Planning my journey to the #BVRLA Leasing Broker Conference the other day, I chose the train over my EV. It seemed like a reasonable decision—trains, after all, are the easier, less stressful, and environmentally conscious option. Like many others, I’ve been grappling with the balancing act between convenience, sustainability, and the technological limitations that come with adopting greener alternatives like EVs. Our work truck is the only fully electric pickup available in the UK, has a range of about 200 miles if you’re careful and does pretty much everything we need it to.

One of my concerns, though, was the range anxiety that often accompanies EV travel. Even though EV infrastructure is improving, the prospect of managing charging stops can add stress to longer trips. So, to make it to Birmingham from Glasgow I’d have had to take the petrol engined family car, it’s needed for the school run so less than ideal as choices go. In contrast, the train promised a more seamless experience: no traffic, no stops, and the comforting belief that I’d be doing my part to reduce emissions.

But the reality highlighted a different truth. Significant delays—uncontrollable but frustrating—left me reconsidering my decision. While delays in public transport are often accepted as part of the journey, I found myself thinking that even with my EV’s range limitations and a necessary charging stop, I might have reached my destination faster. After delays, cancellations and further delays, I made it home around 3am, some four hours later than I’d expected. And this isn’t the first time this has happened. Maybe it’s just bad luck, or maybe I’m not the only passenger experiencing this.

This experience speaks to a broader issue. Our modern transportation systems, whether public or private, are constantly evolving, but not without their own set of compromises. For those of us in the mobility industry, the lesson is clear: it’s not just about providing greener options, but about ensuring that these options are practical, reliable, and truly better alternatives.

As the push towards sustainability grows, it’s crucial that we continue to improve not only the technology but also the infrastructure and reliability of all transport options. Otherwise, we risk losing sight of the balance we’re trying to achieve—between convenience, progress, and the planet.

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