For Trevor, who regularly commutes into Peterborough and occasionally travels further afield, investing in an electric vehicle was a no-brainer.
Making low-carbon choices comes naturally to Trevor. Having always considered the environment in his professional life, he does what he can to minimise his own environmental footprint. Trevor also likes cars.
Trevor and his wife bought their first electric vehicle (EV) about six years ago, and since then, they haven’t looked back. They now have a second EV, with a longer mileage range, and make all their car journeys in an EV.
Trevor says EVs are “easier to drive, quieter, smoother, and so much cheaper to run” – but, he adds, it pays to do your research, and consider your needs, before investing in a new vehicle.
The goal: zero-emission journeys
Trevor’s first electric vehicle replaced the ‘second car’ in his two-car household, which was predominantly used for commuting into Peterborough – about 30 to 40 miles a day. At the time, its 85-mile range suited his needs, and the dealership was offering a free home charging-point installation.
“I quite enjoyed the thought of having my own ‘filling station’ on the drive,” says Trevor. But, he adds, its range waned over the colder, winter months, was being pushed to its limits. So, in 2024, he and his wife – partly motivated by the ability to charge at work – upgraded to a newer model with a 180-mile range. However, for long-distance journeys, such as visiting family in Yorkshire, they were still relying on a vehicle with an internal combustion engine.
Could an EV be feasible for longer journeys, too, Trevor wondered?
How they did it: research, research, research
Trevor did a huge amount of research before replacing his main car. His experience with shorter-range vehicles had taught him that no EV ever reaches the manufacturer’s quoted range. (The same is true of laboratory-set figures for petrol and diesel vehicles, of course.)
There are lots of factors at play in the real world. Driving into headwinds, cross winds, cold days, heavy rain, and driving style all affect the actual range, as does vehicle loading.
Eager to avoid ‘range anxiety’, Trevor pored over car magazines and newspaper reviews for real-world ranges. He also compared other features and driving characteristics.
There’s lots to consider, says Trevor: “Are you using your car for local commutes to school, office, shops or leisure facilities, or regularly taking long journeys?”
Trevor adds that the up-front cost of EVs has come down significantly in recent years. Smaller vehicles can be purchased for around £15,000. He recommends looking into government grants, dealer discounts, and the growing second-hand market.
“In the end, I bought the longest range I could afford, which would allow me to do mainly local journeys with occasional trips to family up north!”
The result: greener journeys, happy driver
Trevor settled on a new car with quote range of 380 miles. Its real-world range is lower, he says, but more than enough for his needs.
“Once you get in the driver’s seat, the dashboard tells me I have a maximum range of 310 miles in summer. In the cooler months, that drops to about 285 miles when charged to 100% of capacity. In reality, you charge to 80% to protect battery life. It’s preset on modern cars and is ample for a couple of weeks of local journeys!”
The biggest difference compared to his old car, Trevor notes, is how much cheaper an EV is to run. He does most of his charging at home, which, he says, is significantly cheaper than using public chargers.
“It costs me about 25p per kWh at home, which works out at about £20 to fill up a car with 300 miles’ range. It compares very favourably with a petrol or diesel prices.
“I have a basic charger,” adds Trevor. “Some of the modern ‘smart’ chargers enable you to set charging times remotely, to take advantage of cheaper energy.
“Most of the time I just plug it in at night, like charging my phone, and it’s ready to go in the morning. Owning an electric car is actually a lot less hassle than I thought it would be.”
Using public chargers is much pricier than charging at home, warns Trevor, with the price per kWh rising in relation to the speed of charging. Public chargers can be nearer 48p per kWh or above for the faster ‘rapid’ chargers.
“The range on my car allows me to do pretty long journeys with ease, but I top up on a public charger at my destination to give me peace of mind for the journey home. The charging and payment process is really easy and usually involves an app.”
But how does the cost of maintenance compare to petrol and diesel vehicles?
“My electric car has lower servicing costs (about £200 per service every two years) as there are fewer moving parts,” explains Trevor. “I also have peace of mind knowing the battery is under warranty for 100,000 miles.”
Overall, Trevor is really pleased with his new EV.
“I love driving it! I know I’m contributing to reducing air pollution in my local area, too, and as the grid gets greener, so does my car.
“I’d encourage anyone considering the switch to thoroughly investigate it. If you find the right car for you, I’m confident you won’t regret it.”
Learn more about electric vehicles here.