As the car industry charges towards an electric future, we look at some of the best new electric cars for every budget on sale right now

Electric cars are becoming more and more popular on UK roads, as car brands continue their efforts to swap fossil-fuels for zero-emission, battery-powered alternatives.

Electric vehicles made up more than 10% of all new car registrations last month, and that market share is growing almost every month. By the end of this year, EVs could be outselling diesel cars.

We’ve analysed all the electric cars available at key price points in the new car market, and consulted our industry-leading Expert Rating index to see which models have the highest review scores from across the UK motoring media.

With comprehensive review data backing our recommendations, you can be confident that this is the definitive guide to the best new electric cars for every budget that are on sale in the UK right now.

Best EV under £25,000: Fiat 500 Electric
The electric car is becoming more affordable year on year, but unfortunately there aren’t too many brand new EVs that you can pick up for less than £25,000. However, if this is how far your budget can stretch, Fiat has you covered.

The all-new Fiat 500 Electric (also known as the 500e), which is set to eventually replace the long-serving and popular petrol Fiat 500, launched in the UK in Spring 2021, available in both hatchback and cabriolet versions. The 500e is a bit bigger than its petrol-powered predecessor, and has been praised for its driving dynamics and interior quality – both of which are significant improvements.

As of September 2021, the Fiat 500 Electric has an Expert Rating of 70%, based on 21 different media reviews. With a starting price of £23,495 (including the government’s £2,500 plug-in car grant), the 500 Electric certainly gives you a lot of car for your coin. What Car? seems to agree, as it awarded the Fiat 500 Electric ‘Best Small Electric Car’ at its EV Awards in 2021.

Honourable mentions go to the ageing-but-still-excellent SEAT Mii Electric and Volkswagen e-Up twins, which may have been around for the best part of a decade but are still fine city cars.

Best EV under £35,000: Skoda Enyaq
Throughout 2021, a battle has been brewing between EV manufacturers to conquer the all-electric family car market. The £35,000 threshold is important here, because that’s the new cut-off for the government’s £2,500 plug-in car grant. As such, manufacturers are working hard to position cars to fit into this category.

From a value-for-money perspective, the Skoda Enyaq eclipses the competition. It’s a very roomy five-seater with plenty of boot space that offers a very easy driving experience, and excellent battery range, and a surprising amount of tech features, all for a starting price of about £32,000.

Despite receiving some criticism for its light steering and average looks, the Skoda Enyaq has an Expert Rating of 84% from 20 reviews, which makes it quite comfortably the best mainstream electric SUV in our Expert Rating index. This rating is a huge 12% higher than that of the Volkswagen ID.4, which the Enyaq is based on.

If you’d prefer something a little smaller, the Kia e-Niro also has an Expert Rating of 84% and tops the charts for small electric SUVs at this price point.

Under £50,000: Tesla Model 3
Tesla has been a catalyst for electric motoring and has quickly become one of the most admired brands for UK car buyers, praised for its innovative tech and luxurious driving experience.

A true reflection of this sentiment, the entry-level Tesla Model 3 reached the UK in Spring 2019 and has been a sales sensation ever since. With a starting price of just under £41,000, it falls comfortably into this price category. A few premium all-electric competitors have recently emerged to challenge the Tesla, such as the talented Polestar 2, but none have yet managed to de-throne the Model 3.

As of September 2021, the Tesla Model 3 has an Expert Rating of 83% from 32 reviews, praised for its impressive performance, driving dynamics and minimalist style. It has, however, received some criticism surrounding its ergonomics, and concerns about how long it takes to charge the battery.

A new contender worth considering in this price category is the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is just starting to arrive in UK showrooms now. Recognised for its retro-futuristic design, the Ioniq 5 has become a fan favourite among the media, and has already been awarded ‘Car of the Year’ at the Auto Express Awards.

Read more: The Car Expert

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It’s a measure of how far electric cars have come that, even a decade ago, it would have been hard to justify one as your everyday car.

Electric cars were too expensive, offered limited range, and the charging network was too small to make them a realistic prospect. Things started to improve when the Nissan Leaf arrived in 2010, with the Renault Zoe coming two years later.

Government grants, the rapid expansion of the charging network and the launch of more affordable vehicles all mean that the answer to our original question is, yes, an electric car can be your everyday car.

However, there are several questions you need to ask yourself first.

How long is my daily commute?
The average round-trip commute in the UK is around 21 miles. Even an electric car with the most miserly range estimate will be able to cover that. You don’t even need a Tesla to tackle a longer daily commute.

For example, the Kia e-Niro offers a claimed 282 miles of electric range, which might be enough for an entire week of commuting. Indeed, the e-Niro offers an impressive balance of price and range, costing around £30,000 after the plug-in car grant.

If you live in a city, you could find the latest breed of smaller and more affordable electric cars works for you. The Seat Mii Electric, for example, costs a fraction over £20,000 and offers a range of 160 miles.

Do I have off-street parking at home?
Without access to a driveway or garage at home, charging your electric car could be a problem. Although you can lobby your local authority to install chargers on your street, home charging is both more convenient and cheaper.

Trailing a charging cable across a pavement is unwise and unlawful. As the Highways Act 1980 states, unless you can prove that you have taken all necessary means to give adequate warning of the danger, you’re committing an offence. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Lamp post charging is an option – and connected kerbs are coming – but for now, home charging is the answer. Or maybe it isn’t…

If you have access to a charger at work, you could charge your car there. That way you’d have full batteries for the journey home and your morning commute. Just make sure you’re guaranteed access to the charger, or you could be set for an unplanned night shift.

Do I live in a city?
If you spend most of your time in a city, an electric car is fast becoming the best choice of vehicle. Indeed, it won’t be long before some cities make them the only choice.

Right now, electric cars are exempt from paying the London Congestion Charge – and they will be until 2025 at the earliest. The introduction of Clean Air Zones across the UK will also work in favour of electric cars.

Read more: msn

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Classic motoring enthusiasts will still be able to keep their cars on the road thanks to a company in the UK that’s giving them a 21st-century makeover.

According to the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, there are 40 million vehicles on UK roads.

Many of these are now in conflict with the UK government’s green thinking plans. UK Government advisors said that 46 per cent of cars in the UK need to be electric by 2030 to meet the UK’s climate goals. And motorists are already being given up to £2,000 (€2,345) to scrap their older polluting cars.

However, a start-up in the UK has launched to stop classic motors from going to the landfill.

At its headquarters in central London, London Electric Cars has been switching petrol-guzzling engines in Rover Minis, Land Rovers and Morris Minors to clean power.

Launched by founder Matthew Quitter, 44, the innovative start-up is converting vintage cars to zero-emission vehicles with the help of upcycled Nissan Leaf and Tesla batteries.

“I saw that companies in California were converting cars and at the time there was no one in the UK doing this,” said Quitter.

3D printers and lithium ion cells
Quitter started in 2017 by converting his own 1953 Morris Minor with the help of nine prismatic lithium-ion cells. He now has a team of 10 who work on the conversions.

As each makeover is bespoke, it can take up to six months to convert a car and the price of a conversion starts at £25,000 (€29,326). However, as electric cars are exempt from congestion fees or road tax in the UK, owners only need to pay for electricity, which means they can drive around the city of London from £1 (€1.17) a week.

While Quitter’s engineers work with 3D printers and lithium-ion cells, they try to keep the majority of the fixtures and fittings of the classic cars intact.

“One of the things we try to do is maintain the cars as much as possible for historical integrity,” said Quitter. “Things like the indicators are a little less consistent than say a modern car. But for most classic car owners that’s the quirkiness that they enjoy”.

The fact that vintage cars don’t come with modern trappings such as power steering or sat navs made the conversion more affordable because there is less labour involved.

Minis and Land Rovers feature largely in the team’s makeovers, although more unique cars have also passed through its garage in Lambeth. The engineers have given a new lease of life to a Lancia B2, Bentley T2 and a converted London Taxi formerly owned by business magnate Nubar Gulbenkian for the Peninsula Hotel Group.

Electronics entrepreneur and classic car enthusiast Roy Campbell, 69, was delighted when he realised he could combine his two passions. He bought a 1970s Bond Bug, which London Electric Cars fitted with a Tesla battery in February 2021.

Read more: euronews.next

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If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form: