Electric cars

There is a new generation of electric cars emerging, from familiar names such as Mitsubishi and Nissan, but also from innovative 'start up' companies (such as Tesla Motors) and well-established specialist vehicle manufacturers.

Nissan Leaf with public rapid charger © ecodrive

The new city cars and hatchbacks have exciting performance and are ideal for everyday trips and commuting. Vehicles have a 'range' of between 70 and 120 miles per charge (depending on model and specification) and can be recharged in as little as 30 minutes from a new generation of rapid chargers in public places.

With top speeds in excess of the UK speed limit, these cars are very practical commuting tools, easily able to cope with a 60+ mile round trip, or potentially a 150 mile return journey with extra daytime charging.

If you're looking for something to set your pulse racing, you can even choose the phenomenal Tesla Roadster!

With only two pedals and no gears, all of these cars are simple to drive, most similar to an 'automatic.' The 'accelerator' pedal is actually more of a 'speed control' pedal since you use it to control your deceleration too! Fine control over slowing for junctions, traffic and hill descents is possible by releasing the pedal slightly, using energy-efficient 'regenerative braking' without using the footbrake most of the time!

» Read our 'first drive' review of the new Nissan Leaf
» Read our 'first drive' review of the new Mitsubishi i-MiEV

All of the cars can be recharged at public recharging stations and at home from a 'wall box' which we can install in a garage or on most driveways. If you don't have off-street parking, we can even install a kerb-side charging point near your home (subject to local authority approval.)

You can fully charge each night, using cheap-rate electricity, starting out each day with a full 'tank' at a cost of around £2! Extra daytime charging, when necessary, can extend the useful range to more than double the nominal range, from a public charging station or, in some circumstances, from conventional socket outlets.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV, at St Michael's Mount, Cornwall © ecodrive

It is best to take most of the energy for recharging overnight when there is low demand on the national grid, unless you have your own renewable energy generation such as a wind turbine or solar panel. With our partner installers we can design a system which perfectly complements your new vehicle and your home or business.

Without such direct generation it is preferable to use a 'green tariff' where every kiloWatt-hour (kWh or 'unit') of electricity you use is matched by a unit generated somewhere by a renewable source, to make it truly a low carbon vehicle. We can advise and help you switch supplier, if desired.

You should choose a vehicle which meets your daily needs without extra daytime charging most of the time. Most people choose an EV as a second (or third) vehicle in a household, but experience shows that you will, in time, likely do more miles in your EV than in the other vehicle(s)!

Keep your existing vehicle for those rare longer trips until you gain confidence in your EV, creating a 'hybrid garage,' giving you the flexibility and a low overall 'carbon footprint.' You may find that it is cheaper to give up the conventional car considering how little you use it! Call us for a chat to ask us those questions running through your head!

Need a larger vehicle? We can offer up to an 8-seater Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) if you need the capacity to carry more people and/or larger loads. Please call or email to discuss your requirements: Contact us

We can offer friendly driver coaching (to individuals, households and fleets) to help you quickly get the best from your new car... small differences in driving style can significantly improve your driving efficiency and get even better performance from your EV.

We are a firm believer in try-before-you-buy, so give us a call to find out where and when you can drive an EV for yourself!