McElmeel Mobility Services Puts Electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle to the Test on Birmingham to London Journey

How does an electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle perform on a longer motorway journey? That was the question McElmeel Mobility Services’ Anton set out to answer when he took our Citroën ë-SpaceTourer Cosmo XL Electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle from Birmingham to London and back in a single day.

With a grey morning in Birmingham and approximately 116 miles each way, Anton knew the journey would be a useful real-world test of the vehicle’s range. With a combined range of around 230 miles, the trip was close to the vehicle’s quoted maximum range – making range management a key consideration.

Putting Range Concerns to the Test

Anton admits that range anxiety was one of his biggest concerns before setting off.

The journey to London and back was approximately 232 miles, which is slightly beyond the vehicle’s stated combined range. Rather than pushing the vehicle to its absolute limit, Anton wanted to approach the journey sensibly, just as any owner would when travelling with a wheelchair user or family member.

He also considered the impact of motorway driving. Higher speeds can use more energy, so Anton planned to drive sensibly while sticking to the speed limits and keeping an eye on the vehicle’s remaining range.

Importantly, this was a genuine real-world test rather than a controlled demonstration. There were no wheelchairs on board during the journey, making the vehicle slightly lighter, and Anton deliberately limited his use of the air conditioning to keep as many variables as possible under control.

Birmingham to London in an Electric WAV

The journey took Anton into London, where he experienced a very different type of driving from the motorway miles he had covered earlier in the day.

Having driven in London before, Anton was still struck by the experience of navigating some of the capital’s busiest and most tourist-heavy areas. He passed landmarks including Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, while dealing with heavy traffic and 20mph speed limits.

At one point, it took around half an hour to travel just three miles – a useful reminder that driving in a major city can involve very different energy demands and driving conditions compared with motorway travel.

The Journey Home – And What Anton Learned

For the return journey, Anton decided not to rely solely on the remaining range. Instead, he stopped at a rapid charging station outside Oxford, giving the vehicle enough charge to comfortably continue the journey back to Birmingham.

In total, the experience gave Anton a much better understanding of what it is like to plan a longer journey in an electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

By the time he returned to Birmingham, the vehicle had covered approximately 200 miles, with around 12 miles of estimated range remaining. Anton had expected the real-world range to be closer to 150–160 miles when travelling at motorway speeds, so the result was a pleasant surprise.

The journey demonstrated that, with sensible driving and a little forward planning, longer trips in an electric WAV can be perfectly manageable.

Planning Is Key with an Electric WAV

One of Anton’s biggest takeaways was that planning your charging stops is just as important as planning your route.

For someone using an electric WAV for everyday journeys – whether that is taking a child to hospital, travelling to appointments, visiting family or making a longer trip to London – knowing where suitable charging points are located can provide additional peace of mind.

Anton explained that, if he owned an electric vehicle himself, he would want to become familiar with the charging network and know where he could stop before setting off on a longer journey.

The experience also highlighted one of the key considerations surrounding electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles: access to suitable charging infrastructure.

Could Anton Be Becoming an EV Convert?

After completing the Birmingham to London return journey in the Citroën ë-SpaceTourer Cosmo XL Electric WAV, Anton came away impressed.

Despite his initial concerns about range, the vehicle performed brilliantly throughout the journey, requiring just one charging stop to comfortably complete the trip.

The experience has given Anton a valuable insight into the practicality of electric WAV travel – and perhaps even changed his opinion on electric vehicles.

Watch Anton’s full Birmingham-to-London electric WAV journey to see how the Citroën ë-SpaceTourer Cosmo XL performed in real-world conditions, including the
motorway journey, London driving, charging and the final return to Birmingham.

At McElmeel Mobility Services, we believe that understanding how a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle performs in real-life situations is essential. That is why we continue to put our vehicles through their paces and share our experiences to help customers make informed decisions about their next WAV.

For more information on our Electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle - CLICK HERE 

For more information on Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles - CLICK HERE