The truth about ELECTRIC CARS

By 2040, new cars that run solely on petrol or diesel will no longer be sold in the UK, according to Government projections. While it seems a long way off, one in every 12 cars sold is now electric. But there are many misconceptions about electric cars, so let our motoring editor, Ginny Buckley, bust some myths…

THEY’RE EXPENSIVE

Electric cars do cost slightly more than petrol or diesel cars, with prices starting at about £18,000, but a Government grant of up to £3,500 can help (hybrid cars are not eligible). Find out more details at gov.uk/ plug-in-car-van-grants. Other savings include free parking spaces and running costs of as little as 3p per mile. Electric cars are zero rated when it comes to road tax – however, you do still have to apply to make sure the car is licensed. Charging prices vary depending on where you're plugging in, how large your battery is and the car you have. Charging at home takes around six to eight hours using a home charging unit, costing an average of around £3-£4 for a full charge. Plugging it into a domestic socket takes much longer.

IT’S HARD TO FIND A CHARGING POINT

About 90% of electric cars are charged at home, and the UK has more than 15,000 charging points, including at nearly all motorway service stations. Coverage does vary by location, but Google Maps can pinpoint your nearest charging point. It can take as little as 40 minutes to charge at a rapid charging point.

IT WILL RUN OUT OF JUICE AND I’LL BE STRANDED

Newer electric cars like the Hyundai Kona can travel as far as 300 miles on a full charge (90% of car journeys are less than 15 miles).

THERE’S NOT ENOUGH POWER

The National Grid says it will be able to cope with the extra demand from electric cars, and has plans to stagger the supply of electricity for home charging while we sleep.