All cars, whether powered by batteries, a traditional combustion engine or a hybrid system, are most efficient when driven at a steady speed. Saving energy is all about having a light right foot.
Heavy application of the accelerator pedal will dramatically increase electricity or fuel consumption, even though electric cars can regain power via regeneration when braking.
However, motorway driving, even at a steady speed, can quickly reduce your electric car’s range if you don’t approach it correctly.
Driving an EV on the motorway
Any journey on UK motorways soon illustrates how the 70mph limit is regarded by many as the minimum speed to drive.
Anecdotally, though, speeds on motorways seem to be dropping, with more drivers sticking to the limit. One likely reason for this is the proliferation of speed cameras. Another is fuel economy.
It’s largely down to aerodynamics: the faster you drive, the more the wind resistance – or aerodynamic drag – will work against you. And drag increases exponentially with speed.
If you drive at a constant 70mph on a motorway, you might, theoretically, get close to the manufacturer’s stated range for the battery.
Drive at 75mph instead, though, and your electric car’s range could drop by between five and 10 percent. At 80mph, it’s around 10 to 15 percent less than at 70mph.
Not surprisingly, there are big efficiency gains to be had from cruising at lower speeds. At a steady 60mph, you’ll see a significant improvement in range – and you may be surprised at how little difference it makes to your overall journey time.
That said, driving at 60mph in the inside lane of the motorway, dicing with 32-tonne trucks, could be a daunting experience.
Speed is of the essence
As with any car, the way you drive makes a difference to how far you can travel before ‘filling up’.
While electric cars outshine conventional vehicles in urban environments, thanks to their superior efficiency, on motorways it’s more of a level playing field.
So yes, speed really does matter, and if you can keep your head and cruise at 70mph (or less) on the motorway, you’ll achieve the best range.
Driving at lower speeds could also mean fewer stops for charging on a long journey. Truly a case of the tortoise and the hare…
You’ve heard of walking on sunshine, but did you know that it’s possible to drive on sunshine? OK, not literally – that would be difficult, not to mention dangerous – but sunshine, or more specifically solar energy, can be used to charge an electric car.
If you’ve got a set of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof, you’ll know that it’s possible to harvest the sun’s rays to power your household appliances. It’s cheaper and greener than having to rely solely on your domestic electricity supply and you can even generate some income by exporting excess energy back to the grid.
Alternatively, you could use this extra energy to charge an electric car. Once you’ve paid for the installation of the solar panels, you’re essentially getting the electricity for free. As a bonus, it’s from a renewable source, which helps to improve your car’s carbon footprint.
How does solar panel charging work?
To charge an electric car using solar energy, you need to install a solar system on the roof of your house. The amount of power generated by the system depends on the available sunshine and how many solar panels you have.
A typical domestic system will consist of 14 to 16 solar panels, but 8 to 12 should be enough to charge an average-sized EV battery. A larger battery will require more power and it’s worth remembering that you’re relying on sunshine to generate power. Cloudy days will lead to disappointment.
It’s a simple process: the photovoltaic cells absorb sunlight as DC (direct current) energy, which flows to an inverter to be converted to AC (alternating current) for use by household appliances. This can be fed directly to the electric car or, if you have a battery energy storage system (BESS), the energy can be stored for use at a later date.
Do you require any special equipment?
Assuming you’ve got solar panels on the roof and a home charging point, the electric car is no different to your toaster, kettle or fridge. Granted, you can’t drive to work atop a household appliance, but your EV will draw power in the same way.
A solar inverter (also known as PV inverter) is usually included in the cost of the solar panel system, but check with your installation company. Prices vary, but the cost is likely to be between £5,000 and £10,000, depending on the size of the system.
At the time of writing, Eon was offering a six-panel (2.61kW) home solar system for £5,785, increasing to £7,000 for an optimised Tier 1 system. A solar battery system should cost around £3,500, but figures suggest that your savings will accrue almost immediately.
The other thing to consider is that using stored energy to charge your electric car is likely to be more cost-effective than exporting energy to the grid. In other words, the payment for your excess energy is less than the money you’d save by using the energy stored in the BESS.
How much energy will each solar panel produce?
Each solar panel will produce around 355W of energy in strong sunlight. By using a 7.4kW home charger – the fastest charger that can be installed on a single-phase home electric supply – you can expect around 30 miles of driving for each hour of charging.
A lot depends on the season, weather and position of the solar panels. You’ll almost certainly require a boost from your domestic electricity supply during the winter, but the panels will work 365 days a year, taking advantage of any breaks in the cloud.
It’s also worth remembering that most electric cars are recharged overnight, either because that’s when the owners are home from work or they’re taking advantage of cheaper energy prices. It’s why a home battery system will pay dividends in the long run, because you can’t harvest solar energy when it’s dark!
Click here to check out some of the cost savings associated with using a solar battery, although please note that other energy providers do exist.
Pros and cons of charging an EV using solar panels
There are several reasons why using solar energy to charge an electric car makes perfect sense. You’re not having to rely solely on your energy company, the panels will get to work immediately after installation and they’ll even add value to your home. You’re also using a renewable energy source.
That said, solar panels are expensive, and that’s before you think about the cost of the inverter, solar battery and home charger. You might be eligible for a Green Deal loan, but this will need to be paid back. The other thing to consider is the weather, as solar panels work best in sunny conditions.
If you own an electric car, you will want to charge it at home if possible. It’s just so convenient – and usually the cheapest option, too.
In fact, unless you’re one of the small number of (pre-2018) Tesla Model S or Model X owners who qualifies for free refuelling at Supercharger stations, the only reason you might not charge your EV at home is that you can’t – i.e. you don’t have an off-street parking space.
The convenience of home charging means you don’t need to interrupt your journey to stop at an overpriced motorway services. At public chargers, you may also have to wait for other EVs to leave before you can plug in, which makes the process take longer.
Setting up a home EV charger
You can plug your electric car into a standard three-pin UK plug socket. Electric cars come with the ‘granny cable’ to do this, and there’s no set-up fee.
However, this isn’t a practical long-term solution as charging takes so long – several days, potentially. What you need is confidence that an overnight charge, using cheaper off-peak electricity, will do the job. As the off-peak period lasts around eight hours, that really means a bespoke home charging point.
There are dozens of companies in the UK that can install home charging points. They do this by tapping into your domestic electrical circuit, then running new cables to a wallbox mounted outside your house. The fitting can usually be done within a single day.
Types of home charging points
Most new electric cars use Type 2 connectors. You don’t need to worry about choosing the wrong connector, though – your installer will select the correct type for your vehicle.
Then you need to choose the power rating: 3.6kW, 7kW or 22kW. The higher the power, the quicker the charge. However, 22kW domestic chargers only work if you have what’s called a three-phase electrical supply to your home. These are rare in the UK, so few people will have that option.
A 7kW wallbox charges at twice the rate of a 3.6kW device, and three times the rate of a standard plug socket. And as a 7kW device typically costs less than £100 more than a 3.6kW alternative, it’s the obvious choice.
You then need to choose between a universal charger and a tethered one. The universal charger only has a socket outlet. You plug the cable you carry in your car’s boot into the socket and the other end into the vehicle itself.
More convenient is the tethered type, which has a five-metre cable attached to the wallbox. Simply uncoil it and plug it into your car.
Costs of a home EV charging point
You can find the full list of approved suppliers of home charging points by visiting the government website. Booking an installation can also be done online.
Under the government’s EV chargepoint grant, people who live in flats or rented properties can claim back up to 75 percent of the cost of a fitted home charging point – up to a maximum of £350. You only qualify if your car is on the approved list and you have a private, off-street parking space outside your property.
Here are some example costs from Pod Point, one of the major players in the supply of domestic and commercial electric car chargers. Note: the £350 grant has not been deducted from these prices.
A regenerative braking system can recover kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost when you brake. In electric cars, some of this energy can be harnessed by the motor – and that means free electricity and a longer range.
In simple terms, when the driver of an EV eases off the throttle or presses the brake, the electric motor switches from powering the wheels to generator mode. This generator then converts a portion of the kinetic energy into electricity, which is stored in the car’s battery.
This video below, produced by Bosch, provides a visual demonstration of how regenerative braking works.
In an electric vehicle, drivers can achieve more miles between charges, while hybrid car drivers will experience lower fuel consumption and reduced tailpipe emissions.
It’s worth noting that regeneration doesn’t replace the standard brakes. Before coming to a complete stop, or in an emergency situation, the car’s regular disc brakes will take over to bring you to a halt.
Is regenerative braking really that simple?
Absolutely. If you have ever been on the dodgems, you’ll know that a bumper car immediately starts to slow down when you release the ‘go’ pedal. It’s a similar story in an electric car, albeit with – hopefully – less likelihood of crashing into your friends.
It takes a while to get used to regenerative braking, but once you do it becomes second-nature. The fact that you’re extending the car’s electric range only boosts the feeling of satisfaction.
Regenerative braking is one of the key aspects of eco-driving. Used effectively, it will improve your efficiency and allow you to travel further between charges. For example, if you’re going downhill, easing off the accelerator pedal will activate regenerative braking, helping to offset the energy needed to climb the next hill.
Regenerative brake settings
In many electric vehicles, it’s possible to configure the regenerative braking to suit your personal preferences.
The Jaguar I-Pace, for instance, allows you to choose one of two settings: low or high. In the low setting, the deceleration isn’t too dissimilar to the gradual slowing effect you’d experience in a petrol or diesel car. The Jaguar will travel further before stopping when the accelerator pedal is released.
In the high setting, you will experience a greater level of deceleration from the moment you release the pedal. For the similar system in the i3, BMW claimed the added brake energy recuperation increased range by up to 25 miles.
In theory, you can do more driving using just the accelerator pedal. This is sometimes referred to as ‘one-pedal driving’.
What is one-pedal driving?
Drive an electric car carefully and you may rarely need the brake pedal at all. In the Nissan Leaf, for example, the ‘e-Pedal’ setting allows the driver to set off, accelerate, decelerate and stop using only the accelerator pedal.
In the Leaf, the pedal itself is a standard affair – e-Pedal mode is activated via a switch on the dashboard. With this engaged, the throttle feels much firmer, allowing you to make more precise inputs.
It takes a while to get used to, but you’ll quickly find yourself spending more time in ‘one-pedal’ mode. Tesla EVs are very easy to drive in this manner, too.
Regenerative braking: the road ahead
The Porsche Taycan demonstrates the next stage for regenerative braking systems. Its Porsche Recuperation Management (PRM) system uses a front-mounted camera to monitor the road ahead.
If the camera sees the way is clear when you release the accelerator pedal, the car will coast for longer. If there is a vehicle in front, it switches to regenerative braking.
Porsche says that up to 90 percent of braking will be achieved via regeneration, but it wanted to present a more relaxed approach for high-speed driving. A sudden jolt when lifting off on a German autobahn is far from ideal, after all.
Amazingly, Porsche also says that you could achieve up to a third of your electric range exclusively from recuperation. With regenerative braking from 124mph (200kph) to a standstill, up to 2.5 miles of range can be recovered.
Slowing down wins the race
Regenerative braking is another bonus of electric car ownership. Although you will never recover all of the energy consumed in driving the car forwards, harvesting some of it will increase your range – and save you money.
The amount of energy recovered depends on the electric car in question, how you drive, the regeneration settings and the outside temperature.
As an aside, with regenerative braking, you’re not producing any brake dust, which means you’re a little closer to achieving 100 percent zero emissions.
The electric cars of the future will undoubtedly spend less time recharging. Powerful EVs such as the Audi E-tron GT and Porsche Taycan – both of which can top-up at 270kW – are merely the stepping stones to our 350kW future.
However, maximum charging capacity is only half the story. Electric car owners should pay as much attention to overall charging speed.
Most EV charging occurs at home or work – places where the car is probably parked for many hours, and the time taken to charge is therefore less significant. Speed is far more important when charging on the move, however, ideally via a fast or rapid charger.
The charging curve
Many customers look at charging capacity as a key attribute of an electric car. Measured in kilowatts (kW), values might range from 3.6kW (in a Citroen Ami) to 270kW (in a Maserati GranTurismo Folgore).
However, this figure is of limited use if it concerns quick refuelling at a fast charger. What’s more important is a higher charging capacity over a longer period of time.
In other words, if an electric car charges with maximum output over a short period then lowers its power early, to protect the battery, the overall charging speed is also lowered. This is where the so-called ‘charging curve’ comes in.
The graph below shows how the Audi E-Tron 55, for example, can charge between five percent and 70 percent states at the maximum capacity before the battery management system reduces the charge. Using the same 150kW charger, some rival EVs hit a higher peak capacity early on, but their overall charging speed is slower.
Less haste, more speed
In any electric car, the final 20 percent always takes longer to preserve the life of the battery. Regularly charging to 100 percent can actually be bad for the battery, which is why car manufacturers often quote a charging time up to 80 percent.
That said, on longer journeys where range really matters, or if you don’t have the option to recharge at home, having a car that fills up to 100 percent quickly really makes a difference.
If you intend to recharge on the move, knowledge of your car’s charging overall speed, as well as its maximum charging capacity, could add up to valuable time saved over the course of a year’s driving.
There’s a very simple answer to this question: it’s entirely up to you. There are a number of well-established companies that can convert your classic car to electric power. So if you have the desire and the funds, by all means go for it.
We have driven a handful of electric restomods for our sister site, Motoring Research: everything from a David Brown Mini eMastered to a Bentley S2 Continental by Lunaz. The first thing that strikes you is the cost of an electrified classic car. Prices for the Mini start from £150,000, while the Bentley is a cool £500,000 – including the donor vehicle and a bare-metal restoration to better-than-new condition.
Not cheap, then, but it’s worth remembering that new electric cars are more expensive than their petrol and diesel counterparts. Take the Vauxhall Corsa: you can buy one with a petrol engine for less than £20,000. Yet the electric version starts from £32,500 and tops out at £37,000. That’s a lot of cash for a small car.
Even so, the process of converting a classic car to electric power doesn’t provide a more affordable alternative. On the contrary, you’ll need the equivalent of a new Corsa Electric if you want a company to convert a car on your behalf. And that’s likely to be just the start…
Think you can do the job at home? Think twice. A DIY EV conversion requires knowledge and expertise beyond the realms of most home mechanics, not to mention the significant safety considerations of working with high-voltage electrics. A specialist such as Electrogenic will handle all of this, plus the paperwork required to make the car road-legal.
Why converting a classic car to electric is a good idea
If you love cars, you’re probably guilty of getting misty-eyed over a classic, failing to remember the mornings when it refused to start or that time it broke down on the inner ring road. Perhaps you’ve also forgotten the terminal rust in the sills, or the time you spent scouring the internet for an unobtanium part?
Don’t get us wrong, we’re as guilty as the next car enthusiast. But the fact remains: a classic car requires time and effort to keep on the road. And keeping cars alive is getting more expensive, even if yours is old enough to qualify for free road tax (VED).
There’s also the prospect of higher taxation, increasing fuel costs and the banning of classic cars from towns and cities. It’s only going to get more difficult to own and run an older car. An electric conversion might be the best way to keep it on the road.
A classic car converted by a company that knows what it’s doing can be a joy to drive. Writing about the Lunaz Bentley, our Tim Pitt said: ‘Electric cars can feel dull and one-dimensional, like white goods on wheels. Not in this case. Sitting up at SUV-height, behind a huge and spindly Bakelite wheel, with its long bonnet stretching into the middle distance, the Bentley exudes a solemn gravitas and palpable sense of occasion.’
Tim was similarly enamoured with the David Brown Mini eMastered. He said “it feels tailor-made for the urban slog… while its diminutive size makes parking a doddle. You don’t need to worry about the ULEZ charge, either.”
Why converting a classic car to electric is a bad idea
The case against converting a classic car to electric is built primarily on emotional rather than rational thought. A car’s engine is part of its character, so its removal can feel like robbing it of its soul. Particularly when that engine is something like a Porsche flat-six. The way it delivers its performance, the noise it makes when downshifting through the gears, and the wail of the exhaust when you drive through the tunnel – all these elements are lost when you convert to electric power.
The counter argument is an electric powertrain can potentially make a classic car much faster. It’s like treating the vehicle to a heart transplant. Electric cars are known for their rapid acceleration, so your humble hatchback or sluggish saloon could become something that rivals a Tesla in the traffic light Grand Prix.
But there’s no doubt that converting a classic car would be considered sacrilegious in some quarters. If the classic car is rare, historically significant or in perfect condition, it’s probably worth leaving it alone. You could also find that a once-valuable classic car is worth significantly less with an electric motor under the bonnet. Even if it cost an arm and a leg to convert.
The environmental argument for electrifying a classic also seems shaky, given the quantity of raw materials required, particularly within the battery pack, and the relatively small mileages these cars tend to cover. EVs are more socially acceptable in certain circles, however.
Those are our thoughts on the subject, but there isn’t really a right or wrong answer here. The technology is available and there is a ready supply of classic cars to choose from, any of which can be converted to electric power. The choice is yours.
The number of electric car charging points across the UK is growing by the day, particularly in the more populated parts of the country.
At last count in February 2024, according to Zap-Map, there were 87,421 charging connectors in total, spread across around 57,290 EV chargers nationwide.
As we move towards the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars from 2035, the UK government’s aim is that nobody will be more than 30 miles from a rapid charging station by 2025.
So, how do you locate your nearest electric car charger?
Zap-Map
One of the first places to start, especially if you are considering buying an electric car, is the Zap-Map website. Its map of charging points shows the full extent of the UK charging network.
It’s not too dissimilar to the sight that greets you when you use one of those aircraft tracking apps to view flights surrounding major international airports. The picture in the south east looks particularly crowded (see above).
The interactive map allows you to zoom in using a city, town, village or postcode, then there are several filters you can use to narrow the search. These include connector types (rapid, fast and slow), charging network (Ionity or BP Chargemaster, for example), location type and whether payment is required.
Any problems with the charging network are likely to be reported by Zap-Map users, which gives it a community feel – and could save you wasted time driving to a defective charger. The map is also available as an app on both Apple and Android smartphones, plus Zap-Map has a version on Google Assistant that uses voice commands.
Open Charge Map
The Open Charge Map app, available for Apple iOS and Android phones, is a good alternative to Zap-Map. Crucially, it’s a global resource, so it will come in handy if you’re planning a road-trip abroad with your electric car.
Again, you can search via a city, town, village, postcode or zipcode, and there’s a useful comments section that allows users to record their experience with the charging point.
The map will even tell you if the charging point is operational, although we wouldn’t want to rely too heavily on this function.
Google Maps
Google Maps also has the ability to locate electric car charging points. Not only can you find your nearest charger – or points along a chosen route – you also have the ability to add the plug used by your electric vehicle into the preferences.
Do so and you’ll only see charging locations that are compatible. Six types of plug are covered: J1772, CCS (Combo 1), Type 2, CCS (Combo 2), CHAdeMO and Tesla.
Using in-car navigation
Many electric cars allow you to locate your nearest electric car charger via the dashboard infotainment system and/or a connected phone app. For example, the Renault Zoe uses TomTom data to offer information on traffic delays, the weather and charging locations.
Meanwhile, Tesla charging stations can be viewed via these cars’ navigation systems and by using the Tesla ‘Find Us’ map. All Teslas have a built-in Trip Planner, which provides a route to your destination, taking into account the Supercharger stations along the way.
Most affordable EVs, such as the Mini Electric and Vauxhall Corsa-e, now offer a find-a-charger facility, and the ability to locate a charger on the move will only become more commonplace in future.
Ideally, of course, your nearest electric charging point should be at home. Install a wallbox at your property if possible, as this will provide a much faster and safer charge than a plug socket – and allow you to take advantage of cheaper domestic electricity rates.
For years, drivers of non-Tesla electric cars were forced to look at Tesla Superchargers with envious eyes. The first Supercharger station opened back in 2012 and the network has since grown to more than 50,000 Superchargers worldwide.
Things changed in November 2021, when Tesla launched a pilot scheme for non-Tesla electric vehicles to use its previously private network. The pilot programme was limited to 10 sites in the Netherlands, with Tesla saying that ‘access to an extensive, convenient and reliable fast-charging network is critical for large-scale EV adoption’.
Building on the success of the pilot programme, Tesla has extended the scheme to other European countries, including the UK, where non-Tesla electric car owners were granted access to 15 Supercharger locations.
Where is non-Tesla Supercharging available?
At the time of writing, non-Tesla Supercharging is available in the following countries:
Asia Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Mainland China, South Korea
Where is non-Tesla Supercharging available in the UK?
There are currently 35 non-Tesla Supercharger stations in the UK, six of which are in Scotland and five in Wales, with the rest in England. You can view the list of locations at the bottom of the page, but for the latest information, you’re advised to visit the Zapmap website. Simply use the ‘Tesla Public Supercharger’ filter.
UK electric car owners also have access to the Supercharger network across Europe.
What is the Tesla Supercharger network?
There are three types of Tesla Superchargers in the UK: V2 (speeds of up to 150kW), V3 (up to 250kW) and the latest V4 (up to 350kW). Each charging unit will use one of two cables: Type 2 (Tesla Model S and Model X) or CCS (Combined Charging System – Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, plus compatible non-Tesla electric cars).
It’s the largest EV charging network in the country, so having access to Tesla’s Superchargers is a real bonus for electric car owners. The majority of charging points are located on or close to major roads, although others can be found in hotels or venues where people spend a longer period of time. These are known as Destination chargers.
Can all non-Tesla electric cars use Superchargers?
Non-Tesla Supercharging is only accessible for CCS-enabled electric cars. EVs with other connectors cannot use Tesla’s chargers.
Some Supercharger stations have shorter cables designed for Tesla vehicles, which might be a stretch for non-Tesla electric cars. Tesla advises: ‘Please do not obstruct other cars by parking over the lines if the cable cannot comfortably reach your car’.
How do drivers of non-Tesla EVs use a Supercharger?
The Tesla smartphone app is required to create a Tesla account. Once you have downloaded it, select ‘Charge Your Non-Tesla’ and find the nearest Supercharger site. Add a payment method, connect the car to the charging point and select ‘Start Charging’. Select ‘Stop Charging’ to complete the session.
How much does it cost to use a Tesla Supercharger?
Prices vary by site and are available in the Tesla app. Lower prices are available by signing up for Supercharging membership, which costs £10.99 a year. Discounts range from 10p to 20p per kWh.
Non-members can access the Tesla Supercharger network, but can expect to pay around 60p per kWh. It’s also worth noting that Tesla charges idle fees when a fully charged electric car remains connected to Supercharger. These fees only apply when a Supercharger station is at 50 per cent capacity or more, but the idle fee of 50p per minute doubles to £1 per minute when the station is 100 percent occupied.
List of non-Tesla Supercharger sites in the UK
Information is correct at the time of writing in February 2024.
Every electric car comes with a cable – sometimes referred to as a ‘granny cable‘ – that is designed for a domestic plug socket. So the short answer to this question is yes – you can charge your EV using a three-pin plug.
However, this method of charging should be reserved for occasional or emergency use only. It’s fine if you’re staying overnight with friends who don’t have a dedicated EV charger, but you don’t want to rely on it.
We’d recommend keeping the granny cable in your car as a back-up. However, there are several reasons why using a dedicated home wallbox is a much better way to charge your electric car. Let’s run through them.
Charger-to-car communication
A proper EV charging wallbox will communicate directly with the vehicle, which makes it safer than using a three-pin socket. With a smart wallbox that can automatically charge when energy is cheapest, you can also take advantage of lower electricity tariffs. These usually apply late at night, when supply is high and demand is low.
A smart wallbox also allows you to control charging remotely, such as via your smartphone. It’s ideal if you want to ‘fill up’ during the cheaper off-peak periods.
Faster charging times
Using a domestic plug socket is by far the slowest way to charge an electric car. Fitting a wallbox will replenish your car’s battery around three times faster, depending on the vehicle.
With a wallbox, most EVs can easily be recharged from empty to full while you sleep. Using a three-pin plug, even an overnight charge (with a generous lie-in in the morning) won’t be enough to full charge the batteries.
Advice for charging at home
The charity Electrical Safety First has the following advice for charging an EV at home:
Never use a domestic multi-socket extension lead. If you MUST use an extension lead, make sure it is suitable for outdoor use.
Never ‘daisy-chain’ extension leads by linking them together. This increases the risk of an electrical fire or an electric shock.
Always buy a charging cable from a reputable retailer or use the cable supplied by the car manufacturer. If you’ve bought a used electric car and the cable is missing, contact your local dealership for that car brand.
Regularly check the charging cable for wear and tear.
Ensure the wiring in your property has been checked. Old wiring may not be able to cope with the demand from charging an electric car
If in doubt, fit a wallbox. A 3kW box – which is equivalent to a domestic socket – will cost between £300 and £500. A 7kW unit will set you back between £500 and £1,000, but will deliver far quicker charging times.
UK residents who live in flats or rented properties can claim back up to 75 percent of the cost of a fitted home charge point – up to a maximum of £350. However, you must own an electric car on the approved list and have an off-street parking space. And if you have a house or a mortgage, you can’t apply.
If your property doesn’t have off-street parking, it may be time to ask the local council to install some charging points. Your local authority can apply for help with the cost of fitting on-street points for residential use using the Residential Chargepoint Scheme.
Electric cars are required by law to make some noise. An Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) must be fitted to alert pedestrians and other road users that an EV is approaching.
AVAS has been mandatory across Europe for all new electric and hybrid cars since 1 July 2019. The regulation also applies to every EV and hybrid registered after July 2021.
In simple terms, these systems add exterior noise to quieter vehicles to improve road safety in built-up areas.
Sound generators produce a specified level of noise when the car is reversing or running at speeds of less than 12mph (20kph). This is particularly important for pedestrians with visual impairments, but also for other vulnerable road users such as cyclists and children.
The sound of safety
For car manufacturers, the AVAS regulations are an opportunity to experiment with different sounds. Although the acoustic alert must comply with legislation and sound inoffensive (take note, Tesla), car manufacturers can use something that suits their brand profile.
Rudi Halbmeir, a sound designer at Audi, said: “It’s funny, it used to be my job to make the cars as quiet as possible. Now I have to make them louder with artificial sounds.”
Fellow sound designer Stephan Gsell added: “The noise should not just meet the legal requirements, it should also be pleasant to listen to – and just be a nice sound overall. If you drive Audi, you should hear Audi.”
Interestingly, thanks to varying level requirements, an electric Audi will sound exactly the same in Europe and China, but the US version will be different. In America, AVAS is required at speeds of up to 19mph (31kph).
AVAS is nothing new. Since its launch in 2012, the Renault Zoe has been equipped with a ZE Voice system, which is active at speeds from 1mph to 18mph. The frequency of the noise changes as the speed increases. You even get a choice of sounds, so you can create your own science fiction symphony.
Zimmer and a Bimmer
As seen (and heard) in the video above, BMW has collaborated with Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer to create soundtracks for its electric cars – including the sporty M models. The result, it says, is an ‘orchestra of emotions’ that does more than simply enhance safety.
Other brands, such as Nissan, Jaguar and Mitsubishi, were also ahead of the curve in terms of meeting AVAS legislation. The sound of the Jaguar I-Pace, for example, was tested by members of charity Guide Dogs for the Blind.
A spokesperson said: “Guide Dogs campaigned hard to make it compulsory for quiet vehicles to have sound generating systems built in and turned on, including when the vehicle is stationary at a pedestrian crossing.”
Tech companies such as Siemens and Harman have also been working on sound generators for many years. Harman started developing a suite of active noise management solutions back in 2009.Its external Electronic Sound Synthesis (eESS) system projects a specific sound from speakers at the front and rear of the vehicle.
One thing is for certain: thanks to compulsory AVAS systems, electric cars might be quiet, but they will never be totally silent.
