At the start of the 2022 summer holidays, Donatien did not imagine switching to electromobility so quickly. It was a project to be carried out a few years later. In the end, all it took was a slight failure on his thermal car to precipitate the movement.
A silly breakdown
In November 2020, Donatien, 42 years old today, and working in the high-tech world, received a new thermal Renault Megane: ” For me, electromobility was not yet mature enough. I was planning to move there in a few years, once my new car would have served well “. Chance will decide otherwise, when he left his family place of life in the vicinity of Versailles for a few holidays.
We are in July 2022: “ In the vicinity of Bordeaux, the car leaves us. I need a replacement vehicle, but there isn’t much available. The mechanic had just returned an electric Megane that he offered to me. Without thinking, I accepted. However, we still had 500 km to travel to get to Brittany in the vicinity of Vannes, and I knew nothing about electric cars ».
Donatien and his family will cover many more kilometers with this vehicle: ” My Mégane was immobilized for 4 weeks. However, the problem was only due to a display bug concerning the operation of the injection ».
Discovering a friendly community
Improvising yourself as an electromobilist while having to make long trips on the motorway is not easy: ” The first week was really very painful. On the highway, autonomy is quickly lowered. Chargemap, DC or AC charging: I did not know. While I was driving my wife looked on her phone to see how to restore battery power ».
The couple felt that recharging might not be so obvious: “ While stopping at a motorway rest area, fortunately equipped with an Ionity station, I received my first lesson in the use of an electric vehicle from an electromobilist in a Kia EV6. I immediately felt that there was a really lively community behind the VE ».
It was just the beginning : ” This sympathy, we found it at each new stop for recharging, and we really liked it. We were able to arrive at our destination in Brittany. There was only 20% energy left in the battery ».
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3,000 km in electric
While high-power charging quickly no longer posed a real problem, on the 22 kW AC equipment, it was quite different: “ On 5 or 6 terminals, charging did not want to start. I even had to buy a cable for 400 euros in a Norauto store. On the other hand, we were able to use the CRO without concern among the people who hosted us ».
The mutual assistance of electromobilists absolutely seduced Donatien, to the point that the subject came up several times during our interview. He also appreciated a new way of driving: “ I liked having to stop regularly for recharging. Minus our children aged 9 and 11 who tended to bitch ».
In the end, during the 4 weeks of immobilization of the family car, the kilometers accumulated in electric: ” From Brittany, we went to the Pyrenees, then Bordeaux and Paris. We covered about 3,000 km in this way, mainly on motorways ».
Urgent passage through the dealership
Something happened to Donatien when he took over his thermal Mégane after 4 weeks: “ I couldn’t wait to find my car. Then I quickly regretted this moment. I felt like I was regressing ».
What do you think he did? ” Back in Paris, I went to my usual dealership. There was an electric Megane. Pointing to it, I said: ‘I want this one, and take my thermal again’. At the garage, they couldn’t believe my decision. The exhibited model was already reserved. So I ordered another one in August 2022, which I finally received quite quickly, at the end of October. ».
Our reader picked out a few options: I wanted our Mégane in midnight blue, with the gray roof. I took the heat pump and the Augmented Vision pack. The latter is really very good, especially for maneuvers, thanks to the view from above. Especially since the natural visibility on the outside is not the best in this car, especially through the rear window. “. On the other hand, the Francilien was not interested in a surplus of driving aids: “ I had read a lot of good things about it, but I don’t want to let go of driving control ».
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Very pleased with the car…
Looking back a few months, Donatien remains delighted with his choice: “ My wife is still apprehensive about long journeys with the electric Mégane. So far, we’ve driven it very little, no more than 1,000 km. To get to my office, I take public transport. On average, this car should now drive about 1,000 km per month ».
Our reader is full of praise for the compact Losange: ” The dimensions of this car are perfect for our use, with enough room inside for the occupants. The electric Renault Megane is very comfortable, flexible, with very good acceleration. I find everything super nice about this car. ».
The new electromobilist has not had the opportunity to try other electric models: ” However, I had the opportunity to sit in several, at the invitation of the people I met in the stations. I ogled a little on the Kia EV6 which won me over with its charging power. But this model is too long, and the deadlines are too important to receive one ».
…much less from the Renault network
For the Christmas holidays, Donatien and his family had to go back to the thermal: “ Our electric Mégane broke down, displaying bug after bug. The screen just turned on, the handbrake kicked off, and the car wouldn’t charge. So we were lent a thermal. However, the problem was a simple rookie mistake. The dealership had simply failed to remove the Storage Mode fuse. ».
A story that would probably have ended very naturally with simple and quick excuses: “ I was not specifically expecting compensation, but just a small message, for example a call from the dealership. But nothing for 3 months, despite my reminders and my interventions with the Renault consumer relations department and the Signal Conso platform ».
Our reader is a bit bitter: I dropped 35,000 euros in this dealership for my thermal Mégane in 2020, and 47,000 euros 2 years later for the electric one. I think it would be ok for the establishment to contact me with a minimum of apologies. I have no intention of letting go ».
Automobile Propre and I would like to thank Donatien very much for his responsiveness, his excellent welcome, his trust and the time taken to answer our questions. These meetings are most often very pleasant moments of exchange.
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Author’s opinion
When I heard Donatien’s testimony, I thought back to this 2013 film entitled “Un prince (almost) charming”.
Directed by Philippe Lellouche, it brings together Nicole Calfan, Jacques Weber, Vahina Giocante and Vincent Perez. The latter portrays the character of Jean-Marc, a quadra who must cross France with his thermal Audi while the strikes have dried up the fuel tanks in the service stations. This is news on March 23, 2023, during our exchange with Donatien.
Also by accident, the unpleasant careerist who has managed to alienate everyone around him, buys a Renault Zoé to get to his daughter’s wedding venue in time.
Just like our reader, Jean-Marc, suddenly plunged into electromobility, encounters charging problems.
Note that this film was available for replay on the TF1 site when this article was written.
