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The UK's transition to electric vehicles is accelerating, and we are here to tell you everything you need to know about going electric, from charging facilities to the various electric powertrains available.
Discover the many benefits of making the switch, including more eco-conscious driving and money-saving opportunities you can enjoy.
Welcome to the ultimate guide to EVs from TC Harrison Ford.
There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to figuring out if an EV is right for you at the moment.
EVs perform best when used on short to medium journeys, usually being able to go anywhere under 200 miles before they need to be charged up again. However, as the technological landscape is improving in the EV world, naturally so is the range of many vehicles.
Public charging infrastructure is also improving greatly as time goes on, meaning that if you do need to charge your car, there is a wide range of places you can do this.
Many people who drive EVs find it easier if they have a wall box charger installed onto their own house, meaning that they can charge their car at their leisure whenever they need to. If this is something you would like to do, it is important to find out if you can get one installed, e.g if you rent your home, you may need to get permission from the landlord to do this.
If for whatever reason you can't get a wall box installed, or you simply don't want to - this is also fine. As previously mentioned, there are a whole host of places you can charge your EV at varying costs, from fuel stations to supermarket car parks, you'll never be too far away from an EV charger.
It's important to remember that not every EV is the same. There are various different types of electric vehicles that work and charge up differently. Take into account your lifestyle, driving needs and charging capabilities when deciding which kind of EV to go for as your next car.
Mild Hybrid Vehicles (MHEV) use an internal combustion engine which is assisted by an electric motor. When driving at low speed, or when stationary, the engine can switch itself off and the starter-generator seamlessly restarts when needed.
A separate Li-ion battery is automatically recharged by regenerative braking during coasting and braking. With a MHEV vehicle, there is no requirement to connect the battery to a power source.
The benefits of a Mild Hybrid Vehicle include a cost-effective solution to joining the electric revolution and improved efficiency than traditional combustion-only engines thanks to Ford’s EcoBoost petrol-hybrid and EcoBlue diesel-hybrid powertrains.
An example of an MHEV available from TCH Ford are selected models of the Ford Puma
Hybrid Vehicles (HEV), are also like MHEVs and utilise an internal combustion engine, however, they feature a much larger battery and a more powerful electric motor.
This provides greater assistance to the engine allowing for the vehicle to be powered purely by the electric motor alone for short journeys at low speeds.
With a HEV, the battery is recharged by a combination of regenerative braking and the engine. Hybrid Vehicles cannot be plugged into a mains power source and are only offered with automatic transmission.
The benefits of a Hybrid Vehicle include much greater mpg efficiency than that of a Mild Hybrid Vehicle, lower CO2 than its combustion-only engine counterparts and the ability to conserve fuel due to its larger battery and electric motor.
An example of a HEV vehicle available at TCH Ford is selected models of the Ford Kuga
View the Ford Kuga at TCH Ford
Plug-in Hybrid vehicles (PHEV) offer the same functionality found with Hybrid powered vehicles through its combining electric motor and efficient conventional engine. The difference being, a PHEV offers the added benefits of being able to charge the battery via an external electric supply. Featuring a larger battery capacity, PHEVs are capable of zero-emission driving for ranges up to 30 miles, using only its electric motor to power the vehicle.
PHEVs intelligently conserve battery life by utilising their efficient combustion engines on longer journeys, whilst switching to the electric motor in traffic or at low speeds.
The benefits of a Plug-in Hybrid vehicle include much greater mpg efficiency, significantly lower CO2 emissions, ability to charge by electric mains and the capability of zero-emission driving.
An example of a PHEV vehicle available at TCH Ford are selected models of the Ford Kuga
Battery-Electric vehicles (BEV) offer all-electric driving from a battery-powered motor. Future-focused and environmentally friendly, they provide purely zero-emission driving with travel range varying from 100 to 300+ miles depending on the range capacity of the vehicle battery.
Like other battery devices, such are your mobile phone, Battery-Electric Vehicles also require electric charge once you have used up the energy stored in the battery. They can be charged either by plugging in a fast charger (AC 10-20kW), rapid charger (DC 50-100kW), or a high-power charger (DC 150kW).
Benefits of investing in BEVs include government incentives of up to £3,500, an annual fuel saving of £1,000+, savings on scheduled servicing, significant road tax and company car tax savings, as well as doing your bit for the environment with zero-emission driving.
An example of a BEV available at TCH Ford is the Ford Mustang Mach-E
60% of the population have off-street parking and even more, 84% of car owners have off-street parking. Which means the chances of being able to charge your car at home is high. Having a dedicated home charger installed (which is only a small initial outlay to help save money in the long run) is the most common way of charging.
A dedicated charging point will provide the fastest possible charging speeds, typically between 10 and 30 miles of range per hour when plugged in. You will also be safe in the knowledge the charging point has built-in safety features.
Just like when you’re at home, your car is often parked at work for prolonged periods of time meaning a great opportunity to charge or top up the battery of your car.
Many organisations are now installing charging stations for employees and visitors as a perk and these charging points are almost always the same as the one at home. So yes, you will have to take your charging cable with you; but there’s nothing else to it.
Commonly, electric vehicle owners will ‘top-up’ their battery whilst out at their destination. Whether this is at the shops, gym, cinema, you name it. These frequent top-ups mean that you won’t run low or have to wait whilst your battery recharges from empty.
Again, the speed of these charges are similar to when at home with 20-30 miles of range per hour plugged in. However, they are typically free to use as this offers an incentive for you to visit the business. Yes, you will still need to bring your own cable and you may have to download an app to start your charge; but in today’s world this is nothing out of the everyday.
There may be occasions when the remaining range on your charge isn’t enough to achieve your destination. Fear not as in this scenario you can take advantage of the growing network of high power rapid chargers found in service stations and other locations throughout the UK.
No, you don’t actually have to bring your own cable as the 43kW+ cables are tethered to the charging points and yes it will fit your car as there is a European standard to ensure this. As you’d expect, with these being expensive to install and run, there is a charge for using them but this is just like topping up with fuel en-route.
Just the same as what you would do if you turned up at a petrol station that was full, you simply wait for one to become free or go to somewhere with an available charging point. As demand continues to increase for electric cars, the amount of available charging infrastructure grows larger also.
Once your car is plugged in and charging, it is not possible for somebody else to unplug it without unlocking it using your keys or entry pin.
This is one of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to electric car charging, so we're here to tell you that yes, you can!. There are numerous layers of protection when it comes to stopping rainwater causing damage to your car or charger, so there's no need to worry about charging your car in the rain.
Generally speaking, yes, the price of a brand-new electric vehicle will be more than its ICE engine counterpart. Government grants can significantly reduce the gap - check the Plug-in Grant for Cars and Vans scheme.
However, there are savings to be had when driving electric vehicles. Until 2025, they are exempt from road tax and have lower company car tax rates. Depending on your energy tariff, you may also save money in the long run by charging your vehicle up with electricity instead of filling up with fuel.
Arguably the greatest concern for new electric vehicle owners is how far an electric vehicle will really go on one charge. The answer is: almost as far as you would expect a tank of fuel to go.
In the beginning, the likes of the Nissan Leaf and the Renault Zoe could barely manage 50 miles on a full charge. Now, we have models such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E that can reach 370 miles between charges. Make sure to check the range of any electric car you may purchase to see if it is suitable for your needs.
Fancy stepping into an electric world? View the range of electric vehicles available TC Harrison Ford.
View Electric Vehicles Available at TCH Ford
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