For so many of us, a sense of stillness and inertia has set in over the past two years – and my children and I are more than ready to shake it off. The first real week of spring felt like a great time to escape. Spring is about renewal and new hope. The daffodils were out, the magnolias too. We need that optimism in our lives and, as a family, we definitely need to feel some freshness.
I’ve always loved the freedom and independence that comes with driving. It’s there on a subconscious level, but also on a practical one. I’m able to make my own plans and not rely on the timetables of others. Also, we live in a market town in Norfolk and, while there is a reliable bus service to Norwich, that’s it. To get anywhere else you need a car.
Our day-long road trip trying out an electric car was a huge adventure for me, 12-year-old Lucy and 14-year-old James. Although we live quite near to the coast, it had been a couple of years since any of us had been to the sea, and we wanted to see what we could discover along the way to Southwold. The journey of about 120 miles saw us meandering through the countryside: we took in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, zig-zagging between all three.
It sounds like a long journey in a car, just for a relatively short time at our destination, but driving the fully electric BMW iX made it feel particularly exciting, especially because the luxurious quiet inside the car meant we could properly chat. The kids are full of their own opinions and perspectives, and one of the great things about them being older now is that they point out things that I’m missing. They act as extra eyes while mine are on the road.
I’ve lived in East Anglia since I was 18, but we were going through pretty villages and beautiful scenery that I hadn’t seen before. It was a gorgeous day, with a sort of hazy sunlight that put a golden cast over everything. At one point, in Suffolk, we went round a bend and there was a windmill with an old Massey Ferguson tractor driving in the field in front of it and seagulls flying behind. The way the sun was falling on this bucolic scene made all three of us go: “Wow.” I know it’s a moment we’ll all remember.
There were a few wow moments with the car too. I enjoyed the instant power and response, and the acceleration as I needed it. The steering is very responsive and the car sticks to the road like glue. It really is a pleasure to drive; the car absorbed every little bump and it’s very, very quiet. Composer Hans Zimmer created the car’s soundtrack, but honestly it is so well soundproofed that with the doors and windows shut, I could hardly hear any outside noise.
The car already felt like it was floating, but the panoramic roof made it seem like it was flying. The seat massager was also an exciting surprise; with each mile that we travelled, being in the car became increasingly impressive as we discovered the myriad onboard features. Everything felt user-friendly and intuitive. The augmented reality navigation was a revelation, adding to a feeling of safety both for us in the iX and those around us on the road.
The kids got straight into the car’s tech. James swiped nimbly and got the hang of all the features immediately. Lucy loved the wifi and had her phone connected as soon as she was in. She said the back seat was like a big luxurious sofa. Discovering the iX uses an eco-friendlier olive-leaf tanning process for the leather seats created an interesting family discussion topic. And the big advantage for me was that they didn’t fight over who got to sit in the front. Sitting in both parts of the car had advantages as far as they were concerned and neither of them felt sick in the back, which is what usually happens.
I also really valued that we could have this day out with zero driving emissions. I feel particularly riled in our small town when people leave their engines chugging as they pop into shops. I worry for my children’s generation. My children are very environmentally aware, as are lots of people their age, and I’ve always been keen that they think in terms of kindness, to people, animals and the planet. When it comes to people my age, I am mindful of Barack Obama’s words: “We are the first generation who can feel the effects of climate change and the last who can do something about it.” There’s so much more that we, Joe Public, can do.
The roads on our journey offered the most amazing dappled sunlight. It really felt like the beginning of spring. We drove down towards a nearby forest. I knew there was a cycle loop around there, but we had never actually discovered it. We investigated and decided this was where our next bike ride would be. Having one adventure leads to another.
We finished the day in Southwold, by the sea. The beach huts were amazing colours, but the day had turned blustery and chilly by then. I could feel the cobwebs blowing away. The pandemic made me realise that I am naturally quite introverted and have no desire to be among crowds. But I don’t want to stop having adventures. I want to consider nature and the value of the experience.
To have a day where my children and I created memories, to be able to explore over that distance and know we weren’t producing carbon emissions on the drive, that was worth a great deal. It’s probably the longest we’ve spent in a car together for some time and it was so refreshing to take time out and enjoy what good company my children are, how funny they are. The experience of freedom was brilliant.
Ali Dover is a photographer and textile designer based in Norfolk.
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