Real life, real answers
Straight answers to the questions people actually ask before going electric — worked out with the same physics model behind every car page.
Cost & tax
- How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?On a cheap overnight EV tariff, a full charge of a typical 60 kWh car costs a few pounds — far less than the standard rate.
- Is an electric car cheaper than petrol in the UK?Usually yes if you charge at home off-peak, often only marginally if you rely on public rapids — the tariff decides it.
- What is the 3p-per-mile EV road tax coming in 2028?From the 2028/29 tax year EVs are expected to pay a per-mile charge on top of standard VED — our cost model lets you see its impact.
- What's the cheapest way to charge an EV overnight?A dedicated off-peak EV tariff with a home charger is by far the cheapest — it's what makes EVs cheap to run.
- How much does it cost to run an electric car per month?For most home-charging drivers it's energy plus £16/month of VED — often far less than fuelling a petrol car.
- Should I buy an EV if I can only charge in public?Maybe not on cost alone — without home charging the running-cost advantage shrinks, and we'll tell you honestly when it doesn't add up.
Winter & range
- How much range do you lose in an EV in winter?Expect a meaningful winter hit — cold air, cabin heating and denser air all cost energy — but a heat pump softens it.
- Do heat pumps in EVs actually save range?Yes — above roughly −5 °C a heat pump does the cabin heating for less than half the energy of a resistive heater, so it protects winter range.
- Will cold weather stop my EV charging?No, but a cold battery charges more slowly on rapids until it warms up — preconditioning helps.
- Is it worth preheating your EV in winter?Yes — warming the cabin while still plugged in spends grid energy instead of range, and it's most valuable on short cold trips.
Charging
- Can I charge an electric car without a driveway?Yes, but your running cost depends heavily on whether you can reach any off-street or lamppost charging rather than only rapids.
- How long does it take to rapid-charge from 20% to 80%?Roughly the battery energy added divided by the car's real DC charging speed — bigger, faster-charging cars do it in well under an hour.
- How much does public rapid charging cost?Public rapid charging is the most expensive way to fuel an EV — often close to petrol on a per-mile basis once you account for it.
- Do you need a home charger installed for an EV?You don't strictly need one, but a home charger plus an off-peak tariff is what makes an EV genuinely cheap to run.
Practical
- Is a used Nissan Leaf battery still any good?Early Leafs are air-cooled, so they degrade faster than liquid-cooled rivals — check the state of health before you buy.
- How far can an electric car really go on the motorway?Less than the WLTP badge — motorway speeds raise aerodynamic drag sharply, so real motorway range is often well below the headline.
- How much battery degradation is normal after 5 years?A few percent a year is typical for liquid-cooled packs and rather more for air-cooled ones — but it slows down as the pack ages.
- Can an electric car tow a caravan?Some can, but towing roughly halves range — the extra mass and, above all, the caravan's drag cost a lot of energy.
- Will an EV cover my commute and the school run?Almost certainly — everyday mixed-distance driving is exactly where EVs are most comfortable, even in winter.
- How accurate is the WLTP range figure?WLTP is a standardised lab cycle, not a promise — real range is usually lower, especially on the motorway and in winter.