EV FAQs
Thinking of making the switch to an EV but still have a few questions?
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve been asked:
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve been asked:
An Electric Vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that operates using an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery.
EVs are charged by plugging into compatible charging points, eliminating the need for petrol or diesel, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles.
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).
An EV, specifically a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), runs entirely on electricity stored in rechargeable batteries.
The battery powers one or more electric motors, which drive the wheels, providing smooth and instant acceleration. Unlike petrol or diesel cars, BEVs have far fewer moving parts, which means less maintenance is needed.
BEVs are charged by plugging into compatible charging points at home, work, or public locations, eliminating the need for petrol or diesel.
As of August 2025, the UK market offers over 130 different models of EVs (compared with just 18 in 2018).
The number of makes and models of electric cars is increasing month by month, and this trend is set to accelerate over the coming years.
Already there is an electric vehicle in most car body styles and there are increasing numbers of electric vans coming to market, and even electric trucks and buses. This growing variety is important for consumers, as it ensures there’s an EV to meet every preference or need, from range and performance to affordability.
Driving an EV is a different experience compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. They are almost silent, deliver smooth and responsive acceleration thanks to instant torque, and have no gears or clutch to manage.
Many EVs have their batteries mounted in the floor, giving a low centre of gravity that improves stability and handling. This combination of features makes EVs easy and enjoyable to drive, whether in the city or on the motorway.
Most people who try an EV find it hard to go back to a traditional car, whether driving an electric car or van.
Prices in the UK currently range from around £20,000 to £100,000, depending on make, model, and features.
Some EVs have a higher upfront cost than comparable petrol or diesel cars, but this is often offset by lower running costs: charging is generally cheaper than petrol, and maintenance costs are lower due to fewer moving parts.
However, analysts forecast that EVs will reach price parity with petrol and diesel vehicles within the next few years.
Yes, the market for second-hand EVs is growing, providing more affordable options for drivers.
Used EVs are increasingly available through dealerships, online marketplaces, and even some salary sacrifice schemes, where employees can lease pre-owned EVs through their employer while benefiting from tax and National Insurance savings.
Buying a second-hand EV is a popular choice as it gives access to advanced technology and lower running costs at a reduced price, making it an attractive option for many drivers looking to switch to electric.
EVs typically offer an average range of nearly 300 miles on a single charge, up from 235 miles last year. Some models can achieve over 400 miles, with the Mercedes-Benz EQS Saloon leading at 452 miles.
For urban driving, a range of 100-150 miles may suffice, while motorway journeys benefit from ranges of 250-300 miles or more.
Just like petrol and diesel cars, the cost of running an EV will vary depending on the model, make and specifics of the vehicle. However, EVs are generally cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars. They require less maintenance due to fewer moving parts, and electricity is significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel, sometimes costing only around one-fifth of equivalent fuel expenses.
In addition, there are various financial incentives offered by the Government (see the section below), and you can also get a discount in cities that have introduced Congestion Charge or Low Emission zones.
Zap Map have put together this Journey Cost Calculator tool which allows drivers to compare the cost of running an EV with petrol or diesel vehicles for their own journeys.
From August 2025, new EVs priced under £37,000 can receive up to £3,750 off through the Plug-in Vehicle Grant. More details here.
There is also a plug-in wheelchair accessible vehicle grant (PiWG) available for wheelchair accessible vehicles priced below £50,000.
In addition, EVs benefit from cheaper preferential first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) compared to their petrol and diesel counterparts. More details here.
The current Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate for electric cars is set to 3% for the 2025/26 financial year. After this time, it will rise by 1% in the following three years until 2027/28, when it will be 5%.
These rates are still far lower than those for a conventional petrol or diesel car, which might attract BiK of 25%. Switching to an EV is likely to save company car drivers – and companies – thousands of pounds per year, and the total cost of ownership of EVs will, in most cases, be much lower than petrol and diesel equivalents.
The EV Chargepoint Grant allows homeowners who live in flats and people in rental accommodation to claim £350 (or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower) off the cost of an EV charging point and its installation.
There are certain criteria that you must meet to qualify for it.
There are two types of grants available to businesses. Both for the installation of charging points and infrastructure:
1. The EV Infrastructure grant for staff and fleets is available to small and medium-sized businesses. This grant helps out with costs related to building and installation work needed to install multiple chargepoint sockets, such as wiring and posts.
The grant covers 75% of the cost of the work, up to a maximum of £15,000. You can get:
You can receive up to 5 grants across 5 different sites.
2. The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). It is available to businesses, charities, and public sector organisations that meet the eligibility criteria.
This scheme provides support towards upfront costs of the buying and installation of EV chargepoints and can be used at the same time as the EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets. (Both grants can be used for the same site, but never the same chargepoints)
The workplace charging scheme cover of up to 75% of the total costs of purchasing and installation of chargepoints. You can get:
Most people charge their electric vehicles at home overnight using a home charge point. There is also an ever-increasing public charging infrastructure around the UK, including rapid chargers, which are located at virtually all motorway service stations.
Some public charging points are ‘open access’ (free). But most belong to one of the main network providers. You may need either their contactless RFID card or mobile app, depending upon the provider. There is a government and industry push for inter-operability of charge points, which means that you could use any charge point without having to be a member of that network.
There’s an agreed standard for the sockets found on the latest charging points – all now using the universal ‘Type 2’ socket. All new cars have Type 2 sockets, apart from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which still has a Type 1 socket. Teslas have their own sockets which are compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network, but you can use an adaptor to charge Teslas at standard rapid chargers. The Tesla Model 3 can use a Type 2 connector.
Most electric vehicles come with a cable with a 3-pin plug to allow for easy charging at home or anywhere without a designated charging point, although charging times will be significantly increased. However, a cable with a 3-pin plug should be for occasional use only; it is recommended that a charging point should be used rather than a 3-pin socket.
For more details, see our page on EV Charging.
Many people charge at home overnight. Charging at home or at the workplace can cost as little as 3p per mile, as opposed to 19-21p per mile for a typical petrol or diesel car. This equates to around £2.40 per charge for around 80 miles depending on your electricity provider.
If restricted to only charging at public chargepoints, costs will be more.
How long it takes to charge an EV depends on the type of vehicle, how depleted the battery is and the type of charge point used. Charging rates vary from destination chargers, which can take 6-10 hours to completely recharge, to rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, which can provide a 0-80% charge in 20-30 minutes.
Electric vehicle charging is dependent both on technology built into the vehicle and that built into the charging infrastructure. For example, when the charging capability of the vehicle is less than that of the charger, then the vehicle will charge only at the maximum speed allowed by the vehicle. When the charging capability of the vehicle is greater than that of the charger, then the vehicle will charge at the maximum rate allowed by the charger. It is always best to check your car’s specification to understand the car’s charging capabilities.
While electric car batteries do experience some degradation over time, examples have shown that this happens too slowly to be considered a concern.
Most vehicle manufacturers offer extensive battery warranties, for example Nissan offers an 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty on the new LEAF, during which time Nissan will provide a new battery free of charge if there is a failure or if degradation reaches an unacceptable level (a reduction of 25% from its original capacity).
EVA England have partnered with ClearWatt, who provide used EV buyers, sellers and owners with transparent, independent battery health reports and unique data insights.
In terms of the national picture, primarily because of different people using electricity at different times around the UK, the industry believes that there shouldn’t be a huge problem.
There may be challenges at a local level, when a large number of people on one street – or more specifically on one substation feeder – all plug in their EVs at peak time. This could result in too much demand on the local electricity network.
There are a range of solutions to this issue, which are being implemented, including smart charging (the time when an EV is charged can be managed to avoid all EVs charging at peak times) and battery storage (electricity from eg. off-peak renewable energy such as solar or wind can be stored in the battery and used at peak times to reduce the demand on the grid). There are a number of trials of vehicle to grid (V2G) charging, where energy can be taken out of an EV’s battery and put back into the grid at peak times if required; V2G is expected to be rolled out in the coming years.
In terms of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, electric cars require more energy to manufacture so on average have higher embedded GHG emissions than a petrol or diesel car. However even when using UK grid electricity to recharge the car this is more than offset during the car’s use.
Over an average car’s life an electric car will usually be responsible for around 30% – 50% less GHG emissions than an equivalent petrol or diesel car when manufacture, use and disposal is considered. Using renewable electricity to recharge reduces this further.
Transport & Environment (T&E) have put together this tool that allows you to compare how much CO2 an EV can save compared to a diesel or petrol car over its lifetime.
The electricity used to charge electric vehicles ultimately comes from a range of sources within the grid, some of which use fossil fuels. However, in a country such as the UK with a mixed energy grid, electric vehicles are much cleaner than their petrol or diesel counterparts.
Renewables’ share of electricity generation is growing all the time, and some energy suppliers offer 100% renewable tariffs.
As the grid decarbonises with the increased use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, an electric vehicle’s emissions will continue to reduce over time.
Smart charging means charging the car during off peak periods when electricity demand is lower, and means that drivers can benefit from cheaper electricity and avoids triggering unnecessary additional investment in the electricity network.
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