At Arnold Clark, we offer the best new and used electric car deals from a selection of manufacturers including BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Renault and Toyota.
There are some things to consider when choosing an electric car such as charging, emissions and road tax. We want to make sure that you choose the car that’s best suited to you and your needs.
If you opt for electric driving, you’ll have three main choices:
- | Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) | Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) | Hybrid (HEV) |
---|---|---|---|
Motor Type | Electric only | Combustion engine and electric motor | Combustion engine and electric motor |
Electricity supply | Battery is charged by plugging into the grid | Battery is charged by plugging into the grid | Battery is charged by the combustion engine |
Charging point required? | Yes | Yes | No |
Emissions | Zero CO2 emissions | Approximately 35-55g/km* | Approximately 40-100g/km* |
Road tax | Low to zero | Low | Lower than petrol/diesel model equivalent |
Driving an electric vehicle reduces both direct and lifecycle emissions from vehicle production.
By not using traditional fuels, you’ll save money.
With fewer moving parts and reduced engine noise, expect a calmer commute in your new EV.
Thanks to reduced emissions, running costs will be cheaper.
With the government keen to meet agreed emissions targets, financial assistance is available to help you make the switch.
Some EV cars deliver over 250 miles fully charged, which is sure to soothe any range anxiety you might have.
There are electric car charging stations across the UK. Questions about the cost of charging, and how long it takes to charge an electric car are common and answers depend on the types of charger your car has. There are three charger point variations:
Slow charging is rated at 3-6kW, meaning you can charge your EV overnight by plugging into a traditional three-pin socket.
Fast chargers are rated at either 7kW or 22kW, depending on their type. You can fully charge a car that’s powered by a 30kWh battery in 2-5 hours.
Rapid charging of up to 50kW will have your car at 80% charge in just 40 minutes, meaning you can take on long distances hassle-free.
The range of electric vehicles varies depending on the manufacturer. However, with fast-improving technology resulting in more charging points across the UK, and a bigger choice of hybrid vehicles, range anxiety will soon be a thing of the past.
According to insurance aggregator NimbleFins, who ran a test on several EV models available in the UK, the average electric car range is 149 miles.
1.6 GDi Hybrid Premium 5dr DCT
100kW Elite Nav 50kWh 5dr Auto [7.4kWCh]
1.8 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT
The way we drive is changing. Electric, hybrid and alternative fuel cars will gradually take the place of traditionally-fuelled vehicles. At Arnold Clark, we’re getting ready for that change.
Find out moreNeed to know more? We’ve compiled everything you need to know about electric vehicles, including insurance, grants and tax.
We’ve partnered with ScottishPower to create the UK’s first end-to-end electric vehicle package.
We’ve brought some of the main points regarding insurance, grants and tax into one place.
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Hybrid cars use both electric and combustion motors. Pure hybrids charge automatically through a combination of regenerative braking and an internal combustion engine, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can be charged by plugging them in. A fully electric vehicle only has an electric motor and does not use traditional fuels, and will only charge up when it’s plugged in.
According to leading electric vehicle charging provider PodPoint, the average domestic electricity rate is about 14p per kWh. This equates to around £11.20 for an electric car with 80kW engine.
This depends on the type of charger you have, which can either be slow, fast or rapid.
Representative finance example - 70 Vauxhall Corsa | |
---|---|
£289 | Monthly payment |
£999 | Deposit |
48 | Term (months) |
3.5% | Fixed interest rate |
£23,498 | Cash price |
£22,499 | Credit amount |
£12,115 | Guaranteed future value |
£26,697 | Total amount payable |
32,000 | Contract mileage |
9.0p per mile | Excess mileage charge |
4.9% APR | Representative |