Getting started with an EV: Rodrigo's testimony

What if electric cars were more accessible than you imagine?

Whether you want to offer electric vehicles to your customers or take the plunge for yourself, the questions often remain the same: Will the range be sufficient? Will charging be practical on a daily basis? Will the savings be there?

To get a clearer picture, discover the testimony of Rodrigo, who replaced his combustion engine vehicle with a 100% electric model. Through his concrete experience, he addresses the realities of this transition directly.

His feedback will allow you to identify the key arguments to convince your customers or to get started yourself.

What car do you own?

I own a 2024 electric Citroën E C4.

What motivated you to choose this car over another?

To be completely honest, it was the economic aspect that motivated me.

Firstly, among used electric vehicles, you can find real opportunities in terms of price. For example, I bought my car at a 45% discount compared to the new list price and with only 2000 km. Almost new!

On the other hand, driving 800km costs me 20€ instead of a hundred euros for the same number of kilometers in a combustion car. In addition, the cost of maintenance also helped my choice. Fewer checks, no oil changes, fewer wearing parts... On the electric vehicle, maintenance is simple and cheaper. The warranty side also convinced me, I have 2 years of warranty on the car and 8 years on the battery, which is for me a reassuring element in case of a problem.

What's your routine - Where do you load on a daily basis?

I drive about 400 km per week, which corresponds to an average charge of my vehicle.

To charge my vehicle I have a subscription on the E-born network, a service available in several French departments (mainly in the Alps and the surrounding area). The main advantage is that many cities but also villages have at least one charging station.

I charge during my working hours and pick up my car during my break.

What are the advantages you have seen compared to your old car?

Economically, firstly, I pay only 0.19 cents per KWh. I have not been impacted by the rise in prices because of the geopolitical crises in relation to internal combustion vehicles. In addition, not having to go to the gas station, look for the cheapest station, queue because of the crowds is a real advantage and satisfaction for me.

Secondly, my electric vehicle has proven itself in terms of reliability. I feel safer because the operation itself is simpler, there are fewer mechanics, so fewer parts need to be changed and can break down.

I also got a taste for driving an electric car, especially in Haute-Savoie where the topography offers the possibility of playing with energy recovery. For example, my journey from Annecy to Annemasse is mainly downhill, which allows me to recover a lot of energy. On a journey of about 50km, I only consume 35km of range.

What do you think are the disadvantages compared to a combustion car?

At first, we tend to stress about the range of the vehicle, but over time we know more about the vehicle's capacity and this stress disappears. Finding a charging station at every place you go can also be stressful but thanks to the apps, you realize that France in particular is well equipped in terms of charging stations.

Then, if you want to maintain a maximum of autonomy on the motorway, it means driving slower, at around 100 and 110km/h. But over time, you learn to organize yourself for long journeys and this disadvantage disappears.

Did you encounter any difficulties that you didn't expect?

No, I had prepared myself for this change.

Did you have any reservations before switching to electric? Have they turned out to be true or false?

Not really, I have been trained by Arval in electric vehicles for a few years, so the knowledge acquired allowed me to make my choice according to well-defined criteria. The range, warranties, SOH (battery health), battery capacity, charging price, essential options and other criteria guided my purchase.

Once I had all my criteria, I moved on to buying my vehicle.

Do you have any advice for people who are wondering but haven't yet taken the plunge into electric vehicles?

Yes, first of all, don't listen to the prejudices about electric cars that often turn out to be false or incomplete. I advise you to define your mobility needs and also make a comparison between a combustion engine car and a similar electric car.

In my case my motivation was purely economic and after comparing a combustion engine car and an electric car, the latter won hands down.

Finally, yes, there are new behaviors to acquire and routines to change compared to the combustion car, but it's like everything in life. We learn and adapt.

Learn about the differences between electric and electrified cars to easily offer them to your customers. Read the testimonials of Christiane (PHEV) and Silvia (EV) to learn more.