Electric cars – what you need to know
Electrics cars are becoming more popular in the UK in order to save money on fuel and help the environment. Here’s what you need to know if you’re looking to buy an EV.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
When looking at the average UK electricity price (around 14p per kWh) and assuming an EV will travel 3.5 miles per kWh on average, a 100-mile journey will cost you around £4 – or 4p per mile, compared to the average price of fuel costing 14p per mile.
How long does it take to charge?
Charging time on cars varies by make and model. The Tesla Model 3 is the fastest charging car in the world currently (when charging on ultrafast chargers). If you don’t have a Tesla, typically it takes just under 8 hours to charge from empty to full on a 7kW charging point, but as little as 30 minutes if you’re using a 50kW charger!
How many miles can I drive on a full charge?
The average range of an EV on a full charge is around 181 miles but again this will vary from car to car. The longest range EV car on sale currently is the Tesla Model 2 Long Range which will give you around 375 miles per charge (and will also set you back in excess of £75,000!)
Charging electric cars
Many people worry that with an electric car comes the stress of finding where to charge them, but this isn’t really the case. Whilst charging your car through a standard household plug can take a long time, you can get charging points fitted in your home designed to charge your car. This can come as an additional cost on top of your car but there is a government scheme which offers £500 off the cost of having a home electric charging point fitted.
There are also around 15,500 public charging points in the UK, with a government pledge that no electric vehicle owner be more than 30 miles away from their nearest charging point by 2030! You can find the nearest charging point to you over on Zap-Map!
What’s next for electric cars and Marmalade?
You told us and we listened! We’re pleased to say that we can now offer quotes on our Black Box Insurance for some electric cars. This is in order to help young drivers up and down the country get insurance cover if they want to make the switch over to a EV.
We’re also really excited to announce that we will soon be offering electric cars on our Cars for Young Drivers product. If you want to keep up to date with Marmalade news, including when EV’s are launched – sign up to our newsletter and stay in the know!
Your guide to electric cars
Electric cars are becoming more mainstream - in fact, 18-24 year old car owners are almost five times more likely to own an electric car than older car owners. Not only this, but 78% of 18-24 year olds agree that electric cars are the future of the motor industry!* This means that the more demand for electric cars, the cheaper they become to buy. It’s great news for young drivers looking to opt for an electric car! As well as all the benefits from getting an EV (electric vehicle) as they become more mainstream, the costs of the cars are dropping, meaning they’re more accessible for all drivers, including young drivers!
The UK's plan is to ban the sale of new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars in 2035 meaning before we know it, we’ll all be driving electric vehicles. With all that in mind, we’re here answering some of the most common questions surrounding electric vehicles, as well as looking at the benefits of opting for an EV!
How much do electric cars cost?
Much like petrol and diesel cars, the cost of the car will depend on things like make, model, features and type. Luckily there are EVs to suit most budgets so it’s worth shopping around. The government also have a grant on certain eligible plug-in cars for up to £3,500 off the price which will give you a helping hand if you’re choosing an EV as your next ride.
What are the best electric cars for young drivers?
There are plenty of EVs on the market to suit all drivers! Nissan, Renault, Hyundai and Kia to name just a few of the car manufacturers who offer electric cars. Even Vauxhall have just launched their brand new Vauxhall Corsa, with the option of a fully electric Corsa-e! ,We can’t tell you which electric car is the best for you, because it’s all about personal preference. Do you need a bigger car, quicker charging time or longer miles per charge? These are all things to take into account when shopping around (the same as you would with a petrol or diesel car). With that being said – here’s our top 5 we think are perfect for young drivers. They’re more compact, easy to drive and they’re good for the environment (obviously!)
- Vauxhall Corsa-e
- VW e-Up
- Renault Zoe
- Nissan Leaf
- Skoda Citigo-e iV
Electric cars and the environment
It goes without saying – electric cars are better for the environment. They emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their life span. Even after the production of the vehicle and the generation of the electricity required to fuel them.,Opting for an EV is a great way to cut your own costs to run a car, as well as doing your bit in helping the environment.
