The Ultimate Guide to Owning an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Welcome to the electric revolution! Owning an EV isn’t just about what you drive - it’s a lifestyle. Don’t worry, we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know about owning an EV.

• Why go electric?
• How to choose an EV
• How to charge an EV
• How much will an EV cost me?
• How to look after your EV

Let’s start with the first question on everyone’s mind. Why should you go electric and convert to the EV lifestyle? Well, there’s loads of reasons (besides the incoming ban on new petrol and diesel cars).

EVs are not only the future of sustainability, but they’re more efficient, cost less to run, and generally have cooler tech.

Want to find out more? Check out our blog on 5 reasons to go electric.

And if you’re questioning whether you should get an EV or a hybrid, check out our EVs vs Hybrids blog.

Let’s say you’ve decided that you want to join the world of EVs, what’s your next step? How do you choose? 

First things first - you need to know what your car vibe is. Are you looking for a nippy city car or an SUV with standout tech? If you’re not sure, have a go at our EV matchmaker quiz.

• Budget (including what EV deals are available)
• Range
• Tech specs
• Boot space
• Towing capabilities
• What other people are saying about EVs
• Which models are available through your workplace’s EV salary sacrifice scheme

Once you’ve got an idea of what EV you’re after, it’s time to do research on things like charging, range, and owning an EV.

Charging an EV can seem daunting, but it’s way easier than it looks. You can charge your EV either at home, at work, or on the public charging network.

Charlie shows us how easy charging is at home, and talks through some of the specific charging tariffs used for EVs, including Intelligent (Intelligent Octopus Go):

Charging your EV is as simple as plugging it in and going about your daily life.
If you’re rapid charging on long journeys you can occupy your charging time with a toilet trip and a coffee. And if you’re charging at home, then charge it whilst you sleep - just like your phone.

And as more charging points get put into your local supermarket, you can even charge when you’re doing your weekly shop.

How long is a piece of string? You can currently get EVs from around the £28k mark, but eventually, the costs will come down. Your upfront payments may seem a little more, such as a home chargepoint, but this will balance out in your charging costs.

For a full breakdown of EV costs, check out our blog: how much does an electric car cost?

Looking after your EV is (dare we say it) easier than looking after a petrol or diesel car. EVs are cheaper to service and maintain, easy to charge, and seem to cause fewer general problems (with the added bonus of not having to check any pesky oil).

Looking after your EV can seem daunting, especially in different weather conditions. So, to help, we’ve put together plenty of handy tips such as 8 tips on how to drive your EV in winter and 10 ways you can boost your range when driving electric.