Explore the benefits of EVs…

  • EVs have zero tailpipe emissions of CO2, NOx and particulates at all times in the case of battery electric vehicles, or have the ability for zero-emission running in the case of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), helping with local air quality and in the fight against climate change (some of the latest plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can drive up to 40 or 50 miles on battery power)
  • EVs offer a better driving experience than petrol and diesel cars, being quiet and refined, having instantly available torque at all times for smooth, responsive acceleration, and having no clutch or gears
  • EVs have lower running costs (fuel and maintenance, and total cost of ownership) than petrol or diesel vehicles (electricity costs for battery electric vehicles can be around one-fifth of the cost of petrol)
  • Battery electric vehicles attract just 2% Benefit-in-Kind(BiK) tax until 2025, potentially saving company car drivers thousands of pounds per year. From 2025, it’ll increase just 1% per year until 2028. This means it’ll only increase to 3% in April 2025, then to 4% in 2026, and then 5% in 2027 staying there until 2028.
  • Battery electric vehicles have zero road tax until 2025
  • EVs benefit from government grants to install chargers for landlords and renters, as well for businesses to install workplace charge points.
  • There are grants for purchasing EV vans, trucks and taxis, as well as for wheelchair users.
  • Many companies offer salary sacrifice schemes for EVs, which can offer large savings on renting an EV depending on your tax band.
  • Charging your car at home overnight means no more trips to petrol stations!
  • Smart charging that drivers can benefit from cheaper electricity and supports stabilisation of the electricity network.

If you want to compare how much CO2 an EV can save compared to a diesel or petrol car over its lifetime, Transport & Environment (T&E) have put together a tool that compiles all the most up-to-date data on CO2 emissions linked to the use of an electric, diesel or petrol car. You can check it out here.


 

There is now a wide range of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on sale, from compact cars and sedans to SUVs and pickup trucks, with new models coming out every month.

Mother and daughter, both wearing grey coats and scarves, hold a charging connector up to a electric vehicle

 

Most EV owners charge their cars through chargepoints installed at home or at workplace locations, which are estimated to be more than 400,000, but that’s not always possible.

Thankfully, there is an ever-expanding public charging infrastructure: according to Zapmap, as of August 2023, there were over 75,700 connectors, over 48,400 devices, in over 29,000 locations.

 

The charging network is made up of different types of charge points for different use cases, from high speed en-route chargers and charging hubs to destination chargers and on-street provision: the 4 speeds or power ratings are defined as slow (3-6kW), fast (7-22kW), rapid (25-99kW) and ultra-rapid (100kW+).

The latest public rapid charge points can provide a 0-80% charge for many EVs – equating to around 200 miles in some cases – in around 30 minutes. However, bear in mind that regardless of the power of the charger itself, your EV will only be able to charge at the maximum rate of its charging capability.

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