Kosmocar - Volkswagen in collaboration with the Driving Academy conducted a test drive of the new Volkswagen ID.7 from Athens to Thessaloniki - with only one 10-minute stop for charging - in order to cover a long distance with comfort, safety and speed.
The Volkswagen ID.7 Pro, with its 77 kwh battery, with three passengers and with the necessary luggage, started the journey fully charged, in rainy weather and a temperature of 4°C.
The Route Planner of ID.7 with operating system 4.0, proved to be excellent in displaying the chargers of all the providers in Greece and especially in terms of their availability in real time.
By selecting the destination in navigation, the car calculates the consumption, the remaining battery when it gets there and suggests the appropriate charging stops, so that everything is based on the initial specifications set by the driver.
The ID.7 continuously calculates driving times and possible stops for charging, making the journey easy for any driver, even those with little experience of electric cars.
At a maximum speed of 130 km/h and throughout the journey, the use of Travel Assist was chosen, the system that contributes to a comfortable and safe journey by keeping the car firmly in the middle of the lane or helping to change lanes and maintain the distance from the cars ahead.
The first 100 km of the route were difficult with heavy rain and quite cold. The heating was set at 23°C, and the seat heating and massage function were used.
With only one stop at the 300 kW charging station in Larissa, with a battery balance of 13% and an autonomy of 52 km, the ID.7 was charged for only 10 minutes and the battery reached 51%, enough energy for the rest of the journey to Thessaloniki. And the cost of charging was 16.06€.
During the rest of the journey the road was dry and the temperature was at 10°C, while on arrival in Thessaloniki the remaining battery was at 18%.
The total consumption for the 458 km trip (Nea Erythraia - toll of Malgara) was 19.6 kWh/100km, and the total travel time from the toll of Afidnon to the toll of Malgara, including the charging stop, was 4 hours and 35 minutes.
The journey with the VW ID.7 Pro was a pleasure. Ample space, rolling quality, absence of noise and vibration, and top-of-the-line driver assistance and comfort systems make for a relaxing and safe drive. The excellent efficiency of the transmission set-up and charging speed make the journey fast, economical and with a minimal CO2 footprint.
The cost of energy for this trip, by charging the ID.7 Pro battery from 0% to 100% on domestic electricity, taking into account the charging losses and with an average price per kilowatt hour of 0.2 euros, amounted to 17.29 € for the initial charge. Adding to this figure the cost of charging en route, on a 300 kW charger (€0.52/kWh) which was €16.06, the total energy cost for the Athens - Thessaloniki trip was €33.35.
