Can you really save money with an Electric Car?

Electric Cars are becoming more and more popular, with over 175,000 new electric vehicle registrations in 2020 alone, which was a 66% increase on the previous year, despite the turbulent climate.

How electric cars work

An electric vehicle refers to any car or van that is powered in some way by electricity, whether that’s full electric, hybrid or even plug-in hybrid.

Full Electric

This is the most economical and environmentally friendly type of vehicle to run. You would charge a full electric car using a public or home charging point, so there is no need to add fuel. Full electric vehicles are best suited to those who will be doing shorter journeys or are within driving distance of a charging point.

Plug in Hybrid

For those who want to eliminate the range anxiety associated with full electric vehicles, the Plug-in Hybrid option combines a conventional petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor, meaning the fuel reserves are there as a backup if you exceed the electric range.

Hybrid

Hybrid models are most suited to those who want the best of both worlds; an extended range combined with an economical electric motor. A Hybrid vehicle is made up of an electric motor, a battery pack and a petrol engine, which is the main source of power.

What about charging an electric car?

When considering an electric vehicle, you need to make sure you have factored in how you will charge it. There are a range of options, but it’s important to know which one will suit you circumstances best:

Home charge point – these take the longest to change the vehicle to full capacity, but are the most convenient as you can charge the vehicle overnight without leaving your home. There are dedicated electric vehicle charging tariffs available so it’s recommended you speak with your energy provider for specific costings.

Public charge point – the electric charging infrastructure is increasing year on year, to keep up with the demand of new electric car registrations. In cities, most public car parks will have at least 1 electric charge point. There are also a wide range of visitor attractions across the UK with EV chargers for customers to use.

Benefits of an electric car

Electric cars can offer a range of cost saving benefits, from lowering the vehicle tax band to reducing the monthly operating costs that are associated with re-fuelling.

ZapMap.com have made it easy to compare the monthly running costs and associated savings of an electric car against the petrol or diesel counterpart.

Here, we’ve compared 5 of the bestselling Electric cars on the market today to see just how much you could save on a monthly basis, based on fuel costs of the same make and model with a conventional diesel engine.

Ford Kuga PHEV vs Ford Kuga Diesel - £52 monthly saving

Volkswagen Golf GTE vs Golf Diesel - £57 monthly saving

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid vs Peugeot 3008 Diesel – £50 monthly saving

Cupra Leon e-Hybrid vs Cupra Leon - £70 monthly saving

Jaguar E-Pace PHEV vs Jaguar E-Pace - £85 monthly saving

Comparison Data

*diesel average UK price £1.29p as of Friday 8th April. Electricity costs per kWh of 16.5p for home-based charge point. Based on a 50-mile daily journey.