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Electric vehicles
If you are thinking of switching to an electric vehicle (EV) as part of your commitment to a green and sustainable lifestyle, carry on reading so you can find out more before you decide on an EV for your next car.
- Electric Vehicles are powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery. They are capable of being charged from an external source.
- An EV could be only powered by an electric motor (all-electric vehicle) or a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) that can be powered by an electric motor and by an internal combustion.
- They are considered greener when driving – as EVs have no exhaust emissions. However, EVs do have an impact on emissions when you look upstream at manufacture, as minerals are needed in order to create the batteries (e.g., lithium).1
- Electric vehicles could require less maintenance than petrol or diesel cars. (despite current fluctuations in petrol and energy prices). It's good to know, most electric car breakdowns are mainly punctures or issues with a 12v battery.2
- With an electric car, you may also need to maintain or replace the cabin air filter (also known as a pollen filter), brake fluid or air conditioning.
- They could be exempt from VED (vehicle excise duty). Only exempt until 2025.3
- Ultra-low emission vehicles could have a national exemption (i.e., pure battery electric and any PHEV) from Clean Air Zone / Ultra Low Emission Zone charges. Some newer diesel and petrol cars can also be exempt.4
What you need to know
Electric vehicles are typically cheaper to run
You’ll be pleased to find out that an EV could cost you less over the course of ownership.5  Without taking into account the purchase price and any energy price fluctuations, an EV’s running cost (including refuelling/recharging, insurance, road tax, MoT and servicing) could be less than what you would expect to pay for an equivalent petrol or diesel car. Plus, with an EV you can take advantage of the many offers and subscriptions out there.
How do EVs measure up to regular cars?
- Range: 99% of car journeys in England are under 100 miles, according to the National Travel Survey, and many EVs today can do between 100 and 300 miles on a full charge.6
- If your workplace has a charging station, why not plug your EV in between meetings or during lunch?
- And if you are venturing further afield, your EV will give you plenty of notice before you run low. Then when you need to recharge, use your satnav to find a charging station.
- Something to consider, you can use another independent sources of information, like the RAC, to help further deepen your understanding of Electric Vehicles.
How can I find out if an EV would suit my lifestyle?
To start with, you’ll want to think about your driving habits and understand the practicalities of owning an electric vehicle.
- How far can electric vehicles go? Many EVs today could expect between 100 - 379 miles on a full charge. That is a lot of pick ups, drop offs and work commutes, if you consider that the average car trip in 2020 was 7.9 miles (based on year where driving was impacted by Covid).7
- How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle? Depending on the model, for many electric cars, you can charge to 80% in as little as 10-15 minutes, though an average new EV would take around an hour on a standard 50 kW rapid charge point.8
- Where can I charge my electric vehicle? Despite six in ten non-EV drivers believing there are a lack of charging points nationally, there have been significant improvement to the Electric Vehicle public charging network in recent years with over 40,000 across the UK (source zap map).9
1 Net emission reductions from electric cars and heat pumps in 59 world regions over time | Nature Sustainability
2 Electric car maintenance, repairs and servicing | The AA
3 Vehicles exempt from vehicle tax - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
4 Clean Air Zone: Drive in a clean air zone - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Ultra Low Emission Zone: Check your vehicle (tfl.gov.uk)
5 Electric cars are cheaper to own than petrol cars | Auto Express
6 Common misconceptions about electric vehicles (accessible web version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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