Professional footballer, John Bostock, made his professional debut at 15 for Crystal Palace and has played for a variety of clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, Royal Antwerp and RC Lens. Today, the midfielder plays for Notts County in English Football’s League Two. Bostock is one of a growing number of athletes that are ditching petrol for electric. We caught up with John to find out about what prompted him to make the switch, what drew him to Tesla and how charging points at sports grounds could help convert more players and spectators across to EVs.
What prompted you to make the switch?
When fuel prices soared, the cost effectiveness of driving an electric vehicle definitely got me thinking about making the switch. I did a few test drives and the performance was really good. I also asked a few friends who had switched to Tesla, and other brands, for their feedback. The general consensus was that driving an EV was a really positive experience, and better overall compared to a petrol driven car. I'm an investor in Sokito, an eco-friendly football boot brand, and they also got me thinking more about fossil fuels and the need to move more towards greener transport.
What made you decide on Tesla?
First off, I really liked the design of the cars. When I tried a few models out, they were all really comfortable with a decent amount of space and great acceleration. I liked the software and navigation as it’s clear and easy to follow, making for a better overall experience. In the end, I settled on the Model Y as it hit all the right notes. I have a young family so I need plenty of room for bikes, my kit, bags etc and the Model Y has plenty of boot space and room for storage at the front. But at the same time, it looks and feels like a sports car and that really appealed to me.
How did the other players react to your EV switch?
Players at my club, Notts County, responded really positively, and I get plenty of requests for a lift to training. There are quite a few who are now quite keen to switch to an EV.
Have you tested it out on a long drive yet or is it mainly for short journeys?
When I bought the car, I had it in mind for medium to long range journeys because at the time, I was doing 100 mile trips on a daily basis. With my move to Notts, my drives are generally a lot shorter as I’m based in the Midlands but when I visit family in Southampton, I actually really enjoy those longer drives. It does take a bit more planning to factor in battery charge and stop off points. If I’ve got the family with me, we can watch something together on the touch screen display while the car is charging.
We recently spoke to former Wales international Helen Ward about range anxiety. Is this something you've experienced?
I think anyone who is driving an EV for the first time will face range anxiety as it’s a slightly different thing to manage but like anything you get used to it over time and with practice. Tesla’s Supercharger network is pretty decent so you soon get into the habit of managing your battery life and checking nearby charging points. I haven’t run out of battery yet!
Is there any charging infrastructure in place at Notts County?
Notts County is among a large number of clubs that have yet to make the switch, but we all know it's coming – especially with the Government's targets. It’s definitely something I'm looking forward to. There are a few more players and staff driving EVs these days, so I think a charging facility would get regular use as soon as it was installed. What’s interesting is that there are some players who want to take the step and switch to EV, but they worry about range – especially if they are traveling longer distances. Having charge points at clubs around the country could prove to be a game changer.
With home matches getting up to 17,000 spectators – alongside the small army of armchair enthusiasts – each star player that moves across to electric vehicles will create momentum for the fans to follow.
If you want to know more about the latest Performance version of the UK's top selling Tesla Model Y, check out WhichEV's review.
