I swapped my petrol Skoda for an electric version – I was plagued with problems trying to charge it
A DRIVER who swapped their petrol Skoda for an EV has revealed that he has been plagued with issues.
Sam Philip came up against two major problems when trying to charge his electric Enyaq after taking it on last month.
In his latest update for , he explained how a spate of charging problems left him feeling let down.
He wrote: "While in the care of Ollie Marriage [the previous Top Gear writer to test it]...the Skoda decided, on a whim, that it didn’t do recharging any more.
"Cable attached, no electrons incoming. Which is quite bad news, what with it being an EV."
This required them to send the car back to Skoda for a new control unit, which can cost up to £100 second-hand if your car is outside its warranty period.
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Thankfully, it seemed to solve the complete charging failure, but even then there were still issues.
Primarily, Sam was struck by the price of filling up amid spirally energy inflation and the cost of living crisis.
He explained that, even when stretching the Enyaq's efficiency to 4 miles per kWh when the standard is 3.5, drivers still pay roughly 17.5p per mile of range.
When compared to petrol at 16p per mile, the EV comes off worse despite fossil fuel prices being pushed to record highs by the pandemic and Ukraine War.
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Sam explained that this is largely down to the sky-high price of public charging, which currently sits at about 70p per kWh.
For comparison, he used the example of a friend who uses a home charger who pays just 7p per kWh.
He added sarcastically: "I am one of those terrace-dwelling commoners condemned to park on the street.
"I live in a medium-size town in the south-east of England: surely if public EV infrastructure can work for anyone outside London, it should be able to work for me?
"Early evidence suggests it’s not a done deal. We’ve no genuinely fast charger within a 20-mile radius, and snazzy lamppost charging still hasn’t made its way beyond the M25."
However, beyond the charging issues, Sam did find the Enyaq an enjoyable and practical ride.
He certainly found it "a more pleasurable experience" than the Skoda Fabia he was using before.
Specifically, he found the silence of the electric motor far more enjoyable than the noisy combustion of the old supermini's petrol engine.
A Skoda spokesperson said: "In relation to the Enyaq in question, a sensor fault in the car’s control unit was identified and subsequently replaced under Škoda’s comprehensive warranty.
"I can confirm since the part was replaced the car has been fully operational.
"We have always been clear that the prerequisite to achieve ambitious ZEV sales targets is a supporting EV ecosystem. This means a comprehensive, interoperable, integrated and affordable charging infrastructure network across the whole of the UK.
"High Power charging along motorways and major trunk roads, charging solutions in metropolitan areas with limited off-street parking, destination locations, rural areas and at home and in the workplace need to be implemented.
"Škoda can provide customers with affordable zero-emission charging at home in partnership with Octopus Energy and Ohme."
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It comes after a van repairman shared an easy hack to get your heater working.
Meanwhile, hundreds of UK jobs have been put at risk after a major EV firm went bust.