As 2030 draws ever nearer, we're encouraging our members to use our large fleet of electric vehicles. We have a wide range of electric vehicles and hybrids. From MG to BMW, Toyota to Renault, we have plenty of options for our members to choose from.

Many of our members are shifting from petrol to electric vehicles and as well as the change not being as difficult as people expect, the benefit can have a huge impact for air quality and the local environment.

Gordon Shields, a Co Wheels member in Dundee, recently took an MG ZS EV on a road trip to visit his sister on the Isle of Skye, and he documented his journey to share with us.

"I wanted to take to the open road. Like Bonnie Prince Charlie I was heading off to the Isle of Skye, to escape the masses, but unlike the daring water-bound Prince I was driving an electric only MG ZS EV. Thanks to my membership with Co Wheels, I had booked the car for 48 hours to allow me to get over the bridge to the beautiful isle. I had been asked by my sister who lives on the southside of the island at Cambuscross to bring her a new hive for her bees. They were getting an upgraded home, with a lighter polyhive. I was on a mission with an overnight stay.

This was going to be my first long-distance trip in an electric vehicle. No more short hops to Tesco’s or visiting B&Q to collect some odd garden items or a new tap for the kitchen, I was going on a full-blown country trip, a venture outside of the MG’s fully charged range of 163 miles. A real adventure for a novice EV driver like me. Would I make it, or have to call the roadside assistance when the juice ran out? Yep, there were some real range anxieties at play.

Google mapped out the 197 miles route from where I was in Dundee. Taking us via the A9 following the southern and western perimeters of the Cairngorms – where trekking becomes serious - crossing west passed Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery on to the A86 – no taster or tour allowed -, and then north at Spean Bridge and up into the West Highland mountains around Glen Moriston. After reaching the road summit descending to Kyle of Lochalsh via the stunningly positioned, picture postcard and shortbread tin image delight which is Eilean Donan Castle. A road trip passing castles, lochs, mountain passes and spectacular views. As in one of those advertisements promoting the joys of the open road, my trip with the ZS EV was going to offer me a rare treat turning what often looks like a myth into reality. The estimate time was 4 hours and 10 minutes without a charging stop. So, I thought 5 hours would do it. I would take a break when charging for a coffee and be at my sister’s for dinner."

"Co Wheels had the vehicle in a dedicated parking spot within the student part of the city. Making me feel fashionable and hip as I casually unplugged the power cable from the charging point and stowed it into the large boot of the ZS EV. My first charging stop was planned for Roy Bridge a 105 miles away. The weather was warm, and as the locals say, no sitting cows about, not a spot of rain in sight.

Unfortunately, my first surprise was the car wasn’t fully charged. It had only 133 miles, so less than 30 miles extra to my stopping place. Also, for most of the route after Perth charging options seemed limited. So, I decided my first stop would in Perth for a quick charge then onward bound. Perth is only 22 miles from Dundee, and enough to give me an extra boost to make it to my original pit stop. Nothing to worry about, so foot down, window open.

Driving an electric car is real fun and the folks at MG have put together a comfortable SUV in the ZS EV. As I left Dundee the car just loved the open road, it had the edge on acceleration against any car I met, and I really liked the regenerative braking which comes in three levels. I set it to the hardest and very soon realised that I didn’t need to put my foot on the brake at all, unless it was an emergency or if one of the local standing cows decided to leap cross my path.

The speediness of the ZS EV makes it drive like a go-cart with great road holding to boot! The electric powertrain makes a light humming sound, only noticeable when you press down to overtake or accelerate from stand still. The infotainment system was easy to use and soon I was listening to Mozart on Radio 3, able for the first time in a long while to hear all parts of the concerto which only last happened when I was in a Mercedes S-Class.

So where to charge? Co-Wheels provides a ChargePlace Scotland card in each EV they share, which drivers can use for free charging. But did that work for other charging networks? I didn’t know. I was like an iPhone user switching over to Android, understood in principle the difference, but the reality of learning a new process was something else. I used Zap-Map and drove to the first charging point I could find off the M9 at Perth. It was operated by Ionity conveniently located near a major crossroads, and funnily enough opposite Scottish and Southern Energy headquarters, so there was no excuse for not having enough power."

"The charging point was impressive, which is an odd observation at most times but to a novice long-haul EV driver, it looked the real deal, with high and large charging stations, and next to a Starbucks. I parked-up and decided this would be easy. I had 108 miles range now. The CCS connector on the MG worked with the Ionity in-built cable, and I was ready to charge-up. I imagined a venti latte would be welcome while waiting. But no, my ChargePlace Scotland card didn’t work, and then the charger didn’t like my debit card, I connected via the QR code on the Ionity station, registered online but still zilch. Nothing was working, then I saw the price, 69 pence per kilowatt. Okay I would charge up for a while I thought, bite the bullet on the price, but no, still nothing. Panic was developing. Ionity had rejected me, ghosted my EV.

Using my mobile data, because Ionity didn’t provide a Wi-Fi spot, I found the next charging point at the local ASDA two streets away. The location of their Chargemaster charging point, yet another provider, couldn’t be better located, direct by the supermarket entrance. Of the two charging points available, one was ICE’d by a large diesel pick-up happily running its engine in a kind of “climate emergency, what emergency? I need a quick escape once the shopping arrives”. I tried my ChargePlace Scotland card, but it didn’t work and there was no way to pay by debit card. Failed attempt 2. No coffee at ASDA either.

Zap-Map on again, and I found a third charging point nearby, run by Charging Point Scotland itself (I think, so tricky to know). I drove into the new housing estate next to the supermarket and hurrah it worked. I plugged-in, it connected with the car, and I was ready to relax. It was like being abroad, with no cash and desperately trying to find an ATM which would work. As a celebration I walked to the local McDonalds and decided to spend 40 minutes charging while I ate my Big Mac Meal – upsize as the celebratory treat."

"On returning to my charging point I disconnected and was ready to hit the road again. After 40 minutes I expected to have at least an extra 30 miles, car switched on for the big reveal - the dashboard signalled 111 miles. Disaster, it was a slow charger. Only 3 miles extra!

Should I carry-on? Would the car make it to Skye on the same day? Could I afford eating so many Big Mac Meals?

I decided to drive slower and headed off to Roy Bridge where I knew there was a rapid charger, and not much in between. Anxiety prevailing.

After Dalwhinne Whiskey Distillery, the road starts to wind, climb, and descend, the car hugged the bends, and the regenerative brakes worked to their full potential. Slowly, I forgot about my range anxiety and enjoyed the country roads again. The windows open, the fresh Highland air wakened my senses, and the constant power of the electric engine made passing cars, lorries or tractors a breeze, either on the straight or uphill. The MG was loving the drive.

At Roy Bridge I found the rapid charger, it was larger than most and clearly ready for the serious end of charging – humming loader than the car. In 40 minutes, I was charged up and had enough juice to get me to Skye. Anxiety over.

The last stretch north of Fort William was typical Scotland, high climbs, and fast descents. Stunning views and clear open roads. High up at the pass it was raining, some snow on the mountain tops, but by the time the car reached the coast it was sunshine again.

As the car climbed, the range dropped rapidly, but as it descended the regenerative braking added in more charge. The mileage range increased as the car worked its way down from the pass, hundreds of meters below. Providing free energy reminded me as a cyclist that feeling of relief when you pass the crest of a steep hill, and just free wheel down, no need to peddle, no effort required, simply letting gravity do its work. Whish…

I got to my sister much later than expected and with just 25 miles range left, but it was a fun trip. Later I parked the car by the local shop and café, which turned out to have both rapid and slow chargers from my preferred network. The ZS EV soaked-up the view, and I loved my new EV experience. I had now learned to prepare well in advance and choose your charger with care. I am sure Bonnie Prince Charlie had it much easier."