Is an electric car right for you? Buying new or second-hand, home charging and the practicalities of EV ownership

There’s a lot of hype around electric cars, partly due to the realisation that diesel cars aren’t a cheap, clean option anymore. We were advised to buy them to reduce CO2 emissions and encouraged by the low fuel bills. Unfortunately, the dash for diesel has driven down motoring costs at the expense of air quality — especially in urban areas.

So, after being persuaded to ‘go diesel’, is it now the time to consider going electric? — what are the options? And is it really a practical solution for you and your lifestyle?

Things to consider if you’re thinking of choosing an electric car.

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Vehicle Tax

Pure battery powered electric cars are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The rules state “the electricity must come from an external source or an electric storage battery not connected to any source of power when the vehicle is moving”.

Extended-range Hybrids, Plug in Hybrids and Petrol / Diesel Hybrids vehicle tax is based on their CO2 emission. You can use our Car Running Costs database to see the cost of taxing thousands of cars.

Tax bands for cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017

Petrol car (TC48) and diesel car (TC49)

Band and CO2 emission Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
A: Up to 100g/km £0 £0 N/A N/A N/A
B: 101 to 110g/km £20 £20 £21 N/A N/A
C: 111 to 120g/km £35 £35 £36.75 N/A N/A
D: 121 to 130g/km £150 £150 £157.50 £82.50 £78.75
E: 131 to 140g/km £180 £180 £189 £99 £94.50
F: 141 to 150g/km £200 £200 £210 £110 £105
G: 151 to 165g/km £240 £240 £252 £132 £126
H: 166 to 175g/km £290 £290 £304.50 £159.50 £152.25
I: 176 to 185g/km £320 £320 £336 £176 £168
J: 186 to 200g/km £365 £365 £383.25 £200.75 £191.63
K*: 201 to 225g/km £395 £395 £414.75 £217.25 £207.38
L: 226 to 255g/km £675 £675 £708.75 £371.25 £354.38
M: Over 255g/km £695 £695 £729.75 £382.25 £364.88

*Includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km but were registered before 23 March 2006.

Alternative fuel car (TC59)

Band and CO2 emission Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
A: Up to 100g/km £0 N/A N/A N/A N/A
B: 101 to 110g/km £10 £10 £10.50 N/A N/A
C: 111 to 120g/km £25 £25 £26.25 N/A N/A
D: 121 to 130g/km £140 £140 £147 £77 £73.50
E: 131 to 140g/km £170 £170 £178.50 £93.50 £89.25
F: 141 to 150g/km £190 £190 £199.50 £104.50 £99.75
G: 151 to 165g/km £230 £230 £241.50 £126.50 £120.75
H: 166 to 175g/km £280 £280 £294 £154 £147
I: 176 to 185g/km £310 £310 £325.50 £170.50 £162.75
J: 186 to 200g/km £355 £355 £372.75 £195.25 £186.38
K*: 201 to 225g/km £385 £385 £404.25 £211.75 £202.13
L: 226 to 255g/km £665 £665 £698.25 £365.75 £349.13
M: Over 255g/km £685 £685 £719.25 £376.75 £359.63

*Includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km but were registered before 23 March 2006.

First tax payment for cars registered from 1 April 2017

CO2 emissions Diesel cars (TC49) that meet the RDE2 standard and petrol cars (TC48) All other diesel cars (TC49) Alternative fuel cars (TC59)
0g/km £0 £0 £0
1 to 50g/km £10 £30 £0
51 to 75g/km £30 £130 £20
76 to 90g/km £130 £165 £120
91 to 100g/km £165 £185 £155
101 to 110g/km £185 £210 £175
111 to 130g/km £210 £255 £200
131 to 150g/km £255 £645 £245
151 to 170g/km £645 £1,040 £635
171 to 190g/km £1,040 £1,565 £1,030
191 to 225g/km £1,565 £2,220 £1,555
226 to 255g/km £2,220 £2,605 £2,210
Over 255g/km £2,605 £2,605 £2,595

Rates for second tax payment onwards

Fuel type Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel £180 £180 £189 £99 £94.50
Electric £0 N/A N/A £0 N/A
Alternative £170 £170 £178.50 £93.50 £89.25

Why choose an electric vehicle?

Electric cars are very pleasant to drive compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. The major difference being that they are extremely quiet and are therefore very relaxing on the move. They also deliver power in an incredibly smooth manner, which eliminates the need for a gearbox, making the driving experience even easier.As petrol and diesel prices continue to rise and more stringent conditions come into force on vehicle emissions, motor manufacturers are being encouraged to develop alternatives to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs).

The maintenance of Electric vehicles (EVs) should be less than internal combustion engine vehicles, due to the lack of a gearbox and the oils and cooling fluids that are associated in ICEVs. Electric motors have far less moving parts than conventional petrol / diesel engine too. The running costs of electric vehicles are considerably less for the average commute to work or shopping trip.

Battery longevity is still a bit of an unknown area, many manufacturers are offering long warranties to reassure potential customers. Renault offers a battery-leasing scheme where you pay a monthly fee and they will guarantee the batteries performance.

The beauty of electric vehicles is that tail-pipe emissions are zero, therefore making our towns and cities more pleasant environments. However, they are not without environmental impact; the electricity used for charging has to come from somewhere! If your electricity comes from a coal fired power station, it may not be anymore CO2 efficient than a conventional diesel car.

It is envisaged that most electric vehicles will be charged overnight at home, as most journeys will be well within their range. Considerable Government funding is going into the development of a plug-in vehicle-charging infrastructure. Grants are available for domestic chargepoints, fleet operators and residential on-street charging schemes. Therefore charging EVs will become a more practical option as the UK network expands.

Hints and tips

Fridges and freezers

  • Site your fridge and freezer in a cool (but not very cold) position.
  • Don’t leave the fridge door open and make sure the seals are tight.
  • Keep your fridge temperature setting between 3°C and 5°C – settings lower than this are wasting energy.
  • Don’t overstock your fridge. Make sure it is no more than three quarters full, allowing cool air to circulate more easily.
  • Clean the condenser coils at the back of the fridge – if dust builds up it can waste up to 30% more energy.
  • If buying a new fridge or freezer choose a really energy efficient one – check Sust-it and the European Energy Label – A+++ is the best.

Home entertainment

  • Switch off machines at the mains when not in use, don’t leave them in standby mode.
  • Repair things when they break rather than throwing them away.
  • Check the energy consumption of any new products you are thinking of buying, including how much energy they use on standby, and choose the lowest.
  • Go for a smaller TV screen.
  • Invest in a wind-up radio.

Water

  • Fix dripping taps – one dripping tap could fill a bath in a week!
  • Don’t leave taps running when brushing your teeth or washing your hands.
  • Install a water meter to help you monitor water use – free of charge from your water company.
  • Showers use much less water than a bath – typically 30 litres compared with 110 litres – but power showers can use as much as a bath.
  • Use a bowl if you only have a small amount of washing up.
  • Dishwashers use a lot of energy and water so only use them when they are full and use energy/water saving options if possible.
  • Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine.
  • Use a cooler temperature when washing clothes – modern detergents are designed to be effective at 30°C or 40°C.
  • When buying a new washing machine or dishwater choose one that is both water-efficient and energy-efficient.
  • Get a water butt to collect rainwater for your garden.

Flooring, furniture and furnishings

  • Consider repairing and restoring items rather than replacing them.
  • Look for second-hand items in charity shops and auctions.
  • Join Freecycle.
  • Consider the environmental impact of new items before buying them.
  • If buying cork tiles make sure they are not PVC coated, or buy unsealed ones and seal them yourselves.
  • Ask suppliers and retailers about the environmental impact of their products and their policies regarding chemical pollutants, the environment and social responsibility generally.
Posted in Save Energy | Comments Off on Hints and tips

Eco Building

Thinking of building a new house? Or converting an old one? It’s one of the most exciting things you can do – especially with all the opportunities to make your new home greener without adding greatly to the cost.

Use solar panels to heat your water and ensure you have enough south facing windows. Insulation and double glazing are a must. Why not even half-bury your house underground to save energy and reduce its visual impact.

Some house designs are so ingenious they require very limited heating and have sophisticated water recycling systems.

The Centre for Alternative Technology sells many publications on environmentally friendly building. And The Association for Environment Conscious Building publishes a regular magazine and runs an online bookstore.