Is the future electric?

We have all heard of electric vehicles (EV). But are you under the misconception that they are more expensive to run/to buy?

The UK has taken a historic step to stop selling new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. This will put the UK on course to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars.

Research from Zap-Map showed that more than 90% of EV owners are extremely happy with their EV vehicles and would not want to replace them with a petrol or diesel car.

We are all trying to travel sustainably where we can. Did you know that all 4 of our directors at Richard Jackson all own a hybrid or electric vehicle too?

Unlike traditional petrol and diesel car, an EV has an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. To fuel it, you simply need to plug in to a charge point to stay topped up, or you could charge it at home. The government proposes they will see up to 145,000 charging points installed across the country each year.

So, what are the benefits of an EV?

Lower cost:

An EV is an excellent investment for drivers who are looking for a cheaper, more efficient, and reliable way to get around. The cost of an EV depends on the make, model, features, and type.

Other than the upfront purchase cost and the insurance cost, an EV can be 49% cheaper in tax and maintenance compared to petrol cars, 58% cheaper in fuel and 100% lower in COâ‚‚ emissions. Fully electric vehicles (criteria apply) are also exempt from the congestion charge and ULEZ charge in London.

Better for the environment:

Using an EV can better the environment by reducing air pollution. Without car parts such as the tailpipe, pure electric cars produce zero carbon dioxide emissions when driving. In over a year, just one electric car on the roads can save an average of 1.5 million grams of COâ‚‚, which is the equivalent of four return flights from London to Barcelona.

Although the cost of producing an EV is higher than that of a normal vehicle, experts broadly agree that electric vehicles create a lower carbon footprint over the course of their lifetime than vehicles that use traditional internal combustion engines. On top of that, the higher environmental costs are often offset by EVs’ superior energy efficiency over time[EC10].

Fast, easy home charging:

Charging your car is just as easy as charging your mobile phone. With home charging, you could either install an EV charging point or use a three-pin charger into a standard UK socket. The slow charger is a portable standard three-pin plug that takes power from your domestic supply, and the wall box charger is a standalone charger that is mounted to the external wall, wired into your domestic electricity supply. If you are a frequent EV driver, a wallbox is recommended as it can charge your car much quicker than a standard socket.

The government also offers grants to support the wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles via the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). To do so, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme provides grant funding of up to 75% charge points at domestic properties across the UK. The increase in electric charging points will encourage more owners to travel in a greener way.

Cheaper to maintain:

Remember the soaring prices of petrol in 2021? With an EV, you don’t have to worry about that issue. Although upfront prices of new electric vehicles can be higher than an average petrol or diesel car, the cost of running an EV is significantly cheaper, and thus, in the long run, saves you money.

Quieter driving experience:

Are you getting frustrated with the loud vibrations happening in the interior of your car? Why not consider an EV? One of the few things you will notice as an EV driver is that the vehicle would be much quieter when driving, which helps create a far more comfortable and relaxing driving experience!

Are you interested to know more? Visit Go Ultra Low for more information related to EV home charging estimator, charging point maps and more!