EV Carshop

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EV Guides

Intro to Electric Vehicles

Whether you’re thinking of getting an electric vehicle or just want to know more about them, this guide will give you a better understanding of how EVs work and why more and more people are making the switch to electric.

Benefits of Electric Vehicles

£0 Road Tax

Zero Emissions

Cheaper Fuel Costs

Low Company Car Tax

Low Maintenance Costs

Congestion & ULEZ charge exemption

Government Grants

What is an EV?

What is an EV?

An EV (Electric Vehicle) is a vehicle that uses an electric AC motor rather than a traditional petrol or diesel engine to power its wheels.

How does an EV work?

The main parts in an EV are the rechargeable batteries, the on-board charger and the electric motor.

First the battery is charged. The battery stores this power as DC.

Depending on the type of charge, DC power will go straight into battery or AC Power will go via the on-board charger.

An inverter converts the power from DC to AC so that the AC motor can use it.

The motor then powers the wheels into motion!

Battery

An electric vehicle uses a battery to store electrical energy, which then powers the motor. A battery pack is made up of a number of cells that are grouped into modules.

Battery capacity is measured in kWh. The bigger the battery the further the vehicle can usually go!

EV Quick Tip

When choosing an EV don’t forget to look out for the size of its battery (kWh) AND how efficient the vehicle is. This is usually measured in watts per mile (Wh/mi) or miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).

The On-Board Charger

When AC charging (Slow & Fast Charging) the on-board charger converts the AC power into DC power so it can be stored into the battery.

EV Quick Tip

When choosing an EV, take note of the kW rating of the on-board charger as this will determine the maximum speed it can AC charge.

The inverter & AC Motor

The inverter converts energy from the battery into AC electricity for the motor. The AC motor is the ‘engine’ of an EV and provides the power to rotate the wheels.

Charging your EV

Charging your EV is simple and convenient and there are multiple ways you can do it!

At Home

Over 80% of EV owners charge their vehicle at home and wake up every day with a full battery. The UK government even offers a £350 grant towards the installation of your home charge point.

At Work

Employers often offer free charging to employees and with Government grants up to £14,000 to install work place charging there’s never been a better time to help your employees go electric.

On the Road

With over 37,000 public charging connectors there’s plenty of places where you can charge on the road. Many of these charging points are ‘rapid chargers’ some even offering 350kW of power allowing you to charge your entire battery in less than 20 minutes! Click here to see a live map of chargers near you

Regenerative Braking

One of the great thing about EVs that you don’t get with a traditional ICE vehicle is that when they slow down or brake, regenerative braking is used which sends power back into the battery by using the motor as a generator

Breaking Battery Motor

EV Quick Tip

By driving efficiently (less harsh acceleration & braking) you can use regen to get extra miles of range.

Available Vehicles

Vehicles available and coming to the market

As of 2020, there were more than 130 fully or part electric vehicles available in the UK with electric offerings now available across almost every category. With more electric vehicles coming in 2021.

View Electric Vehicles

Cost Savings

One of the main reasons so many people are making the switch to electric is because of the cost savings that you can make.

Free Road Tax

Lower Fuel Costs

Congestion & ULEZ charge exemption

Low BiK (Company Car Tax)

100% Capital Allowances on charging equipment

VAT recoverable on leases & maintenance packages

Servicing & Maintenance

A study by automotive data experts Cap HPI into annual servicing and maintenance costs for electric cars concluded that EVs cost 23% less to run than petrol vehicles over a three-year/60,000-mile period.

Warranties

EVs typically have between five and eight years’ warranty on the electric motor and battery components. For the rest of the car, the length of the warranty depends very much on the manufacturer but typically ranges from three years and 60,000 miles to seven years and 100,000 miles.

Benefits of Leasing

Electric vehicles seem to evolve more quickly than your traditional ICE vehicle with increasing battery ranges, faster charging capabilities and even autopilot technology. Leasing gives you the freedom to change your vehicle at regular intervals without having to purchase the vehicle and suffer the depreciation.

What's included

All our deals include...

 

  • Full Manufacturer’s Warranty
  • Road Tax
  • Maintenance Package (if selected as part of the contract) including all servicing and maintenance.
  • Free UK delivery

Why Choose EV Carshop?

Benefits of Personal Car Leasing

 

  • Drive a brand new vehicle every 2-5 years.
  • Fixed low monthly payments.
  • Fully bespoke contract, term and mileage – discussed, developed and tailored to your individual needs and budget.
  • Maintenance of the vehicle can be included in the monthly fees, spreading the cost.
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