Chances are, you’ve already spotted more and more of the little green rectangles on license plates, and as we get closer to the Government’s deadline to stop the sale of new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars in 2030, you’re going to spot a lot more.
As the name suggests, electric vehicles run on electricity – either partially or fully – with the energy being supplied via a battery in the vehicle.
There are many things to think about when considering making the switch to an EV; from driving range to charging capacity, environmental impact to noise pollution, it’s important to make the decision that’s right for you. And, we’re here to answer any questions you might have about EVs before you make the switch!
How Much Do EVs Cost?
Compared to ICE vehicles, electric cars tend to have higher upfront cost when you buy, with the average cost to buy a new electric car in the UK falling just under £50,000.
While this number looks high, one of the major advantages of an EV is their fewer maintenance costs compared to a standard fuel car throughout its lifetime. Here are just some of the areas you can expect to see substantial savings with a pure electric Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV):
- Charging: The average cost, as of January 2023, to fully charge a 60 kW BEV at home is £15.10, enough for a range of 200 miles. Compared to EVs, it would cost £104 to fill a petrol car of the same size, giving it a range between 200 and 400 miles, depending on miles per gallon. This means that petrol vehicles are significantly more expensive to charge than their electrically powered counterparts, despite the recent rise in electricity costs.
- Road Tax: How much you pay for road tax each year depends on how much C02 your car emits, and when it was first registered. For petrol and diesel vehicles, it ranges anywhere between £30 and £2,365 for models that emit more than 255g/km. Hybrids are significantly cheaper, costing between £0 and £135 every year. And for a fully electric vehicle, you pay nothing.
- City Charges: If you drive in London’s congestion charge zone between 7 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday and 12 pm – 6 pm on the weekends and bank holidays, you’ll have to pay £15 a day to do so. However, electric cars actually fall under the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, meaning EV car owners don’t have to pay a penny extra to drive!
So, despite the high upfront costs for a new electric vehicle, the overall expenses needed to maintain EVs throughout its lifetime is significantly lower.
The BES Group Solution
The BES Group are proud to be playing an important role in supporting the switch to a greener future. Our people are experts when it comes to electric vehicle charge point installations. With us, you can rest assured that the service you’ll receive will be in line with national standards.
And we’re OZEV approved, which means our customers can take advantage of Government grants to reduce the cost of their EV charge point installations!
For all your EV charging installation requirements, we have the solutions.
