The trick to driving an electric car in the countryside

As every electric car owner knows, driving an EV over long distances in Britain is not without its obstacles. Everyone has their own tale of getting stranded somewhere unintended after running out of juice. A lack of available chargers can turn even short trips into a logistical nightmare. So how easy is it to run an EV in rural Britain? And should drivers even try?

There are at least five electric cars in Kentish village where I live. Three of them belong to neighbours on my street, so I decided to ask them about the pros and pitfalls.

Gardener Mark Hughes and his partner Jo bought their ex-demonstrator MG5 estate five months ago. Jo, a human resources consultant, works from home and Mark uses an ancient Peugeot diesel van for his gardening, so the MG isn’t needed for regular commuting.

‘We don’t do many miles so hit on the idea of electric vehicles,’ said Mark.