Electric cars – the ultimate guide

Note: The information provided in the article below is correct as at 29th August, 2023.

There’s little doubt that electric cars (also known as EVs) will transform the car industry and will begin to dominate our roads in years to come.

Recent studies in the Journal of Applied Energy have proven that electric cars are now cheaper to run than their fossil fuel alternatives (also known as Internal Combustion Engines, or, ICE vehicles) and can outperform them too. Electric and AFVs (Alternative Fuel Vehicles) can not only go as fast as most supercars, but are also vastly more energy efficient than their fossil fuel equivalents.

This guide covers the important elements of electric car ownership. For further reading, check out how to sell an electric car. And if you’re ready to sell your electric car, you can start with Motorway now.

Read on for a deep dive into electric car ownership.

electric car charging
Park up, plug in and re-charge your electric car. The future is now!

Modern electric cars can travel up to 670 miles on one charge, so bearing in mind the average car journey in the UK is just nine miles, a full charge will last most car drivers many weeks or even months. 

Although the UK has seen many government and policy changes since ultra-low emissions zones came into force in 2019, the prevailing trend is firmly away from high-polluting diesel and petrol cars.

They have announced a Zero Emission Mandate (ZEM) from 2024, which means a certain amount of cars sold in the UK by each car brand have to be electric. This is in line with the goal of restricting new car sales from 2035 to be all-electric only. One thing is clear – the future is green, the future is electric!

In this electric cars ultimate guide we’ll look at the following:

The rise of electric cars

Believe it or not, electric cars have been around since the early 1800s, but they never quite took off until this century. Why is this? Simple. They have been totally outperformed on almost every measure by petrol and diesel alternatives.

Electric cars used to be too inefficient, expensive to run, slow, and simply not comparable to other models in terms of performance. Well, not anymore!

We’ve seen increasingly more electric cars on the road in recent years. Stand-out models include the BMW i3 and Tesla model 3. But buying one can be a step into the unknown for many motorists.

With electric vehicles becoming a viable option for more motorists every year, we’re here to shine some light on the topic.

How do electric cars work?

So, how do electric cars work? Instead of the engine burning a fossil fuel like diesel or petrol, they run on electricity. They contain big internal batteries that you charge, instead of filling up with traditional fuel. Recent improvements in battery technology have given electric cars the edge they desperately needed in order to compete with ICE vehicles.

Most EVs these days operate from a high-voltage lithium-ion battery. Unlike the ‘normal’ batteries in most cars, which are primarily used to power things like the radio and start the engine, the battery in an electric car runs everything including the motor.If you are interested in digging deeper into electric car batteries and have questions like: what voltage are electric cars? We’d highly recommend having a read of Howstuffwork’s guide to how electric cars work.

electric car
The inner workings of the BMW i3 all electric car

Only a few years ago EVs were for enthusiasts or environmentalists. They were slow, they were expensive and they took hours to charge. Not anymore.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Experts expect that soon you will be able to recharge your electric car ‘to full’ in the time it takes to drink a coffee. Currently, most public charging points are 7kW. It would take up to 10 hours to go from empty to fully charged, using these chargers (depending on your EV model).

However, public ‘power chargers’ can be found, which can partially or fully charge EVs much quicker. Tesla sells an at-home charging point (or wallbox) which works on 22kW for speedy at-home charging. For more information on how long it takes to charge EVs, read our handy guide.

Power charging and long ranges are all possible because of advances in battery technology. Lithium-ion batteries have a very high energy density and are less likely to lose their charge when not in use. They are also lightweight, so great to have under the bonnet or chassis. The latest batteries can provide up to 620 miles on one full charge!

How much is an electric car?

Many car brands are branching out into EVs, and most are starting with small models that cost between £15,000 and £28,000. Some are also producing higher-end SUVs for drivers who want the best of both worlds: the benefits of electric with the comfort of a luxury vehicle. In terms of purchase price, there is now enough of an electric range on the market for most drivers to find a suitable model within budget.

It’s worth remembering, however, that as of 1st April 2025, EVs will be subject to road tax including the expensive vehicles supplement. So, if you spend more than £40,000 on your EV you can expect to pay hundreds of pounds in road tax for at least the first five years of ownership.

When sizing up the price of any car, you need to think about purchase price and running cost.  A study conducted in 2015 revealed that the total cost of owning and running an electric car over four years worked out cheaper than a fossil fuel vehicle — and this will have come down even further in recent years. 

This is partially due to government grants and subsidies, as well as EVs being exempt from extra charges such as low emissions zones in urban centres. The 2015 study found EVs to run 10% cheaper than petrol and diesel equivalents. This took into account initial cost, ongoing depreciation, fuel, taxation, insurance, and maintenance involved with owning an electric car.

How much do electric cars cost initially? (Government grants on electric vehicles)

The initial cost of AFVs has dropped significantly in recent times due to the upscaling of production by most of the big carmakers, lower battery prices in the market, and government grants and subsidies.

The UK government did also have the plug-in car grant scheme to new orders, but after successfully kickstarting the UK’s electric car revolution and supporting the sale of nearly half a million electric cars, this scheme was dropped in 2022. 

The scheme has succeeded in creating a mature market for ultra-low emission vehicles, helping to increase the sales of fully electric cars from less than 1,000 in 2011 to almost 100,000 in the first five months of 2022.

Battery and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) now make up more than half of all new cars sold and fully electric car sales have risen by 70% in the last year, now representing 1 in 6 new cars joining UK roads.

Last year, the bestselling UK electric car was the Tesla Model 3, which has a RRP range of £48,490 to £61,490.

The Tesla model 3 is leading the charge for electric cars as the most popular EV in the UK.

How does electric car salary sacrifice work?

Salary sacrifice can help you save between 30-60% on the cost of an electric car. Under a salary sacrifice scheme, money for your chosen employee benefit (in this case, your car) is taken from your gross salary before any income tax or national insurance contribution is deducted. Learn more about salary sacrifice schemes here.

Are electric cars worth it? Pros and Cons

There are many advantages to owning an electric car. Here are our top 6:

1) Fuel is up to 5 times cheaper

Electricity for your car will cost you up to 5 times less than fuel for your petrol/diesel car. Of course, this is subject to fluctuations in fuel costs.

2) Government grants are available

£3,000 grants are available from the UK Government to help with the initial cost.

3) They are better for the environment

They don’t use fossil fuels and therefore have a much smaller carbon footprint than their fuel-based cousins.

4) You pay no tax until 2025.

There’s no road tax (VED) to pay in the UK for electric vehicles until 2025.

5) They are fun to drive

Electric car motors are fundamentally different from the internal combustion engine and this makes for a totally novel driving experience. Acceleration is often much quicker.

6) Quieter driving experience

Electric engines don’t have any fuel to burn and combust, which makes them a lot quieter to drive.

What are the main disadvantages of owning an electric car?

Though we’ve been singing electric’s praises throughout this article, there are some downsides to ownership.

1) Inconvenience: you have to wait for them to charge

Depending on the type of charger you are using (and the size of your car’s battery), it can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 12 hours.

2) Cost: insurance is more expensive

Electric car owners can expect to pay around £330 a year more for their insurance than fuel-based vehicle owners. This, of course, changes over time.

3) Cost: maintenance is more expensive

Many mechanics and engineers simply aren’t trained and don’t have the necessary knowledge required to repair an electric vehicle. Yet.

4) Cost: purchase price

The Volkswagen Golf petrol engine model starts at around £25,000 for the most basic model. The e-Golf starts at approx £31,000 — so electric cars can come at a comparative premium.

5) They weigh more

These vehicles rely totally on the battery, these are often large and linked together in arrays or packs. This can weigh a lot and reduce the car’s range.

How much is car tax (VED) on electric cars?

All fully-electric vehicles are totally exempt from vehicle excise duties (also known as car tax, or simply VED) until 2025. Read our handy guide for more information on road tax for EVs.

Hybrid vehicles (a mixture of electric and fuel) will be tax-free as long as they have zero C02 emissions; so your tax cost will vary from model to model.

If you live in London, you won’t have to pay the congestion charge or ULEZ charge at all on an electric vehicle. 

How much is Insurance for electric cars in the UK?

Insurance is an area where traditional fuel-based vehicles win on cost. A recent study by Compare The Market found that electric car owners can expect to pay around £330 a year more than fuel-based vehicles.

The study found that while the average car insurance premium stands at £740, car insurance for electric cars costs £1,070 to cover a year. The savings you can make elsewhere, particularly on fuel should easily offset this additional cost.

How much are maintenance costs for electric cars?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are generally cheaper to maintain than fossil fuel vehicle, as much as £600 cheaper if you charge it at home.

This is due to the fact that most EVs have fewer working parts than a standard internal combustion car. Whilst this means that that is less that can go wrong, EVs still need regular servicing in order to run efficiently.

Additionally, any niche or highly specialist repairs could be more expensive than in a traditional car, since not all mechanics are trained in servicing EV engines.

electric car repair
Electric cars tend to be cheaper to repair, as long as the work is quite routine.

How much do charging stations for electric cars cost? Calculate electric car charging costs.

Going electric will save most car owners a lot of money on fuel costs.

Many estimates consider the cost of charging your electric car to be around five times cheaper than using a petrol or diesel car fuel equivalent. You can also charge your electric car at home, meaning you never need to go to the petrol station again!

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that charging your car from home costs around £2 to £4 for every 100 miles.If you would like to learn more about exactly how to calculate your electric car charging cost, we highly recommend you read this article from the EV Charging Solutions website.

How much do electric cars cost to run?

We think an electric car will work out increasingly cheaper to run overall, but it all depends on how much you are using the car and the particular vehicle you are looking at. It’s always best to do the calculations for your own requirements.

If you’re based outside Greater London and drive into the city on a regular basis, then an electric car is a no-brainer due to huge savings on the congestion charge and ULEZ rate. You’ll also find free parking spaces and charging points for your EV.However, before taking the plunge, we strongly suggest taking a look at some of the grants and subsidies provided by the UK Government, as these can help you to save even more money. 

How do you charge an electric car?

Charging electric vehicles is often a worry for many potential EV owners and the process is frequently misunderstood. But don’t fear, it’s all pretty simple. When it comes to charging your EV you have two options:

A) Charge your car at home

B) Charge your car at a public charging point.

electric car charging socket
Cable up and charge! No more fuel caps, no more pollution

How do I charge my electric car at home? (home charging stations)

Most EV owners opt for charging at home. That’s going to be the best option if you have a driveway or street parking outside your home. If you don’t have parking at home then you may want to see the section below on charging whilst on the road.

There are two ways to charge your electric car from home.

Charge via the mains, like you would your mobile phone (this is slow)

Charge via a specialist home charging point (this is fast!)

Charging via the mains (3 pin)

All electric vehicles come with the correct cables and accessories to allow you to charge your car from home via the mains right off the bat. One end goes into the mains with a normal plug, just like the one on your kettle.

The other end goes into the charge point on your vehicle. This is known as ‘Trickle Charging’ and it can be slow.

For example, charging a Nissan LEAF to full (the UK’s most popular EV) could take between 12-15 hours.

With an upgraded 7KW charging point, you can get your charging time down to 4-5 hours.

The Nissan Leaf (20kWh battery model) will get you a range of around 107 miles on a full charge, although this can vary depending on speed and driving conditions.

Charging with a home charging station

Having a home charging unit can decrease the time it takes to charge your EV by up to 10 times! They also increase safety as there is no need for cable trailing around your house.

You simply order one and have it installed at a dedicated point (usually, next to where you park your car). 

The downside is that they have an initial installation cost of up to £1,000, although you can get £350 off with the government’s OLEV grant. 

dedicated electric car charging points
Your dedicated electric car charging point will look something like this!

There are many variations available on the market. Which one you choose will depend on the vehicle you own. Pod Point, a popular seller of home charging points, offers three options: 3.6kW, 7kW, and 22kW.

The higher the kW, the faster your battery will charge. You will need to check whether your electric car is compatible with high kW charging before deciding which option to go for.

You can use the Pod Point website’s tool to help you find out which charging point is right for a particular vehicle.

In the example below, we checked a Tesla Model S and then selected the option with a cable.

Pod Point is one of the most popular options for dedicated car charging points

It shows that this particular EV will work with the highest kW charger available (22kW) and will charge to full in 4 hours.

That’s pretty swift, considering the Model S can do around 310 miles on a full charge. By our maths, a ½ hour charge would give you an estimated 38.75 miles of driving. More than enough for a local trip!

How do I charge my electric car at public charging points and stations in the UK? (and where to find them)

If you need to charge your EV away from home there are plenty of charging points around the UK. Zap-Map provides a great map tool for locating your nearest charging point.

You can just tap on a particular point to see information about who is providing the power and any costs. They also have a very handy app. As you can see from the image below, there are already plenty of options all over the UK!

Source: https://www.zap-map.com/live/

Pro tip: many electric cars now come with a smart GPS that will direct you to the nearest charging point.

With the government having announced it will spend £400m on a national charging network, this infrastructure is only set to grow. Most charging points these days provide free ‘slow’ charging but many different providers may ask you to pay for ‘fast’ or ‘rapid’ charging.

Some providers may also require you to download an app or start a subscription to access charging.You can find more information about the different charging providers and costs on Zap-Map. It’s worth remembering that charging points will be far more ubiquitous in urban areas and more sparse out in the sticks!

How do I charge an electric car at service stations? (and petrol stations)

The number of rapid charging points at service stations is increasing every day and the trend is only set to continue; especially with big players like Shell starting to compete by introducing electric charging points at their petrol stations.

Currently, the Ionity network charges £0.69 per kWh. So, a 100kWh EV sets you back £69 for a full charge. Cars that cover five miles per kWh will pay around 13.8 pence per mile using Ionity. The chargers on the Instavolt network are slightly cheaper – at £0.66 per kWh. 

Due to the current energy crisis in the UK, chargepoint company Osprey announced in 2022 that its rapid chargers raised their prices to £1 per kWh – so, a 100kWh EV would cost around £100 for a full charge.

bp pulse charges around £0.44 and £0.69 – the range of prices depends on the speed of the charger being used, and whether you have signed up to the app or not. 

ecotricity sockets
Source: https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-the-road/our-electric-highway

What are Tesla charging stations? (Tesla supercharger network)

Tesla Supercharger network
Take your pick of Tesla and enjoy the benefits of the Tesla Supercharger network

Tesla now have their own charging infrastructure, for Tesla cars only, in place across the UK and around the world.

The Supercharger network is the fastest in the UK with speeds of up to 120kW available (about five times as fast as your standard public charger). It will take around 30 minutes to get to 80% charge.

They operate two different networks, Supercharger (for rapid charging on the UK’s major roads) and Destination (for charging in towns/cities and places drivers are likely to spend their time). Destination charges are free to use by all Tesla owners.

Map of Tesla charging points in the UK – this number is growing all the time.

In 2022, Tesla rapid chargers cost 44p/kwh which works out at around £11 for 30 minutes of charging. However, the Tesla Supercharger Network also has points across the UK which are free to use for owners of Tesla EVs.

Touchscreen navigation systems inside every Tesla model can navigate you to the nearest Supercharger station or unit. Simply enter a destination on your touchscreen and ‘Trip Planner’ will give you the best route through Superchargers along the way.

You won’t need a smartphone app or card to charge your Tesla at a Supercharger or Destination point. The unit will communicate with the car to make sure the vehicle is a Tesla before allowing you to charge. Below is a map of all the charging points currently in the UK (Supercharger in Red, Destination in Grey).

How many miles can electric cars go without stopping?

In 2022, the average distance an EV can go on a single charge is 193 miles. However, there are electric vehicles that can go up to 300 or 400 miles on a single charge. 

Charging infrastructure is also growing rapidly, so if you’re in a town or city it shouldn’t be hard to find somewhere to park and charge your car if you run out of range. 

Range can also be extended if you drive efficiently. This is similar to petrol and diesel vehicles. If you keep the pedal to the metal for long periods, do fast starts and lots of stop-starting, your battery will run down faster.

How do I get the maximum range from an electric car?

Maintain momentum

Read the road ahead and reduce unnecessary acceleration and breaking.

Avoid braking harshly

Regenerative braking is a key feature with EVs. When you lift your foot from the accelerator, resistance (kinetic energy) is created, this is then used to recharge the battery while you drive. Harsh braking will reduce this process and lead to your battery running down faster than it might usually. 

Keep it slow and steady

High speeds will increase energy consumption more in an electric vehicle than it will do in a traditional petrol/diesel model. This is because EVs don’t have gears and the energy saved by driving at high speeds in a high gear won’t apply to an electric.

Be conservative with the heating and air-con

Heating and air conditioning can add up to 10% on the total amount of energy withdrawn from the battery on an EV. Air conditioning will use up less power but if you’re travelling at low speeds it may save you a few quid to open the window instead!

Know your vehicle’s eco features

Lots of the latest EVs come with features that can save you power and money, so make sure to read the handbook for your model for specific information. 

How fast are electric cars?

Electric cars typically have much faster starting acceleration than their fuel-based counterparts. This is not because they are more powerful per se but because the power is available earlier than a fuel-based vehicle.

The Tesla Roadster claims to hit 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds and 0-100mph in 4.2 seconds (times achieved by F1 cars), a quarter of a mile takes just 8.9 seconds. 

That’s the fastest time ever recorded for a production car! This would embarrass most Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches from a standing start. Top speed isn’t an issue either, with the Roadster coming in at 250mph.

Generally, though, top speeds are slightly lower on most electric models, the fast acceleration notwithstanding.

A good demonstration of electric cars being quicker off the line but slower at top speed, check out this amazing video of a Tesla Model S vs the Mclaren 720S.

What are hybrid cars?

Hybrid cars use both electric and petrol or diesel power. This means combining a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. They consume less fuel and emit less C02 than a comparable all-fossil fuel model.

They are, in general, cheap to fuel, with better fuel economy than all-fossil fuel cars. Owners also benefit from lower first-year VED (road tax) as well as avoiding congestion charges.

Toyota Prius hybrid electric car
The Toyota Prius, one of the most ubiquitous hybrid car models on the road

An extremely popular hybrid model is the Toyota Prius. 

The Prius has traditionally been used by many ride-sharing drivers (like Uber) in urban centres, as it’s very economical for city driving. When going at low speeds with lots of stop-starting, only the electric motor is used.

Hybrids offer the best of both worlds. You get some of the tax benefits associated with electrics, and the performance and range associated with all-fossil fuel models. Unlike electric cars, the downside of hybrids is that they still pollute (although not as much as standard petrol/ diesel cars).

To refuel them, you fill the tank with petrol or diesel at a filling station, like with any all-fossil fuel vehicle. The electric motor charges itself through regenerative braking and the engine itself.

Are electric cars better for the environment?

Electric cars still use electricity that may have been produced by burning fossil fuels, but estimates suggest that even if this is the case, they cut over half the emissions an internal combustion engine produces.

If the electricity is produced by nuclear or hydropower, the emissions footprint of the vehicle can be as little as 1% of a traditional combustion engine. We can safely advise that electric cars are much better for the environment. They should prove to be a very good investment, particularly in urban centres.

Ready to sell your car?

Ready to learn more about valuing, maintaining, and selling your car? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from hybrid and electric car depreciation, to converting your car to dual-LPG fuel.