EV driver Niomi detailed her long 530-mile trip and was full of praise as she revealed exactly how much she saved and how the experience differed from a standard fuelled car
An electric car owner has recalled her experience on a huge road-trip across the UK – and she didn’t have a single hiccup.
TikToker @niomiandco ignited a lively online discussion about the real-world economics of electric vehicles (EVs) versus traditional petrol and diesel cars. She documented her 530-mile round trip from her home to York and back, driving what appears to be a Tesla, though the exact model isn’t specified.
The video is captioned: “We drove 530 miles to York and back in our EV – here’s exactly how much it cost to charge. Spoiler: it was way cheaper than petrol or diesel! No queues. No charger drama. Just a smooth, budget-friendly road trip. Still not convinced? Ask me your questions.”
READ MORE: I drove 242-miles from UK seaside town in an electric car and it was hell
The world of electric cars remains a sceptical one in the UK – with many people pointing out the lack of infrastructure in place to charge cars publicly. Some drivers cite ‘range anxiety’ which is a concept of watching the miles on an EV vanish and panicking about the speed, cost, and availability of chargers at service stations, supermarkets, or car parks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed plans to ban new fuelled vehicles by 2030 – which means people opting for a new car will need to buy electric or hybrid – which is being stopped five years later in 2035. With only five years until the initial deadline, the nation is scrambling to roll out more chargers in more towns and cities to prepare for the radical change.
But Niomi has debunked what appears to be widespread reluctance with electric cars and detailed how she made such a smooth journey across the country.
Every EV charge and how much it cost
Home charging: £5
On the road:
CambridgeYork
This brought the total charging cost for the entire journey to £60.16, with about 40 miles of range left upon returning home. Niomi calculates this works out to approximately 11 pence per mile.
For comparison, she estimates that a petrol car would have cost between 13 and 18 pence per mile, so about £69 to £95 for the same journey, while a diesel would have cost 13 to 16 pence per mile, so between £69 and £85. By opting for electric, Niomi claims to have saved between £9 and £35 compared to fossil fuel options.
She emphasised how simple her journey was, saying in the video: “All the chargers worked, they were easy to find and we didn’t need to queue at all. It was cleaner, cheaper and stress-free. Would I do it again? 100%! What are your thoughts on that?”
‘There’s little difference’
Despite Niomi’s upbeat account, the video’s comment section was far from unanimous in its praise. Many viewers remained sceptical about the practical benefits of EVs.
One commenter wrote: “Our c-max 1.5 diesel from full tank 567 miles right on 1st white bar on gauge then filled up. But half tank is best and stop to get more later, less weight more mpg overall. Have done a non stop as well. Never got tired either, very comfy car.”
Another added: “I can do 500 miles on one tank of diesel that costs £60… I’m ‘shocked’ how little difference there is between diesel and electric- where’s the incentive to change?”
A third pointed out hidden costs and practicalities: “Even though the car cost considerably more, will depreciate considerably more, Your home charger which cost £1,200. and relies on you having a private drive. Not to mention the inconvenience of so many stops.”
While a fourth simply stated: “For the sake 2-3p a mile, I’ll stick with my combustion engine.” After scrolling through many critical comments, one user did acknowledge a benefit, albeit with reservations: “No doubt electric is cheaper but the anxiety of not finding a charger or 1 that works is unbearable.”
Niomi’s video highlights both the promise and the challenges of EV ownership. While her journey demonstrates clear savings and a hassle-free experience, commenters remain unconvinced, weighing the upfront costs, ease of charging and real-world convenience of electric cars.