Making EV easy: What to know before buying a new electric car

At Nathaniel Cars, we want to make buying an electric vehicle (EV) as straightforward as possible. In our mission to make EV easy, we asked our plug-in car experts what you need to know before buying a new electric car.

Electric cars: What you need to know

If you’re starting to ask yourself, “should I buy a new petrol car or a new electric car?”, there are a few things you should know first.

Here are the top five things you should consider before buying a new electric car.

1. Work out your budget

Whatever kind of vehicle you want to buy, doing the maths and figuring out a budget should always be top of your list.

The initial cost of an electric car may be slightly more than a comparable petrol or diesel car. However, as soon as you drive off the forecourt, you’ll start to make savings when it comes to fuel.

Plus, with zero tailpipe emissions, electric cars are better for the environment. And because of this, the UK government is offering grants to encourage the sales of zero-emission electric cars.

The plug-in car grant can take an extra £2,500 off the price of a new electric car.

Plus, the new green number plates for electric cars will come with their own incentives, depending on which benefits your local authority is offering.

2. Do some research

No one should make a purchase as significant as a new car without doing their research first. And the same goes for a new electric car.

Electric cars come in all shapes and sizes. Like all cars, you should take practical things into consideration, like boot space, comfort and size. But when you’re thinking of buying a new electric car, there are a few specific things to think about.

Think seriously about the distance you’ll be driving. There’s a misconception that the range of an electric car before it needs charging can be a problem.

Not only is this not the case but the average Brit only drives around 20 miles a day. So, spending more money on an electric car with a longer range could be a waste of your money.

3. Take a test drive

Driving an EV can take a bit of getting used to for several reasons. Not least because you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the lack of noise.

But if you’re used to driving petrol or diesel cars, you may also find that an electric car has a much faster acceleration speed from a standing start.

And when you stop, since most electric cars have regenerative braking systems, you may find that they lose speed more quickly. This is because they harvest the energy that’s normally lost by slowing down.

The best way to get used to these quirks is to drive an EV for yourself. Luckily, that’s exactly what you can do in one of the fantastic electric cars from Nathaniel Cars.

4. Charging your electric car

How to charge your electric car will probably be the biggest consideration for most people.

By far the best option is to get a home wall charger. There’s another UK government grant to help you with this. Offering £350 towards the cost of a home charger.

Unfortunately, not all properties are eligible or able to have a home charger.

If you’re place of work offers them, this can be great for commuting. But the only other alternative will be public charging points.

Depending on the charge point, you may be able to pay-as-you-go with a credit or debit card. While some charging points will require you to set up an account and download an app.

The network of public charging points is growing. Apps like Zap Map and WattsUp can show you the nearest points in your neighbourhood.

5. Speak to the experts

If you’re still unsure about whether an electric car is right for you, speak to the people who know what they’re talking about.

You’re more than welcome to come and speak to the EV specialists at our Cardiff and Bridgend showrooms. We can give you impartial advice about the benefits of buying an electric car.

We’ll also be truthful enough to let you know if an electric vehicle might not be right for you at this point in time. Perhaps you’d be better suited to a hybrid vehicle?

The only way to know for sure is to see for yourself. After a test drive in one of our stylish EVs, you may find yourself first line to join the electric car revolution.

And if you do, at Nathaniel Cars we want to make buying an EV easy.