You may not all know this but in less than eight years’ time, the government will be banning the sale of all new fossil fuel cars, such as petrol and diesel cars and vans. This is the only way the UK will be expected to achieve the zero-emissions target which is set for 2050. This means in order for the government to fulfill this promise, the expansion of public charging points across the UK will need to be expanded to 300,000.
It won’t be long until the most common car or van to be purchased will be electric. Just to see the overall size of this new car revolution, there are currently only 1.3% of electric vehicles recorded on UK roads from an estimated 35 million cars. This number is steadily increasing as the demand for electric cars and vans is becoming more noticeable.
There are some burning questions currently being asked that need to be answered, which may help you drive away in your new electric car or electric van.
The first and most important question currently being asked in forums and social media is;
Why are electric cars so expensive?
The main reason for the higher costs of electric cars and electric vans is that electric vehicle (EV) batteries are very expensive to manufacture, and not only that, the investment required to set up manufacturing plants is enormous to accommodate the new technology.
The good news is that the costs will eventually come down in the not-so-distant future and the costs will be more comparable to a combustion engine car. One thing to also consider is the total expenditure over the car’s lifetime.
Remember also you’ll be paying for the increase in electricity to power up your EV and electric bills have started to jump in the UK due to certain global factors which are having a knock-on effect on households and businesses throughout most of Europe,
Some good news also, the other cost savings to consider, electricity is still cheaper than what you are currently paying at the pumps. Your electric car or electric van will be cheaper to maintain because there are hundreds of moving parts inside a combustible engine, as opposed to none in an electric car. The end of oil changes, coolants, etc. And no moving parts also means less wear and tear. However, the cost of replacing EV batteries is currently high. Manufacturers will offer guarantees that the longevity of your EV batteries will be at least eight years.
Do we have enough public charging points?
Not right now, but massive investments are being made to increase the 30,000 public charging points to around 300,000 by 2030. The UK managing director of Vauxhall recently said the current number of public charging points is “nowhere near enough” but believes the situation will improve vastly by 2030 as EVs become more common due to increased demands. As it stands now, only rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are considered suitable for charging for long journeys, and currently these amount to approximately 5,500 charging points across the UK, with 800 of these being the Tesla Superchargers, only able to be used by Tesla cars.
What’s the range of a fully charged EV?
The answer to this question will depend on the make and model of the EV you are driving. To give you an idea of the ranges currently out there whilst driving an electric car, a hatchback car will give you an approximate range of around 200-250 miles. As technology advances, by the end of the decade, this will be increased dramatically. Currently, EVs are powered by lithium-ion batteries but the game-changer is most likely to be the introduction of solid-state batteries. These batteries will be lighter and able to charge much quicker than the lithium-ion battery, and the major point is that electric cars powered by solid-state batteries will be able to travel much further on a single charge.
What about if I can’t charge at home?
The good news is that the majority of households in the UK, approximately 18 million people, have the ability to offer or provide off-street parking for one, maybe two vehicles. This data also states that this leaves just over eight million households with no access to be able to charge from home, and this data includes some people living in flats or apartments.
Local authorities have already started to install on-street chargers, and you’ll start to see more and more chargers at local supermarkets, or at a local charging hub. The overall plan is to create an abundance of choices to charge your EVs, almost everywhere you go where there is public access provided.
Will we all have electric cars in the future?
Paul Wilcox of Vauxhall says “Seismic changes are coming”. He’s also quoted as saying “a huge rise in things like subscription models”, which will enable customers to hire or rent EVs on a monthly basis, which will include additional costs like car insurance and maintenance. This will give affordable access to many more people who would only require private transportation for short periods of time. Also, an increase in car sharing will start to increase in popularity. And let us not forget, that driverless cars are still the future and will become the norm in the very near future.
Try used before you buy new
At Best Price Car Sales based in Southampton, we offer a range of used electric cars and used hybrid cars at very affordable prices, plus we’re able to provide not only competitive part exchange deals but also same-day approval car finance. And last but not least, free UK door-to-door delivery at your home or place of work.
To find out more about our exclusive offers and deals, call us now at 02382 543 928 and speak to one of our friendly advisors who will take you through the process step by step up to driving away in your dream quality used car.