Electric vehicles

Cheaper to run

The electricty to charge an EV works out around a third as much per kilometre as buying petrol for the same vehicle, depending on your make and model.

Check out the Fuel Cost Savings Calculator on the My Electric Car website to do some comparisons.

Cheaper to maintain

An EV has fewer moving parts than a petrol or diesel car. This means relatively little servicing and no expensive exhaust systems, starter motors, fuel injection systems or radiators, which aren’t needed in an EV.

Batteries do wear out so replacement batteries will eventually be needed. Most car manufacturers warrant EV batteries for around 8 years.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have a petrol engine that needs regular servicing, so they cost more to maintain. But because the electric motor requires little maintenance due to far fewer moving parts, this still results in less wear and tear on the petrol engine components.

Better for the environment

Less pollution

By choosing to drive an EV you are helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emisions. EVs emit considerably less carbon dioxide than petrol or diesel vehicles.

Renewable energy

If you use renewable energy to recharge your EV, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions even further.  For example, you could recharge your EV from your solar PV system during the day instead of from the grid. Click here to learn more about the potential of battery energy storage systems for getting better value from your solar system.

Eco-friendly materials

There is also a trend towards more eco-friendly production and materials for EVs. The Ford Focus Electric, for example, is made up of recycled materials and the padding is made out of bio based materials. The Nissan Leaf’s interior and bodywork are partly made out of green materials such as recycled water bottles, plastic bags, old car parts and even second hand home appliances.

Health benefits

Reduced harmful exhaust emissions is good news for our health. Better air quality will lead to fewer health problems and costs caused by air pollution. EVs are also quieter than petrol or diesel vehicles, which means less noise pollution.

Safety improvements

Recent findings have shown that several EV features can improve safety. EVs tend to have a lower centre of gravity, which makes them less likely to roll over. Depending on the model, they also have a lower risk of major fire or explosions, and the body construction and durability of EVs can make them safer in a collision.