4 reasons why you should get an EV over a petrol, diesel, or hybrid

There’s no denying it; the future is electric.

With the sale of new petrol and diesel cars banned from 2030, and hybrids banned from 2035, we’ll all be driving electric cars in the near future.

But, given that EVs save you money, are great fun to drive, and do their bit for the planet, why wait until then? Here are four reasons your next car should be an EV, rather than a petrol, diesel, or hybrid.

When it comes to powering your car, there’s one clear winner.

On average, petrol costs around 16p per mile, or £1.34 per litre (as of April 2025). Filling a mid-size tank of petrol will cost you just under £60 per go, and you’ll spend around £1,280 for an annual mileage of 8,000 miles.

You can charge your EV for as little as 2/3p per mile. Assuming a real-world range of 235 miles (the current average), this works out at £4.72 per charge or around £160 for the entire year. That’s a saving of over £1,000 per year, just on fuel!

Hybrids land somewhere in the middle of this, but estimates are hard to come by due to the variety of hybrids (plug-in, full, mild) and the differences in how much of each fuel they use.

Smart EV energy tariffs like Intelligent Octopus Go offer cheap off-peak electricity – and you can set up your EV to automatically charge in the middle of the night, when energy is cheapest.

Plug your car in to charge when you get back home, then wake up with a topped-up battery in the morning – you don’t even need to press the ‘on’ switch.

This one’s always going to be a little subjective. Many people swear by the roar of an internal combustion engine, but we’d argue that the near-instant acceleration produced by an electric motor is even more exhilarating!

And besides, science is firmly on the side of EVs here. Because they don’t need to power a hot, noisy, and inefficient internal combustion engine, EVs focus over 80% of their energy on moving the car forward. That’s where they get their signature zip and their unbeatable 0-60 stats.

It’s not that petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars don’t offer a range of snazzy features – in 2025, you’ll find Intelligent Speed Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning, and Emergency Lane Keeping Systems as standard on all new cars.

That said, EVs still have the edge. Why?

Short answer: EVs are where the future’s at. In just a few years, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to buy a new fuel car - so why would manufacturers invest more in them?

Instead, resources are pouring into EVs. Manufacturers are investing heavily in next-gen batteries that make cars go further, charge faster, and reduce emissions associated with production (check out BYD’s new Blade battery for a seriously impressive bit of kit).

New EVs pay just £10 road tax in their first year of being driven – a lovely discount of £185 on the standard rate. But that’s not the only saving you’ll be making!

EVs are exempt from the London Congestion Charge, and also from charges for entering Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ). No emissions - no charge.

You’ll pay full whack each time with a petrol car, and whilst hybrids often get a reduced rate (on ULEZ – full London Congestion Charge still applies), these costs still add up.

Similar Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are in place across many cities in the UK, including Bath, Bradford, Oxford, and Birmingham. With rates hovering around £10-£15 per day, an EV could save you a lot of money if you’re a regular city driver.

EVs save you money and help save the planet – and, thanks to a heap of investment and futuristic smart tech, are the most fun you can have on four wheels. Why choose anything else?

Looking for the easiest way to go electric? Check out Intelligent EV – the personal leasing scheme that goes beyond just putting a car on your driveway.

To make it as simple as possible to enjoy the benefits of electric driving, we offer:

• The most sought-after cars - choose from our expert-picked selection of EVs. Enjoy the latest tech on new models, or save a little more with one of our Nearly New cars.
• Smart charging - save money at home and on the road with exclusive discounts on Electroverse and Octopus Energy’s smart tariff.
• Servicing and maintenance - we’ll keep your car in top shape with included servicing, maintenance, and repairs.
• Extra Octopus perks - save £500 on heat pumps and solar panels with Octopus Energy and slash your energy bills further (plus more goodies when your car is delivered)