Introduction: Get Charged Up!

As time goes on, electric cars become more popular. There are an increasing number of brands from Jaguar to BMW to Audi that are making their own electric cars, and they’re becoming easier to access for the general public.

There are a lot of benefits to buying an electric car – they’re not just for the richest people in society anymore. They are affordable, and you’ll spend a lot of money on gas. You can also get tax breaks as they are energy efficient.

With that being said, electric cars are still a fairly new thing in some respects. This means that a lot of people may not know how they operate, or even if an electric car is the right choice for them.

Thankfully, we’ve got the lowdown in this article about every single thing you could possibly need to know about electric cars.

When Was The First Electric Car Invented?
It’s easy to think that the electric car was a recent, 21st century invention. What you may be surprised to learn, however, that its history spans back a lot further than this.

Electric cars have actually been around since around the late 19th century, almost the same amount of time that we’ve had standard gas fueled cars.

It is somewhat challenging to pin an exact date on when the first electric car was invented. The reality is that it was a journey consisting of a range of smaller ideas.

During the early 1800s, many inventors in the Netherlands and the United States were beginning to come up with the idea of vehicles powered by batteries.

It was during this time that some of the very first smaller-scale electric cars were produced. Then, later on the first electric carriage was made by Robert Anderson. With that being said, the first electric cars made for practical purposes didn’t emerge until the latter half of the 19th century.

There are a few different inventors credited with the ideas behind the first electric cars used in a practical setting. The electric motor is generally attributed to the Hungarian Engineer Anyos Jedlik.

Lead acid batteries for commercial projects were invented by the French physicist Gaston Plane in 1859. These two things then combined together to manufacture the first electric car in London in 1884 by Thomas Parker.

The first ‘real’ electric car was made in 1888 by a German inventor by the name of Andreas Flocken, and it was called the Flocken Elektrowagen.

In fact, during the late 19th and early 20th century, electric cars were widely popular and a favorite method of transportation.

They have continued to be popular through the years, especially during the 1960s and 70s where gas was short and electric vehicles were an attractive alternative. They were not without their faults, however.

Today, electric vehicles are seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to gas fuelled cars, releasing far fewer carbon emissions for the sake of a greener planet.

Electric cars may be seen by many as the way forward for motorized vehicles, so understanding more about these energy efficient contraptions is certainly beneficial.

Read more: THINK EV

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 are now cheaper to insure than their petrol and diesel counterparts, according to analysis of the electric vehicle market by heycar.

The online car marketplace analysed what a typical driver can expect to pay for a 12-month insurance policy and found that electric vehicle owners are increasingly getting favourable results.

For electric car drivers, 2020 marked a tipping point as data from two of the largest price comparison sites showed that electric vehicles are now consistently cheaper to insure than comparable petrol and diesel cars.

Examining annual insurance trend data from GoCompare, heycar found drivers of the electric Nissan Leaf paid on average £394 a year in 2020. Meanwhile owners of the smaller and cheaper to buy Ford Fiesta were charged £550 for their yearly premiums across all petrol and diesel models.

In 2019 Nissan Leaf drivers paid an average of £424 for their yearly premiums, while drivers of the smaller Ford Fiesta paid £602.

This trend is echoed in data from MoneySupermarket. Figures from the price comparison site show that the electric Renault Zoe cost £451 to insure on average in Q2 2020. In comparison, a Vauxhall Corsa owner paid £776 – more than 70% more than its electric rival.

When it comes to luxury electric models, the Tesla Model 3 is the most expensive model to insure based on data from MoneySupermarket. However, it also followed the downward price trend seen elsewhere – with the average premium falling 16% from £1,464 in 2019 to £1,223 in 2020.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), premiums for electric cars fell in 2020 because more insurers are entering the market to accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles on the UK’s roads.

Industry data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) shows a significant increase in the number of new electric vehicles being sold in the UK, with a year-on-year increase of 186% in 2020.

Mat Moakes, CEO at heycar, said: “It is generally assumed that the insurance price for electric vehicles greatly exceeds the price of its diesel and petrol counterparts and it certainly used to be that way.

“But our analysis shows that it is now the opposite as more insurers enter the EV market, which helps bring the price down.

“The cost of electric cars is finally getting cheaper, which is great news for people who drive EVs – and those looking to make the switch – to cut their carbon footprint as they can now do that without footing a huge insurance bill.

“Last year was definitely a tipping point, with insurance premiums for electric cars falling significantly in 2020.”

Read more: Your Money

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:

There was a time not too long ago when an electric car would be a rarity on the roads, but these days they are becoming increasingly prevalent with so many motorists making the switch. So, should businesses be looking at electric vehicles as their new company cars? Read on to discover why this might be a good choice and could bring a range of benefits.

Tax Laws
Tax is always an important consideration when looking at a company car and switching to electric could help your business to make huge savings. In April 2020, the BIK rate for fully electric vehicles become 0% which is enticing for those looking to offer a company car scheme to their employees.

Employees Want Eco-Friendly Vehicles
It is clear that people are becoming increasingly eco-conscious and looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact, so providing an electric car for your employees will keep them happy and show that you are a business that is considerate to the environment.

Employees More Interested in Electric Cars
In addition to being green, electric cars are also more interesting and modern to today’s motorist. Electric cars have become symbolic for being progressive, forward-thinking and modern with many impressive options available, so this can be a smart way to show that you are a business that adapts to the times.

Cheaper to Run
Of course, another major benefit to switching to electric is that they are significantly cheaper to run. While the upfront cost can be higher, you will make huge savings in the long-term when it comes to fuel and road tax. As with any vehicle, you also need to make sure that you protect your investment with GAP insurance being a smart form of insurance which would stop you from being out of pocket if the vehicle is ever written off.

Good Image for Your Business
Today’s consumer is becoming increasingly eco-aware and selective of the brands that they use. Therefore, driving an electric car is good for your brand image and will position your company as one which cares about the environment.

Charging has Become Easier
One of the main reasons that the uptake was initially slow for electric vehicles was due to concerns over charging and range anxiety. This is no longer an issue as the battery technology has improved drastically and there are now twice more electric charging points than petrol stations, meaning that you do not have to worry about the range of your electric car.

As you can see, there are a multitude of benefits to a business for making the switch along with the obvious environmental perks.

Read more: CoFounder

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:

Still on the fence about making your next car an electric vehicle because of its sticker price?

An MIT cost calculator may spark you into thinking differently about your next car purchase.

New data published in late January from Massachusetts Institute of Techology’s Trancik Lab calculated both the carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles and their total lifetime costs to see which vehicles were gentlest on the planet and consumers’ wallets long term. The MIT researchers found that electric vehicles currently on the market are often cheaper over time owners use them than the gas-fueled cars most folks still purchase.

There is no doubt which class of vehicles pumps fewer climate-altering carbon dioxide molecules into the atmosphere. That competition is easily won by electric vehicles, even in regions where most electricity is not generated by renewable sources and despite the fact that battery production for the vehicles does contribute to carbon pollution. (Electric vehicles’ carbon savings offset those made in their creation between 6-18 months.

According to MIT, however, hybrids, which run on gas and electric, offered a mixed result, with some resulting in the same costs and carbon pollution as their gas counterparts while others pollute less and cost less.

When weighing their impacts on your wallet, gas vehicles trigger many costs that electric vehicles don’t have. Oil and fluid changes? Electric vehicles don’t need them. Electric vehicles also have fewer moving parks that experience less wear and break infrequently. Pricey stops at the fuel pump each week are also replaced by plugging the vehicle into an electrical outlet at home, where power costs are cheaper.

As the result, the Tesla Model 3, which costs $11,000 more than a Nissan Altima, will ultimately cost its owner less over its lifetime. The Tesla, with all of its costs averaged over its lifetime, sets owners back $426 per month; in contrast, a Toyota Camry XLE, after factoring gas and maintenance costs, runs $449 per month but contributes to climate change twice as much as the Tesla.

Among the cars with the lowest monthly costs were the compact cars the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq at just over $300. Both are less expensive and less polluting than a Honda Civic, whose total expenses run closer to $350/monthly.

The savings cited by the MIT study are likely even better in Florida, which has very low electricity rates compared to other parts of the country. As electric vehicles’ battery prices continue to drop, the savings in coming years, as more car companies offer electric models and their market share expands, will also increase.

Read more: Westchase WOW

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: