When I heard Cytiva was converting their company-leased fleet to electric vehicles across Europe, I jumped at the opportunity.
When I heard Cytiva was converting their company-leased fleet to electric vehicles (EVs), I jumped at the opportunity. Last year I needed to choose a new car, and since I like new developments and technology, I immediately started looking at hybrid and electric vehicles.
Though I have concerns on the number of key raw materials needed for the electric car charging infrastructure, I believe electric cars are a step in the right direction. I am continuing to learn more about the environmental opportunities electric cars can provide – especially compared to gas-powered vechicles.
I chose the fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge.
Here’s my review after driving it for a few months:
Pros:
- Overall, it’s a great car — it has everything I would expect in a car, it’s comfortable, and it drives wonderfully.
- I capitalized on the tax benefit of buying an electric car (EV over diesel).
- I expect lower maintenance costs (however, it’s still a new car).
- Cytiva has one less car running on fossil fuels, so we are lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Concerns:
- My main concern is the vehicle’s driving range, which is about 300km. Based in the Netherlands, I am responsible for visiting customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. Most of my customers are in the 100-120 km range, so the car is well-suited for my daily work. However, I will need to take charging into consideration for longer trips. Considering this is my only concern, it’s not a challenging one, at that. I will just need to plan my stops a bit more carefully.
- My second concern is regarding the charging infrastructure. I recently experienced how much the charging network can vary country by country. Which network, which app, and which membership is needed varies at each charging station. I can’t wait until this is standardized.
I’m now a few months in, and I am still happy with my choice.
I think choosing an EV is a good step toward a more sustainable future. After the supplier upgrades the power connection, I look forward to EVs reducing carbon emissions to improve the air quality where I live and in nearby cities. I am convinced that we will move away from fossil fuel one day – but there is still work to be done.
I’m proud to work for a company that is committed to minimizing their environmental impact.
To learn more about Cytiva’s sustainability goals, click here.