Category Archives: Tesla

News and reviews of Tesla electric cars (including plug-in hybrids).

Used Car of the Year Awards: Electric cars

November 10, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Porsche, Renault, Skoda, Taycan / Mission E, Tesla, ZOERepost

With living costs on the rise, getting a good deal on your next car is more important than ever. That’s where our Used Car Awards come in. These are our favourite electric cars…

Credit where credit is due: Elon Musk has led Tesla to become one of today’s most popular car brands. He’s no stranger to controversy in other matters, but Tesla’s Model 3 has proved to be an electric vehicle (EV) milestone.

This executive car has sold immensely well since its launch, and it continues to do so today, meaning the used market is flooded with them. Examples start with the Standard Range Plus, which can be found for a very tempting £23,000.

While this entry-level model can’t come close to matching the Performance’s 0-60mph time of 3.3sec (in our hands), it’ll still manage the sprint in a hot-hatch-like 6.1sec. You won’t see such acceleration behind the wheel of a Kia e-Niro.

The range is impressive, too: the Standard Range Plus officially travels 254 miles on a single charge, or 267 miles if you go for a post-2020 example. If you need 300-plus miles of range (more than any Jaguar I-Pace can offer), you can pick up a Model 3 Long Range or Performance for a few thousand pounds more; these versions have larger batteries.

The Model 3 is more reliable than the I-Pace, too. In the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Model 3 ranked eighth out of 20 cars in the EV class, with an impressive 93.9% score.

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:

How China’s EV Boom Caught Car Companies Napping

October 31, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, TeslaRepost

Auto execs in the US, Europe, and Japan never thought Chinese EVs were a threat. Now they’re coming to wipe the floor with their Western counterparts.

“You won’t believe what’s coming,” warned the title of a January 2023 video from the Inside China Auto YouTube channel. “Europe’s premium car makers aren’t ready for this,” warned another video from the same channel, uploaded in July.

Produced by Shanghai-based automotive journalist Mark Rainford, a former communications executive for Mercedes-Benz, the channel is one of several by China-based Western commentators agog at what they are seeing—and driving.

The channels tell salivating viewers that the tech-heavy yet keenly priced Chinese electric vehicles that have appeared on the domestic market since the end of the global pandemic will soon wipe the floor with their Western counterparts.

Auto executives in Europe, America, and Japan “didn’t believe China’s car companies could grow so fast,” Rainford told me. “That’s an easy mistake to make from outside the country. You see a lot of stories about China—they don’t hit home until you live here and experience it.”

Rainford worked at Mercedes-Benz for eight years—in the UK, Germany, and latterly China—and has lived in China, in two stints, for five years. He started his YouTube channel to cater to the growing interest in Chinese cars from overseas. His most popular video—“Think You Know Chinese Cars? Think Again.

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:

Most efficient electric cars

October 16, 2023Buying a new car, Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, Kia, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, Niro EV, Opinion, TeslaRepost

We crunch the numbers on the electric cars on sale today to see which come closest to hitting their advertised figures

Plenty of electric cars have impressive claimed range figures but managing to achieve them is another story. With the increasing number of EVs to choose from, buyers are hunting for the most energy-efficient electric cars to really make the most of their batteries between charges.

Electric car efficiency is measured by calculating its miles per kilowatt hour used, shortened to mpkWh. For example, a Volkswagen ID 3 with a 77kWh battery would require an efficiency of 4.5mpkWh to achieve its officially rated 347 miles of range.

A vehicle’s efficiency is affected in several different ways, with aspects such as weight proving to be a key factor in positively or negatively impacting range.

The Audi Q8 E-tron, for example, is powered by a 106kWh battery, but weighs a staggering 2585kg, meaning it can deliver only around 2.9mpkWh.

Larger, SUV-style electric cars are also usually impacted more by drag, which reduces their range compared with sleeker, more aerodynamic sports cars and hatchbacks.

The range and efficiency of electric cars are also heavily influenced by the weather conditions and outside temperatures. Warmer temperatures mean a battery’s chemical reactions can occur faster and offer higher range, whereas colder weather requires more energy, reducing 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:

Chinese electric cars will reduce UK emissions but what about rivals here?

October 5, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, TeslaRepost

The UK is facing a dilemma: should it fight the rising imports of Chinese electric cars with big new tariffs, in the same way the EU has threatened to do this week? Or should it allow them to continue? Keeping open to the imports in would make it easier for the UK to hit its goal of no new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and it would make electric cars cheaper. But the UK car industry could be damaged.

The British car industry is showing off its green electric future at a Bedfordshire racetrack, and behind the marques, some familiar, some less so, there is a new force.

China is cornering the market in electric vehicles.

A friendly man from Chinese firm BYD shows me the Atto.

“We’re really proud of this car,” says Mark Blundell. “It’s new to the market, and packed full of technology. In simple terms we can pack 50% more battery into less space.”

The car’s interior is inspired by a gym. It has a heat pump as standard, vegan leather, and strings on the door map-pocket tight enough to “get a tune out of”. The display screen on the dashboard rotates at the press of a button.

For now, hands should still be on the steering wheel, though China expects to be ahead of the game on autonomous driving too.

And the all important battery life and range? Impressive.

10 Myths About Electric Cars That Owners Know Aren’t True

September 20, 2023Electric Cars, Hyundai, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Opinion, TeslaRepost

10 Myths About Electric Cars That Owners Know Aren’t True

Are electric cars going to ruin driving for everyone? If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that people don’t like change. Electric vehicles are an enormous change for the automotive world. EVs have been criticized, questioned, and insulted at every turn, yet the world is moving toward them and away from traditional ICE vehicles.

Why are electric cars criticized and questioned as much as they are? Consider the first person to drive a horseless carriage. Everyone around them still had horses to pull the wagons and get them where they needed to go. Were those with horses jealous of the person who didn’t need to feed and brush their method of transportation? Perhaps.

1EVs Don’t Have Enough Range

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that the average American drives 40 miles per day. Some people commute much further in one direction, while others stay at home and don’t have to drive anywhere every day. Most electric cars provide ample driving range to handle the daily commute and much more.

Common EVs Driving Range

Nissan Leaf	150 Miles
Hyundai Kona EV	258 Miles
Chevrolet Bolt EV	259 Miles
Tesla Model 3	310 Miles
Tesla Model S	335 Miles

Electric vehicle skeptics might have a point when it comes to road trips. It’s difficult to complete a road trip, especially if the destination is key, when driving an 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:

Best 7-seat electric cars to buy 2023

September 4, 2023Citroen, e-NV200, Electric Vans, Hyundai, Mercedes, Model X, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Peugeot, TeslaRepost

Looking for a large, electric car with seven seats? We’ve listed the best options currently available

Electric car buyers in the UK have more choice than ever before. With the number and variety of different electric cars for sale continuing to rapidly expand, there’s an EV out there to suit almost any requirements. That includes those of buyers with big families looking for 7-seat electric cars or businesses who need a six or seven-seat vehicle to transport staff and clients.

To comfortably carry six or seven adults and some amount of luggage, you’re going to need a large vehicle and so the available options for buyers seeking a seven-seater that runs on electric power mainly boil down to larger SUVs or MPVs. Lots of the electric MPVs on today’s market are based on commercial vehicles and offer huge amounts of space as a result, while the SUVs tend to be a little less roomy in the third row but tend to deliver a more premium feel in terms of the cabin environment and driving experience.

Electric seven-seaters make a lot of sense for those who make a lot of short trips such as commuting or doing the school run, as this is where the lower running costs, zero-tailpipe emissions and quieter ride can really pay off, especially in congested or urban environments.

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 best new electric cars for every budget 2023

September 1, 2023Buying/Leasing, Citroen, Cost of ownership, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

As 2023 progresses, the electric car market continues to grow and evolve. More zero-emission options are available than ever before as brands continue their efforts to swap fossil-fuel cars for battery-powered alternatives.

EV sales are still steadily growing, with 176,000 new electric cars cars finding homes in the first seven months of this year – a 38% increase over the same period last year. One electric car sits in the annual top ten best-sellers list as of August 2023, with more than 21,000 Tesla Model Y SUVs have been sold in the UK since the turn of the year.

The last year has seen the introduction of several competitively-priced electric models, but with the retirement of the Smart EQ ForTwo and EQ ForFour hatchbacks there are now no electric cars available for below £25k. You can get a pint-sized Citroën Ami for around £8k, but that’s a quadricycle that does not come with airbags and is illegal to drive on the motorway.

Now starting with new models available for under £30k, 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.

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:

Can I save money with an electric car?

August 28, 2023BP Chargemaster, Charging, Charging, Cost of ownership, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Shell, TeslaRepost

Electric vehicles are increasing in popularity but with the price of energy high, is it still cheaper to run an electric car than it is a petrol or diesel one? Here we weigh up the cost of going green.

By 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be banned in the UK. Despite EVs making up more than half of all new cars sold, concerns remain around cost, range and whether the infrastructure is ready to achieve this target.

From April 2025 EVs will no longer be free from paying road tax. The removal of government grants, a higher list price than petrol and diesel, and the rising cost of refueling has left many wondering if making the switch to electric is financially worth it?

This article covers:

Related content: How to save money by going green

Are electric cars cheaper to buy than petrol cars?

Whether an electric car is more economical for you in the long run than an conventional fuel car, you need to consider a number of factors, which include:

the upfront list price
how much you intend to use the car
where you intend to charge it
insurance
maintenance costs

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:

One electric vehicle sold every 60 seconds in July after price cuts

August 22, 2023Away From Home, Buying a new car, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

One electric vehicle was sold every 60 seconds in July after carmakers cut prices to attract cash-strapped drivers, industry data shows.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed an 88pc year-on-year increase in the sale of battery-powered vehicles last month, as deliveries hit 23,000.

This comes after manufacturers, such as Elon Musk’s Tesla, reduced prices.

The SMMT welcomed the increase in electric car sales but said “consumers must be given every possible incentive to buy”, as it called on the Government to scale up infrastructure.

It also warned that its outlook for overall sales next year had been downgraded by 0.7pc as households struggled with the increased cost of living.

There has been growing concern about the lack of charging capabilities for battery-powered cars across the UK, particularly for drivers embarking on long-distance journeys.

Last year just one new public charger was built for every 53 electric cars sold.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Government must pull every lever to make buying, running and, especially, charging an EV affordable and practical for every driver in every part of the country.”

Figures released by the SMMT in February showed 368,617 plug-in cars were registered in Britain last year, while just 6,949 standard chargers were installed.

This shortfall has fuelled the debate over Rishi Sunak’s plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

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:

A standards war? A win for consumers? What the Ford and GM Tesla deals mean

July 18, 2023Away From Home, Charging, Ford, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

And imagine if EV charging eventually follows the gas station model.

The news that rocked the electric transportation world earlier this month — General Motors’ deal to give its drivers access to the Tesla Supercharger network — is no doubt a big turning point for EVs in the U.S. It followed an identical deal in May between Ford and Tesla. Earlier this week, Rivian said its customers could access Tesla’s charging network starting in 2024. Together, these pacts could have serious ripple effects for the development of the charging network across the country.

Jaguar I-PACE at Fully Charged Live show (Image: T. Larkum)

But they also generate a lot more questions than answers. Will these partnerships create a standards war between types of EV chargers? And will that hurt or help consumers? Experts don’t agree on that point, and they make varying predictions for what this news portends. It could usher in a new model for charging akin to gas stations, or it could be little more than a blip for drivers who will simply end up with a lot more charging options.

“I think it’s great news for the industry, and more generally for EV drivers, and for accelerating the electrification of the transportation fleet,” said Jeff Allen, executive director of Forth Mobility, an electric transportation advocacy group. “It’s creating more options for folks to charge, for one thing. And it is also going to push everybody to up their game in terms of reliability and customer experience.”

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: