Celebrate World EV Day with Toomey Motor Group
To celebrate World EV Day tomorrow, we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to debunk 5 common misconceptions about EV Vehicles.
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1) Electric Vehicle batteries do not last
The electric car battery has been designed to withstand the test of time, and whilst manufacturers typically offer warranties of around eight to ten years and/or 100,000 miles, many EV batteries last twice as long. This is comparable with the lifespan of conventional petrol or diesel cars.*
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2) You can’t drive them in the rain/car wash
You most definitely can - you can drive or charge an electric vehicle whatever the weather. It's also fine to drive them through a car wash. The Electric Vehicle battery packs and electrical systems are sealed and isolated for the upmost safety and caution. In addition, EV’s have to go undergo the same rigorous safety and crash testing as any fuelled vehicle.*
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3) There's nowhere to charge EVs
Most vehicle charging is done at home or at work, so the majority of drivers wake up or leave work without having to think about charging on the road. If you do need to charge on the road, there are more than 30,000 public charge points in the UK across more than 10,800 locations.* There are many websites that display clearly, in a map format, where to find your nearest charging point. Have a look and you will be shocked at how many there are in your area.
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4) They take too long to charge
Unlike with fuel, it's very unlikely that you need to charge an electric car from empty - the majority of the time you're just topping up your electric power. Different car chargers are more powerful than others, hence they will charge the vehicles at different rates. For example;
- Slow - Usually rated up to 3kW this is mainly used to charge Electric Vehicles overnight at home or workplace. This will take around 8-10 hours to fully charge.
- Fast - Rated at either 7kW or 22kW and can usually be found in car parks, supermarkets, and leisure centres. This only takes 3-4 hours to fully charge.
- Rapid - Typically rated from 43kW and found at motorway service stations, petrol stations, and occasionally at supermarkets. These are high performance and only take 30-60 minutes to fully charge your vehicle. *
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5) Electric cars are too expensive
When reviewing the total cost of ownership of an Electric Vehicles – an EV's running costs are much cheaper. Pure electric vehicles may have an initial higher purchase cost, in comparison to petrol or diesel equivalent. However, in the long run you are saving around 70% less in maintenance costs and potentially a significant saving yearly in tax if they are zero-rated vehicles.* With petrol and diesel prices at a high, electric motors are showing their worth in the long-term.
Interested in Electric and Hybrid technology?
Using renewable fuels and vehicles play a large role minimising greenhouse gases and tailpipe emissions. With a great selection of electric and plug-in hybrid cars across our 8 brands, we're certain you'll be able to start your electric journey.
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As part of our 72 plate campaign we are also offering a Toomey two day electric experience*. So you can test drive and experience all the latest EV technology first hand.BASILDON: 01268 977366
SOUTHEND: 01702 892406
Sources:
Auto Trader, 2022: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/features/electric-car-batteries,
ZapMap, 2022: https://www.zap-map.com/statistics/
Electric Vehicle Safety, 2022: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/product-safety/electric-vehicles/
EDF Energy: https://www.edfenergy.com/electric-cars/charging-points
Auto Trader, 2021: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/features/electric-car-cost
