The electric car, or Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) is no longer a futuristic dream. So far this year over 41,000 BEVs have been registered in the UK which is more than double that of the same period last year.

Barely a week goes by without a major car manufacturer announcing its plans to create a range of electric vehicles to replace their current petrol or diesel models.

It’s no longer just the tech savvy or environmentally aware customers that are switching to BEVs, but what really are the benefits of switching to electric?

The first and most obvious benefit is the improvement that it will have on our environment. Electric cars do not emit any exhaust gases from burning fossil fuels like the traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). This helps reduce local air pollution and can make a big difference in densely populated towns and cities.

Think back to this time last year when much of the world was in the pandemic induced lockdown. Images of cleaner cities, thriving wildlife and healthier environments swamped the internet.

Just one electric car on the road for a year has the similar carbon footprint as flying from the UK to Spain or Italy and back four times.

The second benefit of switching to an electric vehicle is the cost effectiveness of running one. On average a 100 mile journey in a conventional petrol vehicle (ICE) is around £10-12. The same journey costs less than the price of a sandwich in a BEV. Many companies allow their employees to charge their cars for free making the journey even cheaper.

Non-hybrid electric vehicles also benefit from zero road tax, and with an average of 200 parts the electric vehicle is easier to service and maintain. Because of the technology involved in an electric vehicle some BEV manufacturers can even remotely diagnose an issue without needing to see the car.

Following on from that, the third benefit of driving a BEV is the exemption from city congestion charges. London has had a congestion charge zone since 2003 and that zone has already expanded once and will grow again later this year. The current charge is £15 per day, 364 days a year.

London also has an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which can cost £100 per day for heavier vehicles.

Durham also has a charge zone and from next month (June 2021) it will be joined by Bath and Birmingham. Other cities are set to follow their lead soon.

If you are a regular commuter into an area with a congestion charge, the savings will quickly add up, and possibly even cover the cost of your monthly car payments. You could end up with a free car!

Fourthly, with energy companies offering off-peak tariffs and even buy back schemes, charging an electric vehicle is much cheaper than filling a car with petrol or diesel and renewable energy options make it even better for the environment.

Finally, with the ability to install a charge point at both commercial and residential locations, electric cars can be kept charge at your own convenience.

Electric cars are definitely about helping to protect our future, but they are no longer a dream of what might happen in the future.

Be part of the future, today.

Adrian Cooper
Client Partnering
EVC Solutions Ltd

At EVC we do business that won’t cost the earth.

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Want to know more about EV Charging? Download ‘10 Things You Must Know About EV Charging’ here.