Category Archives: Vauxhall

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

How do you charge an electric car?

November 29, 2023Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, VauxhallRepost

So you’re thinking of buying an EV. Great! But, um, how do you charge an electric car? This is how…

Congratulations! You are either the proud new owner of a planet-saving, neighbour-impressing electric car, or you are thinking about owning a planet-saving, neighbour-impressing electric car. Either way, this is big news.

And presumably if you’ve clicked on an article headlined ‘How do you charge an electric car?’, you’re more likely to be in the latter camp at the moment. If not, well… that is an interesting move on your part.

You see, switching from petrol or diesel to a ‘leccy-driven car means you’re about to embark on a number of changes. None more fundamental than how you put the energy in the things to make ‘em move.

So without further ado, here’s our explainer on how to charge an electric vehicle (EV). You could say it’s EV-peasy… yep, bad joke. We’ll up our game now.

How do I charge an electric car?

You charge an electric car by plugging a special charging cable into a special socket. That’s it in a nutshell. What, you want more?

Okay, if you’ve got your own driveway or garage space, the vast majority of the charging you do will take place at home. This is good news because it’s convenient (no more queuing at the forecourt) and where you’ll usually find the cheapest electricity. Yes, even in these financially troublesome times.

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Electric Vehicles Dominate the Used Car Market, Selling Faster Than Petrol and Diesel

November 16, 2023Audi, Corsa-e, e-tron, Electric Cars, Kia, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Vauxhall, ZOERepost

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as the fastest-selling fuel type in the used car market, surpassing petrol and diesel cars. According to Auto Trader, EVs took an average of just 27 and 25 days to sell in the previous month and the current month, respectively. In comparison, petrol and diesel cars are selling every 31 days on average in October.

The rise in the popularity of EVs is evident in the list of fastest-selling used cars, with seven out of the top 10 being electric or alternatively fuelled vehicles. This includes models such as the Kia Niro, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Renault Megane E-Tech, Audi e-tron, and Renault Zoe. These cars have been highly sought after, taking between 9 and 15 days to sell.

One of the contributing factors to the growing demand for used electric cars is the improved affordability and availability. Auto Trader reported that nearly a quarter (22%) of used electric stock on their platform in September was priced between £10,000 and £20,000, providing greater choice in the more affordable end of the market. This increase in options has attracted more consumers to consider purchasing used EVs.

However, the second-hand electric car market is still in its early stages, and as a result, some volatility can be expected as it continues to mature in the coming years. Despite this, retailers have a significant opportunity to future-proof their businesses and gain profits by embracing the data and trends surrounding used electric cars.

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Octopus launches salary sacrifice scheme for used EVs

August 15, 2023e-208, Electric Cars, Mookka-e SUV, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, Peugeot, VauxhallRepost

A salary sacrifice scheme for second-hand electric vehicles (EVs) has been launched by Octopus Electric Vehicles.

Octopus’ ‘Nearly New’ salary sacrifice offering aims to make EVs more accessible to the mass market.

Drivers are able to access an electric Renault Zoe, Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Mokka-e for roughly £300 a month, including fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.

The used scheme builds on the salary sacrifice scheme it launched for new EVs in 2021, which is now being used by more than 3,500 companies.

Fiona Howarth, CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: “Used cars make up more than four out of five car sales in the UK, and so to reach net zero transport, we need to build a strong second-hand market for electric cars.

“As with all tech, the early models are expensive but with a growing fleet of second hand cars, you can now run one of these high tech, green, fun cars for half the price of an old school gas guzzler.”

All of the cars on offer are less than two years old and have been fully serviced.

“Leasing for EVs is an attractive option for people looking to go electric, allowing drivers to switch to the latest tech every few years and take advantage of low fuel costs,” continued Howarth.

“Very few of our drivers ever look back, and now going electric is even more affordable, opening it up to more drivers that may not have previously considered it.”

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Vauxhall Corsa Electric review

March 30, 2023Corsa-e, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, VauxhallRepost

Vauxhall’s electric supermini offers brisk performance and over 200 miles of range, but some rivals are better value for money

It might not be the most exciting electric car we’ve tested, but the Vauxhall Corsa Electric (formerly the Vauxhall Corsa-e) is still one of the best small electric cars around. Certain buyers will appreciate how ‘normal’ it looks and feels – ideal for anyone who’s nervous about driving an EV for the first time – while others will be charmed by the circa 200-mile real-world range and rock-bottom running costs. However, the electric Corsa’s price tag has now ballooned to the point where rivals offer much better value for money.

About the Vauxhall Corsa Electric

The Vauxhall Corsa is one of Britain’s motoring institutions, and the latest version of the best-selling supermini is the best and perhaps the most important yet. Not only does the sixth-generation Corsa share its platform with the Peugeot 208, like its French sister car there’s also a fully electric variant. While the Peugeot e-208 has kept its name, Vauxhall’s equivalent was Corsa-e at launch but now has been rather unimaginatively renamed the Corsa Electric.

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Sales of new electric cars in the UK overtakes diesel vehicles for the first time

January 27, 2023Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Tesla, VauxhallRepost

The month of December 2022 saw battery electric vehicles claim their largest ever monthly market share

Sales of electric cars in the UK are growing so fast that they have now overtaken diesel vehicles to become the second most popular type of new vehicle, behind petrol.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported that greening of the British car market continues, with a record low overall level of emissions recorded in 2022 – 111g of carbon dioxide emitted per km travelled on average, a fraction of the level of only a few years ago.

The month of December 2022 saw battery electric vehicles (BEVs) claim their largest ever monthly market share, of 32.9 per cent while for 2022 as a whole, they comprised 16.6 per cent of registrations.

The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling electric car in Britain, and the third best selling car overall, behind the Nissan Qashqai and Vauxhall Corsa (both now with electrified versions).

The growth in electric sales is largely due to fleet and business users – the private car buyer remains more sceptical, fearful of range and difficulties in finding public charging stations.

The government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy forecasts that the UK would require between 300,000 and 720,000 chargepoints by 2030.

Meeting just the lower number would still require more than 100 new chargers to be installed every single day: the current rate is around 23 per day.

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They’re more expensive to buy but with petrol prices soaring… how long does it take to save money with an electric car?

June 8, 2022Electric Cars, Mookka-e SUV, News, Reviews and Comment, Uncategorized, VauxhallRepost

Motorists are driving a car-buying revolution — with electric vehicles accounting for one in three new car sales.

There are 400,000 already on the roads, up from 130,000 five years ago. And this figure is rising rapidly as the Government seeks to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.

Surging fuel prices are also boosting their popularity. So much so that UK motorists bought more electric vehicles last year than in the previous five years combined.

But they don’t come cheap — and many people will be wondering if it’s worth the investment.

Electric cars are more expensive to buy

Electric cars typically cost more than petrol equivalents. For example, a Vauxhall Mokka-e is £5,000 more expensive than the same model in a 1.2-litre petrol version.

The cheapest new model on the market is currently the SEAT Mii Electric at £21,300, while the UK’s best-selling electric car is Tesla’s Model 3, which starts from around £45,990.

However, the Government currently provides a grant worth up to £1,500 towards electric cars under £32,000.

While there is no formal deadline for this grant, the maximum amount has been cut by £500 every year since 2018, when it was worth £3,500. The money should automatically be applied by dealers.

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Opinion: Are electric cars really too expensive?

January 27, 2022Corsa-e, News, Reviews and Comment, VauxhallRepost

‘Electric cars cost too much’. Well, yes, they are expensive. But too expensive? I’m here to argue they’re not.

Let’s look at a perfect example: the award-winning, best-selling Vauxhall Corsa, which is offered in petrol, diesel and pure electric Corsa-e guises.

Now, you can buy an entry-level Corsa for £17,015, whereas the cheapest Corsa-e is £26,690. There, argument proven: electric Corsa costs £9,675 more than a petrol one. Those handy with numbers will note it’s a 44 percent increment, compounding the point: EVs cost almost half as much again as normal cars.

Although many make it, though, this isn’t quite a fair comparison. For starters, the basic Corsa is an SE Edition. The entry-level Corsa-e is a Griffin, which comes with extra goodies such as LED ambient lighting, heated front seats and steering wheel, bigger 17-inch wheels and a contrast black roof.

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Vauxhall Corsa-e 2021 review

September 1, 2021Corsa-e, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, VauxhallRepost

Vauxhall’s popular Corsa is now available as an EV, but is it worth choosing?

Introduction
The Vauxhall Corsa has played a hugely important part in the automotive scene for almost 30 years, offering affordable, practical and fun motoring to the masses. Now in its fifth generation, it’s just as popular as it’s ever been, currently being the UK’s best-selling car.

And, though still available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, this latest Corsa is even more important as it’s available as an EV – the Corsa-e. With only some special badging and revised alloy wheels setting it apart from the regular supermini, it’s one of the more subtle EVs on the market.

With Vauxhall being owned by Groupe PSA – and now Stellantis – it shares the same powertrain as other electric Peugeots and Citroens, namely the Peugeot e-208. But is it worth choosing? Let’s take a look.

Performance
If you’re familiar with other electric Peugeots, the Corsa-e’s powertrain will come as no surprise, as it combines an electric motor producing 134bhp and 260Nm of torque to a 50kWh battery.

Thanks to the zippy motor, the Corsa-e is the quickest version of this hatchback available, taking just 7.4 seconds to get from 0-60mph and reaching a top speed of 93mph.

Once the battery is charged, Vauxhall claims it can manage 209 miles on a single charge, which is competitive for a car of this size, if slightly behind the Renault Zoe’s 245-mile range. On the plus side, it can charge quickly, as using a 100kW rapid charger, its battery can be charged to 80 per cent in just half an hour. The firm is also currently offering a free home charging unit for the car, which means the battery can be charged fully in around 7.5 hours, which is plenty of time for an overnight charge.

Ride and handling
For most of the time, the Corsa-e is very good to drive. In everyday motoring it’s quiet, responsive and even impresses at higher speeds – meaning a motorway commute will be no trouble at all. There’s also a ‘B’ mode in the gearbox that allows for extra regenerative braking, meaning you can drive the Corsa-e largely with just one pedal if you so choose.

It’s not all perfect, though, as due the extra weight of the Corsa-e’s battery, Vauxhall has had to stiffen the suspension to be able to accommodate it. It means the ride can be a bit unsettled over rough surfaces, and more so than both the regular Corsa and also its Peugeot e-208 sibling.

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Electric Van of the Year 2021: Vauxhall Vivaro-e

July 19, 2021Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, VauxhallRepost

The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is the 2021 Auto Express Electric Van of the Year, with the LEVC VN5 and Renault Zoe Van commended

Electrification is big news in the van market, which is why we’ve created this new category. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is a worthy first winner, because it helps to banish concerns about range anxiety. The Vivaro-e shares its technology with the Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert and Toyota Proace Electric vans, but unlike those three it also comes as a five-seat Crew Van, which edges it ahead.

Vauxhall Vivaro-e (Image: gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk)

Power comes from a 134bhp electric motor, while the van’s long platform means there’s room for 50kWh or 75kWh batteries. Even the smaller pack offers a WLTP-rated range of 133 miles where rivals are struggling to break 100 miles, while the 75kWh version is rated at 195 miles. In addition, the Vivaro-e is more like a car to drive than a commercial vehicle and features the latest safety kit.

Commended
LEVC VN5
If you’re an electric sceptic, then taxi maker LEVC offers its range-extending VN5 plug-in hybrid van. It uses the same running gear as the TX taxi, so has a similarly tight turning circle, a 60-mile electric-only range and a maximum range of 300 miles once the petrol engine cuts in.

Renault Zoe Van
For the Zoe Van, Renault has simply ditched the back seats of its supermini, added a level floor and blacked-out rear windows, and fitted a mesh partition. The running gear and cabin remain unaltered, so you get the same range of 245 miles and all the connectivity you could need.

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Vauxhall joins the EV Experience Centre in Milton Keynes

May 11, 2021Corsa-e, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, VauxhallRepost

The EV Experience Centre, based in centre:mk, has gained a brand new partner; Vauxhall has officially joined the centre as of Wednesday (28/04). Get 20% off your test drive here…

The Vauxhall Corsa-e will be joining the experience fleet and will be available for flexible test drives from Friday 30th April 2021.

Natalie Reay, EV Experience Centre Manager, said: “We’re very excited to add the new Corsa-e to our fleet of vehicles. With our centre now back open, we are looking forward to welcoming customers behind the wheel of our new electric vehicles.”

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “The Electric Vehicle Experience Centre is a fantastic initiative to help educate British consumers about the benefits of switching to electric. Vauxhall has a range of affordable all-electric cars and vans and we are looking forward to be able to offer visitors to the centre test drives in our award-winning Corsa-e.”

To let you in on what the new supermini is capable of, the Corsa-e has a 45kWh battery (useable) and a WLTP range of 209 miles. It can charge from 15% – 80% in just 30 minutes on a rapid charger and give you a full charge on a fast charger in roughly 7.5 hours. It also has great performance with a rated 0-60mph time of 7.6 seconds.

The EV Experience Centre will also be offering the Vauxhall Mokka-e for test drives mid-way through the year, keep an eye on their social media to find out more.

For more information or to book a test drive in the Vauxhall Corsa-e, Audi e-tron Sportback, Renault ZOE, VW ID.3, VW E-UP, VW E-GOLF, BMW I3 or MINI ELECTRIC and receive an additional 20% off your experience fill out the form below or quote promo code MKFM20 when enquiring with the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre directly.

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