My first 20,000 km in the Xpeng G6: I stepped into the future.

William Sbarzaglia works as a consultant and trainer, a profession that requires him to travel constantly throughout Italy, alternating between urban routes and long highway trips. Over the past nine years, he has driven vehicles in the same category, moving from a station wagon to two generations of Kia Sportage (first diesel and then a mild hybrid gasoline version), changing cars every three years. At the beginning of this year, he switched to a 100% electric car. “I’ve stepped into the future,” he says. Recommended by a friend who is the marketing director of a large multi-brand dealership in Romagna, he chose a Xpeng G6. Let’s see how it turned out.

Profile, model, and first impressions

You’ve been driving an electric car for eight months now and have already covered 20,000 kilometers. What’s your initial assessment?

Six months ago, I decided to make the full switch to a pure electric vehicle by choosing a Xpeng G6 (Model Year 2025). At 20,000 kilometers, the overall experience is extremely positive, with several key advantages:

Ride comfort and silence: The absence of vibrations, gearbox, and clutch makes driving a relaxing experience. In highway traffic jams or city congestion, the advanced adaptive cruise control significantly reduces stress.

800V platform: The high-voltage architecture enables exceptional charging speeds at Ultra-Fast chargers, eliminating the wait times typical of previous generations.

Technology ecosystem and updates: The level of infotainment and standard equipment is comparable to vehicles in higher categories. Although there are some minor flaws in the software (such as in voice command/Bluetooth management), continuous over-the-air updates continuously improve the car over time.

Xpeng G6 and G9 my 2026, record-breaking charging and LFP batteries

Charging management on long trips

Charging chapter: How do you handle longer journeys? Do you use subscriptions, cards, or apps?

For long trips, I follow a well-tested routine:

Leaving home: I always start with the battery charged to 80-90% using slow charging, which ensures an initial range of 300 to 350 kilometers in real conditions (compared to the 430 kilometers claimed at 100% charge).

Planning with ABRP and Google Maps: I use A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) to determine the optimal stops based on weather, temperature, and traffic conditions. Once the stops are identified, I input them into Google Maps navigation to reach service areas or shopping centers near highway exits directly.

Challenging routes: On routes like Ravenna-Imperia, two 15–20 minute Fast stops are sufficient, which can easily coincide with normal breaks.

Tools and payments: I use broker platforms like EVDC to get favorable rates through wallet charging, targeted subscriptions for specific networks (such as Atlante), and I always prefer physical RFID cards over apps to avoid signal issues or delays at charging stations.

Cost evaluation and financial savings

Have you compared the costs with your previous car? What is the savings, and by how much?

In the first six months, I took advantage of a launch promotion for the Xpeng G6 that included a 3,000 kWh battery pack (equivalent to about 20,000 km), eliminating fuel expenses for the initial period.

On a regular basis, the financial savings are significant and depend on usage patterns:

Cost Item

Previous Internal Combustion/I Hybrid Car

Electric Vehicle (XPENG G6)

Fueling/Home Charging

High costs associated with pump fuel prices.

Maximum convenience, especially when combined with solar power and energy storage.

Public Charging & Benefits

No free fuel provided by third-party facilities.

Free or discounted charging at customer locations, hotels, and shopping centers.

Registration Fee (Tax)

Full annual payment.

Total exemption for the first 5 years.

Maintenance and Brakes

Regular service visits, frequent wear of brake pads and discs.

Reduced maintenance; minimal brake wear thanks to regeneration.

It is crucial to pay attention to parking penalty fees (even 0.10 € per minute after one hour from the end of charging), avoiding to leave the car connected after refueling to prevent losing the savings.

Is an electric car right for you? Find out with our comparison tool (+Video)

Experience with public charging infrastructure

Have you ever had problems with public charging?

The overall experience is solid, but it has some challenges typical of the transition phase:

Malfunctions and lack of communication—Occasionally, non-functional charging stations or those under maintenance are not promptly reported to the system.

Illegal parking (ICE-ing)—The occupation of reserved charging spots by internal combustion or non-charged electric vehicles remains the most common issue, requiring greater civic oversight and enforcement.

AC cable management—At slow chargers (without integrated cables), you must use your own Type 2 cable, being careful to clean it and store it properly in case of rain or mud. At DC Fast/Ultra-Fast chargers, the cable is integrated into the station, making the process immediate.

Areas needing improvement

Do you think there are any areas that need improvement and what are they?

To bring the electric ecosystem to full maturity, action is needed in four priority areas:

Territorial uniformity – Bridging the gap between well-served areas and underdeveloped regions (such as Forlì or certain sections of the A22 Brennero highway) and accelerating the connection of charging stations that have been installed but not yet operational.

Interoperability and unified roaming – Simplifying the user experience by eliminating fragmentation among dozens of different apps, wallets, and networks, thereby enabling universal Plug&Charge access.

High-power highway charging costs – Reducing Ultra-Fast charging rates to make long-distance travel increasingly competitive compared to traditional fuels.

Civic education – Ensuring strict compliance with regulations against illegal parking in charging stations, with the same severity applied to spaces reserved for people with disabilities.

What should never be missing in an electric car? Here is the checklist.

Mass Adoption and Prospects in Italy

Based on your experience and what you hear around, do you think electric cars are already ready for mass adoption today? Why are we still so far behind in Italy? What are the most common concerns? Are they justified?

Electric cars are already a mature solution for most drivers today, although they aren’t yet optimal for extreme use cases (such as those who travel hundreds of kilometers a day without the ability to plan stops).

Italy Is Not a Country for Electric Cars…/ Fusilli’s Version

In Italy, the delay is mainly due to a combination of cultural and structural factors: the ideal setup is an independent house equipped with solar panels and energy storage, while those living in large apartments without garages face greater barriers to adoption. Targeted incentives for home energy systems (panels, storage, and wallboxes) would significantly accelerate their spread.

The typical concerns—ranging from worries about autonomy to fears over air conditioner usage—disappear quickly after just a few weeks of actual use: 800V fast charging can restore 80% of the battery in the time it takes to grab a coffee break. Anyone who makes this switch and experiences the comfort, efficiency, and pleasure of driving rarely goes back to using conventional vehicles.

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