Electric cars
We offer a range of electric cars on our all inclusive subscription model. There are numerous benefits and advantages compared with traditional ICE vehicles.
By the year 2030, there will be a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK. As a result, Britons are turning their attention to electric cars and are discovering that there are far more advantages to driving an EV than simply the positive impact they have on the environment.
Electric cars are no longer simply the future of driving – they’re the now.
What models are available on elmo?
What are the benefits of driving an electric car?
There are plenty of benefits to driving an electric car for both the driver and the environment. These include:
- You’ll save money
- You’ll help protect the environment
- You’ll have a fantastic, fulfilling driving experience
- You don’t have to pay for vehicle excise duty, congestion charges and in some cases, parking!
What advantages do EVs have over petrol/diesel cars?
Electric cars have plenty of advantages over petrol and diesel cars, which means making the switch to electric is the perfect choice. Read our guide to see how electric cars compare to hybrid.
They’re cheaper to run
Yes, even the big seven seaters!Â
58% of people aren’t aware of the monetary gain when driving an electric car compared to petrol and diesel cars. The astronomical price of fuel means a full tank costs drivers more than it ever has done before. However, charging an EV – even from a public charging point – is much cheaper.
Zap Map carried out some research in 2023, which showed that even with the increases in energy prices, EVs are still cheaper to run than the equivalent petrol or diesel car. Read about how EVs can still save you money.
EVs also cost less to maintain and service – as much as 30% less in fact. Because electric cars don’t have an internal combustion engine, there are far fewer moving parts, and as a result, there’s less that can go wrong. Many components that experience faults in petrol and diesel cars – including gaskets, spark plugs, and catalytic converters – aren’t present in EVs.
This is all on top of the fact that EV drivers don’t currently have to pay road tax (vehicle excise duty), are exempt from congestion charges, and can park for free in many public car parks.
All of these factors mean that generally speaking, EVs have cheaper running costs – even big all-electric MPVs.
They’re better for the environment
It’s undeniable that electric cars are better for the environment than petrol and diesel cars. EVs produce zero emissions and can be completely carbon neutral if charged via green energy.
While it’s true that manufacturing EV batteries does produce emissions, the environmental impact is far smaller than the impact of driving petrol, diesel, or even hybrid cars.
Most modern day electric cars also have what’s called, regenerative braking. This helps to conserve energy to increase driving range by converting energy used by braking into electricity – stored in the battery.
They provide a more enjoyable driving experience
With no engine – and therefore no gearbox in sight, an EV provides a far quieter and smoother drive. Plus all EVs are automatic, which means drivers can focus on the road ahead. EVs are also packed with the latest technology, and infotainment centres improve the overall driving experience like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
For more information, check out our blog post on the huge amount of benefits to driving an electric car.
They are just as reliable
Electric cars are just as reliable as their petrol and diesel counterparts. With fewer moving parts there are actually fewer things that can go wrong and with a ban on new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030, EV’s will we’re sure, improve their reliability even more.Â
How do you charge an electric car?
Charging an EVÂ is simple, and can be done from one of the tens of thousands of charge points across the UK (and growing) or from the comfort of your own charge point at home.
If you have an adapter you can even charge your electric car from a standard UK three-pin plug – it will take approximately 12 hours to fully charge your battery. However, you can have an affordable charge point installed at home which can improve this speed as much as tenfold.
Public charging points, which are commonly found in car parks, supermarkets, and filling stations across the UK, often have ‘rapid’ charging speeds. This means an EV could be charged to 80% capacity in as little as 20 minutes. The public charging network in the UK is growing rapidly every year, and you can now get access to over 20,000+ points with our very own public charge offering.Â
Check out our jargon buster if you need guidance on what the different electric car battery and charging terms mean.Â
How much does it cost?
Every EV is different, but if we use data from Which? in relation to the Hyundai Ioniq, to charge a battery for a range of 200 miles it costs approximately £16 from a public charging station, and £12 from home – a massive saving when compared to the cost of filling a fuel tank.
Electric car range
EV range is the amount of miles/km an electric car can drive without stopping to charge. It can be dictated by many things, such as the size of the battery, the weather, your driving habits, and the age of your car.
Manufacturers will gladly advertise the top range of their EVs, however, this is based upon ‘perfect’ conditions, in a controlled environment. Most people prefer to understand their EV’s real-world range. This measure better reflects real-world driving conditions and is usually an average comparing winter and summer mileage. To understand which electric cars have the longest range, head to our blog.Â
One of the main barriers to EV adoption is range anxiety. The worry that your EV will not complete your intended journey. However, modern day EVs have much better ranges, anywhere up to 400 real-world miles, plus the charging infrastructure has much improved here in the UK.Â
Is it difficult to maintain an EV?
While electric cars do have fewer moving parts – and therefore there’s less that can go wrong – it’s still important that EV drivers maintain their cars. However, general EV maintenance is simple and can be undertaken by all drivers. This includes:
- Checking tyres tread depth, air pressure, and for signs of damage
- Checking washer fluid
- Checking wiper blades
- Checking the air filtration system
It’s also important to make sure your EV is serviced annually by an EV-qualified mechanic, and if your EV is more than three years old it obtains an MOT certificate – minus the emissions test. With elmo, this is included in the cost of your subscription.
Read our guide to electric car maintenance if you’d like more information on looking after your elmo EV.
Is it expensive to maintain an EV?
It’s no more expensive to maintain and service an EV than it is any other car. The only difference is, you need to make sure the mechanic servicing your electric car is qualified to do so. But, as the popularity of EVs grows, more mechanics are qualifying every day.
The most expensive component of an EV is the battery, which can be pricey to replace if it develops a fault. Because of this, many EV owners choose to lease their battery or take out an insurance policy to cover it.
Even if fuel prices drop dramatically, EVs will still by far be the more affordable type of car to drive, whether you simply stay local or regularly travel long distances.
What are some of the most popular EV makes and models available in the UK?
In a post from insurer Admiral, they outlined how EVs accounted for one out of every nine sales in 2021, with more registered during that year than the years 2016-2020 combined.
The future is undoubtedly electric, but which electric car makes are most popular in the UK?
Tesla Model 3
Currently, the most popular electric car in the UK is the Tesla Model 3. With almost 35,000 registrations in 2021 alone, the Model 3 is also the second most popular car of any type – including petrol. Just because the Model 3 is Tesla’s most affordable model, it doesn’t mean there are compromises, with a 360-mile range and acceleration from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds.
Kia e-Niro
With more than 12,000 registrations in 2021, the Kia e-Niro is one of the most affordable and popular EVs in the UK. It’s stylish, has plenty of space, and offers 282 miles of range.
Volkswagen ID.3
More than 11,000 drivers registered a Volkswagen ID.3 in 2021. With a modern design and plenty of space, the ID.3 is affordable and boasts an impressive range of up to 340 miles.
Which EV is best for you?
Whether you’re looking for a small, a roomy SUV with a great range, something with a little extra luxury, or a big, powerful, and durable family car with extra ISOFIX points, EVs are just as varied as petrol and diesel models.
Take a look at some of the most popular types of electric cars on the market:
Still unsure, or need some help? Take our Suitability Test. It takes just 5 minutes to complete and you’ll find out:Â
- Which electric car would fit your lifestyle
- How often you’ll need to charge
- How much you could save by going electric
How affordable are EVs?
We’d be twisting the truth if we didn’t say that EVs are more expensive to buy, and will usually require a large cash deposit that many can’t stretch to. Add to that sourcing a battery, depreciation and also the initial costs can mean EVs aren’t an option for many.
However, you don’t have to own an electric car to take advantage of the many benefits. A subscription-based service, such as the one offered by us here at elmo, provides you with an option that makes driving your very own EV far more affordable.
We provide insurance, breakdown cover, MOT, and servicing – there’s also no hefty deposit to pay. That means you can take advantage of all the benefits of driving an EV with none of the money or admin headaches.Â
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of everything that’s included in our EV subscription.
Electric car insights
Want to learn more about electric cars? Take a look at some of our latest insight pieces where we uncover: the top EV friendly stays, dive into the attitudes & perceptions of the public towards EV’s and even a bit of blue sky thinking as we toy with the impact of all cars switching to electric overnight.
Find out about the top EV-friendly stays in the UK, Europe & US!
We uncover the UK’s attitudes & perceptions towards EVs over time
We uncover what cities in the UK are best prepared for the EV transition
What would happen if all cars turned electric overnight?
FAQs
How much are electric cars?
The average cost to buy an electric car in the UK is around £44,000. Luxury EVs (Tesla, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar and Mercedes for example) will cost you around £80,000 on average, while non-luxury EVs will cost around £27,000 on average.Â
On a monthly subscription with elmo, an MG5 Excite starts from £421/mo while a Tesla Model Y starts from £1,299/mo – with plenty of models in between. Unlike leasing, there’s no large upfront payment and after a minimum commitment of 60 days, you can return the car any time with 30 days’ notice. As well as the flexibility that comes with a subscription, the advertised monthly price includes insurance, maintenance and breakdown cover as standard. You can then choose to include a charge point, renewable energy for charging and public charging access, depending on what you need.
How safe are electric cars?
The majority of electric and hybrid on sale today have received five-star ratings from Euro NCAP – the independent vehicle safety body that oversees the official crash-testing of new cars.
This determines that in the event of an accident, they protect both passengers and pedestrians extremely well. Many EVs also feature technology that aims to prevent accidents from happening at all. These include AEB, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring and speed-limit recognition systems which are all becoming increasingly common.Â
Another area of common concern is their flammability. Just like petrol and diesel cars, there’s a small risk of EVs catching fire. As can be expected, manufacturers are taking significant measures to ensure this doesn’t happen. For example, manufacturers like Tesla and Nissan have built in fail-safe circuitry that will shut the battery down when its voltage increases beyond a safe limit.
Do you need to tax an EV?
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is calculated based on the CO2 tailpipe emissions of the vehicle, its list price and the year in which it was registered.Â
Pure battery EVs (BEVs) are exempt from VED. They’re also exempt from the premium rate, where vehicles worth £40,000 or more incur an additional premium rate for 5 years (from the second time the vehicle is taxed).
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) pay reduced VED.
However from 1st April 2025, EV drivers will have to pay standard VED. For more information head to our tax information page.Â
How many EV charge points are there in the UK?
There are now over 42,000 charge point connectors across the UK in over 15,500 locations. This means there are more public places to charge than petrol stations!
There are also thousands of free electric car charge points in the UK, in supermarkets, public car parks, shopping centres, hotels and occasionally service stations. It’s always best to check availability for these, as restrictions may be in place depending on time of day.Â
How can you find your nearest charge point?
There are many apps available that will direct you to your nearest charge point, and even tell you whether it’s available or currently in use.Â
Some include Zap-Map, PlugShare, WattsUp – and even Google Maps will show you your nearest EV charger.
How do you charge an electric car at home?
You can only charge an electric car home if you have a private, off street parking next to your house. Otherwise, you will need to rely on your local public charging infrastructure. If you do have off street parking, you can arrange to have a smart home charge point installed or, if your car comes with a 3-pin cable, you can charge (quite slowly) using a normal domestic plug socket.
There are also question marks over the safety of charging regularly using a 3-pin plug. A home charge point will charge your car more quickly and safely; and will also give you the ability to remotely control your charge point, so you can charge when electricity is cheap and green.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Depending on the capacity of the battery and the speed of the charging station, charging can vary. Slower charging stations can take 12-16 hours, whereas rapid charge points can charge from 10-80% in as little as 20 minutes.
How many miles can an electric car last?
Battery life: Most EVs use lithium-ion batteries. These will usually provide over 10 years or 100,000 miles of use.
Over hundreds of charge/use cycles, these batteries will become less effective. Battery degradation may lessen the range, however it won’t significantly affect an EVs acceleration, refinement or cruising ability.
There are a number of ways to preserve an EV’s battery, from keeping the charge level between 20% and 80% to driving steadily and avoiding frequent use of rapid chargers.Â
Driving Range: The driving range of 100% electric vehicles varies significantly from model to model. Most modern EVs will have a driving range of between 130-300+ miles.
Are all electric car batteries the same?
Not all electric car batteries are the same. EV battery packs come in different sizes and their capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). Generally, the larger the capacity in kWh, the longer the range of the EV.
The chemical composition of batteries will also vary between cars and manufacturers.Â
Among the different battery types, Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular with a longer lifespan than most other batteries. They’re also generally cheaper to produce, generate less heat during charging and can be charged to 100% with little battery damage.
How much does it cost to charge an EV?
The cost of charging your electric car at public charge points will depend on the charge point network and its location. Local authorities often have pay per session on-street charging and these can sometimes be used for free if you have access to a network subscription.Â
The cost of public charge points will also vary depending on the power rating and whether it’s slow (lamppost charging), fast (Car parks) or Rapid (Motorway service stations).
Cost of home chargingÂ
You can charge your EV at home using a three-pin plug of a faster wallbox. If you’re using the first option, it’s best done overnight since it’ll take several hours to charge. On average, electricity costs 14p per kWh, so a 13-hour charge on a 40kWh Nissan Leaf at a 3kW charger would cost around £6. Using off-peak energy at night for example will reduce this to around £4.Â
A wallbox home-charging unit can supply between 3 – 22kW of power. This comes with an installation cost but the government grant can fund up to 75% of this cost, up to £350. A 7kW charger will considerably reduce charging time and minimally affect the cost of power.
Public station chargingÂ
The cost of charging your electric car at public charge points will depend on the charge point network, its location and whether it’s slow (lamppost charging), fast (Car parks) or Rapid (Motorway service stations).Â
Public chargers, especially rapid chargers, normally have a fixed fee applied – for example, £6.50 for 30 minutes or a driving range of about 90 miles. That still only adds up to £13 for an impressive 180 miles. The low costs you’ll pay to charge an electric car are impressive.
You can read more in detail about EV charging here.
Do electric cars need an MOT?
Yes, electric cars still have to pass an MOT test after three years. However, unlike petrol and diesel cars, EVs do not require an emissions test.Â
Do electric cars need oil?
Electric cars don’t use engine oil but they do often use oil inside their reduction gearboxes, which may need to be changed over time.Â
Can your electric car battery go below 10%?
Most electric cars will have batteries with a built-in buffer. This means it’s not really possible to drain them to 0% or charge them to 100%.Â
Electric cars will also give you lots of warning that they’re losing power, so you’ll have more than enough time to find a charging point before it really becomes a problem.
Do you pay congestion charges with an electric car?
Electric cars are exempt from the London Congestion Charge (usually £15 per day) via the Cleaner Vehicle Discount. All you need to do is register and pay a £10 annual fee to avoid the daily charge.
Within any other ULEZ or clean air zones, you won’t have to do anything as your car should be registered automatically. To double check, you can go to https://www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones and put in your registration number.
Are electric cars zero emissions?
Electric cars generally have a smaller carbon footprint than petrol and diesel cars, even taking into account the electricity used for charging.
Electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions. However, generating the electricity to charge EVs may create carbon pollution. Despite this, research shows that an EV still emits fewer greenhouses vs a typical new petrol / diesel car. As more renewable energy is used to generate electricity, this should continue to reduce over time.
How to choose an electric car?
When choosing an electric car, you’ll need to consider what kind of driving you’ll use it for most. Generally, if you’re driving no more than 250 miles per day and have ready access to a charging point at home or at work, an EV will be a great choice for you.
EVs vary widely in range, charging speed, tech specs & features, so it’s important to consider how an EV will fit your lifestyle. If you’re unsure where to start, take our suitability tool to find out which EV could be best for you.
Looking to drive your own EV?
With the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars, now is the best time to start driving an electric car in the UK.
Want to start driving your own electric car but with none of the big upfront costs?
Here at elmo we can get you on the road, fully insured, and ready to drive with none of the hassle. Get in touch with us today and make your next car electric.
