Enjoying the sound of silence: Dan Darlington test-drives the electric BMW i3

Dan Darlington liked test-driving the smooth and silent electric BMW i3 so much that he didn't want to give it back.

Driving off from a standing start in the BMW i3 is an unforgettable experience.

Moving away in serene silence is strange but wonderful, and probably the most memorable aspect of my week test driving the vehicle for PER Hire Ltd in Hurst, who have i3s available to hire from £39/day.

They have two versions of the i3 available to drive off the forecourt. An all electric emission free model which has a range of about 85miles, and a hybrid range extender which features a fuel tank allowing for an extra 70 miles of motoring.

The range of the i3 can also be extended by switching the car's mode from Comfort to Economy Pro and Economy Pro Plus at the touch of a button.

Aside from the smooth almost soundless driving experience, the i3 is surprisingly nippy with acceleration of 0-62 in just 7.9 seconds. It's designed for the town and city but is more than comfortable cruising along the motorway as I can attest, having driven it from my home in Hampton to work in Maidenhead everyday.

The i3 is exempt from the London Congestion charge and also features a range of mod cons such as digital radio, sat-nav, multimedia, parking sensors, an automatic gear box and climate control (which can be switched off to give extra mileage).

It's a stylish looking model, with 19-inch alloy wheels, and gives the impression of a larger estate while being significantly smaller.

For a planet-saver it's easy on the eye, and the lack of emissions means you're protecting the environment while everyone else pollutes it.

Some drivers may miss the raw power and sound of a petrol engine but many others - myself included - will not. And the noise of other cars blurting out their fumes feels almost obscene as you drive silently by.

Recharging wasn't particularly burdensome. It can be done at home using a conventional 13amp socket or on a fast charge in less than 30 minutes at the many free public charging points at service stations and supermarkets.

Living in a flat I wasn't able to charge at home so instead used the free charging point at my local Waitrose less than a minute's walk away. It takes a few seconds to attach the cable and start charging – far easier than filling up at the pumps. And the prospect of charging from home for a fraction of the price of filling up at the petrol station forecourt is a definite boon.

The biggest compliment I can pay the i3 is that I didn't want to give it back.

I'd always wanted to drive an electric car and I haven't been disappointed by the experience. It's technology that can no longer be ignored and I'd urge everyone to embrace it – like PER Hire Ltd have done.

For more details contact PER Hire on 0118 3211111.