I’ve driven the new Skoda Enyaq Coupe and I love it all besides the price – and its cold-weather range

WHEN I heard of a place called Electric Mountain, I have to admit my first thought was: That sounds like a great photo opp for an electric car test.

Very James Bond.

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I didn’t think much more of it than that.

But actually what’s hidden in this mountain near Snowdon could be the solution to us all switching to electric cars.

Experts predict that as many as 11 million electric cars and vans will be on our roads by 2030, and up to 37.5 million by 2050.

The question is: Could the national grid cope with lots of electric vehicles being plugged in at once?

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Say, 6pm when we get home from work, pop the car on charge and switch the kettle on?

I’ve done a bit of digging and additional peak demand from EVs will be somewhere between 7-19 GW, says the latest Future Energy Scenarios report. That’s with smart charging.

Hmmm. This pumped storage hydroelectric power station can provide 1,300 megawatts (1.3 GW) of electricity in TEN SECONDS flat.

Total output is 10 GWh, which is enough to power several cities for six hours.

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Another hydroelectric power station being developed at Coire Glas in the Scottish Highlands will generate 1,500 megawatts (1.5 GW) and supply 30 GWh.

I might be missing something here but we’re well on the way to sorting it, aren’t we?

Especially if you add smaller power stations at Cruachan and Foyers into the mix — and build some more.

There are other advantages to hydroelectric power to consider, like:

• It’s clean.
• It’s safe.
• It’s not an eyesore.
• It doesn’t matter if the wind stops blowing.
• Or the sun stops shining.

And it’s not nuclear power. So there’s no Chernobyl happening.

A leaky wall is the worst of it.

Dinorwig — the proper name for Electric Mountain — works by dumping one lake of water into another 500 metres below, through six huge reversible turbines.

At peak output, with all six main inlet valves open, that’s 300 tonnes of water flushing down every second.

Bond villain’s lair

The pipes are so big you could drive a Skoda Enyaq Coupe straight through the middle of them.

So we did. Not really, but it brings me neatly to the car.

The Enyaq Coupe is one of the better electric cars, combining practicality and good looks with a long-range battery.

Except when it’s -3 degrees outside and bloody freeezin’ because batteries, just like humans, dislike the cold.

Then you’ll be lucky to get 200 miles-plus.

This is the raciest vRS version with 299hp, 4WD, glow-up front grille and a hi-vis paint job. You can’t miss it.

The cabin is smart and brimming with tech and toys. It has a huge 585-litre boot. It’s an excellent all-rounder.

My only grumble is the price. It’s £54k.

Also, the volume controller needs illuminating so you can see it at night.

Right, back to Electric Mountain.

As I said earlier, this place is like a Bond villain’s lair with an impressive access bridge and ten miles of tunnel roads.

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We thought we’d spread a bit of festive cheer by leaving a Christmas tree 75 metres below ground, right beside main inlet valve six.

Thank you to Engie, station manager John Armstrong and all the team at Electric Mountain for having us — and Merry Christmas.

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