It’s very difficult to give an exact figure for how much it costs to charge an electric car because there are a multitude of factors to consider. The size of the battery, similar to a fuel tank, is the main factor to consider. A small hatchback will be cheaper to charge than a large SUV, all other things being equal.

Location and time of day are the other considerations to make. A public charger will likely be more expensive than charging at home, with prices among those differing depending on the speed of the charger.

You can also utilise cheaper rates at home by charging overnight when the grid is working at a lower capacity.

Again, it’s almost impossible to answer this question without knowing the variables that make up the equation. For example, if you’re using a fast charger then it will take less time to charge your car than if you’re using a 3-pin plug. It’s also typically quicker to charge your car if you’re not topping it up to 100% all the time – it’s actually recommended to charge up to 80%.

All of these elements will affect the time it takes to charge a car. Using a rapid charger to add 100 miles to your range may only take 30 minutes, but using a 3-pin at home to charge to 100% may take over 24 hours.​

Car batteries, like any battery, have a finite lifespan, only charging and discharging so many times before they will no longer work effectively. Technology is constantly changing and updating, but as it stands car batteries last between 10 and 20 years before they will need to be replaced. 

Although it can be expensive to replace an electric car’s cells, as much as £15,000, when the cost is spread over the lifetime of the car, it’s an easier figure to swallow. It’s also worth remembering that even combustion-engined vehicles incur maintenance costs.

You can extend the life of your car’s battery by using slower charging methods, limiting mileage and not charging the battery to 100%.​​

Most drivers choose to install a dedicated charging point on their property for a cost of up to £600, although it is possible to charge using a simple external 3-pin plug socket. This will be considerably slower, but this can be done overnight and is usually better for the battery’s long-term health.

For more details on the different ways to charge your electric car, check out our dedicated page here​

On average, electric vehicles are usually cheaper to run than their petrol or diesel counterparts. This is due to the reduced cost per mile when charging at home as well as the reduced maintenance costs because there are considerably fewer moving parts.

Although the upfront cost of an electric car may be slightly higher, this is outweighed by the long-term running costs.​

At present, Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), is determined by the amount of CO2 emissions that a car generates on the road. As such, electric cars do not require any road tax to be paid because they generate no CO2 on the road.

This stands as a strong incentive to switch to fully electric, saving you potentially several hundred pounds per year.

Despite requiring fewer moving parts than a petrol or diesel vehicle, electric vehicles still require a regular service schedule. The exact schedule differs from manufacturer to manufacturer but it’s usually around 18,000 for an electric car compared to 10,000 miles for an ICE vehicle.

This, along with other aspects of ownership, factors into the long term affordability of an electric vehicle.​

An MOT test, or Ministry of Transport test, is a test designed to verify the safety and integrity of a vehicle for road use. Every vehicle over the age of 3 years must have a valid MOT certificate to be legally driven on the UK’s roads, even electric vehicles. ​​

The technology that makes up an electric car is constantly evolving and getting better, meaning that the range will likely increase as the technology develops.

As it stands, the highest range is about 450 miles on a full charge with optimal road conditions and driving. The average range for an electric car is about 210 miles, with anything above 200 being considered good.

It’s also worth noting, that the range of electric cars should be taken with a pinch of salt. The range is likely to lower with higher motorway driving compared to all town driving.​

This question is entirely down to personal driving style and your lifestyle, as for those who often drive locally and in urban areas, an electric car is almost certainly worth it.

However, for those doing lots of long journeys on motorways, a fully electric car may not be the most suitable choice and you might wish to opt for a full or plug-in hybrid.

The choice may also be decided by whether you’d rather have a lower initial cost or lower running costs.​

A full hybrid car is a car that can use the electric motor alone to propel the vehicle, as well as being used in tandem with the engine to offer power and efficiency. ​​

A mild hybrid is a vehicle that cannot be used in fully electric mode, it primarily relies on the engine to move the car forward. The electric motor is used alongside the engine to increase power, to differing degrees. ​​

A plug-in hybrid is a type of hybrid vehicle that relies on external power to charge the battery and power the motor. It is closer to an electric car than a self-charging hybrid, which uses engine power and braking to charge the battery. ​​

All battery-powered vehicles must be charged in one way or another, but this doesn’t necessarily mean plugging the vehicle into a power outlet. Self-charging hybrids charge by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy and by recouping some of the energy that is lost when braking to put power into the battery.​​

As with any vehicle, the question “Is it worth it?”, is entirely dependent on your use case. For short urban drives, utilising a hybrid propulsion system can save you fuel by relying solely on the electric motor. During longer drives, the MPG increase is less noticeable but still significant.

Ultimately a hybrid vehicle offers the best of both worlds, with silent operation and instant torque of an electric motor with the convenience of a combustion engine.

If you’re not quite ready to make the leap to fully electric, a hybrid car offers an enticing middle ground.