Electric Car 101: Your EV questions answered.
Thinking of going electric but unsure if it’s the right choice for you? We’ve got all your questions answered to get you up to speed on all things EV.
1. What are the different types of Electric Vehicle?
There are 3 main types of electric vehicle, classed by how much electricity is used as their source of energy.
1. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)
Frequently revered to as EV’s, these vehicles are fully electric with rechargeable batteries and no fuel engine.
2. Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
A PHEV combines an electric motor and a fuel engine. To charge the electric motor the vehicle needs to be plugged in.
Whilst driving, your vehicle will switch between electric and fuel power in the most efficient way.
3. Hybrid (HEV)
Hybrids also combine an electric motor and a fuel engine, however, they cannot plugin to charge the battery. Instead they self charge by:
i. Regenerative Breaking:- Converts the kinetic energy that is lost during breaking back into stored energy.
ii. Engine Combustion:- Can act as a generator for the electric engine.
2. Are EV’s better for the environment than Petrol and Diesel
According to research by Transport and Environment, EV’s emit three times LESS co2 than petrol and diesel; this figure takes into account criteria such as the amount of co2 emitted when electricity is produced or fuel is burnt, as well as the carbon impact of resource extraction from batteries or of building a power plant.
Recently the UK government announced their aim to ban the production of fuel vehicles in the UK by 2040, amid growing concerns at level of air pollution caused by road traffic.
To urge people to make the switch to Electric, the government has set up the OLEV (Office for Low Emission) grant which contributes £350 towards your charger and installation.
For more info on how E-Charge Install can process your OLEV grant application and save you money see below.
3. Are electric cars more expensive to buy than fuel based vehicles?
At the moment, electric cars are generally more expensive to buy than petrol and diesel, however, as more EVs are produced, these costs are starting to even out.
Meanwhile the maintenance and charging cost of EVs compared to fuel vehicles are much less and therefore more economical over the course of ownership.
4. Is it expensive to charge my electric car at home?
Generally speaking no, the cost of charging should be much less than the cost of buying fuel.
See below how to work out the cost of charging your EV:
Size of car battery x Electricity cost of supplier = Cost to charge EV
(kWh) (pence per kWh) (From empty to full)
Example:
The Nissan Leaf has a 40kWh battery (roughly 144mile capacity) and the average cost of electricity in the UK per kWh is 14p.
The cost of charging the Nissan Leaf from empty to full will be roughly £5.60*
In comparison a petrol vehicle travelling 144 miles will have an approximate fuel cost of £19.84*
*Costs are approximate and vary on vehicle. Fuel cost based on average fuel cost 118.3p and 2020 average mpg 38.8mpg
5. How far can you drive before you run out of battery?
Range is one of the biggest factors for customers looking to buy an EV. All EV’s are different and variables such as; battery capacity, temperature, topography and driving style, can affect it. At the moment the average range of an EV in the UK is 193 miles.
As new EV’s continue to be produced, range continues to grow, see below a list of some of the longest range electric cars on the market.
Tesla Model S - 379 mile range
Tesla Model 3 - 348 mile range
Jaguar I-Pace - 292 mile range
Kia e-Niro - 282 mile range
6. How long do electric cars take to Charge?
The time it takes to charge an EV depends on the battery size and the speed of the charging point, and can vary between 30 minutes and 12 hours.
E-Charge Install provide the latest in fast charging technology. A typical EV (60kWh battery) will take just 3-4hours to charge with one of our 7kWh chargers.
Take a look at our range of fast chargers below.
7. Do electric cars break more than fuel cars?
This is a common myth and completely not true - electric cars tend to last longer than fuel cars.
EV’s have less moving parts, in fact they only have twenty moving parts, whereas fossil fuel cars have over 2000. Generally speaking EVs require less maintenance than fuel vehicles.
8. Where do I charge my EV?
There are lots of options to charge your EV, primarily; at home, at work or at public charging stations. Most places of work that have EV chargers offer these free, as well as thousands of free charge points across the UK including supermarkets, shopping centers, car parks, hotels and some service stations.
Most EV drivers like to plugin every time they stop to keep their car topped up. An easy charge solution is to have your own EV charger at home, so can charge overnight and ready to go in the morning.
Take a look at our great range of home chargers below.
9. What is an OLEV grant and how do I apply?
The OLEV (Office for low emission vehicles) grant is available for home or business installs and can reduce the cost of your box and install by £350 per charger.
Businesses can purchaser up to twenty charging units on the scheme, meaning a huge saving of over £7000. In order to receive the grant you must be eligible.
E-Charge Install staff and products are all OLEV approved, so once we can confirm that you or your business qualify, our trained experts will process your grant application on your behalf.
To read more on the OLEV grant and to see if you’re eligible check below.
10. Will I get an electric shock if I charge my car in the rain?
No, the entire car charging system has been thoroughly designed so that it’s as safe as reasonably possible to use when it’s raining.
Electric car chargers are weatherproof and are specifically designed to protect both the car and its humans from electrical shock. Electric vehicle chargers are rigorously and have to meet stringent safety standards.
*Ensure you apply common sense and read each cars safety instructions in cases of severe weather or faulty charging station.
