Question 1

What is the range of electric cars?

Accepted Answer

The range of an electric car varies. The precise model, of course, will determine the range, but also other factors such as how efficiently you drive it, the weather conditions, and use of electronic items like the heater.

Other factors that affect the range of model you buy are aerodynamics, weight, and the size of battery. ‘Range anxiety’ might still worry some new EV drivers but advancements in technology means the latest electric cars are capable of driving further on a single charge than earlier models. The new MINI Cooper Electric, for example, has a range of up to 250 miles, while the Jaguar I-PACE can reach up to 292 miles on a single charge.

Follow our advice on how to maximise the range of your electric car here.

Question 2

What is the range of a hybrid car?

Accepted Answer

The same factors — exact model, driving behaviours, battery size — that influence the range of an electric car will have a similar effect on a hybrid car.

But, because a hybrid car also has an engine as well as an electric motor and battery, the electric-only driving range will always be significantly shorter than that of an EV. With a hybrid car you can never ‘run out’ as the engine is there to support (assuming you don’t run out of fuel too of course).

Still, in hybrid cars, the battery range is usually more than enough to power the vehicle on shorter journeys. The BMW X5 has an all-electric range of up to 67 miles; the Range Rover Velar electric hybrid up to 40 miles.

Question 3

Can electric / hybrid cars be charged at home?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your car will be able to charge using the standard 3-pin UK plug, however this will charge slower than if you installed a ‘wallbox’ or charging unit directly into the house mains.

Home charging means you’ll be able to charge your vehicle whilst you are not using it, ensuring that you always have close to or a full battery at any time.

Question 4

Is charging an electric / hybrid car free?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no, charging at home can cost you from as little as 7.5 pence per kWh from the grid but if you have solar panels fitted you will be generating your own electricity for free. To charge at public charging points there different fees so do check before plugging in. As a guide, the more powerful, therefore faster chargers cost more to use than standard chargers.

That said, many supermarkets and car parks offer charging for free for the duration of your stay and employers may use free charging as part of their employee benefit package so you can charge for free whilst you are on-site at work.

You can use handy apps such as Zap Map to find where you can charge your car and at what cost.

Question 5

How do I install an electric / hybrid car charging point?

Accepted Answer

Home charging points are compact, weather-resistant, and can be easily installed. However, it's best to have a professional handle the installation. You can seek advice from your sales executive or electric vehicle specialist, and they may even recommend an installer. Alternatively, you can arrange the installation with your electrician.

There are government grants available to help cover the cost of setting up an electric vehicle chargepoint socket at your residence. This grant is known as the electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint grant, and it's accessible to flat owners and renters.

With this grant, you can receive a 75% discount on the purchase and installation of a socket, with a maximum benefit of £350.

You are eligible to apply for this grant if you either own and reside in a flat, including those obtained through the shared ownership scheme, or rent any residential property. Additionally, you must have an eligible vehicle and a private off-street parking area at your home. Please note that you cannot apply for this grant if you have already received funding through the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) or the Domestic Recharge Scheme or their previous iterations.

Businesses can also benefit from government grants. The EV infrastructure grant gives you money off the cost of wider building and installation work that’s needed to install multiple chargepoint sockets. This grant is open to small and medium-sized businesses and covers over 75% of the project's expenses, up to a maximum of £15,000. You can receive up to £350 for each chargepoint socket installed and up to £500 for each parking space equipped with supporting infrastructure. Furthermore, you can secure up to 5 grants across 5 different locations.

Additionally, you can take advantage of The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), a voucher-based program that provides eligible applicants with financial support for the initial costs of purchasing and installing electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints. This scheme is overseen by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and managed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). It's worth noting that this grant can be combined with the EV infrastructure grant.

Question 6

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Accepted Answer

The time to charge an electric car varies. It depends on temperature, the size of the battery, how empty it is and also the speed of the charging point.

A typical electric car with a 60kWh battery takes approximately 8 hours to charge from empty-to-full using a 7kW charging point. Using a 50kW rapid charger, the battery can be topped up by 100 miles of range in approximately 35 minutes.

Question 7

What if my electric car runs out of battery?

Accepted Answer

Similar to a petrol or diesel car, if you run out of battery, your car will stop and you will no longer be able to continue your journey until it has been charged.

You might have heard the term “range anxiety” when people refer to the fear of running out of power in an electric car but you shouldn't be worried. Most electric cars go for over 200 miles, with some over 300 miles now and, at the time of writing, there are over 21,000 more public charging locations than there are petrol stations in the UK - you’ll also constantly get reminded of your remaining range along your journey.

Many service stations include charge points, so in reality it's just like driving a petrol or diesel car, just if you do run out, you’ll need to be recovered to the nearest charging station instead of having a fuel canister to hand or delivered depending on your location.

Some sat nav routes will automatically programme in charging stops so you'll know when you need to pull over to charge up.

Question 8

Are electric cars more efficient?

Accepted Answer

Combustion cars are about 30% efficient with 70% of the energy in the fuel turning into heat or noise whereas electric cars are about 90% efficient.

Based on a cost-per-mile basis, an electric car is much cheaper than a petrol or diesel alternative. Depending on which cars you compare and the cost of energy, an electric car’s running cost is between 10% and 20% that of the cost of running a combustion engine car.

There are also significant tax advantages such as low or zero vehicle tax (most commonly known as road tax).

If you own your own business you should speak to your accountant about write down allowances, low company car tax (BIK) and company National Insurance contributions compared to when using a combustion car.

Question 9

Do electric cars need servicing?

Accepted Answer

Just like a regular car, an electric car needs servicing to ensure its safety and performance. Electric cars are often cheaper to service since they have less moving parts and do not require oil changes. However, service requirements such as a brake fluid change still need to be completed every 2 years.

Book a Service

Question 10

Do electric cars need an MOT?

Accepted Answer

Yes, an electric car still needs to have an MOT after its 3rd birthday (the day the vehicle was registered, not collected, unless this was the same day) and then every year after that.

The main difference is the electric car won't have an emissions test, but everything else like brakes, suspension, lights, steering components and bearings will still be checked and your vehicle will either PASS or FAIL.

Book MOT

Question 11

Are electric cars manual or automatic?

Accepted Answer

There are no gears in an electric car, but you could technically call it an automatic since there is no clutch. Electric motors have a very wide power band allowing them to run at high RPM unlike petrol or diesel engines which need to change gear when the revs are high or low.

Although there are no gears, they are very easy to drive and feel very familiar.

Question 12

Do electric and Hybrid cars pay a congestion charge?

Accepted Answer

Many cities are introducing congestion charges to help limit the amount of emission based vehicles in highly populated areas. However, fully electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell cars can be exempt from the charges, along with a number of efficient hybrids too. It's best to check the rules of which city you are visiting.

Hybrid & Electric Questions

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