“This is my first Lexus. I’ve had it for almost a year and have become quite attached to it. I won’t be getting rid of it any time soon. It’s just a really nice car.”
Daniel Towler
Range and the Lexus NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
For the carbon-neutral company director and search and rescue volunteer who needs a car that will suit his lifestyle, choosing a car is far from a straightforward process. While many car buyers mostly have convenience and price at the top of their list, Daniel Towler’s car needs to tick several boxes before he will consider owning it.
“This is my first Lexus. I’ve had it for almost a year and have become quite attached to it. I won’t be getting rid of it any time soon. It’s just a really nice car,” says the 52-year-old, after arriving in a muddy car park in Epping Forest from the bustling town roads of Bexleyheath where he lives and drives his Lexus 450h+ Premium Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle in EV mode.
Daniel is a company director at Sensco Systems, and the firm claims to be the first carbon neutral fire protection company in the country, so his Lexus’s eco credentials were a big selling point.
“I use 100% battery power on my 14-mile commute to and from work in Sidcup. I’ve found the electric-only range to go from 41 miles when it’s cold to 46 miles in the summer. And when I need to visit our other sites around the country the hybrid system kicks in. There’s no range-anxiety. I’ve driven it just over 10,000 miles and it’s showing an average of 63.6mpg when the engine is running and 2.6miles per kWh on just battery. I guess 80% of the time I’m driving on just electric.” Daniel explains.
Learn more about the Plug-In Electric Vehicle
Accessories and specifications
Daniel was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal and the King’s Coronation medal, both for long service, for his six years search and rescue volunteering work with a reputable search and rescue team based in London. He has been involved in countless successful searches. “I find it rewarding – It’s great to give something back. Everyone belongs to someone, and everyone loves someone, so finding people and getting them help is so important”.
Daniel is a qualified team leader that works in fleet support and as a radio operator. So his car needs to carry a lot of kit. It’s often used for transporting teams to different search areas so is essential it’s always operationally ready.
“It’s all-wheel-drive too which helps when we’re called to emergencies or exercises in remote locations like this in poor weather – it’s not training if it’s not raining!” he laughs.
“I specced my Lexus NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with the Protection Pack so it has rubber mats, boot liner and mud flaps – it’s fantastic value and great for muddy boots. I also had the front-splitter and side steps added – they’re great for my two grandchildren” he adds.
Learn more about Lexus accessories
Lexus Link app and the benefits of the plug-in electric vehicle
“I prefer to buy a car that suits me. Lexus is understated. My car has a sporty drive with 20-inch wheels and an incredible 304bhp on-tap,” Daniel smiles. “I love the way I can press a button to charge the battery when I’m on the motorway so I can then switch back to battery power when I’m back in another urban area”.
Daniel is also an avid user of the Lexus Link app. “I use it to pre-warm the car on frosty mornings. It even tells me if I’ve forgotten to lock it. Obviously, I have never forgotten to lock it! The app’s driver behaviour score is neat – I like to try and keep it in the green,” Daniel smiles.
“Talking of green, I love this fantastic Terrane Khaki colour too” he adds.
“It’s just a really nice, well-specced car. A premium, well thought out luxury car that does everything” he says.
Daniel’s Lexus NX 450h+ Premium plug-in electric vehicle was supplied by Jemca Lexus in Sidcup. And was purchased through his company’s fleet deal.
Discover the benefits of the NX Lexus plug-in electric vehicle range
Words and pictures by Rod Kirkpatrick
Disclaimer: This article was conducted via a third-party contractor and is an opinion piece solely based on an independent account of a current Lexus NX 450h+ PHEV customer (owner since 2024). All experiences expressed are personal and not to be taken as a broad customer experience. Any running cost price comparison or carbon neutrality reference in this article is subject to personal use and can vary depending on factors such as selected grade and transmission, accessories fitted (post registration), driving style, weather conditions, speed, vehicle and battery age/condition and vehicle load. This article shouldn’t be taken as a typical customer experience. Interview conducted 1st March 2025.
