Electric Vehicle FAQs

The cost of charging an EV is different depending on if you are charging at home, work or public charging.

• Charging at home: Depending on your charger, this will cost around £3.64 for a full charge.
• Charging at work: Some employers install workplace charging points and may even offer free access for employees.
• Charging at public stations: Public charging points at supermarkets or car parks are often free to use for the duration of your stay.
• Rapid charging stations: Rapid charging points are found at motorway service stations and typically cost £6.50 for a 30-minute charge.

You can purchase a home charging point to charge your EV at home. The government offer a OLEV Grant for those customers who purchase a eligible electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle from 1st October onwards. This grant entitles you for a grant of up to £500 to purchase and install a home charger.

Having a home charging point means:

• You can charge your vehicle overnight, meaning you can take advantage of the cheap night-time electricity rates and drive for as little as 2p per mile.
• Overnight charging also ensures that the car’s battery is full each morning.

Make sure you select the charging point that is compatible to your car, there are Type 1 and Type 2 plug points.

• There are free websites and downloadable apps such as Zap Map that can locate the nearest charging station to you.

• The median range for electric vehicles is continually increasing, with most electric vehicles now being able to make 114 miles on one full charge.
• Some vehicles even being able to reach as many as 335 miles.

Although electric vehicles may tend to be more expensive than some new Petrol or Diesel Vehicles, there are many other factors that bring the overall cost down.

• The OLEV Grant entitles most* Electric Car owners to a grant of up to £3,500 towards their EV.
• A full charge in an EV will give a typical range of 100 miles and will cost £2 to £4 depending on battery size. Driving 100 miles in a petrol or diesel car will cost around £13 to £16 in fuel, which is around four times the cost of the electric car.
• There are fewer mechanical components in an electric vehicle when compared with conventional vehicles, which often results in lower servicing and maintenance costs.
• EV drivers do not have to pay the London Congestion Charge and also benefit from free parking in many Pay & Display spots.

*not all EV models qualify for the grant, to find out what specific models the grant is applicable for, click here.​

• For an EV using a standard UK home socket, a full charge time would be between 6-8 hours.
• Rapid charging points are also available in public areas such as service stations and can top up the battery to an 80% capacity in around 30 minutes.

• Electric cars can work in all kinds of weather including snow and blazing heat. A tip is to make sure that in sub-zero temperatures you are still plugging in and charging your EV, otherwise it could get damaged.
• With models such as the Nissan LEAF offering room for five and a spacious boot, EVs are growing to become even more viable as an alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles.

• EV are just as safe as Petrol and Diesel models.
• Many EVs, including the Nissan LEAF have been awarded top five-star Euro NCAP Ratings.

• Plug In Hybrids (PHEV) have a larger battery that you can charge using mains electricity, meaning you can drive further at higher speeds on pure electric power before the engine starts.
• There is also the Extended Range of Electric Vehicles (E-REV), such as the Vauxhall Ampera, which can go further on electric only power, before the engine kicks in.
• Then there are pure Electric Vehicles, such as the Renault Zoe Dynamique and the Nissan LEAF, which rely solely on charging.

Want to know how much you could save from driving an electric vehicle? Click here