“I find it’s such an easy car to own; arguably easier than a conventional car. I’ll never have to endure the smell of diesel on my hands or shoes again.”
Richard Critchlow
You don’t need to be a mathematician to work out the cost-benefit of owning a Lexus RZ 450e approved pre-owned electric car – because maths teacher Richard Critchlow has already done the number-crunching for you.
Running costs of the pre-owned Lexus RZ 450e
“I’ve worked out that over the next ten years, running my pre-owned RZ 450e should cost me £1000 per year less than an equivalent petrol or diesel model,” explains 39-year-old Richard Critchlow. “Once I’d crunched the numbers – based on getting between two-and-half and three miles per kWh – it all made perfect sense. So, I thought, ‘Why not?’”.
Over the summer holidays, Richard, along with his wife and son, visited friends and family near Bristol and in South Wales and included a couple of shorter overnight zoo and museum trips. “We spent a week in North Wales where I found a cheap 22kW charger and charged the battery to full in less than four hours.”
Lexus Approved pre-owned electric car
Richard bought his pre-owned RZ 450e – an AWD Premium Plus edition in Sonic Platinum – from Lexus Hull in July this year. “I spotted it online and the price was right – so I left school early and went to do the deal. It was just over a year-old with 3,200 miles on it. And I’ve driven it as much again over the last three months.
“It’s my first electric car – I’d already taken the same model for a 24hr test drive from the Lexus centre in Stoke, so I knew I was going to like it. The electric powertrain is seamless and linear. The car is fast and comfortable whilst being level and compliant around corners. The battery re-gen is really good, too. I can control it so it can calmly harvest energy when it’s free-wheeling.”
Lexus Link+ app
Living high-up on the Staffordshire Moorlands – at nearly 1000ft – the winters can be brutal. So having AWD is crucial for Richard and his family.
“And who doesn’t like a heated steering wheel!?” asks Richard. “I can also pre-heat the car using the Lexus Link+ app – it takes about ten minutes and means I’ll never need to de-ice the car.”
Along with the other features he uses such as Remote Climate Control, Find My Car and Car Status, Richard says “The ‘EV Coaching’ feature really tickles the curiosity of my inner mathematician – it scores me out of 100 on my acceleration and braking efficiency. I’m currently averaging 85.”
Range and charging an electric car
Richard charges his pre-owned RZ at home – using a three-pin plug. “I’m locked into a cheap rate for three years. This gives me about 100 miles of range overnight. It’s more than enough for my 16-mile round-trip to school. I also have a home wall-charger on order.”
“I can count on the Lexus to charge itself up and be ready to go every morning.” says Richard.
Richard said he sympathises with a person’s initial range anxiety about owning an electric car, but thinks it’s often a misconception. “For longer trips the range of 220 miles is more than enough – my bladder doesn’t do 200 miles anyway! So, by the time we’ve stopped to charge, changed my two-year-old son’s nappy and had a coffee, we’re good to go again!.”
Lexus RZ technology, safety and comfort
Safety was on the list as an important feature for Richard and his family when it came to choosing an electric car. “I love the 360 reversing camera and huge screen. The warning beeps for speed cameras are helpful, and I really like the head-up display and adaptive cruise control. Everything adds to the overall feeling and actual safety of the car” he says.
“There’s plenty of room in the back for Sam’s car seat. It’s a really practical car, with loads of space and a big boot. It’s comfortable and has a great sound system for listening to Peppa Pig. There isn’t a car I’ve found that’s better.”
Lexus RZ 450e: your questions answered
Words 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 RZ 450e customer (owner since July 2024). All experiences expressed are personal and not to be taken as a broad customer experience. Any running cost price comparison 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 29 Aug 2024.
