Electric cars have grown out of their "new kid on the block" phase, but I bet there are still some interesting facts you don't know about these non-fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. Here are 10 electric car facts you might find intriguing.
The first electric car fact on our list is that owners of electric cars who reside in the UK are exempt from road tax or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The VED requires car owners to pay tax for their vehicles on a yearly basis, except for electric cars. This exemption was made to encourage people to reduce carbon emissions by switching to electric vehicles.
This exemption was made on April 1, 2017, and will expire on April 1, 2025. This same rule is also applied to the Expensive Car Supplement fee. Electric car owners are exempt from paying a car tax that exceeds £40,000 until April 2025. Owners who bought cars above £40,000, registered after April 1, 2025, will be required to pay the additional Expensive Car Supplement charge for the first five years of owning the car.
When it comes to electric vehicle ownership costs, owners of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) spend half as much on repair and maintenance as owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The lifetime maintenance cost of an ICE vehicle is about $9,200. In contrast, BEVs and PHEVs have a lifetime cost of around $4,600, which is exactly half of the lifetime maintenance cost of an ICE.
Electric cars have low maintenance and repair costs due to having fewer moving parts, which means fewer parts can malfunction. They generate less heat, which, in turn, reduces the number of vehicle parts that break down routinely.
Also, EVs don't need regular oil changes, which significantly reduces the maintenance cost that comes with that activity. Not only this, but electric cars also use regenerative braking, which prolongs brake pad lifespan and converts kinetic energy into electricity. This technology reduces wear and tear on the braking system, further reducing its maintenance costs.
Another interesting fact about electric cars is that silent driving, which used to be one of its key marketing points, is now illegal. New UK rules demand that electric cars make noise, especially at low speeds. This rule is intended to improve safety, particularly for those with impaired vision.
This law was enacted in July 2019 and requires EVs to emit a sound when reversing or driving below 20 kilometers per hour (approximately 12 mph). They produce tonal sounds and white noise that are designed to be nice to listen to but also easy to hear.
In the UK, there are now more charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) than petrol stations. According to MailOnline, the number of petrol stations was more than 37,000 in 1970 but has been declining ever since. As of April 2024, there are only 8,353 petrol station sites in the UK.
In comparison, there are 32,000 charging locations with different charger types. Note that most of these charging locations and charging points are located at the homes of EV owners. That’s because the UK government proposed the installation of charge points in all new housing developments to support the adoption of electric vehicles.
Power blackouts are happening more often than we'd like. Thankfully, there are common alternatives like solar energy, generators, inverters, and even electric cars.
Electric cars are modeled to store power and dissipate it to the car's engine and other car parts over a range of time. An interesting fact is that it can also work to power a home. Using the bidirectional charging technology, you can charge your basic appliances and power your house with an electric car for two to three days. Larger electric vehicles like buses or trucks can, of course, power more items and last longer than three days. Note that to use your EV to power your home or charge your appliance, you might need a professional to install a charging station and a home integration for you.
Here’s another interesting fact about electric cars: the UK government offers grants to encourage residents to own electric cars. This government electric car grant includes subsidizing the purchase of electric cars by up to 35%. The grants range from 150 pounds for mopeds to 20,000 pounds for large trucks, all of which have a limited grant number per year.
There's also the electric vehicle chargepoint grant, which offsets up to 350 pounds for homeowners to install a residential electric car charge station. Note that this grant is not accessible to electric car owners who live in rental accommodations.
The UK is 7th on the list of countries leading the world’s decarbonization. One of the ways it has been able to achieve this is through the wide adoption of electric vehicles across the country. To this effect, the UK government will ban the sale of non-electric vehicles starting in 2035.
This ban was originally set for 2030, but it was pushed back to 2035 due to the slow rate of technological advancement and potential delays in manufacturing and consumer adoption rates. This move aligns with the government's goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The UK government charges £15 daily for vehicle owners who drive within the Congestion Charge zone from seven a.m. to six p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to six p.m. on weekends and bank holidays. This fee aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of air in the specified areas.
The only vehicles that are exempt from paying the congestion charge are cars categorized as cleaner vehicles, including electric cars. So, owners of EVs aren't mandated to pay this fee until December 2025, when they will no longer be exempt. This removal of their exemption is a way to encourage the use of public transport or cycling.
In the UK, parking fees range from £1 to £20 per hour, and you can only get the cheap ones if you have apps that specialize in parking deals, park during off-peak hours, or use alternative parking options like park-and-ride.
In an attempt to encourage residents to use electric cars, some local establishments, retail premises, and businesses in the UK offer free or discounted prices for EV parking. This free service is typically found in the Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) around the North and South Circular roads.
Some of the London boroughs that offer free electric car parking include Barking & Dagenham, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Westminster, etc. You can receive free parking permits for two electric vehicles and £45 per vehicle for up to three additional electric cars. Note that not all boroughs offer free parking; some of them only offer discounts. You'll have to visit their website to know how much their parking fee is at any time.
Did you know that charging your EV during off-peak hours can significantly reduce your electricity bill depending on how long it takes to charge your electric car?
For context, it will cost you between £15 and £28 to fully charge an electric car during peak hours. However, it will cost you almost half of that amount to charge it during off-peak hours. Off-peak hours are typically late at night or early in the morning when there's not much electricity usage. Since many energy providers offer discounted electricity tariffs during these periods, you can schedule your electric car to charge during those hours.
With the incentives and exemptions that governments attach to the ownership of electric vehicles, we wouldn't be surprised if petrol- or gas-fueled soon become a thing of the past. Aside from these incentives, other pros of electric cars include their benefits to the environment, their lower maintenance and repair costs, their fun driving experience, etc.
On the other hand, some of its cons include a higher purchasing cost, shorter driving range, and charging-related issues such as limited charging stations, range anxiety due to limited driving range, uncertain charging options, etc.
It can be frustrating to drive to a charging station only to find out that it's not functional or its EV charger is in use. Let's not forget the emotional stress that comes with looking for any available charging point before your car battery dies.
OVO Charge powered by Bonnet helps you stay updated on the status of the charging stations around you. We work with multiple public charging point operators to provide real-time data on the availability of the charging ports around you, when they were last used, if they are currently in use, their charging prices, etc. That way, you won't waste time taking detours while trying to find where to charge your electric car.
The app developed by OVO Powered by Bonnet also offers up to 15% savings every time you charge your car through it, as well as random weekly rewards to earn up to 20 pounds worth of charging credit, which you can use to get a free charge. Take advantage of the OVO Charge powered by Bonnet to forgo the stress of constantly searching for available electric car charging points and never run out of power again.
Electric cars are powerful because they use electric motors that provide instant torque to move faster. Also, unlike internal combustion engines, electric motors deliver maximum power immediately after you press the accelerator. Additionally, electric vehicles often have efficient power management systems and regenerative braking, which improves their overall performance.
Electric cars are unique because they run on electricity instead of gasoline, thereby producing zero tailpipe emissions. They also get instant torque from electric motors, which makes for quick and smooth acceleration. Also, they require less maintenance than traditional cars due to having fewer moving parts.
Electric cars are fun because they offer instant torque that leads to quick acceleration and a thrilling driving experience. They are also less noisy than ICE vehicles, so they offer a smooth and serene ride. They also come with advanced technology features and innovative designs that make them exciting and enjoyable to drive.
Yes, electric cars often accelerate faster than gas cars because they provide instant torque. That means power is delivered to the wheels immediately after you press the accelerator. As a result, electric cars can achieve quicker acceleration from a standstill compared to most gas cars.
The biggest problem with electric cars is their charging structure, which mostly affects electric car owners who don't have a home charging station. Because of this, they have to drive around to find charging points that are available and in use. Sometimes, this takes time and could impact the owner's schedule. A good way to navigate this is by installing the app from OVO Powered by Bonnet. This app gives you real-time data on public charging ports closest to you, their availability, and their charging prices.
Electric cars have grown out of their "new kid on the block" phase, but I bet there are still some interesting facts you don't know about these non-fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. Here are 10 electric car facts you might find intriguing.
The first electric car fact on our list is that owners of electric cars who reside in the UK are exempt from road tax or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The VED requires car owners to pay tax for their vehicles on a yearly basis, except for electric cars. This exemption was made to encourage people to reduce carbon emissions by switching to electric vehicles.
This exemption was made on April 1, 2017, and will expire on April 1, 2025. This same rule is also applied to the Expensive Car Supplement fee. Electric car owners are exempt from paying a car tax that exceeds £40,000 until April 2025. Owners who bought cars above £40,000, registered after April 1, 2025, will be required to pay the additional Expensive Car Supplement charge for the first five years of owning the car.
When it comes to electric vehicle ownership costs, owners of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) spend half as much on repair and maintenance as owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The lifetime maintenance cost of an ICE vehicle is about $9,200. In contrast, BEVs and PHEVs have a lifetime cost of around $4,600, which is exactly half of the lifetime maintenance cost of an ICE.
Electric cars have low maintenance and repair costs due to having fewer moving parts, which means fewer parts can malfunction. They generate less heat, which, in turn, reduces the number of vehicle parts that break down routinely.
Also, EVs don't need regular oil changes, which significantly reduces the maintenance cost that comes with that activity. Not only this, but electric cars also use regenerative braking, which prolongs brake pad lifespan and converts kinetic energy into electricity. This technology reduces wear and tear on the braking system, further reducing its maintenance costs.
Another interesting fact about electric cars is that silent driving, which used to be one of its key marketing points, is now illegal. New UK rules demand that electric cars make noise, especially at low speeds. This rule is intended to improve safety, particularly for those with impaired vision.
This law was enacted in July 2019 and requires EVs to emit a sound when reversing or driving below 20 kilometers per hour (approximately 12 mph). They produce tonal sounds and white noise that are designed to be nice to listen to but also easy to hear.
In the UK, there are now more charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) than petrol stations. According to MailOnline, the number of petrol stations was more than 37,000 in 1970 but has been declining ever since. As of April 2024, there are only 8,353 petrol station sites in the UK.
In comparison, there are 32,000 charging locations with different charger types. Note that most of these charging locations and charging points are located at the homes of EV owners. That’s because the UK government proposed the installation of charge points in all new housing developments to support the adoption of electric vehicles.
Power blackouts are happening more often than we'd like. Thankfully, there are common alternatives like solar energy, generators, inverters, and even electric cars.
Electric cars are modeled to store power and dissipate it to the car's engine and other car parts over a range of time. An interesting fact is that it can also work to power a home. Using the bidirectional charging technology, you can charge your basic appliances and power your house with an electric car for two to three days. Larger electric vehicles like buses or trucks can, of course, power more items and last longer than three days. Note that to use your EV to power your home or charge your appliance, you might need a professional to install a charging station and a home integration for you.
Here’s another interesting fact about electric cars: the UK government offers grants to encourage residents to own electric cars. This government electric car grant includes subsidizing the purchase of electric cars by up to 35%. The grants range from 150 pounds for mopeds to 20,000 pounds for large trucks, all of which have a limited grant number per year.
There's also the electric vehicle chargepoint grant, which offsets up to 350 pounds for homeowners to install a residential electric car charge station. Note that this grant is not accessible to electric car owners who live in rental accommodations.
The UK is 7th on the list of countries leading the world’s decarbonization. One of the ways it has been able to achieve this is through the wide adoption of electric vehicles across the country. To this effect, the UK government will ban the sale of non-electric vehicles starting in 2035.
This ban was originally set for 2030, but it was pushed back to 2035 due to the slow rate of technological advancement and potential delays in manufacturing and consumer adoption rates. This move aligns with the government's goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The UK government charges £15 daily for vehicle owners who drive within the Congestion Charge zone from seven a.m. to six p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to six p.m. on weekends and bank holidays. This fee aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of air in the specified areas.
The only vehicles that are exempt from paying the congestion charge are cars categorized as cleaner vehicles, including electric cars. So, owners of EVs aren't mandated to pay this fee until December 2025, when they will no longer be exempt. This removal of their exemption is a way to encourage the use of public transport or cycling.
In the UK, parking fees range from £1 to £20 per hour, and you can only get the cheap ones if you have apps that specialize in parking deals, park during off-peak hours, or use alternative parking options like park-and-ride.
In an attempt to encourage residents to use electric cars, some local establishments, retail premises, and businesses in the UK offer free or discounted prices for EV parking. This free service is typically found in the Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) around the North and South Circular roads.
Some of the London boroughs that offer free electric car parking include Barking & Dagenham, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Westminster, etc. You can receive free parking permits for two electric vehicles and £45 per vehicle for up to three additional electric cars. Note that not all boroughs offer free parking; some of them only offer discounts. You'll have to visit their website to know how much their parking fee is at any time.
Did you know that charging your EV during off-peak hours can significantly reduce your electricity bill depending on how long it takes to charge your electric car?
For context, it will cost you between £15 and £28 to fully charge an electric car during peak hours. However, it will cost you almost half of that amount to charge it during off-peak hours. Off-peak hours are typically late at night or early in the morning when there's not much electricity usage. Since many energy providers offer discounted electricity tariffs during these periods, you can schedule your electric car to charge during those hours.
With the incentives and exemptions that governments attach to the ownership of electric vehicles, we wouldn't be surprised if petrol- or gas-fueled soon become a thing of the past. Aside from these incentives, other pros of electric cars include their benefits to the environment, their lower maintenance and repair costs, their fun driving experience, etc.
On the other hand, some of its cons include a higher purchasing cost, shorter driving range, and charging-related issues such as limited charging stations, range anxiety due to limited driving range, uncertain charging options, etc.
It can be frustrating to drive to a charging station only to find out that it's not functional or its EV charger is in use. Let's not forget the emotional stress that comes with looking for any available charging point before your car battery dies.
OVO Charge powered by Bonnet helps you stay updated on the status of the charging stations around you. We work with multiple public charging point operators to provide real-time data on the availability of the charging ports around you, when they were last used, if they are currently in use, their charging prices, etc. That way, you won't waste time taking detours while trying to find where to charge your electric car.
The app developed by OVO Powered by Bonnet also offers up to 15% savings every time you charge your car through it, as well as random weekly rewards to earn up to 20 pounds worth of charging credit, which you can use to get a free charge. Take advantage of the OVO Charge powered by Bonnet to forgo the stress of constantly searching for available electric car charging points and never run out of power again.
Electric cars have grown out of their "new kid on the block" phase, but I bet there are still some interesting facts you don't know about these non-fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. Here are 10 electric car facts you might find intriguing.
The first electric car fact on our list is that owners of electric cars who reside in the UK are exempt from road tax or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The VED requires car owners to pay tax for their vehicles on a yearly basis, except for electric cars. This exemption was made to encourage people to reduce carbon emissions by switching to electric vehicles.
This exemption was made on April 1, 2017, and will expire on April 1, 2025. This same rule is also applied to the Expensive Car Supplement fee. Electric car owners are exempt from paying a car tax that exceeds £40,000 until April 2025. Owners who bought cars above £40,000, registered after April 1, 2025, will be required to pay the additional Expensive Car Supplement charge for the first five years of owning the car.
When it comes to electric vehicle ownership costs, owners of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) spend half as much on repair and maintenance as owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The lifetime maintenance cost of an ICE vehicle is about $9,200. In contrast, BEVs and PHEVs have a lifetime cost of around $4,600, which is exactly half of the lifetime maintenance cost of an ICE.
Electric cars have low maintenance and repair costs due to having fewer moving parts, which means fewer parts can malfunction. They generate less heat, which, in turn, reduces the number of vehicle parts that break down routinely.
Also, EVs don't need regular oil changes, which significantly reduces the maintenance cost that comes with that activity. Not only this, but electric cars also use regenerative braking, which prolongs brake pad lifespan and converts kinetic energy into electricity. This technology reduces wear and tear on the braking system, further reducing its maintenance costs.
Another interesting fact about electric cars is that silent driving, which used to be one of its key marketing points, is now illegal. New UK rules demand that electric cars make noise, especially at low speeds. This rule is intended to improve safety, particularly for those with impaired vision.
This law was enacted in July 2019 and requires EVs to emit a sound when reversing or driving below 20 kilometers per hour (approximately 12 mph). They produce tonal sounds and white noise that are designed to be nice to listen to but also easy to hear.
In the UK, there are now more charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) than petrol stations. According to MailOnline, the number of petrol stations was more than 37,000 in 1970 but has been declining ever since. As of April 2024, there are only 8,353 petrol station sites in the UK.
In comparison, there are 32,000 charging locations with different charger types. Note that most of these charging locations and charging points are located at the homes of EV owners. That’s because the UK government proposed the installation of charge points in all new housing developments to support the adoption of electric vehicles.
Power blackouts are happening more often than we'd like. Thankfully, there are common alternatives like solar energy, generators, inverters, and even electric cars.
Electric cars are modeled to store power and dissipate it to the car's engine and other car parts over a range of time. An interesting fact is that it can also work to power a home. Using the bidirectional charging technology, you can charge your basic appliances and power your house with an electric car for two to three days. Larger electric vehicles like buses or trucks can, of course, power more items and last longer than three days. Note that to use your EV to power your home or charge your appliance, you might need a professional to install a charging station and a home integration for you.
Here’s another interesting fact about electric cars: the UK government offers grants to encourage residents to own electric cars. This government electric car grant includes subsidizing the purchase of electric cars by up to 35%. The grants range from 150 pounds for mopeds to 20,000 pounds for large trucks, all of which have a limited grant number per year.
There's also the electric vehicle chargepoint grant, which offsets up to 350 pounds for homeowners to install a residential electric car charge station. Note that this grant is not accessible to electric car owners who live in rental accommodations.
The UK is 7th on the list of countries leading the world’s decarbonization. One of the ways it has been able to achieve this is through the wide adoption of electric vehicles across the country. To this effect, the UK government will ban the sale of non-electric vehicles starting in 2035.
This ban was originally set for 2030, but it was pushed back to 2035 due to the slow rate of technological advancement and potential delays in manufacturing and consumer adoption rates. This move aligns with the government's goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The UK government charges £15 daily for vehicle owners who drive within the Congestion Charge zone from seven a.m. to six p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to six p.m. on weekends and bank holidays. This fee aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of air in the specified areas.
The only vehicles that are exempt from paying the congestion charge are cars categorized as cleaner vehicles, including electric cars. So, owners of EVs aren't mandated to pay this fee until December 2025, when they will no longer be exempt. This removal of their exemption is a way to encourage the use of public transport or cycling.
In the UK, parking fees range from £1 to £20 per hour, and you can only get the cheap ones if you have apps that specialize in parking deals, park during off-peak hours, or use alternative parking options like park-and-ride.
In an attempt to encourage residents to use electric cars, some local establishments, retail premises, and businesses in the UK offer free or discounted prices for EV parking. This free service is typically found in the Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) around the North and South Circular roads.
Some of the London boroughs that offer free electric car parking include Barking & Dagenham, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Westminster, etc. You can receive free parking permits for two electric vehicles and £45 per vehicle for up to three additional electric cars. Note that not all boroughs offer free parking; some of them only offer discounts. You'll have to visit their website to know how much their parking fee is at any time.
Did you know that charging your EV during off-peak hours can significantly reduce your electricity bill depending on how long it takes to charge your electric car?
For context, it will cost you between £15 and £28 to fully charge an electric car during peak hours. However, it will cost you almost half of that amount to charge it during off-peak hours. Off-peak hours are typically late at night or early in the morning when there's not much electricity usage. Since many energy providers offer discounted electricity tariffs during these periods, you can schedule your electric car to charge during those hours.
With the incentives and exemptions that governments attach to the ownership of electric vehicles, we wouldn't be surprised if petrol- or gas-fueled soon become a thing of the past. Aside from these incentives, other pros of electric cars include their benefits to the environment, their lower maintenance and repair costs, their fun driving experience, etc.
On the other hand, some of its cons include a higher purchasing cost, shorter driving range, and charging-related issues such as limited charging stations, range anxiety due to limited driving range, uncertain charging options, etc.
It can be frustrating to drive to a charging station only to find out that it's not functional or its EV charger is in use. Let's not forget the emotional stress that comes with looking for any available charging point before your car battery dies.
OVO Charge powered by Bonnet helps you stay updated on the status of the charging stations around you. We work with multiple public charging point operators to provide real-time data on the availability of the charging ports around you, when they were last used, if they are currently in use, their charging prices, etc. That way, you won't waste time taking detours while trying to find where to charge your electric car.
The app developed by OVO Powered by Bonnet also offers up to 15% savings every time you charge your car through it, as well as random weekly rewards to earn up to 20 pounds worth of charging credit, which you can use to get a free charge. Take advantage of the OVO Charge powered by Bonnet to forgo the stress of constantly searching for available electric car charging points and never run out of power again.
Electric cars are powerful because they use electric motors that provide instant torque to move faster. Also, unlike internal combustion engines, electric motors deliver maximum power immediately after you press the accelerator. Additionally, electric vehicles often have efficient power management systems and regenerative braking, which improves their overall performance.
Electric cars are unique because they run on electricity instead of gasoline, thereby producing zero tailpipe emissions. They also get instant torque from electric motors, which makes for quick and smooth acceleration. Also, they require less maintenance than traditional cars due to having fewer moving parts.
Electric cars are fun because they offer instant torque that leads to quick acceleration and a thrilling driving experience. They are also less noisy than ICE vehicles, so they offer a smooth and serene ride. They also come with advanced technology features and innovative designs that make them exciting and enjoyable to drive.
Yes, electric cars often accelerate faster than gas cars because they provide instant torque. That means power is delivered to the wheels immediately after you press the accelerator. As a result, electric cars can achieve quicker acceleration from a standstill compared to most gas cars.
The biggest problem with electric cars is their charging structure, which mostly affects electric car owners who don't have a home charging station. Because of this, they have to drive around to find charging points that are available and in use. Sometimes, this takes time and could impact the owner's schedule. A good way to navigate this is by installing the app from OVO Powered by Bonnet. This app gives you real-time data on public charging ports closest to you, their availability, and their charging prices.
