The conversation about electric cars has been around for several years now. In that time manufacturers have answered many concerns, including infrastructure anxiety with a European standard charging point, whilst the Government has tackled pricing issues with incentives for both public and business buyers.
 
Since the Global Pandemic, interest, and excitement about the future of electric vehicles has reached, dare we say it unprecedented levels. Fuelled by a drastically changing lifestyle and a desire to adapt to an eco-friendly way of living, it is time to genuinely consider whether an electric vehicle, hybrid or not, is right for you…
 
Welcome to the TC Harrison Ford ultimate guide to electric vehicles.

Anxiety surrounding electric vehicles is a genuine misconception of reality. In August 2019, there were more electric charging stations than fuel stations and we haven’t stopped installing… Infrastructure is already here, we are already ready and the affordability is, well much more affordable than you think. To quote Mary Poppins, “some stuff and nonsense could be fun”. That is, if the stuff and nonsense is the unreasonable anxiety.  

How far will an electric car really go on one charge?

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’d 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.
 

How can I charge my electric car?

Just like you charge your mobile phone but with more options; at home, at work, at your destination and en-route.

What if all the charging points are full and what if my battery runs flat?

Take it from someone who has driven through the Mojave Desert with a fuel tank almost empty and not a petrol station in sight, today’s problem isn’t a real problem and never will it be. Because in the scenario of turning up to a petrol station that is full, what do you do? Wait or find one that isn’t full. The same principle applies for charging electric vehicles and ask yourself this, how many times have you seen all the charging points full? Me neither. Infrastructure is and will continue to, keep ahead of the game. Before you know it every single space in the supermarket will have a charging point.

What if my car is unplugged by someone else?

Once your cable is plugged-in and locked it is not possible to unplug.

Can I charge my electric vehicle in the rain?

Yes. There are numerous layers of protection when it comes to stopping rainwater causing damage to your car or charger.

Will a car battery degrade like a phone battery does?

No. Almost all car batteries come with a guarantee of 8 years and last between 15-20 years.

Why does the marketing talk about charging to 80%?

This is because once your battery reaches 80% the charge will slow down to ensure overheating doesn’t occur. So you may experience slower charging time between 80-100% but this is considered the norm as the only times you’re expected to have a fully charged battery is when you charge overnight. Hopefully, this has changed your current perception around owning an electric vehicle and has ridden the anxieties of the unknown. Now, it’s all about how you make the decision between full-electric or hybrid...

Aside from the environmental and money-saving benefits of owning an electric car, there are also additional benefits and incentives.

0% Tax on Electric Vehicles for Company Cars

Since April 6, 2020 cars first registered will have company car tax rates reduced by two percentage points. That means for a pure electric vehicle with zero tailpipe emissions, company car drivers will be taxed at 0%, paying no BIK tax at all. Furthermore, the zero-percentage rate is also extended to company car drivers in pure electric vehicles registered prior to April 6, 2020, who were already looking forward to a much-reduced rate of 2% for 2020/21. The 0% rate will also apply to company cars registered from April 6, 2020, with emissions from 1-50g/km and a pure electric mile range of 130 miles or more. Both will then increase to 1% in 2021/22 and 2% in 2022/23.

The cost of owning an electric car

Endless factors come into consideration here, from Government grant schemes on the initial purchase price to how you recharge and where you drive to your energy tariff. In most cases, running an electric car saves you significant money in comparison to an ICE car.

Recharging an electric car vs refuelling

The average UK electricity price is around 14p per kWh and if you assume an electric car will travel 3.5 miles per kWh on average then to travel 100 miles would cost around £4 or 4p per mile. However, assuming the petrol car’s fuel consumption is 50.5mpg (which was the average in 2018) then fuel, at £1.24 per litre would cost around £10 for the 100 mile trip or 10p per mile. If you are on a cheaper fixed tariff for your electricity, then it's likely the cost to fill up your electric car will be cheaper still. And that is assuming you’re charging at home. You could make even bigger savings by recharging at work or ‘topping-up’ when you’re out and about. Naturally, the above is only an indication and depending on where you live, the prices you pay for both electricity and fuel and the vehicle you own may increase or decrease these savings.

Car tax on electric cars

Now that vehicle tax is based on carbon dioxide emissions, pure electric cars are exempt from paying for the first year. Subsequent years are also free, unless your electric car is over £40,000 in which case you’ll still pay a lower tax than petrol or diesel cars for the next 5 years.

Maintenance cost on electric cars

We all know the older a car is the more servicing it requires. Fortunately, electric cars have fewer moving parts so naturally this means fewer things to go wrong. Many leasing companies and manufacturers also offer maintenance packages for an additional cost to help cover any unforeseen issues.

The adoption of electric vehicles

Like with anything new to the market, there is a period of time where consumers have to adapt; for electric vehicles that process began a number of years ago. A limited range and high cost price was a huge stumbling block for almost all consumers. Since then, the manufacturing process has developed and the awareness around our own carbon-footprint has grown tenfold thanks to the likes of Greta Thunberg.

Now, electric vehicles are on the brink of being the norm. The latest models are considered to be the same price in the long-run as ICE vehicles and by 2023 it is widely accepted that ICE vehicles will become socially unacceptable with over a third of vehicle owners now driving an EV.

Not just that, but in the next couple of years it is fully expected that EV’s will be materially cheaper than ICE vehicles, which will well and truly set the wheels in motion for rapid adaptation. Before 2025 ICE leases are thought to be 50% expensive than EV with them being almost impossible a year later.

How can we be confident? Norway are pretty much there already with EV leasing over half the price of an ICE leasing option. So it’s only a matter of time before that option isn’t viable for anyone...

From here it’s then a matter of completing the cycle of every car owner purchasing a new vehicle; which will no doubt be electric. Ultimately, the chances are you have already purchased your last sole ICE vehicle.

The future of electric vehicles has just become the present.