Expert advice for taking the electric avenue
heated seats instead of the main heater and pre-conditioning the cabin temperature while the car is charging.
Making use of regenerative braking functions, which uses the electric motor as a generator to send energy to the battery every time you lift off the accelerator or touch the brakes and pre-planning your route will also help.
And fitting an external domestic wallbox for your house or flat might be easier than you expect, as long as you have private parking.
A range of cabling and charging options are commonly available, depending on what you require – plus government grants are available to help meet the costs.
Leading electromobility expert Dave Pickles, the boss of Glasgow-based Jorro sustainable energy company, was keen to dispel myths about problems with electricity supplies in older properties when it comes to fitting domestic wallbox charging points.
He said: “Home chargers have been developed to protect against overload. All new chargers need to be able to handle varying levels of voltage supply.
“It’s massively rare for us not to be able to install a charge point – and they can be put in most homes that have a private parking space.”
Dave also hit back at ill-informed social media rants claiming electricity costs were so high that people might as well opt for diesel cars.
He pointed out the price of electricity would have to be more than 40p per kWh to make EVs more expensive to run than a normal diesel at today’s fuel prices.
Yet the average home electricity price is 17.2p, with EV tariffs offering as low as 5.5p, while even the average public rapid charging average price is between 25p and 35p.
Money expert Norton Finance backed up the claims, saying EVs in the UK usually cost about £106 less per year to run than petrol or diesel-consuming counterparts – saving £1492 on average lifetime ownership bills.
So while EVs do cost more to buy than equivalent petrol models and possibly have higher insurance rates, savings made through tax benefits and refuelling costs mean electric car owners save money over the lifetime of their vehicles.
Norton Finance also highlighted the exciting yet smooth driving characteristics of EVs – with instant acceleration being a hallmark.
And there are a wealth of ways to ensure you can pay for your next car that will suit your circumstances – ranging from unsecured personal or homeowner loans, hire purchase, personal contract plans or personal leasing.
A spokesman said: “Before making any big purchase, it’s critical to decide how much you can comfortably afford to pay back each month.”
The advice comes as a YouGov study of 1731 UK drivers commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman has revealed that 61 per cent would consider getting an electric car if they were to buy a new or used vehicle in 2022.
When those considering an electric car were asked about the key factors that would influence their decision to buy an EV, 59 per cent said that the UK’s growing charging network would be an important reason.
Other major influences were the greater choice of electric models now available (42 per cent), rising fuel costs (39 per cent) and closure of petrol stations (22 per cent).
Other important motivations for going electric in 2022 included environmental benefits (68 per cent), the convenience of home-charging (39 per cent) and suitability for their low mileage and mainly urban driving lifestyles (29 per cent).