If you are relatively new to owning an electric car or considering buying your first, there are some key things to be aware of.
1. Electric cars are just as enjoyable to drive as petrol cars
A number of surveys have established that drivers feel more satisfied driving an electric car. This is probably because they are much quieter, smoother, and give instant acceleration. As of June 2022, there were an estimated 477,000 fully-electric cars on UK roads.
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2. You CAN charge EVs in the rain
This is an oft-quoted myth. The truth is that you can charge EVs in all weathers. All electric charging points have significant waterproofing protection so there is no need to worry.
Options for car leasing in Bristol
If you are considering leasing your next vehicle, there are a number of companies offering car leasing Bristol. Many of these, such as www.autolyne.co.uk/car-leasing-near-me/bristol, offer electric and hybrid vehicles and have excellent online resources if you are looking for more information.
3. Most electric vehicles cannot tow (or be towed)
Most electric cars have little or no towing capacity. If you do attempt to tow, you could potentially be breaking the law.
Additionally, electric cars cannot be towed. This is because they utilise regenerative braking and do not have clutches. Trying to tow an electric car with its wheels on the road could potentially damage the electric motor(s).
4. EVs have two maximum charge rates
All EVs have two maximum charge rates: an AC (alternating current) one, and a DC (direct current) one. Slower charging points supply AC whilst so-called ‘rapid’ and ‘ultra-rapid’ ones supply DC.
kW, kWh and kWh/100km are all different things
kW is a measurement of power – the higher the power the faster the battery can be recharged. kWh is a measurement of energy used to describe both the battery capacity and the amount of energy being transferred from the charging point to the vehicle. kWh/100km is an EV’s fuel economy figure – essentially the equivalent of miles per gallon on a petrol or diesel car.