This blog was written by our friend Estelle Miller at: www.evexperts.co.uk
This is a question that we are often asked and it’s a difficult one to answer. All electric cars offer a superb driving experience – grounded and smooth with instant acceleration – whether you are spending £10k or £100k. Some offer more space: for dogs and other important things that you carry in your boot, the Nissan Leaf, VW ID.4 and BMW i3 excel for overall capacity and flexibility. Some just take our breath away with their performance and handling – Jaguar i-Pace, BMW i4 and the Porsche Taycan come to mind.
Are some EVs more fuel efficient than others?
EVs that have been designed as electric models, also known as ground-up electric, offer the most miles per kWh. Great examples offering more than 5m/kW are the Tesla Model 3, BMW i3 and Fiat 500e. Fuel consumption is affected by weight, tyre size and aerodynamics. This is why smaller EVs are more efficient, such as the Honda e, compact SUV Hyundai Kona and sleek models from the Stellantis platform like the Vauxhall Corsa-e. Of the mid-sized SUVs, our picks for efficiency would be the VW ID.3 and the Peugeot e-2008. Of the bigger beasts, the Audi Q4 is worth a look alongside the Ford Mustang and the Tesla Model Y.
Which EVs are less fuel efficient?
Mercedes’ EVs have been underwhelming so far although the build quality and interiors do not disappoint and we are looking forward to their ground-up models being on the forecourt. Vehicles based on petrol/diesel platforms such as the Audi e-tron quattro, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2 also lack the level of fuel efficiency that ground-up electric models offer, but do have fabulous design features and are highly desirable.
What are the savings with EV ownership?
If you drive 8,000 miles/year in:
- a diesel VW Golf Mk 6 2.0 and switch to a VW ID.3; or
- a petrol Peugeot 208 1.6 VTi and switch to a Peugeot e-208
you will save at least £1,000 a year on fuel. This is based on the electricity price cap of 34p/kWh. If you are able to charge more cheaply, at home during the night for example when most utility providers have tariffs of between 10p-16p/kWh, your savings could increase to £1,500 or more. For petrol/diesel we have used £1.64/£1.88/l, which could be hit with a 12p/l increase in fuel duty in March 2023, which will make your EV even more cost-effective and desirable.
There are other savings too: servicing is only required every two years on many electric cars, often at fixed cost pricing in the region of £250. There is rarely anything else to cover as there is no cam belt or exhaust systems to maintain. All electric cars are free of road tax too until 2025 and ULEZ compliant.
Are EVs all good for the environment?
How we choose to travel is one of the biggest day-to-day climate decisions we face. Simply, all pre-owned electric cars can reduce your carbon footprint by decoupling your reliance on fossil fuels and all significantly reduce your impact on local air quality. Ranking alongside cancer, heart disease and obesity, air quality is still a major public health risk. This is why the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has been banned from 2030, and the sale of hybrids from 2035, and it’s behind the expansion of ULEZs in cities around the UK. By switching to an electric car and opting for a green energy tariff, you can make a difference.
If you an unsure about which EV to buy then pop down to our friends at: Used electric vehicles for sale in Surrey & Hampshire – EV Experts
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