My Enyaq: embracing electric through Hampshire and far beyond

From quiet country drives to European road trips: with thoughtful features, impressive range and a smooth ride, the Enyaq has transformed the way the British couple travels.

15. 10. 2024 eMobility

In this latest instalment of the series introducing Škoda Enyaq owners, we meet Liz and Graham Urwin, a retired couple from Hampshire, who have fully embraced electric mobility in their day-to-day life. Liz, a cancer charity volunteer, and Graham, a volunteer with the fire and rescue service, both in their 60s, are not only passionate about sustainability but also about making the most of their retirement through travel, family visits, and motorsport events.

The Enyaq Coupé’s boot can hold everything you need, even for long journeys.

“We’ve always tried to live sustainably,” Liz says. “Fitting a solar PV system with panels, a battery, and a smart EV charger in January 2023 felt like the natural next step for us. It paved the way for our electric car journey.”

Having owned numerous cars over their combined driving lifetimes, including a number of British and Italian vehicles from compact cars to SUVs, the Urwins had been considering the switch to electric for a while but weren’t set on a specific model. “We test-drove another EV brand, but it was new to the European market, and we were concerned about the lack of information,” Graham recalls.

Charging their electric car has become a natural part of the Urwins’ life.

Their search soon led them to the Škoda Enyaq. “We saw a Graphite Grey Enyaq Coupé RS in the dealership, and it was love at first sight,” Graham adds with a smile. After a lengthy test drive, the couple decided to purchase the showroom model on the spot. Since then, they’ve enjoyed 18 months and over 18,000 miles (28,800 km) of smooth driving. Including the 2,200-mile-long (3,500 km) European trip this summer during which they drove across several European countries all the way to Mladá Boleslav where they spent a great time in the Škoda museum (we will cover this adventure in an upcoming article soon – stay tuned!)

The Urwins visiting the Škoda Museum

Owning just one car for the first time in years, the Enyaq now fills every role in their lives – from local errands and leisure drives to visiting friends and family across the south of England. “It’s perfect for everything,” says Liz. “The spacious interior, the panoramic roof, and the coupé styling all contribute to a driving experience we absolutely love.”

The couple are also careful with how they manage their EV’s range. “We try to keep the battery between 10 and 80 per cent charged,” Graham explains. “At 80 per cent, the range usually displays between 220 and 240 miles (355–385 km), which is perfect for most of our trips. And when we charge to full, it’s usually around 280–300 miles (450–480 km).”

Charging is an opportunity to take a short break.

The economy was a pleasant surprise

For Liz and Graham, charging their Enyaq has become a routine part of their everyday life, especially at home, where some three quarters of their charging takes place. “We’ve set it up with an intelligent energy tariff that supplies cheaper electricity during certain overnight hours,” Graham explains. “Whenever we plug the car in, it automatically charges during those times, which works perfectly for us. We never let the battery drop too low, preferring to keep it topped up to 80 per cent so we’re always ready for any trip.”

When it comes to public charging, the couple’s experience has been mostly positive, though they are mindful of the costs. “The prices vary quite a bit,” Liz notes. “Sometimes it can be eight to twelve times what we pay at home. But the infrastructure here in the UK has really improved over the past year. We use a combination of Škoda Powerpass, Electroverse from our energy supplier, and even other charging providers superchargers.”

Finding the nearest charger wasn’t a problem at all.

Their recent 2,200-mile tour across several European countries presented no issues in finding charging stations either. “We didn’t have any problems charging during our trip,” says Graham. “Planning ahead is key, just like with any car. We make sure to schedule our journeys with enough time to stop for a charge – either at a public station or a family member’s home.”

As for the dreaded “range anxiety,” the Urwins have never come close to running out of power. “We plan well in advance,” Liz adds confidently. “And in the rare case where we were running low, we’d drive economically to the nearest charger and top up. It’s no different from keeping an eye on the fuel gauge in a petrol car.”

They covered 3,500 kilometres on their trip around Europe.

Despite the occasional concern others might have about range, Liz and Graham haven’t found any real disadvantages to their Enyaq compared to traditional combustion vehicles. In fact, they appreciate the range in terms of time rather than distance. “On an 80-per-cent charge, we can drive for about four hours,” says Graham. “But we wouldn’t drive for that long without taking a break anyway, so stopping to charge fits perfectly with our routine.”

Among the biggest advantages of electric drive is the sheer quietness and smooth power delivery. “The regenerative braking is amazing too,” Liz adds. “The Enyaq feels light and nimble, which is impressive given how large it is. You really notice the difference in handling.”

Economically, the Enyaq has also been a pleasant surprise. “We usually drive in Eco mode and keep within speed limits,” Graham explains. “On our European tour, where temperatures ranged from 24 to 34 degrees Celsius, we averaged 4.07 miles (6.55 km) per kilowatt-hour.“

A relaxing moment for the car’s occupants.

When charging at home, their costs are minimal. “Charging from 10 to 80 per cent costs us less than £4 and gives us about 200 extra miles (320 km) of range,” says Graham. “However, public rapid chargers can cost ten times as much, so it’s worth checking apps to compare prices. It’s all about balancing cost with charging speed.”

Ultimately, for Liz and Graham, the benefits of driving an electric vehicle – both financially and practically – are clear. “We’ve found the economy of driving the Enyaq to be better than expected,” Graham concludes, “especially when compared to what we were used to with conventional cars.”

A simply clever vehicle

Liz and Graham’s experience with their Enyaq has been remarkably smooth when it comes to service and maintenance. “The car is due for its first service in early 2025,” Graham says. “We bought a service plan to keep the cost fixed.” Beyond regular check-ups, they haven’t had any unexpected issues with the Enyaq. “There were a few minor warranty matters,” Liz adds, “but those were quickly resolved.”

The Urwins’ Enyaq Coupé RS

One of the elements they appreciate most about the Enyaq is the Simply Clever solutions. “The clever little things like the boot bag hooks, the umbrella and ice scraper compartments, and the inductive phone charging pad are all things we now take for granted, but they make such a difference in practice,” Graham shares. “The infotainment system, too, has all the features we need, and it’s all very user-friendly.”

Any advice to fellow electric vehicle owners? The Urwins focus on the importance of mastering the charging process. “Understand your home energy supplier’s off-peak tariffs, and research your home wall-box charger for features like safety and time scheduling,” Graham advises. “And it’s crucial to know how public charging works, whether that’s paying with contactless banking cards or phone apps.”

Interestingly, the social aspect of owning an electric vehicle has also brought some unexpected joy. “We’ve had so many interesting chats with other EV owners at public charging stations,” Liz recalls. “It’s a real community of like-minded people happy to share tips and stories, especially with new owners.”

One memorable encounter happened with a couple struggling to activate their first charge session. “We swapped details and activated the charge for them,” Graham recalls with a smile. “Shortly after, they invited us to lunch to say thanks. It was such a lovely gesture.”

The Enyaq Coupé RS was the obvious choice for the Urwins.

Their European tour also led to one significant lesson. “At one charging stop, we got chatting with a German family driving another Enyaq,” Liz explains. “It wasn’t until they were leaving that we noticed they had a fully loaded car, plus a roof box, bikes on the back, and a huge trailer tent hitched up! It just goes to show that electric cars can handle everything – even family holidays!”