Making the Switch
Making the change to an EV can seem slightly daunting, but Electric Vehicles are quickly becoming the way of the future, with many brands shifting to EV technology! We’ve compiled this Beginners Guide to EVs, to help you make the switch to sustainable car travel.
First Steps
The first steps in switching to an EV, are all about planning. Make sure to look at how you actually use your car, how many miles you typically drive daily, and the kind of lifestyle you lead – they’ll all impact on which car you should buy. Once you’ve identified a suitable EV, you’ll then compare what you’d usually spend on fuel, road tax, servicing and then compare it to the running costs of an electric equivalent. OVO Energy, have put together a useful infographic showing the cost difference between running an EV and a petrol equivalent, as well showing how much less CO2 you’ll end up emitting, here!
The average person in the UK does around 20-miles a day, and with most small EVs, such as Peugeot e208, pushing a range of 200 miles – you’ll only need to charge your car once a week, which will be certainly cheaper than filling up at your local petrol station! If you plan on using your new EV for longer journeys, you might have to stop off to recharge, depending on the range of your vehicle. Smartphone apps like WattsUp and ZapMap give you live information on where the nearest chargers are, and they’ll even tell you if they’re being used! Make sure to find out more by using the links below.
Another important first step is to see if there any current incentives to help reduce the cost of your first EV. Many towns and cities already have incentives for electric cars, including free parking and exemption from toll booths!
Full Electric or Plug-in Hybrid?
Currently there are two main types of EVs on the market, Plug-in Hybrid and Full Electric, both offering a range of benefits over their combustion powered counterparts!
With the sale of petrol and diesel cars to be banned by 2030, more people are turning to Electric Vehicles (EVs). Fully Electric vehicles simply use their battery to generate power, and emit almost zero emissions in comparison to their combustion powered counterparts! Most modern Fully Electric vehicles have a range of around 300 miles, which should be suitable for the average daily driving for going around town or to and from work.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) offer a shorter electric range – typically around 40 miles – but have a combustion engine as backup for longer distances, meaning they can be simply refuelled like a regular car. They are a great first step into the world of EVs and alternative to regular petrol and diesel cars on the roads, generating significantly less emissions!
Battery Life
Battery life is often a major concern for those switching to EVs, but it shouldn’t be! Most batteries have a lifespan of 10 to 20 years (or approx. 200,000 miles), with most manufacturers having a 5 to 8 year warranty, such as Toyota and Hyundai, two of the leading brands in the current EV revolution!
Whilst it may seem tempting, in order to reach optimal battery health, it’s important to not let your car always charge to 100% or fall to 0% too regularly! Electrifying state that it’s only really necessary to charge your battery to 80%, in order for your battery to remain healthy. This is because EVs batteries are complex and overcharging can make them become less efficient, but don’t worry, most EVs have clever management systems running the background to make sure it doesn’t happen too often!
Another important step to keep your battery is healthy is to make sure to prepare your EV for the weather. Not preparing your EV can quickly see your battery degrade or range diminish when you’re least expecting it! If it’s a warm summers day, try and park your car in some shade, or a garage, in order for the battery to not overheat. Alternatively, if it’s a cold day, you can ‘pre-warm’ your battery, as running EVs in the cold can often see a reduction in range if used incorrectly.
Electrifying have loads of great information on extending your EVs battery life, as well other tips on EVs below!
Home EV Charging
One of the main benefits of owning an EV, is that you can easily charge them from the comfort of your own home! These durable chargers can easily be installed inside a garage, or on your driveway, and will connect to your mains power supply. Once plugged in, your car will start charging immediately.
With a home charging unit installed, you can charge your car in just a few hours and many vehicles have a compatible smartphone app so that you can keep an eye on your charge level from just about anywhere.
If you don’t have access to any EV charging points at your new home, no need to worry! Make sure to check out Co-Charger, the largest EV charging community in the UK!
