What are the Benefits of Electric Vehicles?

Posted on 30th May 2021 by H2 Property Services

Electric vehicles are more popular than ever. Cars like the Tesla Model S have transformed electric vehicles from clunky eco-cars into luxury powerhouses. The market is booming and growing each year, with more and more manufacturers looking to capitalise on the future of auto technology.

Why not find out what all the fuss is about? Switch to an electric car today and it could be the best investment you make. Not only can you save money on fuel and maintenance costs, but you can also benefit from some of the grants and tax benefits currently offered to owners of electric vehicles. Sound interesting? We explain everything you need to know in this article.

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Environmental benefits

Electric cars were created to combat the growing problem of carbon emissions caused by petrol and diesel vehicles. Unlike their fuel-filled counterparts, electric vehicles don’t emit any of the gases that contribute to global warming.

While there are energy costs involved with electricity generation, research by the European Energy Agency found that carbon emissions of an electric car are around 17-30% lower than driving a petrol or diesel car. This percentage will improve if low-carbon electricity is used.

Reducing your carbon footprint is great for the environment. If everyone switched to electric cars, it could reduce the Earth’s total carbon emissions by 14%.

 

Financial benefits

Switching to an electric vehicle can be considered an investment rather than just a purchase. In addition to enjoying all the performance benefits (more on that later) that modern electric vehicles possess, you’ll be spending far less on upkeep than you would with a diesel or petrol car.

You’ll save money on fuel costs. In fact, you won’t need to buy fuel at all. Switch to an electric car and you’ll no longer be faced with rising petrol/diesel prices. At the time of writing, it costs £67.55 to fill a petrol tank of a medium car in the UK. In contrast, the average price for a full electric vehicle charge at home is £8.40.

You’ll also save money on maintenance costs. Whereas traditional combustion engines have hundreds of moving parts, electric motors have fewer than 20. This results in fewer problems down the line.

 

Performance benefits

Gone are the days when the performance of electric cars paled in comparison to the top combustion vehicles. They’ve not only caught up, but some electric vehicles boast some of the best specs on the market. The Tesla Roadster, set for release next year, can accelerate from 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds. It has a 10,000 Nm torque and can get over 250mph at top speed.

And that’s just for the base model. Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has stated that the Tesla Roadster will feature ‘rocket technology’ and has even gone as far to say that it will be able to hover above the ground. Did we mention EVs are the future?

 

Government grants and tax benefits

In a bid to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, the UK government have created various initiatives to incentivise using an electric vehicle. These initiatives come in the form of grants and tax relief.

The low emissions vehicles plug-in grant provides up to £3000 for the purchase of an electric vehicle. This will be factored into the price at the dealership.

The government also exempt zero-emission electric cars from first-year road tax. Cars with emissions up to 50g/km get an 18% discounted rate on first-year tax.

The workplace charging scheme provides vouchers towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge points at your work.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) provides grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points at your home. You’ll get a grant of up to £350 that contributes 75% towards the cost of one charge point and its installation. You can even apply for two charge points at the same property if you have two qualifying vehicles.

To benefit from this grant, simply choose an OVEZ-approved installer (formerly OLEV-approved installers) to install your charge point. The installer will check that you qualify and then apply for the grant on your behalf. You’ll be billed for the price of the installation minus the grant amount applied for.

Take advantage of these Government incentives and get yourself an electric car and electric charger for your home. As OZEV-approved installers, you can book your electric charger installation with H2 Property Services today!

EV charger installations are just one of the many services we provide at H2 Property Services. Operating throughout London since 2004, we provide a range of home maintenance services to ensure your home or business is functioning normally.

If you want a new EV Charging Point for your home or business, contact our team today!

 

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