Category Archives: Electric Cars

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

Ultimate EV guide: Every electric car rated

July 22, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

With car makers and legislators thrusting EVs out of their niche and into the mainstream, here’s our extensive buying guide for those tempted to take the plunge

The moment has come for electric cars. Lockdown is easing and, due to that, we’re seeing a rapid acceleration in demand for new cars – along with a determination in many a keen owner’s mind that this is a time to take a new view on life and concentrate on what really matters.

For a great number of us, that means making a well-informed and far-sighted decision about our next car. Do we stick with the same, safe, internal-combustion choices or embrace the future with an EV? We know it’s coming, so why not do it now?

Autocar believes it’s okay to think such things. Even before Covid-19, this was always going to be a major year for EV sales. The biggest European car makers must this year begin reducing their fleet-average CO2 emissions to 95g/km, and there’s no better way of offsetting the petrol cars that most of the market will still want by selling a decent number of zero-emissions ones. One reason EVs were so hard to buy last year is that firms were using 2019 to clear their less fuel-efficient stock, knowing 2020 would be the year of the EV push. Now, suddenly, they want to sell you battery cars.

There are other prime reasons for considering the change. The supply of enticing EVs has grown from a dozen to 40-plus in short order, and there’s now a viable second-hand EV market, reassuring for those considering the change. Company car economics have moved decisively in the favour of EVs, too. Road tax is eliminated, parking costs are low, fuelling costs are slashed and London’s congestion charge and ULEZ fees don’t apply.

What used to be a speculative topic has become a serious option. Now read on as we rate every EV on sale and answer the questions surrounding them.

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:

350,000 houses to get home charging by 2025 as UK shifts towards electric vehicle ownership

July 21, 2020Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

Electric car charging infrastructure is set to get a boost over the next five years according to the latest home charger data.

Research from charging point manufacturer Andersen has shown that by 2025 there could be 350,000 homes in the UK fitted with charging points, which would see a considerable shift in car buyers opting for a fully-electric or plug-in vehicle over the same period.

The latest new car registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have shown that while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have a market share of only 4.7 per cent, they have seen the most growth in June and 2020 to date.

However, BEV and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) combined now hold nearly eight per cent of new car registrations for 2020, up from 2.1 per cent in 2019.

Andersen quote in their research that it is expected there will be 1m EVs on UK roads by 2025 too, bringing with it this spike in home chargers.

The data has used statistics from the Department of Transport on home chargers installed between January 2015 to December 2019 to predict the next six years.

Andersen claims from its modelling that the rate of growth would suggest from 2021 more than 30,000 home chargers are installed a year reaching 67,480 in 2025.

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:

London in lockdown sees air quality improve by up to 50%

July 20, 2020Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionRepost

New research has found rush hour pollution levels have dropped considerably in London during the pandemic lockdown.

They fell up to a 50% during rush hour near Park Lane and double digit improvements in other commuter hotspots in London.

Borough High Street, at the base of London Bridge, saw a 37% reduction in the morning and 47% drop in the evening.

Cowcross Street, near Farringdon Train Station, saw a fall of 38% in the morning and 43% in the evening.

South Street, next to busy Park Lane, saw reductions of 32% and 50% for the morning and then the evening.

The research was carried out by Environmental Defence Fund Europe (EDFE) and Global Action Plan.

EDFE analysed pollution data from the Breathe London monitoring network during morning (8-11am) and evening (5-8pm) commuting hours in the first four weeks of lockdown.

These three sites were also in the top five of overall NO2 pollution reduction locations for the Breathe London network.

NO2 is a toxic pollutant produced when fossil fuels such as diesel, petrol or natural gas are burned.

In order to keep air pollution down, particularly during rush hour, Global Action Plan is calling on businesses to offer remote working to employees to ease pressure during peak travel times.

Additional research also shows that Londoners are more concerned about the air pollution since lockdown and are keen for it to stay low.

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: How to charge them, how much it costs and how long it takes

July 17, 2020Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

A guide to the costs and options for charging your EV

2020 looks set to be a massive year for electric cars. Several major manufacturers have either already launched new EVs or have models due to go on sale later this year.

On top of that there are rumours of a Government-backed scrappage scheme that could offer incentives to switch to an electric car. There are also suggestions that the drop in traffic-related pollution during lockdown could encourage more drivers to switch to zero-emissions motoring.

Some of the biggest questions around EVs, besides how far they can travel, are around charging – how much it costs, how long it takes, and where you can charge your EV.

The answers to all these questions depend on a variety of things, including the size of a car’s battery, the type of charger it has, where you’re charging and even the brand of car.

How much does it cost to charge an EV?

How much it costs to charge an electric car is dependent on a number of factors.

The first is the car itself. Different cars have different battery capacities and in some cases, such as the Nissan Leaf and various Teslas, the same car can come with a choice of battery capacity. The larger the battery, the more electricity it will hold and the more it will cost to charge it but the further you’ll go on a single charge.

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:

After Making 6 Million Golfs, VW’s Zwickau Plant Switches to Electric Cars Only

July 16, 2020Electric Cars, ID.3, News, Reviews and Comment, VolkswagenRepost

In what is perhaps the clearest sign that German carmaker Volkswagen is not joking around when it comes to its plans of becoming the planet’s largest electric car producer, the group announced at the end of last week a major shift in the production plan of its factory in Zwickau, Germany.

Having rolled its lines for the first time in 1990 for VW (the facility dates back to 1904, and was used by others as well, including Audi and Trabant), the site was mainly tasked with making the Volkswagen Golf (it also made Polos and Passats), and in the 30 years that have passed since, over 6 million units of the carmaker’s most successful car were produced there.

But no more. Last week, the last ICE-powered Golf rolled off the assembly lines. Starting this week, the facility will begin churning out electric vehicles only, starting of course with the ID.3.

For next year, the carmaker has a planned production output of 330,00 vehicles, as it will add production of electric cars made with the logos of Audi and SEAT as well. With this development, Zwickau is set to become Europe’s largest EV manufacturing hub.

“Zwickau is steeped in German automotive tradition. Our team has always delivered excellent performance and built vehicles with excellent quality,” said in a statement Jens Rothe, Chairman of the General Works Council at Volkswagen Sachsen.

“We have gained the trust in the Group to become the first location to start fully electric large-scale series production. The Zwickau plant is therefore well-equipped for the future.”

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 Car CHARGING rolling out at McDonald’s in the UK – and it’s 125kW Rapid Charging

July 15, 2020Charging, Electric Cars, InstaVolt, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

McDonald’s partners with InstaVolt to roll out rapid charging for electric cars at its UK restaurants, offering proper 125kW Rapid charging.

The rise and rise of electric cars seems pretty much unstoppable for now, but as the take-up of electric cars starts to shift from ambitious early adopters to the mainstream, there are still a number of obstacles to overcome.

Price is still a big barrier for EVs, but there is light on the near horizon for that with predictions battery costs will soon mean EVs can be sold at prices comparable to ICE cars, and the electric car charging network is still an issue.

Yes, there are lots of little 7kW chargers floating around everywhere from on-street to supermarket car parks, but as batteries get bigger – and lower costs will see them getting better still – an hour-long charge at Tescos on a 7kW charge won’t do much more than get you home again.

But now McDonald’s has teamed up with InstaVolt to install proper Rapid Chargers at their UK Drive Thru restaurants, offering up to 125kW charge rates, enough to deliver an 80 per cent charge in most EVs in the time it takes you to wolf down a big Mac and Fries.

Paul Pomroy, McDonald’s UK CEO, said:

With over 1,300 restaurants our ambition would mean you would never be far from a charging point. As we look toward a return to normal service post-COVID19, drivers will be able to pop in for a coffee or a meal and get an 80% charge in 20 minutes. We are known for speed and convenience, and this partnership with InstaVolt will provide just that for EV driver.

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:

The Mazda MX-30 is a corking little e-car

July 14, 2020Electric Cars, Mazda, MX-30Repost

From the MX-30’s unique interior to its futuristic exterior, Mazda’s first entry into the EV world is definitely something different…

When I see the letters MX, I usually experience a frisson of excitement. They immediately make me think of the MX-5, hands down the greatest roadster ever made. And yes, I’m happy to argue that out with anyone. Because I’m right.

So when I saw that Mazda’s first electric car was called the MX-30, that little frisson of excitement hit me once again. Surely Mazda wouldn’t use those two letters lightly? After all, they belong to the best-selling two-seater convertible of all time. A car that is an absolute joy to drive.

So, does the MX-30 live up to its moniker? Well, kind of. Because just as the MX-5 was revolutionary in its day, Mazda’s first electric car is doing it differently too.

There’s plenty of innovative design in Mazda’s MX-30. But there is one element that sticks in our memory: the cork interior. Rather than use the conventional plastic, metal or wood to trim parts of the dashboard, Mazda’s designers chose the material that plugs wine bottles, holds pinned notes to boards and hides damp patches in bathrooms decorated in the 1970s.

There’s some reasoning for it of course. It turns out Mazda was founded a century ago as a cork manufacturer. It developed some machines to help the processing and then somehow evolved into a carmaker. It’s a nice historical nod, but the cork’s use inside the MX-30 is also an indication that this is a company who likes to do things a little differently.

While its Japanese rivals, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi, have been building hybrids and electric cars for more than a decade, Mazda has resisted the current flow. It argued that there are still ways to make the internal combustion engine more efficient, as shown by its Skyactiv petrol engines. The combination of light weight and engine technology means even a car like the MX-5 will squeeze 55 miles out of a gallon without even trying.

But now, with the forced end of internal combustion engines looming and the imposition of heavy emissions taxes, Mazda is bowing to the trend. But it’s not going to go the usual way. It wants to make its EV lighter and more efficient, while still being fun to drive. More like a BMW i3 than a Tesla. More, in fact, like the MX-5.

The MX-30, which can now be ordered at prices starting at £27,495, doesn’t have any direct rivals. The most obvious are the Mini Electric and the Honda e, both of which are thoroughly modern but have cutesy retro styling. But the MX-30 instead has a futuristic SUV-like look and pillarless doors, just like a BMW i3 or Mazda’s own deceased sports coupe, the RX-8.

They may not share an aesthetic but what the MX-30 does have in common with the Mini and Honda is a surprisingly small battery. At 35.5kWh it is noticeably smaller than rivals such as the Kia e-Niro’s 64kWh. For comparison, the newer VW ID.3 will start at 45kWh and offer up to 77kWh in the top version. And the bigger the battery, the bigger the range.

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:

Incentivising EVs suggested to reduce coronavirus impact

July 13, 2020Coronavirus, Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and Comment, PollutionRepost

Electric vehicle tax breaks, scrappage schemes and extended emissions zones have all been proposed to reduce the likelihood of a second wave of coronavirus in the All-Party Parliamentary Group Air Pollution’s (APPG Air Pollution) latest document; Air Quality Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection.

The Air Quality Strategy document recognises the importance the global lockdown has played in transforming, “the way we have lived, worked and interacted with each other and, in that process, significantly reduced air pollution.”

The document states that there is a connection between cleaner air and a reduction of COVID-19 risk – emerging evidence suggests that short term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of coronavirus infection – underlining the importance of a comprehensive air quality strategy as we emerge from lockdown. This is in addition to premature death figures for Europe of 470,000 each year pre lockdown attributable to air pollution – including 64,000 in the UK, and with poor health related to air pollution estimated to cost £20bn each year in the UK alone.

Geraint Davies, chair of the APPG Air Pollution, said:

“Air pollution may also carry the virus further afield. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds the virus can remain infectious and airborne for hours and explores how pollution may transport coronavirus through the air. It is therefore essential that the government ensures pollution remains low.”

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:

The EV road to recovery

July 10, 2020Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

It is no surprise that business priorities have shifted since the Covid-19 crisis, as many look to preserve existing resources and start the rebuilding process. However, against the backdrop of the government’s ‘Build Back Better’ messaging, there is an opportunity to ensure sustainability remains a central part of any future plans.

According to research from the International Energy Agency, since travel restrictions were imposed at the start of the pandemic, up to 2.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions have been prevented globally. The recent UK lockdown resulted in an unforeseen boost to the progress towards net-zero and businesses across the utility industry can look to use this shift as a catalyst for long-term change by accelerating their transition to electric vehicles.

Positive steps have already been taken by key players across the energy sector. Giants including Eon and British Gas have pledged to electrify their fleets and install the necessary charging infrastructure within the next ten years, as part of The Climate Group’s EV100 commitment, which we’re also signatories of.

As we begin to take the first steps towards a green recovery from the crisis, what should utility businesses consider when exploring their Electric Vehicle (EV) options and what is really driving fleet electrification?

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:

V2G has ‘huge potential’ beyond financial benefits

July 9, 2020Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, V2GRepost

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology has been “reduced down” to making revenue from energy trading despite having a “range of opportunities” and benefits.

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology has been “reduced down” to making revenue from energy trading despite having a “range of opportunities” and benefits.

This is according to a new review of nine European V2G projects by Cenex. The review, which was funded by Innovate UK, found that the traditional model for V2G of generating revenue through energy trading is only one of a number of opportunities for the technology, highlighting key value propositions such as resilience, the benefits to society, enhanced battery management and self sufficiency.

According to the review, V2G can significantly reduce energy system greenhouse gas emissions, as well as ensure resilience in the event of power outages and prolong the battery life of an EV.

Battery degradation is a contentious topic when discussing V2G technology, as increased cycling takes place for arbitrage, which is likely to increase a battery’s degradation.

However, the review states that whilst V2G for revenue generation is often associated with increased battery degradation, using V2G for grid services that are based on power availability but have low energy usage will “have a limited impact on battery degradation”.

In fact, it outlined how “based on current evidence”, V2G could extend the life of an EV battery by about 10%, which would allow customers to use the EV for longer and therefore reduce the total cost of ownership as well as help to reduce end-of-life waste and the demand for mining of new materials.

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: