In a heatwave my electric car is super-cool transport AND chilled home office in one

Arguably my biggest boast of the summer, besides perfectly timing a chance visit to Greggs and securing a fresh sausage roll straight out of the oven, is that my current Auto Express fleet car is a MINI Aceman with cabin pre-conditioning. It’s easy to be distracted by the benefits of EVs, but they go well beyond lower running costs and a smaller carbon footprint.

For example, using my car’s companion app, I can programme the air-conditioning for when I know I’m going to leave. Or I can simply hit the ‘precondition’ button 15 minutes before I plan to get into the car.

I’ve never felt more smug than opening the driver’s door to a blissful blast of cooled air, when the person parked next to me is forced to endure a furnace while their car’s air-con splutters into life.

In fact, I haven’t experienced all that much envy for those with posh air-conditioned offices because, during the recent heatwaves, my EV has taken on that role whenever the heat in my home began to rival London Underground’s Central line in mid-summer. Many EVs offer vehicle-to-load capabilities, meaning you can charge your laptop or even power your coffee machine (vital for a work day) using your car.

All of this comes without choking the neighbours with exhaust fumes, while the energy you use can be quickly and cheaply replenished overnight on an off-peak home energy tariff. This makes it more affordable to run than a standalone air-conditioning unit or powering an appliance during normal daylight hours.

At the other end of the spectrum, EVs still have their perks when it starts to get colder. Luxuries such as heated seats and steering wheels are often standard fit on electric models, unlike on internal-combustion cars where they’re frequently an optional extra. 

Often you can also use the mobile phone app or infotainment preset to ensure your heated seat and steering wheel are turned on prior to you getting into the car – the latter is especially helpful if you’ve forgotten to pack some gloves on a bitingly cold day. 

It’s not like preconditioning and other types of connected services are the preserve of top-end Teslas and pricey premium SUVs these days, either; on the Auto Express Buy A Car service, a Kia EV2 with this tech can be leased for under £250 per month. With this in mind, it’s unsurprising that less than one in 20 electric car owners would consider going back to a petrol or diesel model. So why not consider adding pre-conditioning to your new-car wish list?

Blame the recent heatwaves, but for me, it’s now an undisputed non-negotiable.

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