Guide to electric cars and vans

A new term that arrived in our lives in recent years is "EV", which stands for electric vehicle. If you are considering an electric car, allow us to provide some insight into the world of electrified driving. Here is our starters guide to electric cars: 

What is an electric vehicle?​

There are various terms which describe the type of electrified vehicle. A simple guide to; BEV, PHEV and MHEV.  

BEV means Battery Electric Vehicle. This type of EV is fully powered by batteries, not requiring any other fuel such as diesel or petrol, powered entirely by electricity.

PHEV means Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle combines both an electrically powered motor which can be charged by an outside plugged-in power source and a traditional combustion engine using liquid fuel such as petrol, reducing emissions and increasing efficiency. 

MHEV means Mild Hybrid Electric vehicle. A mild hybrid electric vehicle combines a conventional combustion engine and an electric motor to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. The electric motor is charged during the driving via "regenerative braking".

To view out current stock of electric vehicles click here.

Advantages of Electric Cars​

Electric cars have been around since the last century with early innovators including the Toyota Prius and Vauxhall Ampera. A rarity back then, but now becoming more and more popular due to numerous advantages, as follows:

Zero-emissions: Electric cars do not emit any CO2 making them ecologically friendly and ideal for use in Clean Air Zones or Ultra Low Emission zones. 

Economical driving: In some examples a used electric car will be more expensive to purchase initially, however using an electric car will result in savings long term. With the cost of electricity approximately £2.50 for 60 miles of driving. Maintenance costs are also lower. It is worth taking some time to calculate your outlay over a period of years, as this will identify the greatest saving.

Performance: Electric cars are quite nippy, as the power is delivered directly to the wheels, giving immediate acceleration due to the instant torque and lack of vibration. This combined with smoother driving makes an electric car a dream to drive.

How do you choose an electric car?​

When choosing which electric car is for you, various criteria must be considered.

First off, you should be aware that the technology on-board is likely to be different from one model to another. As a summary of battery types, manufacturers choice from the following:

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. This is considered the least expensive battery type but has good level of performance, with however a loss of capacity over the years.

LMP battery. These are generally reserved for electric cars which are used very regularly, mostly every day. If however an LMP battery is not charged regularly, the battery will wear out quite quickly.

Polymer battery (Li-Po). Since these are more compact in size, lighter and have excellent resistance to cold, Polymer batteries are a popular choice. They are unfortunately the most expensive battery type.

Your choice should also consider what type of recharging you will prefer.

Most electric cars can be plugged into a standard household socket, but with this method it can take up to twenty four hours for a full charge. So if your commute is short or you only make small journeys an overnight trickle charge would suffice.

If possible installing a home charge station is a wise investment. These normally take the form of a 7.4Kw charger. With this a full charge will possible in approximately eight hours depending upon the vehicle type.

To view out current stock of electric vehicles click here.

Charging your electric vehicle​

How to charge an electric car is a big consideration and shouldn’t be overlooked. How will this fit into your day-to-day life and ensure you are always well charged for the drive ahead. Consider how and when you will charge your new car, whether at home, at work or at a public charging location. 

Take into consideration the electric vehicle’s range limitations. Manufacturers' advertised ranges may not correspond to your particular driving style or indeed the conditions you are driving in.

Charge at home

Ideally you will want to have a wall charger installed at your home. There are various providers available with coverage throughout the UK, including; British Gas, PodPoint and Octopus Energy.

Charging in public

With a continually expanding network, a driver in the UK will not be more than 25 miles away from a rapid charge-point, whether at your local Supermarket, dedicated charging station, on motorways and major A roads. The infrastructure for public chargers is however growing very fast.  With hundreds of thousands of chargers across the UK and Europe, it is worth doing a little research, both further afield and locally to ensure you feel comfortable with recharge availability.

Servicing and maintenance for electric vehicle

So what about maintaining your new electric vehicle. When do they need servicing, are they easy to maintain and what are the costs?  These are common questions so here are a few answers for you.

Costs

With the addition of more technology, a popular misconception is that it is more expensive and complicated to service an electric vehicle. However, it can be as much 40% cheaper. With less parts to maintain than an internal combustion engine, upkeep is generally considerably cheaper.

What servicing is required on electric vehicles?​

As with any vehicle, if it is properly cared for it will last longer, and this is certainly no different with electric cars and vans. To ensure a smooth and problem free driving experience regular servicing in line with the manufacturers recommendations is essential. 

The main parts of an electric car or van which need attention are as follows;

Electric motor and battery - Unlike internal combustion engines, electrified engines have relatively few moving parts. This means that ongoing maintenance and repairs are lower overall.

The battery in an electric vehicle is long-lasting, with some manufacturers highlighting a life span of up to 20 years. For your peace of mind, electric vehicle manufacturers provide an additional battery guarantee of up to 10 years. So replacing the battery should not be a concern. Efficient charging of your battery certainly contributes to its life span.

At Underwoods, our trained Technicians will connect your vehicle into our diagnostic computer and perform some tests. They will check the health of your battery, focusing on the performance of individual cells, whilst checking for any identifiable fault codes that may require attention. All your electrical cables will also be checked for damage or loose connections.

Coolant and oil – Electric vehicles still require some liquids. A cooling system chills the battery, maintaining an optimum working temperature. This liquid coolant may need a top-up on occasion, which will routinely be checked with a visual inspection during a service.

The transmission in your electric vehicle still requires oil, along with some other mechanical parts. To "check the oil" in the traditional manner is not required, but there are various parts that are lubricated with oil and checks are required to ensure no leaks occur and levels are correct.

Brakes – The majority of electric vehicles use regenerative braking, which uses the motor to slow the vehicle. This is beneficial for maintenance costs as there is reduced wear on brake pads and discs. Like all cars brake fluid must be checked and regularly changed to ensure safe function. Brakes are likely to last longer, but will wear out eventually and require periodic replacement.

Suspension – Like an internal combustion engine car or van, the suspension springs and hydraulic shock absorbers will wear over time. With the weight on an electric vehicle being higher, suspension can be impacted and will have a slightly shorter life than on a traditional vehicle. Suspension will be checked as part of your routine EV service at Underwoods.

Other parts – There are of course many parts which can wear as with a traditional engine vehicle, such as wiper blades, air conditioning filters and tyres.

When should an electric car or van be serviced?

Generally, an electric car or van requires less Servicing than a petrol or diesel vehicle, but servicing in line with the manufacturers recommendations is of course essential. Each manufacturer has its own recommended schedule based on time or distance so it is important to understand this from the outset. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines and any warranties.

Where should I get my EV serviced?

Despite an electric vehicle being mechanically simpler than a petrol or diesel vehicle, ensuring your EV is serviced and repaired by an EV specialist is important. Ideally choose a garage that has Authorised Repairer status for your make of electric vehicle. Authorised garages will have technicians that have been trained by the manufacturer and have the correct tooling and diagnostic equipment, making them best placed to maintain your vehicle.

Underwoods Motoring are Authorised Repairers for Vauxhall, Skoda, Ford and Kia.

Please be aware that the warranty on your EV may only be valid if you use an authorised repairer, so carefully check the terms.

For further information about electric car and van Servicing and maintenance contact your local Underwoods Motoring. Click here to find our locations.

Are electric cars automatic?

Yes, all fully electric cars have an automatic transmission. To the driver, an electric automatic transmission will feel just the same as in a combustion engine.

If you are not used to driving automatic, it wont take long to adapt yourself and you will soon understand the benefits and freedom it provides.

Should I buy an electric car?​

Buying an electric car has to be a personal choice based upon your particular needs, budget and general driving preferences. 

Before you work out the logistical changes, we highly recommend taking a test drive. Call your local Underwoods Motoring and we will be delighted to facilitate a test drive in one of our electric cars.

Used electric cars: popular models

Unsurprisingly small city cars do extremely well in the used electric car market, models such as the; Vauxhall Corsa-e, Nissan Leaf, Peugeot e-208 and Renault Zoe. Mid sized models are also popular such as the Kia Niro and Vauxhall Mokka-e. But the electric market is expanding and changing constantly with new models continually being released.

To view out current stock of electric vehicles click here.