RANGE anxiety has always been the biggest gripe of mine with electric cars and, having spoken to many other people about why they won’t take the plunge into EV ownership, it seems it rings true for many.
Slow charge-ups, queues at charging points, woefully far-fetched range claims and real-world conditions mean very few regularly achieve 200 miles to a ‘full tank’ and, to be honest, it simply isn’t good enough.
So, when I decided to take my missus and two children on a trip to Wales which, from my house, is 165 miles away, I thought it’d be the perfect test for Genesis’ GV60.
However, before we get onto the nitty-gritty of long-range jaunts in EVs, the car is well worth mentioning given it continues Genesis’ purple patch and ascension up the motoring ladder. It is to Hyundai what Lexus is to Toyota - a premium arm of a resurgent brand and it’s not hard to see why it’s gaining a legion of fans.
It’s an intriguing car, the GV60: although it shares its underpinnings with Hyundai’s futuristic Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6, it looks like nothing else on the road, it’s Bentley-like badge will induce gawps in traffic and its interior is - genuinely - up there with Europe’s best.
Swallowing a few nights’ worth of luggage, two children and two adults is a doddle; there’s ample legroom for all involved and the seats are exceptionally comfortable. The GV60 is just a nice place to be - there’s lashings of leather, a brilliant infotainment system and masses of safety equipment fitted as standard, while the ‘crystal ball’ gear selector is a nice - if chintzy - showpiece.
Buyers get a choice of three trim levels - Premium, Sport and Sport Plus - and this one is the first, which is rear-wheel drive only. Power outputs range from 226bhp to 483bhp, while the range stretches up to a claimed 321 miles. In truth, this Premium model feels absolutely fine with ‘just’ 226bhp, meaning it’s plenty quick enough off the mark and - because it’s electric - a prod of the throttle whilst moving gives an instantaneous lunge.
Having set off from home with a 97 per cent charge, I stopped off near Wrexham - about 70 miles from my Elan Valley destination - with a comfortable 50 per cent left. I was mightily impressed by this and it far exceeded my pre-journey expectation, but a top-up on a fast charger over half an hour got me back up to 100 per cent.
Given my rural accommodation, I had pre-planned this stop-off and I think that’s the key to travelling long distances in EVs to quell any range anxiety. I knew this one was there on my route, I knew there was a Tesla supercharging station about 20 miles away and also a mid-speed charger about a mile away from where I was staying, so five minutes’ research was all it took to alleviate any concerns.
The roads around the Elan Valley are the best I’ve ever driven and although the GV60 is softly damped in favour of comfort and can’t ever be described as involving, it coped well with the snaking roads which cut through the beautiful scenery. For such a heavy car its brakes are superb, it handles well and has a turn of pace which is brisk without ever being eye-opening.
Having charged up the night before I left Wales and heading back to Yorkshire, I returned home - 165 miles away, don’t forget - again with 50 per cent battery. To me that’s a phenomenal return and proof that with a tiny bit of diligence, EVs - especially the GV60 - can easily do whatever you ask of them.
