About Electric Vehicles | EVA England : EVA England

Electric vehicles don’t just play a role in decarbonising road transport, they are an increasingly attractive option for drivers, thanks to their lower running costs and the growing choice of models available.

Click here to see all the benefits of driving an EV

There are three different types of vehicles that have an electric motor powered by a battery or that can be plugged in:

Pure or battery electric vehicles (BEVs) run solely on battery power and must be plugged in to recharge.
Extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs) use a battery and electric motor for most driving, with a small petrol engine acting as a range extender when needed.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) combine electric and petrol/diesel power, running on electric charge for shorter trips but switching to fuel for longer distances. They can also be plugged in to recharge.

When EVA England refers to ‘Electric Vehicles’ or ‘EVs’, we’re primarily referring to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), also known as zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).

Our work and representation focus on these battery electric cars and vans (up to 3.5 tonnes) because they play the leading role in decarbonising the transport system. That said, we welcome anyone interested in electric vehicles and the wider EV journey.

With over 130 models of EV available in the UK, the choice of EVs and models continues to increase with lots of new exciting EVs constantly arriving on the market.

Whether it’s a budget car, a luxury saloon car or an all electric SUV, there’s an EV to suit all drivers’ needs and budgets:

According to Autotrader, there are now more than 33 new EVs with an RRP under £30,000, with more set to launch in the UK in the coming months. And as of June 2025, two in five used EVs sales on Autotrader were under £20,000.

As of August 2025, there are over 1.6 million BEVs on UK roads, comprising 21.9% of total car registration in 2025 so far, just short of the 28% target demanded by the ZEV Mandate.

While more and more of us are buying electric cars due to the many benefits they offer, with BEVs accounted for one in five new cars registered in 2024, this surge was primarily driven by fleets and business buyers, as only one in ten private buyers opted for an EV last year. (Figures from the SMMT)

Encouragingly, our latest survey found 9 in 10 EV drivers would not return to petrol and diesel, meaning the vast majority of owners are seeing the real benefits of zero-emissions driving.

Clearly, the Government must play its part in ensuring EVs are made as affordable as possible for drivers of all incomes, whilst continuing to oversee that the whole EV ecosystem is ready for an electric future.

By giving EV drivers a voice, EVA England is here to ensure that there are policies and infrastructure in place to support this transition and encourage more people to go electric.

What are the inner parts of an EV?

EVs have 90% fewer moving parts than an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car. The more parts you have, the more parts will require maintenance and eventually replacement. This is one of the reasons that EVs are less expensive to own over time.

Here’s some of the components that keep an EV moving:

Battery – Store the electricity required to power the electric motor. The higher the kW of the battery, the higher the range.
Power Inverter – Converts the electric current in the form of Direct Current (DC) into Alternating Current (AC), as different components have different requirements.
Electric Motor – Converts the electric energy into power to rotate the wheels. It can be a DC/AC type. However, AC motors are more common. An important feature of an electric motor is the regenerative braking mechanism, which slows down the vehicle by converting its kinetic energy and storing it for future use.
Drivetrain – Most EVs have a single-speed transmission, which sends power from the motor to the wheels.
Charging Port– Plugs into an outlet or EV charging point to charge your battery.