Buzz or Bust? Are Electric Vehicles Right For you?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are very quickly becoming a pivotal part of economic and social life across the globe and in the UK, with the number of electric cars on our roads increasing yearly. Over 10 million Electric Vehicles were used globally in 2023 and a projected 17 million by the end of 2024. But what does this mean for the British public? Is all-electric the future, and are EVs really worth the premium price?

Charging Ahead

Electric vehicles have many great advantages, the most obvious one being their lack of carbon emissions, which, along with reducing the price spent on fuel, is also great for the environment and provides a renewable way to commute. One of the main reasons people tend to shy away from buying EVs is the accessibility of charging stations. It's common practice for EV owners to install charging ports in their homes, and there is a large variety of options available with many price ranges, including:

• Andersen A2: from £1,199

• Easee One: from £500

• EO Mini Pro 3: from £966

• Hypervolt Home 3 Pro: from £690

Now, while these prices seem very high for the most part, the majority of customers opt to install home chargers due to the challenges of finding public charging stations. However, this is not due to a lack of charging stations; there are over 30,000 in the UK and 6,000 in the South East. But because they are in inconvenient and awkward places, such as shopping centers, public car parks, and even some workplaces.

For a good number of people, this is very practical as it fits their needs and use case. But for a person whose workplace doesn't have the appropriate charging facilities, or for someone who uses their car for other things, finding charging ports away from home can feel tedious and can cause some drivers to have to go out of their way to find one, possibly extending the time a trip takes, especially during trips to more rural areas where chargers are harder to find.

This, however, is becoming less of a problem in the modern-day as the mileage that is possible from car batteries has improved. EVs no longer offer short, slow driving experiences and can last well over 200 miles (over a week's worth of driving)! And while you will certainly pay a premium price for better mileage, soon having to charge outside of your home will become an action of emergency rather than one of necessity.

Choices, Choices, Choices

Most electric cars aren't cheap, but once you purchase one, you will save a significant amount of money long term. For example, the average person in the UK spends over £1,200 on fuel every year! When taking into account the current cost of living crisis, this could help a lot of people manage costs better.

When comparing the average costs of buying petrol to the average cost of charging a car over a year's time, there is a stark difference - £890 to be exact. So, provided you have the money to install a home charger, getting an EV is the perfect option for a lot of people, especially first-time buyers and students who have less disposable income as it is.

As mentioned before, high-performance electric cars are not cheap, but if you are willing to give up a few luxury features and are okay with shorter mileage, you can find Electric Vehicles from as little as £17,000. A few options in this price range include (some items on this list include second-hand prices, data from cinch.co.uk):

• Smart ForFour: a small four-seater electric car by Smartcar, has a small mileage of 80 miles, good if you don't drive very far/often £20,000 used.
• Volkswagen e-Golf: the recognizable Volkswagen Golf with an electric engine, five-seater and has a very respectable range of 186 miles. Good for local daily use. From £16-25,000 second hand.
• BMW i3: very sleek looking electric car by BMW, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic internal structure, average 145 miles range. A good choice for a first car. £15-20,000 second hand.

For the mid-to-high range electric cars, you get much better mileage, faster charging speeds, and better overall aesthetics/user experience. But they cost anywhere from £30-50,000. Some examples include (data taken from Motorpoint.co.uk):

• Tesla Model 3: This very well-made and sleek car has an excellent 318-mile range and a modern interface, costs just under £40,000 new and while a little old now, still holds up tremendously well.
• MG4 X-Power: Small well-built electric car from MG has a great range of 295 miles, and has a very fast engine starting also at just under £40,000.
• Ford Mustang Mach-E: one of the higher performance electric vehicles on this list, very fast engine well built and has a very good range of 247, great for lovers of traditional fast diesel cars but without the negative effects on the environment (no traditional Ford engine sound, sadly!).

Another option often overlooked is Hybrid Vehicles, which use petrol as the main fuel and are supported by a secondary electric engine that's often charged by the kinetic motion of the car braking or the tires rolling. These are a great option for those who want the best of both worlds without the high cost of premium electric cars. I spoke to Alethia Lee who recently bought a Volvo XC40 self-charging hybrid; she said:

Driving a hybrid car gives more miles to the gallon[...] I love finding ways to reduce fuel consumption by modifying my driving style.

She also went on to say that she loved the ability to use petrol as it's so accessible and also rely on electricity, she said she wouldn't invest in a home charger until it was more cost-effective.

There is such a wide range of Electric Vehicle options for drivers in the UK, and even some that I didn't mention such as electric bikes and scooters. It's important to think of the environment and to do so in a way that is cost-effective. I hope this article allowed you to gain a deeper understanding of the EV market as well as understanding the advantages and drawbacks of them, hopefully helping you to make an educated decision no matter your price range. ​

Thanks for reading!