​Everything you need to know about electric vehicles

So, you’re interested in making the switch from fossil-fuelled vehicle to an electric vehicle? The benefits of using an electric vehicle are endless both for the environment and on a personal level.

Nevertheless, after using a traditional vehicle for so long, the thought of making the change can be slightly daunting, to say the least. Not knowing just how easy the switch to electric can be is the reason that many stick in the usual routine of a fossil-fuelled vehicle. That’s why we’ve decided to write up a conclusive guide to electric vehicles, to show you just how simple it is.

What is an electric vehicle?

An electric vehicle (EV) has an onboard battery that gets charged through an electric supply instead of using a traditional fuel tank. This means that much to the surprise of most who enter an EV for the first time, there is no clutch, gearbox or exhaust pipe, making for a smoother drive.

How many people drive electric vehicles in the UK?

The number of people driving electric vehicles in the UK is growing every year. Since there first commercial inception in 2013, the number of registered plug-in vehicles has risen from 3,500 to 166,000 in August 2018. Around 4,000 pure-electric vehicles were registered per month in the UK in 2017.

Although figures are growing, in relation to entire vehicle sales, electric vehicles still only make up a small percentage.

How do you charge an electric vehicle?

In the years to come, charging an electric vehicle will be the norm. Much like you now charge up your phone and other electrical devices, charging an EV is no different except much more power is needed.

The number of charging points for electric vehicles is growing month on month to match with the uptake of EVs. As well as the numbers increasing the speed of the charge is getting faster, too. The slower charging points will take up to five hours for a full charge whilst newer chargers (commonly found on major roads and motorways take between 20 minutes and an hour.

There are currently over 17,000 charging connectors across the UK. You can look at the number of electric charging points near you here: www.zap-map.com. You might be surprised!

What is an electric car’s range?

This is one of the most common questions we get asked when somebody comes to us looking for an electric car hire. In truth, it depends on the model but the electric car range typically goes from 100-150 miles on a full charge.

As some examples, the Nissan Leaf has an average range of 170 miles, the Renault Zoe Z.E. 40 R90has an average range of 155 miles and the BMW i3 90Ah has an average range of 125 miles.

How do upkeep prices compare?

The running costs in terms of fuel, repairs and taxes are substantially lower for electric car owners. The cost per mile between a Renault Zoe (electric) and Renault Clio (petrol) were 2.6p and 9.4p. In a push to increase uptake, the government also exempts EVs from certain taxes and levies.

Electric vehicle car hire UK

If you are looking to hire an electric or hybrid car on your next trip, get in touch with us today. Green Motion car rental takes its environmental policy seriously, championing best practices and attitudes to ensure that our impact on the environment is kept to a minimum.

If you would like to hire an electric, hybrid or low-emission vehicle, use our online booking system to browse the options available to you at your local branch.