Benefits of electric cars

As electric vehicles become more mainstream and more manufacturers launch new models, many of us are now considering buying an electric car. There are a wide range of benefits for drivers considering making the switch, from environmental benefits to reduced running costs. But are you aware of all of the benefits of electric cars?

LONDON’S ULTRA LOW EMISSIONS ZONE (ULEZ)

The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) is a traffic pollution charge scheme whereby vehicles that emit a certain amount of pollution are charged for driving in a restricted area. The aim of the scheme is to reduce exhaust gas emissions in Central London. Polluting vehicles account for around half of London’s harmful air emissions, and air pollution costs the capital up to £3.7 billion every year. Launched in April 2019 and operating alongside the congestion charge, ULEZ is helping to encourage the public to adopt cleaner transport habits such as driving electric vehicles and in turn, reduce air pollution. ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year (except Christmas Day!) in the central London congestion charging zone. Motorists who drive in the zone in a vehicle that does not meet the new emission standard (petrol vehicles that do not meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 6) have to pay a daily charge. Electric cars, including MG ZS EV, do not emit any CO 2 or other harmful gasses from the exhaust pipe, as they are powered by battery rather than petrol or diesel, and therefore are not subject to any charges in the emissions zone. From October 2021, ULEZ will also expand to the North and South Circular Roads. All cars within the expanded zone will need to meet ULEZ emissions standards or pay a daily charge.

ELECTRIC CAR GRANTS & PLUG-IN CAR GRANTS

Because most electric vehicles are purchased from new and include new technologies, they often appear more expensive in comparison to similar petrol or diesel models. To help promote the uptake of electric vehicles and offset this cost, the Government introduced an electric car grant, also known as the Plug-in Car Grant. The electric car grant is available on a range of electric vehicles including cars, vans, motorcycles, mopeds, taxis and some large trucks. The maximum value of the grant is £1,500 for Category 1 vehicles. MG ZS EV qualifies for the Plug-in Car Grant and all paperwork and associated actions can be handled by your local MG dealership. To qualify for the electric car grant, the electric vehicle you purchase must have emissions of less than 50g/km and a zero emissions range of more than 70 miles.THE OFFICE FOR LOW EMISSION VEHICLES (OLEV) GRANTThere is an additional electric car grant called the OLEV grant, which is available to help cover the cost of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The OLEV grant provides up to £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging point, as home charging is the cheapest and fastest way to power your electric vehicle. The all-weather charging station can be installed either inside or outside of your home and can recharge your electric vehicle in a matter of hours for a fraction of the cost of public charging points.

OTHER BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC CARS

Electric vehicles offer a range of financial, performance and environmental benefits in comparison to petrol and diesel vehicles.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electric cars produce zero exhaust emissions, which means they do not emit any harmful exhaust gases into the air. This can benefit the environment as exhaust gases can contribute negatively to a number of health conditions and also impacts on climate change. Aside from the obvious benefit of no emissions, electric cars are also more energy efficient than regular vehicles, which means they use their energy in a more productive way and require less energy to get you to your destination.

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Many assume that the power of an electric vehicle is less than that of a petrol or diesel model, but in many cases this is untrue. Often, electric vehicles perform better than combustion engines in terms of power, torque and acceleration. They can also be found to handle better, as electric vehicles have a lower centre of gravity due to the heavy batteries mounted in the chassis. Electric cars are also designed to be as efficient as possible, with less moving parts to the vehicle. There are generally three main components; the on-board charger, inverter and motor. This means there is reduced wear and tear and less stress on the motor, with fewer parts susceptible to damage.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Depending on your electricity deal at home, or the cost of your local charging points if you do not have a home charging station, your electric car could save you on average £1,000 in fuel costs.