This year, almost 200,000 electric vehicles have been sold in the UK taking the total number to over 1.2 million. It means that more than one in five of new cars sold are now EVs.
Are you ready to join the EV revolution? Check out some of the reasons why more and more people are choosing to drive electric this World EV Day.
UK-wide charging network
Range anxiety is often listed as the number one reason for drivers not making the switch. That’s the fear of not being able to charge and being left stranded with no battery. Well, that’s simply not possible now with a widespread, reliable charging network across the UK. On the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway we already have over 1,500 charging bays at over 190 locations, with more and more being installed each month, from motorway service stations to convenient retail sites and our Electric Forecourts®. Couple that with the average range of an EV now sitting at over 200 miles, and you can see why there’s really no need to worry about range.
Better for the environment
Electric cars produce zero emissions which can drastically improve local air quality, as well as play a part in helping limit the global temperature rise to 2oC as part of the Paris Agreement. Transport accounts for around of a quarter of our country’s total emissions and a reported 91% of all transport emissions come from road vehicles. That’s 111 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent coming from road vehicles every single year – think what an effect a few more EVs on the road would have. Worried about where the electricity comes from? The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is supplied by 100% net zero carbon energy, including from our hybrid solar and battery farms.
Cheaper to run
It’s not just the cost of charging your car (both at home and on the go) where you can save money, there are plenty of other ways that make EVs cheaper to run. To start with, you’ll pay less vehicle tax and you’ll be exempt from all inner-city clean air zones. Additionally, electric cars have fewer moving parts than a big combustion engine, so there’s less to go wrong, which impacts maintenance and servicing bills. Good news, too, the price difference between EVs and petrol or diesel cars is reducing all the time, meaning you’ll start saving sooner than ever.
Quiet and peaceful
Life behind the wheel of an EV is much more relaxing than in a petrol or diesel. The near-silent and smooth powertrain means there’s limited noise and vibration from the outside world. Get it right, and the best electric vehicle cabins can feel like you’re travelling inside a giant set of noise-cancelling headphones. Until recently, you would had to sit in a Rolls-Royce or a library for this sort of serenity.
Exciting to drive
Just because EVs are quiet and comfortable, it doesn’t mean they’re boring. Quite the opposite, in fact. Electric cars are a heap of fun to drive, thanks to the instant acceleration from the electric motor. You’re probably familiar with the supercar speeds that made Tesla famous but even your regular family SUV will get away from the lights quicker than many top-end sports cars. They’re also packed with the latest technology so there are plenty of gadgets to keep you and your passengers entertained on the move.
More choice than ever
Rewind to the mid 2010s and there were only a handful of electric cars on sale that were only really good for life in and around the city. Now, though, there’s more choice than ever with cars of all shapes and sizes, from small hatchbacks to family SUVs and even luxury saloons. Every manufacturer from Audi to Volkswagen has an EV on sale meaning there’s an EV for every budget and lifestyle.
Electric cars the future
And if none of that convinces you, the Government has put in place a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. This means that, for those wanting to buy new, they won’t have any choice but to go electric after this date. But why wait? The world of electric is ready now.
