Driving to Malacca really shouldn't pose a challenge for any modern vehicle, but this Honda Super-ONE is different.
With a battery capacity of 29.6kWh and a WLTP range of 202km, the little car is clearly designed more with inner-city commutes in mind. And it's not going to make the journey from Singapore to the historic Malaysian town without at least one charging stop (a trip of approximately 230km).
But that doesn't mean that the drive in this feisty little car is a laborious affair - as we found out ourselves. If you're an owner of a more modest electric vehicle and are looking to do your own holiday drive into Malaysia, here are some of the things you'll want to do to ensure your drive goes as smoothly as possible!
Plan, plan, plan
Benjamin Franklin's famous line has never rung truer here. Heading up north without at least a vague plan is a recipe for disaster - even if you're in a vehicle with a sizeable battery capacity.
But planning ahead really isn't that difficult. We opted to stick to the SP Group app, which helped us identify two primary charging stops for the drive north. And of course, we had to identify a host of spots to charge up within Malacca city as well. And wouldn't you believe it, the distance between these stops fell just within the range of the Honda Super-ONE.
The point is: Always have a backup you can fall on. Our journey up north went by as smoothly as we could have hoped for, but the drive back home was met with quite the delay as the charging stop we scheduled was occupied. It's quite likely you might have to fall back on a contingency if you're doing a similar drive.
Prepare for contingencies
Speaking of which, if you're driving up north in a car with a limited range, it might be worth making a few alternative plans for your journey.
Once again, we were blessed with minimal traffic at both immigration checkpoints and all along the highway up to Malacca - even though we made the drive during the September school holidays. But you might not be as lucky.
Look: You're on holiday. If you must make a detour because of traffic, make the best of it. Don't just look up alternative charging spots before you leave, also take note of any sights, shopping opportunities, and of course, places to eat near these charging spots. And if you must make unexpected stops, at least they won't become too much of a chore.
Bring a backup driver
That's enough about charging. There are other things to think about.
And let's start with the fact that your car isn't exactly long-legged. Chances are, you'll be getting more than your fair share of tyre roar, and the ride in a small affordable car is unlikely to be as settled as something a little larger.
Long miles will thus be a little more tiresome than usual. Throw in the fact that you won't be making as urgent progress as compared to a petrol-powered car (because of all those stops for charging), and it could well be worth bringing along a backup driver for your own drive.
Rest, rest, rest
And to add, make sure you're well rested, both before the trip and as you're travelling. Pack along some snacks, make sure you stay well hydrated, and also make sure to get out and stretch once in a while - those narrow seats in the Honda Super-ONE sure did make my bum hurt after just a few hours.
Stay alert and stay safe.
Have fun!
Finally, don't forget to enjoy yourself! It's not a typical experience, being able to drive the Honda Super-ONE. And even if your car is a little more mundane, there's still plenty to see and do along the way up. Throw on your favourite soundtracks, get a good in-car discussion going, or maybe even start a karaoke session and the miles will disappear in no time!
