Electric vehicles

It’s not always possible to walk, cycle or use public transport to get from A to B in Oxfordshire, many of us still need to drive. Electric vehicles offer us a cleaner way to travel, especially when charged with 100% renewable energy.
An electric vehicle being plugged into a public charge point

FAQs

How far can I travel in an electric car?

Most new EV model cars have an advertised range of between 250-300 miles, which is probably much further than any of us would normally drive without stopping for a break. Unless you regularly drive very long distances, this kind of range is more than enough. The Go Ultra Low website provides lots of information about advertised and ‘real life’ driving ranges for various different cars.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

The time it takes to charge an EV depends on two things – the speed of the charger you are using, and the model of EV you have. Most home chargers only need to be ‘slow’ (3-7kw) as people tend to charge overnight when electricity is cheaper and more abundant. Public chargers in Oxfordshire are generally ‘fast chargers’ (between 7-22kw) which can fully charge most models from flat in around 3-4 hours, or top you up by around 40-80 miles in an hour or two. Rapid and ultrarapid chargers are more expensive to install and use, but are perfect when you need to get a full charge in less than an hour.

I can’t afford a new electric car – how can I drive electric?

Brand new EVs are still expensive for most people, however there are lots of other options. Did you know you can get second hand EV from around £6,000 from local dealerships like Go Green Autos?  Or that you can lease EVs from as little as one month commitment with companies like ONTO and Elmo? There are also a growing network of EV car clubs around Oxfordshire, which allow you to hire EVs in your area for at little as an hour at a time.

Are they really better for the environment?

Fully electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions so are much better for the environment, and as electricity (unlike petrol or diesel) can come from 100% renewable sources rather than fossil fuels, it makes EVs a far greener choice all around.

Creating an electric car of course take energy, but in general the payback on EVs (ie how long before the benefit of driving them is net positive) is understood to be as little as 3 years.