes per stop.
Avoided London's congestion charge in Birmingham trips, feeling "slightly sanctimonious"; car suited family with grown children and elderly parents an hour away.
Costs £25,945 after £3,750 grant, or £250-£280/month on PCP; couple prefers owning used cars outright over finance.
Battery life and recyclability concerns linger; Church-owned home slows charger install despite green support.

Details and context

Adam, ex-car designer with a social media car page, and Charlotte wanted an EV but feared the unknown. Their Jaguar XF estate handles family runs to Devon and university visits, so the compact Renault SUV had to prove versatile. Shrewsbury has decent public chargers, but novices hit typical snags like app downloads and queue worries as EV adoption grows.

Without off-street parking upgrades, trickle charging limits appeal as a sole car. The Renault's raised height and character beat "Tesla-like" rivals, fitting their life well for most needs. Still, they debate keeping a petrol backup until charging confidence builds.

Key quotes

Charlotte: “What really surprised me is how easy it is to drive... It’s very smooth and nice – I really enjoyed it.”
Adam: “It fits in with our life brilliantly. We don’t want to give it back.”
Charlotte on charging: “The chargers need to be less complicated... if you have to wait for somebody else to finish, then it really adds a lot of time.”

Why it matters

EV shift promises lower running costs and cleaner air, but real barriers like charging access hit everyday drivers hardest. For families like the Gompertzes, it means rethinking car roles—fine for short runs, tougher as main transport without home setup. Watch public charger rollout and home install speeds, as more EVs could worsen waits unless infrastructure catches up.