FAQs

An EV is a vehicle which is either partially or fully powered by electric power. There are two main types: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).  

The typical charging time for a BEV can range from 30 minutes  up to 12 hours depending on the speed of the charger and size of the battery. They have a range of between 120-300 miles and are eligible for the Government’s Plug-In Car Grant, whereby people can get a maximum £1500 discount on a new EV under £32,000.

Transport is responsible for 49% of greenhouse gas emissions in Essex and over 90% of this is caused by vehicle travel. The government has committed to phasing out petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicle sales from 2030 and all new vehicles will be zero emission at the tailpipe by 2035.  

Lifetime emissions from EVs currently stand at 30% lower than an internal combustion engine vehicle in the UK, which will increase as we move towards renewable energy generation. Compared to an internal combustion engine, Batter Electric Vehicles (BEVs) have approximately 99% fewer moving parts that need maintenance.  Other advantages include:

• Create very little noise
• Have no exhaust, spark plugs, clutch or gears

Although lower in emissions, EV’ do emit particulate matter (PM) from brakes and tyres, which is the same for all vehicles, but particular matter is particularly harmful to people’s health.  The most effective way to reduce emissions is to remove the source of the emissions as much as practicably possible. This means reducing the number of motorised private journeys that take place on our roads and encouraging as many of the remining trips to be made by more sustainable and active forms of transport, namely walking, cycling, and using public transport.

No, an EV is still a vehicle which contributes to congestion and costs the UK economy billions of pounds every year. This causes a lot of lost personal and professional time which can have widespread financial and social  consequences.  

According to the Electric Car Cost Index (2021), EVs become cheaper than internal combusion engine vehicles after seven years due to £1,300 lower annual running costs based on the combined costs of purchase price, tax, insurance, fuel/energy, and maintenance.  EV drivers save over £900 a year, based on an annual mileage of 12,000 miles.  Home charging which accounts for approximately 90% of all EV charging, costs an average of £405 which compares to an average cost of petrol or diesel of £1,435. Equally, average annual maintenance costs for internal combusion engine vehicles are £657, compared with £384 for EVs. Insurance is typically cheaper for EVs compared to internal combusion engine equivalent vehicles and EV users currently also benefit from not having to pay vehicle excise duty.  

While the purchase costs of EVs are higher than internal combusion engine vehicles which is a deterrent for some, the lower running costs each year means they are better value for money over the course of the ownership period.  

Source: EVs are cheaper to own than petrol and diesel cars over a 7-year period | This is Money

All EVs are built to meet the same rigorous design and manufacturing regulations as internal combusion engine vehicles. EVs are also engineered to prevent battery fires especially in the event of a collision and they have systems which automatically isolate the battery and disconnect the power in the event of a collision.  

As EVs generate less noise than an internal combustion engine vehicle, how safe are they, particularly for people who are vision impaired?

Since 1^st July 2019, there has been a requirement for all new EVs to be fitted with an electronic noise emitter.  This means that they have devices, usually located behind the front and rear bumpers, which generate a sound at a frequency that is like internal combusion engine vehicles at similar speeds.  The noise is particularly noticeable when parking, reversing or travelling below 12mph. Since September 2023, manufacturers are prevented from installing an acoustic vehicle alert systems (AVAS) pause switch.   

Source: How safe are electric cars? | Autocar

There are many different types and providers of home charging points.The best option will depend on your circumstances. They range in price from around £400 upwards. The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVhS) is open for people who live in flat or  rental accommodation. For more information, please see: Grant schemes for electric vehicle charging infrastructure - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please ensure you use an approved installer and electrician with charging point knowledge and skills to install your charging points safely. Chargers installed by unapproved electricians could mean your charge point warranty becomes void which could prove costly should anything go wrong.  

No, under the Highways Act 1980 (section 178), residents are not permitted to place any wires over, along or across a highway without the consent of the highway authority.   Essex County Council is exploring opportunities to increase the ability of residents to charge EVs, particularly where they do not have access to off-street parking because EVs are part of the solution for driving down carbon emissions.  

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of EV charging points for eligible business charities and public sector organisations.  For more information and how to apply, please visit: Grant schemes for electric vehicle charging infrastructure - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Most EVs and non-rapid EV chargers in the UK are compatible with either a Type 1 or Type 2 inlet socket which are supplied with the vehicle. Rapid chargers have tethered cables that are permanently connected to the charging unit. But most rapid chargers have two of the most used rapid charge connectors (CHAdeMO and CCS) and users select the one that fits their EV.  

The Renault Zoe is the only EV vehicle in the UK that takes AC rapid charging and uses a different connector, but most rapid chargers will have this available as a third cable.      

Tesla uses its own rapid chargers called the Tesla Super Chargers and which cannot be used by other types of EVs. 

Your EV dealer, lease company or handbook will let you know what type of charging port it has. The simplest way to locate suitable charging points is by using Zap-Map or another provider.  Zap-Map is particularly useful as it can be filtered by connector type, EV type, charging speed and shows the status of the charger.

Source: Electric car charging – how it works and how much it costs | RAC Drive

There are three main charging options for EV drivers: slow, fast, and rapid. The speed at which a vehicle is charged is measured in Kilowatts (kW). Slow chargers are around 3kW, taking on average around 10-14 hours to charge. These are ideal for using at home and at workplaces. A fast charge is classed as 7kW-22kW and will charge in around 4 to 6 hours. Rapid chargers are 50kW-120kW and will provide a full charge in about an hour.

Technically this is allowed, however it is recommended that you get the permission from the user whose car is plugged in to a charging point. If this is not possible and it is not an absolute emergency, please refrain from unplugging any vehicles from charging. As an EV user, you can then expect the same courtesy shown to you.

No, charging points and associated EV charging parking bays that are installed on the highway can and will be accessible to everyone.

If you intend to mainly charge from home and travel locally, then you may not feel or have the need to join a public charging network. However, if you are intending on using your EV for longer journeys and need to charge away from home, then you will need to consider which network(s) would be suitable.  For more information, please see: Guide to electric car charging - EV charging for beginners (zap-map.com).