We’re well stocked with a range of superb used electric and hybrid vehicles from some of the most innovative, progressive manufacturers in the industry, including Mitsubishi, Toyota, Kia and MG.

Remember, if you’re going down the used route, then there’s a few things you’ll want to consider. Sure, they may be cheaper, but doing your research before you buy is key.

Do you tend to drive long distances? Is there somewhere nearby that you can get it serviced – or charged? What condition is the battery in? To help you out, we’ve run through some of the biggest things to consider before buying a second-hand electric or hybrid in more detail here.

Yes, electric vehicles are more expensive than petrol vehicles, by a fair amount too. But although the initial cost of an electric car is pricier, they’re more likely to cost you less in the long run.

Not only are they cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars, but electric cars also have far lower maintenance costs. The 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars has a role to play in all of this too.

With the ban in effect, sales of electric cars are likely to skyrocket. This means that the cost to produce electric vehicles will decrease, lowering the price to the point where their upfront cost could be equivalent to what petrol and diesel cars are right now.

With the popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles surging in recent times, it’s rare to see manufacturers that don’t make them. And that’s good news if you’ve been a lifelong Honda fan or a Mazda aficionado, and want the same performance you know and love, just with fewer emissions.

Plus, with many of the most popular models now available in petrol, electric and hybrid models, motorists are spoilt for choice when it comes to their next car.

Generally, electric and hybrid vehicles are much cheaper to run that petrol cars, though by how much depends on a few different things.

Charging costs are dependent on the size of the battery, the strength of the charger, and the length of time it takes to reach full charge. Where you charge your car matters too; public charging stations, for instance, are free to use if they’re located in a supermarket or shopping centre car park.

At home, you’ll be looking at around £7-£15 to fully charge, which gives you about 150-200 miles of driving – a cost that’s considerably less than filling up on petrol or diesel.

Fully electric vehicles are exempt from road tax and other emissions-related charges, including London’s Congestion Charge and new Clean Air Zone levies. Given that petrol and diesel drivers spend an average of £11.50 a day on emission-related costs, electric motorists can make huge savings if they regularly commute through low-emission zones.

For a more detailed breakdown of how much it costs to run an electric car, complete with figures, check out our article here.

If you’re new to the world of electric and hybrid vehicles, then the terms, jargon and choice can make things a little confusing, especially when it comes to hybrid vehicles. Surely, if they’re both hybrids, then self-chargers and plug-ins are the same thing? Not quite.

While they’re similar, self-charging hybrids don’t charge the battery by being plugged into a charging source like plug-ins. Instead, they use regenerative braking, so the battery charges every time you brake. This makes them a great option if you don’t have any off-street parking or charging point at work.

We hope the above has helped get you up to speed with electric and hybrid vehicles. Need a little more steering in the right direction before you make a choice? Take a look at some of our most popular models below:

Electric:

Hyundai IONIQ

Nissan Leaf

Hybrid:

Hyundai TUCSON

Kia XCeed