My learnings so far after my first driving lesson:
Learning no. 1: Don’t forget to take car key to driving lesson! Completely silly but hey, I’m not used to carrying a car key on me!
Learning no. 2: Cyclists in The Netherlands are CRAZY!!!
Learning no. 3: Electric cars are amazing! So easy and smooth to drive
By simply pushing the ‘on’ button the car is ready to go (well, once we had the key we could go!). The ‘gas’ pedal, which we will from now call the ‘electro-pedal’, requires only a gentle touch and the car begins to move! The break is also very sensitive and only needs a little tap. This means that the car is not only peaceful and silent, but also very smooth to drive.
There were no multiple stalling-situations which even my driving-instructor Gert-Jan, had to get used to in a first-lesson scenario! Every junction and traffic light wasn’t completely terrifying because of the gear-shifting (I remembered that fear from 10 years ago when I had driving lessons… and failed). I have to say, electric cars are very easy to drive (although I mustn’t speak too soon because we didn’t do anything difficult like parking or reversing yet….)
The only stressful things in lesson no. 1 were the bicycles and the crazy Dutch riding them! As the car is silent it was important to really give the cyclists enough space when passing them, but even then…..cyclists are something to be very wary of, indeed.
All in all, I completely loved the first experience of driving electric and cannot wait for lesson no. 2!
Tags: Amsterdam, Nissan LEAF
