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Rated 4.5/5 from 62,901 reviews
Volvo EX30 driving on a British road in the countryside.
Last updated October 23, 2024 by Darren Cassey

Best electric cars for sale in 2024

Whether you need a small hatchback, a luxury saloon or a massive, seven-seat SUV, there’s an electric car to suit your needs. The best EVs are great to drive, offer fast charging and big miles from a full battery. You also don’t have to worry about Vehicle Excise Duty, and company car tax is incredibly low, too.

EVs still don't make much sense for ultra high-mileage drivers, and those who can't charge their cars at home have quite a hard time of it. But with longer ranges, improvements in public charging and more affordable models going on sale all the time, these issues are dwindling.

Our expert car reviews team have been putting the latest electric vehicles through their paces to put together this list of the very best on sale…

Volvo EX30

1. Volvo EX30

9/10
Volvo EX30 review
Battery range up to 295 miles

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Great assistance tech
  • Good value for money

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear seats
  • All cabin controls run through the touchscreen
Best for: cool factor
How good is the Volvo EX30? So good it was named Carwow Car of the Year 2024. It's our favourite car on sale right now because it has bags of character, drives really well and is efficient, too. On top of this, it's one of the most affordable small electric SUVs you can buy, so you don't need to splash the cash to enjoy one. If you need loads of space, it's a bit tight in the rear seats and the boot isn't very big (look at the Tesla Model Y for an EV with a big boot) but otherwise, there's very little to find fault with. You get a good choice of battery and motor options, letting you focus on affordability, range or performance. Whichever version you go for, the EX30 is really comfortable and relaxing to drive.

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Great assistance tech
  • Good value for money

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear seats
  • All cabin controls run through the touchscreen
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
2025
Tech Trailblazer Award

2. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

10/10
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review
Battery range up to 278 miles

What's good

  • Ridiculously fast
  • Simulated engine sounds work surprisingly well
  • Spacious cabin

What’s not so good

  • Heavy – and feels it
  • Not as comfortable as the regular Ioniq 5
  • Annoying driver assistance systems
Best for: electric performance
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the electric vehicle to convince petrolheads to make the switch to zero-emission motoring. Like many EVs it has monstrous power – up to 650hp, to be precise – but where the Ioniq 5 N differs is that its suspension, brakes and bespoke styling tweaks make it feel, and drive, like a proper performance car. That, and the fact that it has a mode with ‘fake’ engine noise and gear shifts that works so incredibly well it actually makes the car more fun to drive. It’s pretty practical, too, and can relax into a comfortable cruiser when you need it to, making it the perfect high-power family car.

What's good

  • Ridiculously fast
  • Simulated engine sounds work surprisingly well
  • Spacious cabin

What’s not so good

  • Heavy – and feels it
  • Not as comfortable as the regular Ioniq 5
  • Annoying driver assistance systems
Tesla Model 3

3. Tesla Model 3

9/10
Tesla Model 3 review
Battery range up to 436 miles

What's good

  • Very fast
  • Massive range
  • Loads of tech

What’s not so good

  • Can be awkward using the screen for everything
  • German saloons still higher quality
  • Controls can be a little fiddly
Best for: technology
You get a shedload of fancy tech as standard with the Tesla Model 3, and its minimalist interior is spacious too. Tesla's Autopilot suite of assistance systems can take the strain out of a long journey, while the instant acceleration and decent handling make it an enjoyable car to drive. The Standard Model 3 is rear-wheel drive and has an official range of 318 miles, while the all-wheel drive Long Range offers 390 miles – that's seriously impressive. A Kia EV6 is more fun in the corners, though. Other things to look out for? You have to use the touchscreen for virtually everything, even basics like looking for the speedo or opening the glovebox, which can take a bit of getting used to. And the premium German manufacturers are ahead in build and quality.

What's good

  • Very fast
  • Massive range
  • Loads of tech

What’s not so good

  • Can be awkward using the screen for everything
  • German saloons still higher quality
  • Controls can be a little fiddly

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Citroen e-C3
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

4. Citroen e-C3

9/10
Citroen e-C3 review
Battery range up to 199 miles

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Perky performance
  • One of the cheapest EVs you can buy

What’s not so good

  • Sub-200 mile range
  • Awkward boot shape
  • No heat pump will hit efficiency in winter
Best for: value for money
Electric cars are expensive, right? Wrong. The Citroen e-C3 shatters expectations by being a genuinely affordable EV that doesn’t require you to make great sacrifices on style and equipment as a result. Despite being a small SUV, it’s actually really comfortable to drive, and its perky performance means it’s great for nipping in and out of traffic. The boot is a touch small, and range isn’t fantastic, but if you’re looking for an electric city runabout, it’s a brilliant choice.

What's good

  • Really comfortable
  • Perky performance
  • One of the cheapest EVs you can buy

What’s not so good

  • Sub-200 mile range
  • Awkward boot shape
  • No heat pump will hit efficiency in winter
Kia EV9
2025
Outstanding EV Award

5. Kia EV9

9/10
Kia EV9 review
Battery range up to 349 miles

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Super-fast charging
  • Electric seven-seater

What’s not so good

  • Not particularly quiet at high speeds
  • Baffling climate screen position
  • Badge snobbery a factor at this price
Best for: family life
Need a big electric SUV with room for seven people? The Kia EV9 is the car for you. The interior is really spacious, whether you're sat up front or in either of the two rear rows, and there's even a six-seat option with a swivelling second row if you want even more room. The EV9 has imposing looks and an upmarket interior that befits its premium price tag. It's not hugely efficient, but it does at least make up for it with ultra-fast public charging capabilities. And so far, it has very few alternatives if you need a seven-seat EV - just the VW ID Buzz, Mercedes EQB and various electric vans. Its biggest drawback though is its price. Badge snobs may baulk at a Kia with a £70k price tag, but if they do, they are missing out on a really, really good electric car.

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Super-fast charging
  • Electric seven-seater

What’s not so good

  • Not particularly quiet at high speeds
  • Baffling climate screen position
  • Badge snobbery a factor at this price
Kia EV6

6. Kia EV6

9/10
Kia EV6 review
Battery range up to 361 miles

What's good

  • Stylish design inside and out
  • Good to drive
  • Fast charging and clever vehicle-to-load tech

What’s not so good

  • Firmer ride than some alternatives
  • Rear visibility isn't great
  • The boot could be larger
Best for: fast charging
One of the most striking EVs on the market, the Kia EV6 may share its platform with the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5, but it offers sharper handling and a similarly impressive range of between 300 and 328 miles officially. Long journeys are a breeze as well thanks to the 350kW fast charging, allowing you to top up from 10-80% in just 18 minutes. Looking for a blistering turn of speed? You'll want to check out the GT model. It has a whopping 585hp as well as adaptive suspension and more figure-hugging sports seats. It's pretty pricey, but you can embarrass supercars with that sort of power, all while carrying the weekly shop. It’s not the complete all-rounder though. The view out the back isn’t great and it can feel a bit firm. Despite that, it's one of the best electric cars you can buy.

What's good

  • Stylish design inside and out
  • Good to drive
  • Fast charging and clever vehicle-to-load tech

What’s not so good

  • Firmer ride than some alternatives
  • Rear visibility isn't great
  • The boot could be larger
MG MG4 EV

7. MG4 EV

9/10
MG MG4 EV review
Battery range up to 329 miles

What's good

  • Impressive value for money
  • Looks fantastic
  • Genuine fun to drive

What’s not so good

  • Fiddly infotainment system
  • Poor rear visibility
  • Lets in a fair bit of road noise
Best for: low cost fun
The MG4 EV hatchback is one of the more impressive electric cars on sale, and not just because its low starting price is highly attractive. No: the MG4 is also genuinely rewarding to drive, plus it can officially cover up to 218 miles between charges in standard form, 281 miles if you go for the Long Range version, or as much as 323 miles with the Trophy Extended Range model. Factor in sharp looks and a modern, minimalist interior with a 10.3-inch infotainment system as standard, and the MG4 EV offers as much as some EVs with far higher price tags. There's even a high-performance model called MG4 XPower, which can trouble sports cars away from the lights, accelerating from 0-62 mph in just 3.8 seconds. There’s only really one complaint and that’s the fiddly infotainment system. If you can get past that, you’ll be on to a winner.

What's good

  • Impressive value for money
  • Looks fantastic
  • Genuine fun to drive

What’s not so good

  • Fiddly infotainment system
  • Poor rear visibility
  • Lets in a fair bit of road noise
BMW iX

8. BMW iX

9/10
BMW iX review
Battery range up to 382 miles

What's good

  • Heaps of very clever technology
  • Stunning interior design
  • Excellent surround-view camera

What’s not so good

  • It's a really heavy car
  • No storage in the front...
  • ...and alternatives offer more space in the boot
Best for: ultra-modern cabin
The BMW iX may be quite expensive, but you do get an awful lot of bang for your buck. It's comfortable, quiet and fitted with lots of clever kit, but it's the lovely interior which really stands out. Quality is wonderful and there’s lots of space in the cabin for you to get comfy on a long drive. Offering up to 257 miles on the entry-level 70kWh battery, you can get the larger 105kWh battery that’ll push up to 380 miles on a full charge. If you need super performance, the 619hp iX M60 can do 0-60mph in under four seconds and comes with lots of M tweaks to make it more fun to drive.

What's good

  • Heaps of very clever technology
  • Stunning interior design
  • Excellent surround-view camera

What’s not so good

  • It's a really heavy car
  • No storage in the front...
  • ...and alternatives offer more space in the boot
Porsche Taycan
2025
Outstanding EV Award
Highly Commended

9. Porsche Taycan

9/10
Porsche Taycan review
Battery range up to 360 miles

What's good

  • Stunning looks
  • Superbly comfortable
  • Feels as fun as a Porsche should

What’s not so good

  • Boot isn’t particularly big
  • Tight back-seat headroom
  • Alternatives have more range
Best for: posh image
When Porsche announced it was making an EV, eyebrows were raised by some, but hopes were high among others. The Taycan confounded all doubters and reassured the optimists, with handling that impresses not only in the electric car class, but also among fellow Porsches - it really is that impressive to drive. Sure, you have to pay for the pedigree, but do so and you'll have a sporty four-door EV that can officially cover up to 360 miles between charges, depending on which model you go for. The sweet spot in the range is arguably the 4S, which has a 282-mile range, plus a 0-60mph time of four seconds dead. Need more space? There's also the Sport Turismo model, which has an estate-like rear end for added practicality. It's just as good to drive and refined inside, too.

What's good

  • Stunning looks
  • Superbly comfortable
  • Feels as fun as a Porsche should

What’s not so good

  • Boot isn’t particularly big
  • Tight back-seat headroom
  • Alternatives have more range
BMW i7

10. BMW i7

9/10
BMW i7 review
Battery range up to 386 miles

What's good

  • First-class luxury front and back
  • One of the best EVs to drive
  • Superb technology available throughout

What’s not so good

  • Not the most practical boot around
  • Range isn't as good as an EQS
  • Expensive, to say the least
Best for: limousine luxury
If you want the poshest and most comfortable electric limo around, the BMW i7 takes all the attributes you would want and puts them in a smart package – if you don’t look at the front end too much. You’ll either love or hate the Bugs Bunny-esque face of this BMW electric car. Step inside, however, and you’ll see the i7 has a superbly appointed interior, with large screens, quality materials and lots of space. It’s very compliant on the road with its comfort-focused suspension soaking up all the bumps and making it very nice to drive. The 102kWh battery pack allows for up to 386 miles of range and it can be charged at up to 200kW on DC. That’s quick. A Mercedes looks a bit boring compared with the BMW and it has a longer range and a bigger boot, too.

What's good

  • First-class luxury front and back
  • One of the best EVs to drive
  • Superb technology available throughout

What’s not so good

  • Not the most practical boot around
  • Range isn't as good as an EQS
  • Expensive, to say the least
BMW i5

11. BMW i5

9/10
BMW i5 review
Battery range up to 354 miles

What's good

  • Rapid performance
  • Deeply impressive cabin quality
  • Comfortable and quiet

What’s not so good

  • Very heavy, especially the M60 version
  • Doesn’t go as far between charges as some alternatives
  • Some of the best tech not available in the UK
Best for: comfort
The BMW 5 Series has long been one of the best all-rounders in the car market, so it's perhaps no surprise that the first all-electric version continues this trend. The BMW i5 isn't the most elegant-looking car around (something you could say about all BMW EVs) but inside it's spacious, comfortable and high-tech. Some other premium equivalents have longer ranges however and some of the best tech - specifically the automated lane changing - isn’t yet available in the UK. Still, there's an excellent twin-screen setup atop the dashboard for the infotainment and digital instrument display, and you get high-quality materials and solid build quality throughout. Pretty much like the rest of the BMW range. If you want something to really quicken the pulse, the M60 version is incredibly quick, but that model is also incredibly expensive.

What's good

  • Rapid performance
  • Deeply impressive cabin quality
  • Comfortable and quiet

What’s not so good

  • Very heavy, especially the M60 version
  • Doesn’t go as far between charges as some alternatives
  • Some of the best tech not available in the UK
Mercedes-Benz EQS

12. Mercedes EQS

9/10
Mercedes-Benz EQS review
Battery range up to 481 miles

What's good

  • Exceptionally long range
  • Amazing quality and cabin design
  • Looks gorgeous

What’s not so good

  • Feels really big on small roads
  • Massive screens are distracting
  • Expensive
Best for: long distances
The Mercedes EQS is the brand’s flagship for the future, with its sleek shape and all-electric powertrain leading the line for the German manufacturer. Move over Mercedes S-Class, if you want a whisper quiet limo to ferry around environmentally-conscious VIPs, it’s the EQS that’s now the limo of choice. While it may not be the most attractive or inspiring to look at, it’ll help make the most of its huge 108kWh battery pack. Combining the sleek shape and huge battery, you can do 481 miles in its most efficient form and very few cars can get close to that. That big battery pack means it can take an age to charge up on your driveway if you have a bog-standard 7kW home wallbox. As you would expect, the cabin is excellently kitted out, while there’s decent space and lots of equipment as standard. It does command a rather steep asking price though. But that’s been the case for every Mercedes limo and comparable luxury cars.

What's good

  • Exceptionally long range
  • Amazing quality and cabin design
  • Looks gorgeous

What’s not so good

  • Feels really big on small roads
  • Massive screens are distracting
  • Expensive
Volkswagen ID. Buzz

13. Volkswagen ID. Buzz

9/10
Volkswagen ID. Buzz review
Battery range up to 291 miles

What's good

  • Loads of space for people and luggage
  • Stand-out styling
  • Nice to drive

What’s not so good

  • Range isn’t the best
  • Infotainment is still annoying
  • Very expensive
Best for: retro cool
Some EVs can be guilty of lacking character, but that can’t be aimed at the VW ID Buzz. Inspired by the campervans of old, the ID Buzz is one of the most distinguishable electric cars on sale today. But the quirky design isn’t all for show - the huge windscreen and a stubby nose allows for great visibility, while it’s surprisingly manoeuvrable for such a big car. The cabin provides loads of room – it's almost lounge-like – and the boot is over 1,000 litres, so there’s room for all your things. The perfect car to transport you and your family, then. Well, almost. The snag with the ID Buzz is its range of 258 miles, which in the real world will be closer to 200 miles. There is an extended wheelbase model coming with a larger battery, so if you need the extra range, that’s the one to wait for. That model also has seven seats.

What's good

  • Loads of space for people and luggage
  • Stand-out styling
  • Nice to drive

What’s not so good

  • Range isn’t the best
  • Infotainment is still annoying
  • Very expensive
Hyundai Ioniq 5

14. Hyundai Ioniq 5

9/10
Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
Battery range up to 354 miles

What's good

  • Retro-futuristic styling looks fantastic
  • Super spacious interior
  • Feels impressively posh

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives offer greater range…
  • ...and have larger boots
  • Steering column needs more reach adjustment
Best for: futuristic looks
A vision of the future you can drive on the road today, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 looks like nothing else, its angular lines and dot-matrix-style rear lights blending together to create an electric car for the digital age. The Ioniq 5 is far more than just a stylish car, though: the comfortable ride and laid-back interior make for a truly relaxing driving experience, while it's also very practical, being larger and more SUV-like than its looks might imply. The 77kWh 228hp model is the pick of the range, offering decent performance, plus the ability to go up to 315 miles (officially) on a single charge. There are other EVs on this list that can go further between charges and have bigger boots, but few look this good while ticking off all the electric car basics.

What's good

  • Retro-futuristic styling looks fantastic
  • Super spacious interior
  • Feels impressively posh

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives offer greater range…
  • ...and have larger boots
  • Steering column needs more reach adjustment
Porsche Macan Electric
Battery range up to 380 miles

What's good

  • Lovely interior
  • Great fun to drive
  • Decent range

What’s not so good

  • Upgraded stereo impacts boot capacity a lot
  • A bit tight in the back for taller passengers
  • Side airbags not as standard
Best for: fun family EV
The Porsche Macan might have gone electric, but everything we loved about the old one remains true here – it looks fantastic, has a lovely interior and it’s great to drive, too. Despite being a heavy electric vehicle, it’s great fun on a twisty road. Just like a Porsche should be. You also get really good range of up to 381 miles in the base model, though that drops for the high-performance Turbo version – unsurprising with a whopping 639hp on offer. Just about the only complaint is that headroom is a bit tight for those in the back seats.

What's good

  • Lovely interior
  • Great fun to drive
  • Decent range

What’s not so good

  • Upgraded stereo impacts boot capacity a lot
  • A bit tight in the back for taller passengers
  • Side airbags not as standard
Nissan Ariya

16. Nissan Ariya

8/10
Nissan Ariya review
Battery range up to 330 miles

What's good

  • Stylish inside and out
  • Spacious interior
  • Heat pump comes as standard

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have more boot space
  • Charging rate isn't that fast
  • Fiddly interior controls
Best for: posh for the price
Another style-conscious electric car is the Nissan Ariya. It has sci-fi looks on the outside and an interior that’s a step above anything we’ve seen from Nissan before. There are some quirky design touches that work – the hidden compartment that emerges from beneath the dashboard – and some that don’t – the odd touch-sensitive buttons on the centre console – but quality is decent and there’s loads of space inside. You also get a heat pump as standard, which helps to maximise range on a chilly day.

What's good

  • Stylish inside and out
  • Spacious interior
  • Heat pump comes as standard

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have more boot space
  • Charging rate isn't that fast
  • Fiddly interior controls
Hyundai Kona Electric

17. Hyundai Kona Electric

8/10
Hyundai Kona Electric review
Battery range up to 319 miles

What's good

  • Impressive range
  • Really spacious
  • Great to drive around town

What’s not so good

  • Not much fun on a twisty road
  • Assistance bings and bongs are annoying
  • Some cheap materials inside
Best for: spacious and long range
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a great family SUV with sci-fi looks on the outside and loads of space on the inside, whether you need room for passengers or a big boot space. Its range of up to 319 miles if you go for the big battery version is good but not great, and you do have to put up with a lot of annoying bings and bongs from the various assistance systems, but at least it's comfortable over bumps and really easy to drive around town. It's not what you'd call fun to drive, but that may not be your top priority when looking for a family-friendly electric SUV. And unlike the Volvo EX30, you get lots of physical switchgear so it's a bit easier to navigate your way around the interior. However, some of the materials used in the cabin feel a bit cheap compared to the likes of the Volvo.

What's good

  • Impressive range
  • Really spacious
  • Great to drive around town

What’s not so good

  • Not much fun on a twisty road
  • Assistance bings and bongs are annoying
  • Some cheap materials inside
Tesla Model Y

18. Tesla Model Y

8/10
Tesla Model Y review
Battery range up to 372 miles

What's good

  • Excellent performance
  • Long range and ease of charging
  • Loads of luggage space

What’s not so good

  • Not very comfortable for a family SUV
  • Poor rear visibility
  • No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
Best for: boot space
Building on the success of the Model 3, the Model Y SUV is supremely practical and best-suited to families wanting an all-electric wagon. If you can look past the non-descript design, the Model Y is a great electric car overall, with its cavernous load spaces and comfortable cabin. While you’ll need to get used to having all the major controls put through the 15.0-inch central touchscreen, the design is very clean and tidy. Has it taken minimalism too far? You’ll have to learn where to glance to see how fast you’re going as the speedo is in the corner of the touchscreen. And in a car this quick, you absolutely need to keep an eye on your speed. It’s a shame there isn’t a head-up display and the Model Y can feel a bit firm on the road. But it’ll go very far on a full battery as you get up to 331 miles on a single charge in the Long Range version.

What's good

  • Excellent performance
  • Long range and ease of charging
  • Loads of luggage space

What’s not so good

  • Not very comfortable for a family SUV
  • Poor rear visibility
  • No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
Skoda Enyaq

19. Skoda Enyaq

8/10
Skoda Enyaq review
Battery range up to 358 miles

What's good

  • Spacious cabin and huge boot
  • Decent to drive and good range too
  • Very good all-rounder

What’s not so good

  • Won't set your pulse racing
  • Laggy infotainment
  • Options should be cheaper in a Skoda
Best for: no frills practicality
You might expect an electric car from Skoda to be very practical, easy to drive, comfortable and well thought out – and that's exactly what you get with the Enyaq. It's a very easy car to warm to, and even easier to fit into your life. The boot is one highlight, with the 585 litres you get back there being commensurate with Skoda's practical ethos, while the model range starts with a 60kWh battery for 246 official miles of range. You can pay around £2,000 extra for the 80kWh battery, which can cover up to 348 miles between charges. That’s impressive. Equally impressive is the quality of the interior. Long gone are the days when you could poke fun at Skodas being rubbish. Sure, it's not that exciting to look at and the infotainment system is a bit laggy but this is an EV that ticks many boxes and offers few compromises.

What's good

  • Spacious cabin and huge boot
  • Decent to drive and good range too
  • Very good all-rounder

What’s not so good

  • Won't set your pulse racing
  • Laggy infotainment
  • Options should be cheaper in a Skoda
Cupra Born

20. Cupra Born

8/10
Cupra Born review
Battery range up to 366 miles

What's good

  • Practical, spacious interior
  • Strong electric range
  • Sporty looks

What’s not so good

  • Not all that fun to drive
  • Laggy infotainment system
  • Lack of physical switchgear frustrates
Best for: style
If style is important for your electric car, look no further than the Cupra Born. It has genuine hot hatch looks, despite being closely related to its more bland stablemate, the Volkswagen ID3. Snazzy design combined with quite a big, spacious family hatchback equals a great electric car, in our view. It's also good to drive, being comfortable around town and on the motorway even if it's not as exciting down a twisty road as its looks suggest it might be. You get good range, particularly on the big battery version, but more importantly it's also incredibly efficient, which will help keep your electricity bills down. The only major disappointment is the infotainment system which is quite laggy and awkward to use. And there are no buttons for the air-con so changing the temperature isn’t as easy as it should be.

What's good

  • Practical, spacious interior
  • Strong electric range
  • Sporty looks

What’s not so good

  • Not all that fun to drive
  • Laggy infotainment system
  • Lack of physical switchgear frustrates

The electric cars we don't recommend

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf was something of a trailblazer for electric cars. The original model came out long before EVs were a common sight on the road. Even the second generation model, which went on sale in 2018, pre-dates most alternatives by some margin. The thing is, technology has moved on quite a bit while the Leaf, well, hasn't. It still looks fairly modern and has a big boot, but its range is about half what many electric cars can achieve nowadays, and you're looking at about an hour to charge from 10-80% at a fast charger, with most cars today taking half that time. The infotainment was sluggish even when new, and the interior feels pretty cheap. Nissan's Ariya is much more modern, and a thoroughly more impressive effort.

Mazda MX-30

There are a few things to like about the Mazda MX-30, to be fair. It looks great and it's a lovely thing to drive, for example. It's comfortable and fun on a twisty road largely because it has a small battery, which keeps the car's weight down. The thing is, it also keeps the car's range down – just 124 miles officially, and you'll be lucky to see much over 100 miles in the real world. If you can charge at home and never do long journeys it might be fine, but that range really does limit how you use the car. It doesn't charge particularly quickly either, so you'll be stopping often on long trips, and waiting a while when you do. Annoying. There is a plug-in hybrid version that's a bit better, at least.

Everything you need to know about electric cars

Have you considered getting GAP insurance for your new electric car?

Carwow has partnered with MotorEasy to provide GAP insurance. GAP insurance covers the difference between the amount you paid for your car, or owe on your car if you have finance, and the amount an insurance company would give you if your car is declared a total loss or write-off. This can protect you financially from a shortfall of potentially thousands of pounds. MotorEasy is offering a 15% discount to all Carwow customers who take out GAP insurance with them.

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How to choose the best electric car for you

Choosing an electric car is no different from choosing a petrol, diesel or hybrid car, really. Here, we'll outline all the things you should consider to help create the perfect shortlist of EVs for your needs.

Budget

The first thing to consider is how much you would like to spend. You can pay in cash, but most people either lease or finance their car these days. In this case, you want to look at your incomings and outgoings and work out how much you can afford to pay each month on a car. Don't forget to calculate your charging and insurance costs, too.

Charging

Speaking of charging costs, it's very important to think about how you're going to charge your electric car. The best way is to get a home charger installed and get an EV-friendly tariff, which will drastically reduce your travel costs. If you can't charge at home, public chargers can get very, very expensive – if you'll have to rely on these exclusively, you might find an EV will cost you more in the long run than a combustion-engined car.

Range

For most people, most electric cars will have enough range most of the time, particularly if you can charge at home, top it up overnight, and stick to shorter journeys. However, if you're a high mileage driver, you're going to want to look for a car with a big range – that's how many miles it can do between charges. These do tend to be a bit more expensive because they have bigger batteries, though.

Space

There are now loads of types of electric cars to choose between, from two-seater sports cars to massive SUVs. Think about how many seats you need and what boot space you require, because this will help you filter out unsuitable models. Also consider things like the fact that SUVs are higher off the ground and could be more suitable if you live off the beaten track.

Electric car FAQs

There are lots of people who are open to the idea of an electric car as their next car, but many still have unanswered questions about what making that transition will actually mean for them on a day-to-day basis. Where and when do I charge it? Will it be safe? Will running an electric car actually work out any cheaper in the long run? Will it actually be any better for the environment?

Read on for answers to all those questions and more, to see whether electric motoring really is for you.

The amount of time that it takes to charge your electric car varies based on car’s battery capacity and the power of the charging point, but figuring it out should be pretty simple a pretty simple calculation. For example, if your car has a 70kWh (kiloWatt-hour) battery and is plugged into a 7kW (kiloWatt) charger then it will take ten hours to charge from empty to full. Using a faster public charger will reduce this to more like 30-60 minutes, depending on the car and charger, but will cost much more. For more details read our blog: How long does it take to charge an electric car

How much it costs to charge an electric car depends on the type of electric car you drive, the batteries it has and where you buy the electricity from. You can charge your car at home, at a public charging point or at fast-charging points at motorway service stations and each entail slightly different costs. Generally, charging at home is the cheapest but you will probably need to install a charging point. It can be worth it though, because some energy providers offer EV-specific electricity rates that can reduce the cost of charging by over 75%.

For more details read our blog: How much does it cost to charge an electric car

How far an electric car can go on a single charge varies depending on the car you drive, how you drive it and the conditions in which you drive it – much like a petrol or diesel car's fuel economy, in fact. You can use our electric car battery range calculator to compare different options and find the right car to match your mileage needs.
Most modern electric cars can go over 200 miles between charges, with the many of the latest cars having a ‘range’ of around 350 miles or more.

For more details read our blog: How far can an electric car go.

To find out where you can find a charging point, take a look at our electric cars charging points finder.

To find out if an electric car is for you, use the Carwow Fuel Chooser.

Owning an electric car brings quite a lot of benefits, including zero emissions driving, low running costs and the ability to stick your foot down for eye-opening acceleration without the usual histrionics.
Better still, an EV will save you even more money in tax — be it as a personal vehicle or a company car.

Read our in-depth advice guide to see how much you could save: How much does it cost to tax an electric car?

The interest-free Electric Vehicle Loan, funded by Transport Scotland (an agency of the Scottish Government), currently offers loans of up to £35,000 to cover the cost of purchasing a new pure electric/plug-in hybrid car or up to £10,000 to cover the cost of purchasing a new electric motorcycle or scooter.

If you can’t find your nearest charger, Carwow has a handy Electric Car Charging Points Map. It knows every electric car charging point in the UK and even lets you search by town, city and/or postcode.

In a word, yes. Well, in as much as any car is. After all, any object so big and heavy travelling at speed is always going to carry risks of potential injury for anyone – or anything – it hits.

For those inside the car, however, it’s thought that EVs are actually safer than their conventionally powered counterparts. This is because an EV’s big, heavy battery pack is normally incorporated into the central structure of the car, usually in the floor, and this provides extra stiffness to the car’s bodyshell, meaning better protection of the passenger compartment in a crash. Look at the Euro NCAP website, and you’ll notice that all dedicated EVs tested (with the exception of the Chinese-manufactured Aiways U5) score the full five-star rating.

Some worry about the risk of fire that the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs carry; after all, there have been well-documented cases of such batteries catching fire in phones and laptops, so what’s to stop it happening in a car? Well, manufacturers use a wide range of measures to prevent this happening, including super-strong steel casings to prevent damage, separation of cells to prevent fire spreading, and a whole host of fuses, circuit breakers and cooling systems. In fact, research suggests that EVs are actually less likely to catch fire than conventional cars as they don’t carry flammable petrol or diesel.

No. In actual fact, they’re usually a little bit more expensive to insure than a comparable petrol or diesel car.

There are a couple of reasons for this, the most influential being the cost of repair. Electric cars have fewer moving parts than conventional cars, meaning there’s less to go wrong, but some of the components they do have – the lithium-ion batteries being case-in-point – are enormously expensive to repair or replace if they do become damaged. Another factor that’s not often talked about is the availability of technicians qualified to work on electric cars, as these are far lower in number than those who can repair regular cars, which also pushes costs up.

It’s worth bearing in mind that there are companies that specialise in providing electric car insurance, and going with one of these could drop your premiums significantly. Even with these providers, though, it’s essential you shop around for the best deal. What’s more, all the usual tricks for dropping your premiums still apply with electric cars. Consider paying up front rather than monthly, or getting a black box or dashcam fitted.

But the fact remains that while electric cars do reduce daily running costs in most areas, insurance isn’t one of them, sadly.

All cars – electric or otherwise – lose their value to some degree over time. This is known as depreciation. The question is, is the natural deprecation on electric cars any heavier than on conventionally powered cars?

Well, the depreciation on any particular make and model of car depends on a wide number of variables, including how desirable it is and how dependable it is perceived to be. And a few years ago, when the first electric vehicles appeared on the market, depreciation on them was very heavy indeed. This was because car buyers had very little appetite for electric cars due to the difficulties over range and recharging, as well as a general lack of understanding on the realities of electric motoring.

These days, however, that situation has pretty much turned on its head. The cars have got better – in terms of range, quality and appeal – the charging infrastructure has improved, and the general public now has a better understanding of – and openness to – electric motoring. This means there’s now much more appetite for electric cars, both new and used, to the point where many now hold their value better than conventional cars. And as time goes on and electric motoring becomes more and more established, this gap will only get bigger.

It is true that batteries lose capacity over time, and the more often they’re charged up, the quicker this happens. However, it’s important to realise that not all charges are the same, and the way you charge your car is a lot more important in conserving battery life than how often you charge it.

What you want to avoid, if your use of the car allows, is regularly charging up to 100% and depleting the battery down to 0%. This is the quickest way to shorten the life of your battery. Instead, try only topping your battery up to around 80%, and not letting it drop below 20% before recharging if you can. It’s also worth noting that the smaller you can make this window, and the closer that window is to the middle of the scale, the healthier your battery will be ( keeping the charge between 60% and 40% will be even better, for example).

Most electric cars these days come with associated smartphone apps that let you limit the amount of power the car takes on when it’s plugged in, and this should help you manage the maximum end of the scale, while keeping an eye on your instruments, not to mention sufficient journey planning, should take care of the lower end.

For many would-be electric motorists, this will be the million-dollar question, yet it’s also the one that there’s probably most argument over. Supporters of electric mobility will tell you that having fewer cars chucking out CO2 into the atmosphere can’t help but cut down on greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, sceptics will argue that electric cars take more energy to build in the first place, and that having more of them on the road just means an increased burden on the national grid, meaning more CO2 emissions from the coal-fired power stations that make the electricity used to charge them. So, who’s right?
Unfortunately, nobody really knows for sure. Countless studies have provided evidence on both sides, but it’s such a complex equation with so many variables that nobody has managed to prove their case conclusively.

What you can say with confidence, though, is that electric cars definitely improve local environments. If you ignore carbon dioxide for a moment, petrol and diesel cars kick out all sorts of other pollutants (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates, etc) that pollute the atmosphere and can cause breathing difficulties for those in the vicinity.

And the bigger picture? Well, as fossil fuel reserves run dry, power producers will have no choice but to move towards more renewable energy sources, so as power stations become greener in future, so will electric motoring.

More and more energy providers are incentivising tariffs for electric car drivers to get more value for their money. Read our advice guide on the best energy providers for EV owners.

In the UK the accepted ‘norm’ for measuring the efficiency of electric cars is 'miles per kWh'. The amount of electrical power stored in the batteries of an electric car is measured in kilowatt hours – or kWh for short. More efficient electric cars will be able to go further on each kWh, in the same way that an economical petrol car will be able to go further on a gallon of fuel than an uneconomical one. To find out more read our advice guide Miles per kWh: EV efficiency explained

Solid state batteries are set to be a real game changer, making electric cars cheaper, safer, quicker to charge, longer lasting and with much more range.

Car makers say they will offer at least twice the energy density of the current lithium-ion battery technology, significantly shorter charging times, and all at a lower cost. Read our Solid state battery advice guide to find out more.