My Very First EV

Today, the world of electric cars is no longer unfamiliar to me: I have traveled thousands of kilometers across various European, Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian roads in an electric car. My journey into the EV world began right at the start of this path while managing the Electric Marathon‘s operations.

I earned my “first stripes” driving the Tesla Model S, but Tesla is no longer the only manufacturer of fully electric vehicles with a range of over 300 km.

As a family person, my priorities go beyond just good acceleration. When I started looking for my first EV, one thing was certain: the car had to be 100% electric. I completely excluded hybrids (HEV) and plug-ins (PHEV). If I was going to enter this world, it had to be all in! I didn’t see much point in hybrids during test drives, as I mostly drove using fuel—electric motor(s) were rarely engaged, usually only at the start of the slow drive, and even then briefly.

Plug-in hybrids raised doubts about the electric range. Yes, they are good for city driving, but it still bothered me that longer trips would need a conventional engine, making the whole electric car idea feel incomplete. Even just one-third electric is clearly not enough! The positive side of this decision was that it drastically narrowed down the model selection. There were still few EVs available in my so-called local market.

First, I planned to list all possible models and then highlight the pros and cons. Since there were very few EVs available for sale in Estonia at that time, I bravely assumed that after counting the pros and cons, it would become clear which one could be my first electric car.

Below are the cars I found in early 2016 that were available as new in Estonia. The list was created based solely on two criteria: sales price and driving range.

Tesla Model S – This car quickly became my primary choice. Although it was priced over €100,000 new, it was the only EV available that met my family’s needs and had a sufficient range. The Tesla engineers had designed it with a spacious trunk and frunk. The Model S also had excellent acceleration and technology that appealed to me.

Nissan Leaf – I added this to the list but didn’t consider it for long. Its appearance just didn’t appeal to me, and no matter how much I watched YouTube reviews or stood next to the car, it didn’t resonate with me. It wasn’t my car, and that was it!

BMW i3 – The BMW i3 was interesting due to its unique design and good urban range. However, its limited range on highways and smaller size ultimately ruled it out for my family’s needs.

Renault Zoe – This was another contender, but like the Nissan, its size and appearance made it less suitable for my taste, which had already experienced the creations of Elon Musk.

I didn’t even start considering very small cars, so VW and Škoda didn’t attract me at all, primarily due to this simple characteristic. Additionally, my list was compiled in the order of preference: the first was my primary choice, and the last was my least favorite.

I can’t help but mention that I really liked the Tesla! Yes, I see that the Model S is overpriced, and I wasn’t willing to spend over €100,000 for it. Once you’ve driven a Tesla and gotten a bit familiar with its personality, you can’t help but fall in love! I also always liked the technology and the over-the-air updates, which add a nice touch of innovation and convenience. And I can’t exaggerate when I say the acceleration is truly powerful. Those who claim it isn’t important have probably never driven a Tesla!

A keen reader might already guess which model became my final choice. In the end, I decided to go with the Tesla Model S, as it was the only real EV available at the time. Tesla was ahead of other manufacturers, and no other carmaker had caught up yet.