Electric Vehicle (EV) Myth Busting & FAQs

As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads increases, so does the number of questions we get asked by people that are still on the fence about purchasing one.

EVs are a fantastic choice of car for the majority of consumers, however there are certain scenarios where you may feel as if you’d prefer a petrol or diesel, also known as Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). In the list below, we’ve answered many of the questions that often leave people on the fence.

Will my electricity bill increase if I have an EV?

Yes, having an EV will increase your electricity bill – but not as bad as you’d think. For example, in the Volkswagen Golf 1.5 Petrol, you’d be spending about £2.90 on a 22 mile trip (the average commuting distance). In the EV equivalent e-Golf, you’d be spending 78p per 22 mile trip.

So whilst your electricity bill will increase, you won’t be spending anywhere near as much as you would in a petrol or diesel car.

Can an EV drive far enough for me to go places?

The average UK commute varies across UK regions at about 22 miles a day, the average UK company car driver covers around 330-350 miles a week. Almost all the Electric Cars currently available have a WLTP range north of 100 miles, with a large majority pushing north of 250 miles.

Tesla’s Model S Long Range has a WLTP range of 375 miles. And can recharge from empty to 80% in around 45 mins.

The large majority of EVs have more than enough range to deal with most user’s requirements.

I’m unable to install an EV charger at my home

If you’re unable to have the correct infrastructure in your home to charge an EV, for example if you rent or live in a flat without a parking spot – then purchasing an EV may not be the best choice.

However, you are able to charge an EV with a standard 3-pin plug that can plug into a socket inside your home. So whilst you may not be able to install a charger, if you can safely connect a cable from inside your home to your car – then an EV will still be a good option. It will take longer to charge your car, but most EVs will be fully charged overnight.

Are the chargers easy to use?

The first time using an EV charger can be a bit daunting, but once you’ve used one you see just how easy they are to get familiar with. In some cases you will require to have an app on your phone, so it’s strongly encouraged that if you’re going on a journey that you’re unfamiliar with that you should plan ahead and see what chargers you’re likely to use and ensure you have that app installed on your phone.

EVs are quiet, will somebody walk in front of it?

EVs are indeed very quiet, especially in car parks. There is a risk that somebody may walk in front of you, but that risk is present in any vehicle. The best advice would be to assume people don’t know that you’re coming and prepare for someone to step in front of you – but this is something you should be doing in any vehicle.

What if I need to go on a sudden unexpected journey and my car isn’t fully charged?

EVs have a decent amount of range on them, meaning unless your sudden journey is hundreds of miles – then you won’t need a full charge.

That being said, it is possible that you may get into a scenario where you need to go out and your EV has zero charge but similar to petrol/diesel – it’s a case of getting into a habit where you don’t leave your vehicle on empty.

Electric Vehicles are too expensive

On paper Electric Cars are more expensive than their ICE (internal combustion engine) counterparts, but once you take off the UK government grant (currently £3,500) and consider the cheaper running costs (fuel and servicing costs are significantly cheaper) electric vehicles then become a viable option.

MG currently offer a Full EV with a very reasonable price of £21,995 (that’s including the government grant and MG customer saving). Read our review on that vehicle here.

How long will electric vehicle batteries last, and will they end up in landfill?

The majority of Electric Vehicles have a 5-8 year battery warranty or 60,000 – 100,000 miles dependent on manufacturer. Most manufacturers predict their batteries will last between 10-20 years before replacement.

Once removed from the vehicle most EV batteries can be re-purposed into energy storage devices to help power homes and businesses. Once they reach the end of their working life as batteries, they will be dismantled and recycled for their individual components.

Are there enough public chargers?

The number of public chargers increases on a daily basis, and they aren’t limited to the traditional motorway service stations. Hotels, Supermarkets and Restaurant chains are all installing EV infrastructure to help add to their customer offering.

The UK currently has 27,881 public charge points across more than 10,000 locations, that’s an average of one charger per 8.84 miles.