Electric Cars – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Electric Vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars. The cost of recharging your car for a journey is much lower than the comparative cost of filling up with petrol or diesel.

The Electric Car Grant (ECG) is a government scheme that gives buyers a discount on electric cars valued at £37,000 or under. This gives drivers another incentive to invest in an electric car.

But the main benefit of EVs is their cleaner environmental impact compared to petrol and diesel cars, reducing harmful emissions and improving your carbon footprint.

With the extensive number of recharging stations, reduced costs, tax incentives and other incentives offered by many city and local councils, we’d say it’s well worth it for UK buyers to invest in an electric vehicle now.

An electric car (also known as an EV) is powered entirely by electricity stored in a battery, rather than petrol or diesel. It produces zero tailpipe emissions and is charged using a home charger, public charging point, or rapid charger.

Most modern electric cars offer a real-world driving range of 150–300+ miles on a full charge, depending on the model, battery size, driving style, weather, and use of heating or air conditioning.​

You can charge an EV in three main ways:

• Home charging: The most convenient and cost-effective option. Typically takes 6–8 hours overnight with a wallbox.
• Public charging: Available in car parks, supermarkets, workplaces, and on-street locations.
• Rapid charging: Found at motorway services and major routes, adding up to 80% charge in as little as 20–40 minutes.

Charging costs depend on electricity prices and where you charge:

• Home charging: Often costs just a few pence per mile, especially with off-peak tariffs.
• Public charging: More expensive than home charging but still typically cheaper than petrol or diesel.

Overall, EVs are usually significantly cheaper to run than traditional fuel-powered cars.

Charging time varies by charger type and vehicle:

• Home wallbox: 6–8 hours
• Fast public charger: 3–4 hours
• Rapid charger: 20–40 minutes to around 80%

While electric cars can have a higher upfront cost, prices are becoming increasingly competitive. Lower running costs, reduced maintenance, and potential tax benefits often make EVs cheaper over time compared to petrol or diesel vehicles.

Yes. Electric cars have fewer moving parts than traditional vehicles, meaning:

• No oil changes
• Less wear on brakes (thanks to regenerative braking)
• Lower servicing and maintenance costs overall

Electric cars often benefit from:

• Lower or zero road tax (depending on vehicle price)
• Reduced company car tax
• Exemptions or discounts in congestion and clean air zones

Incentives can change, so it’s best to check current government guidance or speak to our team.

Yes. With growing public charging networks and improved battery ranges, EVs are ideal for long-distance travel. Many drivers simply plan short charging stops along the way—similar to rest breaks.​

Most manufacturers offer 8-year or 100,000-mile battery warranties. EV batteries are designed to last many years, with gradual capacity reduction rather than sudden failure.​

It was the case in the past that the cost of insuring an EV was higher than petrol and diesel cars due to the shortage of parts. But with electric vehicles becoming more common, the cost of insuring an EV is now generally in line with combustion vehicles.

The average lifespan of an EV is 18.4 years, which is very close to the average lifespan of 18.7 years for a petrol car and 16.8 years for a diesel car.

The main concern with electric vehicle lifespans is the battery. But most EVs keep around 80-90% of their factory battery capacity after 100,000+ miles or 8-10 years. That means EVs can still operate at a high capacity even after long-term use.

On top of that, EVs have fewer moving parts than combustion vehicles meaning there is less that can go wrong and fewer parts that will need replacing.