Category Archives: Electric Cars

News and reviews of the latest electric cars (full electrics and plug-in hybrids).

The (Wonderful) Downside of Electric Cars

January 16, 2023Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

It’s a lovely problem to have.

I’ve written regularly and enthusiastically about my 7+ years with a used Nissan Leaf. And for good reason. I firmly believe that purchasing this car is one of the single best things I have done for both my family finances and my own personal carbon footprint, in many years. (Yes, it’s used. Yes, I drive it as little as possible. And yes, I do own a bicycle.)

However, as my 2013 model starts to inch toward its 10-year mark, I am beginning to reflect more regularly on the one significant downside of electric vehicle ownership: And that’s the fact that I never have to take it to the shop.

No oil changes. No transmission fluid to worry about. And none of the mechanical failures I have previously had to contend with in similarly-aged ICE vehicles. I mean, sure, once a year I do have to get it inspected. But other than that, the maintenance I have had to do on my weird-looking blue steed is little more than occasionally changing a tire, and once having to switch out the 12v battery that runs the accessories. Leaving aside the money I save on gas, I am pretty sure I have saved thousands over the years in maintenance costs alone. So what’s the problem?

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:

Why running out of battery in an electric car gave me hope for the future | Opinion

January 13, 2023Charging, Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and Comment, Solar PowerRepost

Features like vehicle-to-load – which allows you to power devices externally using an EV’s charging port in reverse, or the more advanced vehicle-to-grid (V2G) which uses the same technology to dispense enough power for your whole home, or even sell energy back to the power grid.

This technology isn’t just a pipe dream. While the promising vehicle-to-grid technology is currently experiencing some bureaucratic hurdles in Australia, there are already a few models which are ready to support the technology when it can be used, like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which are V2G capable thanks to their Japanese-standard CHAdeMO charging port.

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:

Electric cars perform better in winter conditions than petrol alternatives

January 11, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

As the snow begins to settle across parts of the UK, motoring experts have investigated how well electric cars perform in slippery conditions, with results showing that EVs may have an advantage during the current cold snap.

A new investigation from car buying and selling marketplace carwow showed that electric cars perform better in slippery wintry conditions, giving them another advantage in the current cold snap. Carwow’s latest findings also serve as a timely reminder of how important it is drivers check their cars’ tyres carefully, particularly in the current climate.

The findings are showcased in the latest video released on carwow’s YouTube channel that pits an electric Audi RS e-tron GT against the petrol powered Audi RS3 and RS6 as the three cars face a series of challenges driving up an indoor ski slope.

All three cars are equipped both with four-wheel drive and Pirelli P Zero winter tyres, which have a specially formulated tread design and rubber compound to improve grip in cold, poor-traction conditions.

Despite these equal footings, the electric e-tron GT proved itself markedly superior in carwow’s tough challenges, being able to put its power down more effectively, and beating the RS3 and RS6 in an uphill drag race as a result.

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:

BMW i3 is EV cult classic in U.S.

January 10, 2023BMW, Electric Cars, i3, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BMW’s first mass-market EV, the i3, is gaining cult status in the U.S.

Over the i3’s nine years on the market in the U.S., slightly more than half of sales went to first-time BMW buyers. But it sold fewer than 50,000 units, according to data from Edmunds, often at steep discounts.

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:

Top 10 best plug-in hybrids to buy 2023

January 9, 2023BMW, Electric Cars, Mercedes, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The plug-in hybrid market has grown exponentially in recent years. Here are our electrified favourites

Not everyone is ready to take the plunge with a full-electric vehicle, which makes plug-in hybrids (PHEV) a great ‘stepping stone’. What’s more, with many manufacturers joining the PHEV arms race, there’s now a huge array of models to choose from in a variety of formats – whether you want a SUV, saloon, estate or hatchback, there’s an option out there for you, as our list of the best plug-in hybrids to buy confirms.

Mercedes-Benz EQC (Image: Mercedes-Benz)

There are lots of reasons to make the switch from internal-combustion-engined cars to hybrid, whether you’re looking to lower your carbon footprint, take advantage of government incentives, lower tax rates, or just prefer the drive of a plug-in hybrid car.

The sheer variety of vehicles that now offer plug-in hybrid ability means there are PHEV options to suit buyers from a range of markets. It also means that buyers have a tougher time than ever choosing the best plug-in hybrid car for them. On this page we aim to help by explaining the market and delivering our verdicts on the best plug-in hybrids you can buy.

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:

NIO Rolls 300,000th Electric Car Off Production Line

January 6, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

In the first half of 2023, the company intends to launch five new models.

NIO celebrates production of 300,000th electric car since the company introduced its first model (ES8) in 2018.

The jubilee vehicle happens to be a blue NIO ET5 mid-size sedan (launched in September), which is produced at NIO‘s Second Advanced Manufacturing Base (NeoPark).

The other five NIO models (ES8 flagship SUV, ES6 all-around SUV, coupe SUV EC6, flagship sedan ET7 and mid-large SUV ES7) are produced at the JAC-NIO Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Hefei.

NIO is currently in an expansion phase – the company recently achieved a new monthly sales record and expands geographically, entering multiple European countries (deliveries of the ET7 in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden started in October).

The 200,000th vehicle was produced on April 26, so it took less than eight months to produce an additional 100,000 premium BEVs. Cumulatively, NIO sold 273,741 electric cars through the end of November, which also means that there is basically not much inventory (mostly vehicles in transit to customers).

While six models are already a pretty decent EV lineup for a startup, NIO expressed an ambition to launch five new models in the first half of 2023.

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:

‘Owning an electric car is now cheaper than a petrol car’

January 5, 2023Cost of ownership, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

That includes the total cost of maintenance, according to new data

In almost all of Europe, owning an electric car is now cheaper than a petrol or diesel one.

That’s according to analysis by LeasePlan, claiming that although electric vehicles (EVs) cost more to buy, this is offset by lower running costs, less maintenance and less to charge up.

The report revealed that “EVs in nearly every segment and European country are now the same price or cheaper on a total cost of ownership basis than petrol or diesel cars.”

The only nations where an EV was still considerably more expensive were the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland.

From a UK perspective, the total monthly cost of running a new EV stood at £790, whilst a petrol car cost £820 and a diesel vehicle £809.

This was even more stark in the nation’s neighbours France – with a cost of £632 for an EV, £778 for diesel and £747 for petrol.

The study also revealed that charging at home was always cheaper than public chargers.

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:

Bp pulse to provide rapid EV charging for M&S customers

January 4, 2023Away From Home, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has signed an exclusive agreement with bp’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business, bp pulse, to install 900 EV chargepoints across 70 of its national stores over the next two years.

The announcement follows the successful pilot installation of 12 rapid (50kW) chargepoints at M&S stores in Eclipse, Southgate and Maidstone.

The roll-out will include a combination of ultra-fast (≥150kW) and rapid (≥50kW) chargepoints that will add 40,000kWhs of charging capacity to the EV infrastructure in the UK, said the retailer.

Each chargepoint will have a minimum capacity of 50kW with either standard grid connection or a battery-integrated solution. M&S have said that as many sites as possible will also include at least one ultra-fast 150kW chargepoint.

Bp pulse will supply, install, operate and maintain these chargepoints.

Commenting on the agreement, Sacha Berendji, director of operations at M&S said: “EV charging is the latest feature to ensure we have a store estate fit for the future, to help our customers live lower carbon lives. We know that services like EV charging are in demand from our customers, so we’re delighted to be offering this service and give more reasons for customers to shop with us.”

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:

Electric vehicles: if the UK is serious about being a major player, here’s what needs to happen

January 3, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, Ford, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The UK’s efforts to become a global player in electric vehicles (EVs) are back in the spotlight with two government announcements: a £500 million loan guarantee for Ford and a £73 million package to support various smaller clean transport projects.

The loan guarantee is enabling Ford to spend £230 million on its Halewood plant near Liverpool to nearly double output of EV powertrains to 420,000 units a year. Powertrains are the motor and other parts that propel EVs forward.

It is also helping Ford to invest £370 million in its global R&D headquarters in Essex to help support EV development. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E SUV is one of the best selling EVs in the world, though it is currently made in Mexico.

The government’s second £73 million package is a 50-50 investment with the auto industry. Among five projects receiving support is one aiming to develop a more efficient way of manufacturing EVs.

While these announcements are very welcome, we have seen numerous similar ones in recent years. But what’s the the big picture? How far is the UK from being a powerhouse in global EV?

Assembly lines

The UK currently produces over 850,000 cars a year, the vast majority petrol and diesel. Over 700,000 are exported, more than half to the EU.

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:

You’re Being Lied to About Electric Cars

December 22, 2022Electric Cars, FAQ, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionRepost

Science has repeatedly shown EVs are better for humans, despite the meme you just retweeted.

I’ve heard all the supposed arguments. It seems every time anything even tangentially related to electric cars is published, certain people feel compelled to share their own research. You’ve probably heard it all, too: A Prius is worse for the planet than a Hummer. EVs are coal-powered cars. Electric cars produce more CO2 than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Lithium mining is uniquely bad for the environment. Cobalt mining relies largely on slave labor, if not child slave labor. Actually, that last part is sadly true. But the rest? Lies. And I’m not even going to get into the hypocrisy of posting anti-EV rhetoric from a lithium-ion-battery-powered phone or laptop.

The first thing we should talk about is direct versus indirect emissions. Gas-powered vehicles have both direct and indirect emissions, while electric cars—I’m specifically talking about battery-powered vehicles, or BEVs, but we will just call them EVs—only have indirect emissions. How so? Both types of cars/trucks/SUVs are manufactured, and the process of building cars involves a global manufacturing effort that uses energy from all sorts of sources. This includes everything from the diesel fuel used to mine and transport metal to the electricity used to manufacture tires. A big knock on EVs is that because most battery production is centered in China, itself a notorious coal-burning country, battery-powered cars begin their service lives with more indirect emissions to their credit.

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: