I live in a small, semi-rural town in the north of England. And I have just admitted to myself that I can’t quite do all the things I want to do without a car.
But I don’t like owning a car. I don’t like the fact that when I ride to work I choke on diesel fumes. I don’t like the fact that every mile I drive hastens climate disaster.
I’ve been grappling with this one for a while. Because day to day I can live without driving. I get a veg box delivered. I cycle to work. I get trains to cities. I find ways not to drive.
But then there are journeys that I have to make for work. I want to get a good view of the areas I work with, which aren’t on main lines (and I already don’t live on a main line) so travel is complicated. I need to get to conference venues that make it hard to use public transport (I’m looking at you, National Transport Museum and not appreciating the irony).
And there are the journeys I need to make for my health and happiness. I especially love adventures that I take in my time off which involve a boy, a dog, a tent and couple of bikes - invariably many miles from home.
This means I’m not really a typical electric car buyer because I only really drive longer and more awkward journeys. A few years ago I tried driving to work for a while and it was the worst thing I have ever done, and something I absolutely will never repeat.
Conversely, cycling to work is almost always the best bit of my day. I happily cycle or walk pretty much everything under 10 miles (and some trips over - I commuted a 60 mile round trip once a week at one point). So whilst there have been electric cars out there that really work for regular commuters, there’s not been one for me.
When I found out that the Tesla Model 3 could be specced with a tow bar that all changed. I can fit a bike rack and that makes it a car that will cope with the journeys we make. It’ll do awkwardly situated clients and wilderness adventures. The 240 mile range is not really quite enough but it’s a compromise I can make. We can plan round it and the supercharger network looks solid.
I have never bought a new car, never mind one on finance so I’m leaving my comfort zone well behind. But it will mean that I can charge my car from my solar panels and make the journeys that I previously made in a older diesel van without leaving fumes in my wake or creating quite such a big carbon footprint. It’s a small step and and interim measure - but one I can (just about) manage. Not everyone can do that, so, whilst things are going ok and I’ve got the chance, I’m going to do what I can.
I think I’m looking forward to Snowflake’s arrival. Let me know if you want a lift - ride sharing cuts congestion :-)