Evora was back at the specialist earlier in the week for a “while you wait” replacement of an oil pipe that runs to the oil cooler mounted in the front bumper. Some oil weeping through to the pipe surface was noted as an advisory on this years MOT (due to corrosion).
Unfortunately, when they went to undo said pipe from the oil cooler, the whole input (possibly output – dunno) connection sheared off the cooler matrix. Also corroded. I was invited to confirm with my own peepers. Bah.
So the car had to be left with them. I thought I was going to have to get the train home, which would have required me to reorganise a couple of meetings. Far from ideal. But no – rather unusually Mr Specialist had an electric Corsa available that he offered I take instead. Only problem was that it had just 51miles range remaining. Waze confirmed 47miles to home. Should be fine eh?
What I should have done was stick it on his charger for 15-20 minutes and then just merrily drive home.
Failing that I should have navigated to the nearest fast charger, spent 15-20 minutes charging and then just merrily drive home.
Bit I didn’t do either of those things did I?
Headed off in the knowledge that there is a 50kw public charger about 8 miles from home that requires a very minor detour only. Takes card payment. No silly apps. Used it before. That’s my fallback.
By the time I’ve got to the end of the street, the Corsa’s range estimate suddenly chunks down to 47 miles. Perfect match for distance remaining to home. Now it’s a
proper challenge.
Trundled along the motorway at 56mph, identifying as an HGV for about 20miles. No opportunity for regen, so we roll along with the remaining range oscillating between less than enough
and more than enough
. Topography dependant.
After leaving the motorway, we do get some regen opportunities. The range headroom steadily increases. Super. By the time we reach the decision point to revert to my 50kw public charger top-up option, the car suggests it has 13miles range remaining. Waze says only 9 miles to home. Ach fuckit – lets just keep going.
6 miles from home the car displays 9 miles range remaining. Golden.
Then the range estimate goes blank. Not zero. Blank. No estimate offered. “Low Power/Low Range” bing-bong warning. Shit.
No turning back now. Just keep going. Slowly. Feather that go pedal. 6 miles feels a lot further at low speed, with “Low Range” messages bonging at you every minute or so.
“Yes I know”.
“Yes, I KNOW”.
“YES I CHUFFING KNOW!”
I don’t mind admitting that I was somewhat stressed out of my pantaloons at the thought of it just grinding to a halt, catastrophising that it would do so in whatever position would be the worst possible position for that to happen – of course.
I made it home. Our charger is fitted inside the garage. I didn't have a garage door plipper on me as the Evora has a HomeLink system (do keep up) so I have to stop in the driveway and go inside the house to activate the door. Once opened the Corsa could barely drag itself inside, the very last weary electrons straining.
What a(n almost entirely user created) farce.
On the return leg I charged it to 170miles range, and after 47 miles returned it with just 68 miles range showing. That’s pretty dire.
Now back in the Evora. New cooler rad and pipe were reassuringly expensive.
TL;DR > do your own summary.
