Should I get a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric car?

After around a century of seemingly slow progress, the electric car has come of age in recent years.  The days of limited electric range, a poor charging network and jokes about the G-Wiz are over, with electric cars[1] fast becoming the most desirable vehicles on the planet. 

Tesla[2] helped to kickstart the industry, with most major manufacturers now offering a pure electric car of some description and more than a few pledging to phase out non-electrified models in the coming years.  An electric car features an electric motor (or motors) powered by a battery pack, which can be recharged at home or by using the public charging network. There are more than 70,000 charging points at 35,800 locations[3] as of September 2024, so finding somewhere to charge is getting easier by the day.

How far you can travel on a single charge[4] depends on a number of factors, not least the size of the battery. For example, the 27kWh battery in the Dacia Spring[5] delivers an official l37 miles of electric range. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the 108kWh battery in the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+[6] offers up to 452 miles. 

The situation is only going to get better as manufacturers come under increasing pressure to reduce CO2 emissions. This, and tightening legislation, will deliver greater choice, an improved charging network and EVs with longer range estimates[7]. For now, the public charging network should be adequate for most electric car owners, but it makes sense to invest in a home charge unit.

As well as being safer than using a domestic plug socket, these units deliver faster charging times and can be set to take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity tariffs.

Electric cars: pros and cons

Pros

Incentives

While initiatives like the plug-in car grant[8] (which gave a substantial discount off the list price of an EV) have now ended,  there are still incentives for buying or leasing a new electric car For example, a grant of GBP350 is available via the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme when installing a home charger. In 2024 this only applies if you live in a rental property or flat, or if you’re a household with on-street parking installing a kerb-side solution. 

Landlords and local authorites also get grants for expanding the local charging network, while the Workplace Charging Scheme also covers 75% of the cost of installing chargers at your place of work. Many companies also offer electric car Salary Sacrifice schemes to their employees. This allows you to lease a new EV through your pre-tax salary, effectively reducing your reported earnings and therefore your tax and National Insurance liability. 

Tax

The savings continue after the initial purchase, with electric cars qualifying for free VED and extremely low company car tax. 

Thanks to a rate of just two percent for fleet users in 2024, a high-end electric car could be cheaper to run than a diesel supermini. Electric cars are also exempt from the Ultra Low Emission Zone[9] (ULEZ).

Low running costs

An electric car will be cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel car for the majority of people.  This is particularly true if you charge at home and take advantage of special tariffs for EV owners.

Some electricity companies offer competitive off-peak rates, allowing you to charge your car fully overnight for a few pounds.  You’ll also benefit from cheaper servicing[10] and maintenance[11] costs since there are far fewer moving parts subject to wear and tear than in an internal combustion engine.

Air quality

Other benefits include zero tailpipe emissions and quieter running in towns and cities. Less tangible, but no less significant, is the sense that you’re doing your bit to improve local air quality[12].

Driving experience

As for the driving experience, the instant torque makes electric cars responsive and fun to drive.

Some electric cars are quicker off the line than a six-figure supercar, but use the acceleration in moderation if you want to stay safe and preserve the car’s range. EVs also have no gears to worry about, making the driving experience smoother and easier, while the lack of engine noise and vibration makes for a quieter, calmer journey. 

Cons

Quoted range

Even under the latest WLTP testing regime, the quoted ranges of electric cars can’t be fully relied upon. The range quoted by the manufacturer should be treated as a guide – you’re unlikely to achieve the official figures in the real world.

Cold weather, the use of accessories, topography and driving style are just some of the things that could put a dent in the electric range. Find out more in our guide to EV range[13].

Upfront cost

Cost is another factor. Although the running costs are lower, electric cars are often (but not always) more expensive to buy than their petrol or diesel counterparts. 

Expect to pay around GBP30,000 or more for an electric car with a decent range and space for a small family, while some upmarket EVs break the GBP100,000 mark.  The difference between an electric car and an equivalent petrol or diesel car is less when paying monthly, however. There are some competitive leasing deals for electric cars out there right now, with models like the Corsa-e[14] and the MG ZS Electric[15] even beating their petrol equivalents in price.

Charging

Anyone without access to a garage, driveway or off-street parking might struggle to charge an electric car[16] at home, and while the public charging network is getting better rapidly, some areas remain underserved, and there are some reports of inoperative charging units.

Public charging is also significantly more expensive than charging at home. 

Rate of development

Finally, the rapid rate of progress in the electric car industry means that a new EV in 2024 could be obsolete in just a few years. 

This is as much a positive as it is a negative, but you don’t want to be tied into a lengthy finance contract on a car that’s outmoded and worth significantly less than the price you paid for it. 

References

1. ^ electric cars (www.rac.co.uk)
2. ^ Tesla (www.rac.co.uk)
3. ^ ,000 charging points at 35,800 locations (www.zap-map.com)
4. ^ How far you can travel on a single charge (www.rac.co.uk)
5. ^ acia Spring (www.rac.co.uk)
6. ^ Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ (www.rac.co.uk)
7. ^ EVs with longer range estimates (www.rac.co.uk)
8. ^ plug-in car grant (www.rac.co.uk)
9. ^ Ultra Low Emission Zone (www.rac.co.uk)
10. ^ servicing (www.rac.co.uk)
11. ^ maintenance (www.rac.co.uk)
12. ^ improve local air quality (www.rac.co.uk)
13. ^ guide to EV range (www.rac.co.uk)
14. ^ Corsa-e (www.racelease.co.uk)
15. ^ MG ZS Electric (www.racelease.co.uk)
16. ^ charge an electric car (www.rac.co.uk)