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Electric, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid – just three terms relating to energy-efficient and low-emission vehicles. But what do they mean, and what are the benefits of each?
There are several benefits that come with owning an electric or hybrid vehicle. For instance, an EV produces next to no noise, which makes it very relaxing to drive. What’s more, an EV is exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), while PHEVs aren’t taxed as highly as petrol/electric cars. Let’s look at some more advantages to driving electric…
We have some of the very best EVs money can buy, including the Nissan ARIYA, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Renault Megane E-Tech Electric and Vauxhall Mokka Electric.
The Renault Captur E-Tech and the Hyundai IONIQ are just two examples of the many great plug-in hybrid vehicles available now at Smiths Motor Group.
Vauxhall produces a couple of terrific hybrid vehicles such as the Astra and the Grandland – and Dacia offers the very practical 7-seat Jogger Hybrid.
An electric vehicle differs markedly from a combustion engine-driven car. An EV is driven by an electric motor – which is powered by a battery, and requires regular charging (whether at home, at work or on the road). An EV produces no tailpipe emissions. It’s also cheaper to charge with electricity than a fuel-driven equivalent is to top up with fuel.
At Smiths Motor Group, we stock an array of efficient and low/zero-emission vehicles, such as the Dacia Jogger Hybrid, Hyundai KONA, Nissan LEAF, Renault Megane E-Tech Electric and the Vauxhall Astra.
If you have any questions about our electric and/or hybrid vehicles, please take the time to if they’re answered in our FAQs below.
Electric cars have several benefits over conventional cars that run on petrol or diesel. Some of the benefits are:
✔ They are cheaper to run and maintain, as electricity is cheaper than fuel and electric cars have fewer moving parts that need servicing or replacing.
✔ They are better for the environment, as they produce zero tailpipe emissions and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
✔ They are quieter and smoother to drive, as they have no engine noise or vibration.
✔ They are eligible for various incentives and discounts, such as lower road tax, free parking, access to low-emission zones and grants for buying or installing charging points.
Electric cars use an electric motor powered by a battery to drive the wheels. The battery can be recharged by plugging into a charging point, either at home or in public places.
The range of electric cars depends on various factors, such as the size and capacity of the battery, the speed and driving style, the weather and road conditions, and the use of heating or air conditioning. You can check the official range of any electric car on the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) website.
You can charge your electric car at home if you have a dedicated charging point installed. You can also charge your electric car at public places, such as supermarkets, shopping centres, car parks, hotels or motorway services. There are over 40,000 public charging points in the UK, with more being added every day. You can use apps or websites such as Zap-Map or Pod Point to find and locate public charging points near you.
The charging time of electric cars depends on the type and power of the charging point, as well as the size and state of the battery. There are three main types of charging points in the UK:
✔ Slow chargers (up to 3 kW): These are typically found at homes or workplaces, and can take around 6 to 12 hours to fully charge an electric car.
✔ Fast chargers (7 to 22 kW): These are commonly found in public places, such as supermarkets, shopping centres or car parks, and can take around 3 to 4 hours to fully charge an electric car.
✔ Rapid chargers (43 to 150 kW): These are usually located along motorways or major roads, and can take around 30 to 60 minutes to charge an electric car up to 80%.
The cost of charging an electric car depends on the price of electricity and the type of charging point. The cost of using public charging points also varies depending on the provider and location. Some public charging points are free to use, while others may charge a flat fee or a per-minute rate.
