An invite to test drive the latest range of BMW's electric vehicles was too good to turn down for Ben Haugh

The email appeared in my inbox accompanied by the usual friendly chime. “Dear Ben,” it began.

“We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming BMW Electrified Range Event, where you can test drive the latest all-electric and plug-in hybrid models.”

It was clearly a mistake. I have written about many subjects during my nearly 20 years in journalism, but never scribbled a single word about a car.

I offered to send it to our motoring journalist, Philip Nolan. They replied they were keen to expand “beyond the motoring section” and connect with “business and lifestyle” audiences.

“We’d love to have you along.”

But I’m not even interested in cars. I prefer to cycle around Dublin and only use my motor for longer trips to the countryside and the weekly trek to the supermarket.

I’m the antithesis of Jeremy Clarkson. My first car was a ten-year-old Polo. Its time on Earth came to a sudden end when a drunk driver crashed into it while it was parked.

My second car, an even older Hyundai i30, broke my heart. After investing thousands in keeping it on the road for three years, it decided to give up for good while halfway around a roundabout on Easter Sunday last year, leaving me stranded for hours.

After a brief grieving period, it was time to find a replacement and I briefly considered an electric vehicle (EV).

They appeal to me for environmental reasons, but I eventually landed on an eight-year-old petrol-powered Audi A3.

The reason? I live on a terraced street in Stoneybatter and was concerned about not being able to charge an EV at home.

The chance to test drive BMW’s latest electric range appealed to me, and I planned to get to the bottom of my charging concerns.

I arrived at the five-star Carton House in Kildare and followed the signs to the conference room.

I spotted some familiar faces from television before sitting in the first empty seat and shaking the hand of the man opposite. It turned out that hand belonged to Niall Breslin, AKA Bressie, former frontman of The Blizzards and now a podcaster.

We listened to a short presentation in which the common concerns about electric cars were assuaged, the biggest being range.

The idea of having to stop for a charge on a big trip to somewhere like Dingle would be off-putting for me.

But EVs range has improved significantly in recent years. BMW’s top models can now reach 687km on a single charge, almost enough to get you from Dublin to Kerry and back again.

It was time to choose from a selection of BMWs and Minis.

Niall went for the i7 xDrive60 M Sport, which retails at €146,899.

The inside was luxurious, with high-end finishes and bright screens everywhere.

We took a spin on the winding country roads surrounding Maynooth and the first thing I noticed was how responsive it was.

When the accelerator was depressed, it almost acted like a brake.

Having never driven an electric car, this took me by surprise.

The second thing that struck me was the powerful acceleration, with the car reaching 100kph in just 4.7 seconds.

We tested it out on a quiet, straight road and it pinned us back in our seats.

When driving a new car, there is always an adjustment period where you don’t feel fully comfortable.

For the first few minutes I was worried about crashing this expensive vehicle and injuring my famous passenger, but I soon relaxed.

It was a very easy drive. Myself and Bressie shot the breeze about everything from sport and music to magic mushrooms.

It turned out he was a thoroughly nice chap.

By the end, I was fully converted to the electric car revolution. But then I remembered the charging situation.

On this point, BMW said its charging partner PodPoint installs chargers at terraced properties on a “case-by-case” basis.

“Some councils do permit installations if a proper cable cover is used, but this can vary significantly.”

It added that lamppost charging, common in London, is “not yet widely available” in Dublin outside a few pilot schemes.

Dublin City Council (DCC) said “off-street destination fast charging hubs” at properties owned by the council were its preferred model.

Domestic EV charging can only be carried out if the “equipment and the vehicle do not encroach onto public property”.

It added: “DCC does not approve of on-street EV charging from domestic supplies. There are currently no plans to provide additional on-street public EV chargers.”

So it seems that for now, we terrace dwellers are stuck in neutral. Once the barriers are removed, however, I’ll be ready to plug in and power ahead.

Photo: Ben Haugh (R) pictured with Niall Breslin, AKA Bressie