Guide to buying an electric car
Thinking of purchasing an electric car? First you need to work out if it’s right for you; from the cost of buying and running to the range of models to choose from and charging port availability. We delve into all of that in our guide and answer all the questions you may have about buying an electric car.
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Consider the cost of buying
With the electric vehicle market expanding and technology advancing, electric vehicles are coming down in price.
A new electric car with batteries may be purchased for as little as £17,000 for the Smart EQ ForTwo and as much as £140,000 for the Porsche Taycan. Cars costing less than £35,000 are eligible for the plug-in car grant, which is worth up to £2,500. However, keep in mind that dealers deduct this from the asking price of any qualifying vehicles. In terms of the used EV market, a Nissan Leaf less than 5 years old can be had for £10,000 on Autotrader, while Renault Zoe prices start at £4,500.
Bare in mind though that while buying second hand is the cheaper option, you have to consider battery deterioration and whether the list prices include battery leasing. Finance and EV leasing is always available if you buy a new car directly from a dealer too. Electric vehicle leasing is becoming increasingly popular as it allows you to drive a brand new electric car for a small upfront fee, followed by monthly payments.
Not only are electric vehicles good for the environment, but if you use one for business, you may save thousands of pounds in taxes yearly too.
The cost of running
It’s now a well known fact that the cost of electric vehicle charging is significantly cheaper than filling up with petrol or diesel. For example the Mini Electric uses 15.5kWh/100km, which costs around £2.20 if you charge at home. Meanwhile, a normal Cooper S auto uses, at best, 5.6 litres of fuel to cover the same 62 miles. That’s £7 in unleaded.
Buying an electric vehicle also includes other cost savings such as:
No congestion charge to pay for if travelling through London
only pay road tax if your electric car was new after April 2017 and cost £40,000 or more
reduced maintenance costs as electric cars have fewer moving parts that need replacing. You don’t have to worry about a timing belt or engine oil.
Service and Repairs
Electric cars will still require regular servicing as well as an annual MOT after they are 3 years old. Mechanically, there are fewer moving parts and no oil filters, and have no conventional clutch. Until battery replacement, and this lasts around 10 years, the biggest outlay will most likely be the cost of the tyres.
As for the software, some EV manufacturers can actually fix this remotely, but it’s always important to check with the manufacturer.
Charging points and driving range
Next is charging points and importantly, the amount of range you can get from your EV. This has been a point of contention recently, with ranges being low on current EV’s and there being charging points few and far between.
That being said, EV driving range has improved significantly compared to where it was; new EVs typically have ranges of 150 to 300 miles whereas older EVs, even those just 3 or 4 years old, are more likely to have ranges of around 100 miles.
People don’t typically drive more than 20 miles daily, and what the car is used for most is usually the work commute. But if you’re planning a long journey, rapid charging points are your best bet for charging your car quickly. Usually you can find these in most petrol stations and motorway service stations.The best thing you can do is download ZapMap, which shows all 30,000-odd chargers in the UK along with payment and access information. Be sure that your EV has a connection for rapid charging capability though.
The cheapest way to charge your EV though is at home. You’ll need somewhere to park your car, whether that be in the street or your driveway and have a portable charge point. The typical cost of a home charge point is around £800, and that may sound like a lot but it makes charging your EV simpler and cheaper in the long run.
OLEV presently offers a grant of up to 75% of this cost through its Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, with a maximum award of £350.
The options available and what you’ll use it for
Every manufacturer is beginning to saturate the EV market now; you’ve not only got Tesla now, but models such as theRenault Zoe, Volkswagen E-Golf and the Jaguar I-Pace. There are many different types of electric vehicles, and you can read RAC’s guide to get some more in depth knowledge into them.
Whatever electric vehicle you choose, it must be compatible with your lifestyle. As a result, you must examine not just the car's appearance, but also its range, charging method, and how your mileage and driving style may affect both.
Once you’ve decided on a shortlist of cars, you need to take them for a test drive! EV’s feel very different to drive due to the silence, regenerative braking systems and the overall power. Why not speak to Hilton Garage today so we can arrange a test drive for the vehicles you’re interested in and find a car to suit your needs.
Be it buying a first car, an upgraded family vehicle, or an upgrade for the business, an electric car is great for the environment, your wallet and your enjoyment. If you’re ready to plug yourself in to the electric vehicle world, browse our EV stock and flexible finance deals. If you need to sell your old car to make way for a new EV first, you can do that with us too using our vehicle valuation tool.