Can an EV be your everyday car? The questions to consider first

In the early 2000s, it would have been difficult to consider an EV as your everyday car. They were too expensive to buy, offered a limited driving range, and the charging network was too small to make them a realistic prospect.

Matters began to improve when the Nissan Leaf arrived in 2010, and EV uptake has only accelerated since. In August 2023, more than 20 percent of new cars sold in the UK were fully electric – and Tesla had two vehicles (the Model Y and Model 3) inside the top 10 best-sellers.

The availability of better and more affordable EVs, along with the rapid growth of the charging network, means the answer to our original question is ‘yes’ – an electric car can indeed be your everyday car.

Nonetheless, there are several important questions you need to ask yourself first…

How long is your daily commute?

The average round-trip commute in the UK is around 21 miles. Even an electric car with the most miserly range estimate will be able to cover that. You don’t even need a longer-range EV, such as a Porsche Taycan, to tackle a longer daily commute.

For example, the Kia Niro EV offers 285 miles of electric range, which might be enough for an entire week of commuting. At the time of writing, it costs £37,295 in entry-level ‘2’ specification.

If you live in a city, you could find the latest breed of smaller and more affordable EVs work for you. A Fiat 500 Electric, for example, costs around £28,000 and offers a range of 200 miles.

Do you have off-street parking at home?

Without access to a driveway or garage at home, charging your electric car could be an issue. Although you can lobby your local authority to install chargers on your street, home charging is more convenient and cheaper.

Trailing a charging cable across a pavement is unwise and unlawful. As the Highways Act 1980 states, unless you can prove that you have taken all necessary means to give adequate warning of the danger, you’re committing an offence. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Lamp post charging is an option – and connected kerbs are coming – but for now, home charging is the answer. Or maybe it isn’t…

If you have access to a charger at work, you could charge your car there. That way you’d have full batteries for the journey home and your morning commute. Just make sure you are guaranteed access to the charger, or you could be set for an unplanned night shift.

Do you live in a city?

If you spend most of your time in a city, an electric car is fast becoming the best choice of vehicle. Indeed, it won’t be long before some cities make them the only choice.

Right now, electric cars are exempt from paying the London Congestion Charge – and they will be until 2025 at the earliest. The introduction of Clean Air Zones across the UK will also work in favour of electric cars.

Run an electric car in Westminster and you’ll receive discounted parking, free parking while charging and a parking permit for local residents. Other towns and cities are likely to introduce similar incentives.

So, can you drive an EV every day?

If you spend your time pounding the UK’s motorways, covering 200 to 300 miles a day, an electric car probably isn’t for you. We’d recommend a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid if you want to embrace electrification.

For most other people, an EV is a realistic everyday car. Things get a little trickier if you have to rely on the public charging network – there are different connectors, companies and payment options to consider. It’s also more expensive to charge away from home.

Browse the pages of Motoring Electric and you’ll learn more about running an electric car. Time to rethink your daily commute?

ALSO READ:

How long do electric cars take to charge?

Why are electric cars less efficient on the motorway?

How does one-pedal driving work in an electric car?