Electric Explained. Your Vehicles. Your Way. Anywhere. What's the difference between a Hybrid and Electric car?

View Used Electric Cars

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Electric Range

Electric cars are greener than internal combustion engine vehicles by a number of key measures,

with the exception of the carbon intensity of the manufacturing process.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 • Up to 315 mile range
• 58 and 77.4 kWh battery capacity
• 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds
View Model

Hyundai KONA Electric • Up to 300 mile range
• 39.2 and 64kWh battery capacity
• 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds View Model

Hyundai IONIQ 6 • Up to 338 mile range
• 77.4 kWh battery capacity
• 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds
View Model

Volvo EX40 Pure Electric • Up to 333 mile range
• 27 minute fast charge (10-80%)
• 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds View Model

Volvo EC40 Recharge • Up to 341 mile range
• 27 minute fast charge (10-80%)
• 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds View Model

Volvo EX90 • Up to 363 mile range
• 30 minute fast charge (10-80%)
• 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds View Model

Volvo EX-30 • Up to 295 mile range
• 26 minute fast charge (10-80%)
• 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds
View Model

Polestar 2 • Up to 406 mile range
• 28 Minute Charging time
• 0-60 mph in 4 seconds View Model

Polestar 3 • Up to 379 mile range
• 30 Minute Charging time
• 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds View Model

Polestar 4 • Up to 379 mile range
• 30 Minute Charging time
• 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds View Model

Lotus Electre • Up to 373 mile range
• 20 Minute Charging time (10-80%)
• 0-62 mph in 2.95 seconds
View Model

Search Our Pre-Owned Electric Vehicles?

The Benefits of Buying Electric.

Electric cars are greener than internal combustion engine vehicles by a number of key measures, with the exception of the carbon intensity of the manufacturing process.

As EVs become more mainstream, the costs are dropping rapidly and there are a wide variety of benefits for drivers making the switch. From the environmental impact to the savings you can make on fuel, tax and maintenance costs, electric vehicles could help you save significant amounts of money. On a cost per mile basis a fully electric car could cost you a quarter or less of what a traditional petrol or diesel car might. These savings quickly add up, see how much you could save on each journey when driving an EV by using our special Journey Cost Calculator below.

The Electric Range.

Greener
Faster
Cheaper to run
More convenient to own
Soon to be cheaper to buy or lease

Types of Electric/Hybrid Vehicles Explained.

Everything you wanted to know about hybrid, fully electric and fuel cell cars

Mild-hybrid Mild Hybrid cars only use their electric motors to support the engine during acceleration and cruising – the electric motor cannot power the car on its own. In a full or self-charging Hybrid, you can enjoy pure electric power for up to 50% of your city journeys and when cruising at speeds up to 50 km/h. At higher speeds or when overtaking on the highway, the petrol engine and electric motors work together to give you a strong boost of power.

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid cars are cars with a battery pack that can be plugged in to charge it up. Like conventional hybrid models, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have both a petrol or diesel combustion engine and an electric motor. However, the battery pack that powers a PHEV’s motor is larger than that in a standard hybrid, giving it the advantage that it can run for longer on pure electric power alone.

Electric Electric cars function by plugging into a charge point and taking electricity from the grid. They store the electricity in rechargeable batteries that power an electric motor, which turns the wheels. Electric cars accelerate faster than vehicles with traditional fuel engines – so they feel lighter to drive.

Types of Charger

Wall socket Any electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) can be charged via a three-pin power source, the type you’ll find around your home, garage, etc. With this 3 kW-rated charging method, it takes the Hyundai Kona Electric about 13 hours to achieve a full charge (zero to 100%).

Charge point socket A dedicated EV home charger allows you to connect your EV or PHEV and enjoy fast (7 kW) charging. This method allows the Kona Electric to achieve a zero to 100% charge in approximately 5.6 hours.

Tethered A tethered charger is one that comes with a cable already attached, and is typically found at EV charging stations – there are more than 42,500 public access points across the UK. This method facilitates 50 kW charging and higher, enabling the Kona Electric’s battery to go from 20% to 80% in roughly 30 minutes.

Cost to Charge

How much it will cost to charge your electric car will depend on the vehicle in question. Using the Hyundai Kona Electric as an example, and taking into account the aforementioned charging methods, it’ll cost approximately…

£13.00 – wall socket (zero to 100%)

£13.00 – charge point socket (zero to 100%)

£10.51 – tethered connector (20% to 80%)

Zapmap is an excellent EV charging resource that provides details on public access points, EV guides, EV tools, EV charging statistics and more. You’ll also find a link to download the free Zapmap app for your Android or Apple smartphone Find a Charger

Electric Vehicle FAQs

What is the best hybrid car?

Choosing a hybrid car of any kind rather than a conventionally powered alternative needn’t be the big step that many might fear. As with any new vehicle purchase it’s sensible to assess your annual mileage, and to consider what you’ll use your car for. If you’re a lower-mileage driver, the running costs of a conventional petrol hybrid could make it a sound alternative to a petrol or diesel car, but if you plan to rack up motorway miles, a regular diesel or even a diesel hybrid may make more financial sense.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

The time it takes to charge an electric car can be as little as 30 minutes or more than 12 hours. This depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point.

A typical electric car (60kWh battery) takes just under 8 hours to charge from empty-to-full with a 7kW charging point.
Most drivers top up charge rather than waiting for their battery to recharge from empty-to-full.
For many electric cars, you can add up to 100 miles of range in ~35 minutes with a 50kW rapid charger.
The bigger your car’s battery and the slower the charging point, the longer it takes to charge from empty to full.

How does an electric car work?

Electric cars function by plugging into a charge point and taking electricity from the grid. They store the electricity in rechargeable batteries that power an electric motor, which turns the wheels. Electric cars accelerate faster than vehicles with traditional fuel engines – so they feel lighter to drive.

Are electric cars automatic?

Most electric cars are automatic, and likely will be in the future. This is because an electric car doesn’t require a clutch due to its inability to stall like a petrol or diesel vehicle. Therefore, adding a clutch and various gears might not make much sense. However, some companies have been trying to produce electric vehicles that do still have a five- or six-speed gearbox, to maintain some form of normality for UK drivers who are used to manual vehicles.

How far can an electric car go?

How far you can travel on a full charge depends on the vehicle. Each model has a different range, battery size and efficiency. The perfect electric car for you will be the one you can use for your normal journeys without having to stop and charge up halfway through.

Can I install my own charger?

Only qualified electricians should perform this specialised task.

Should I charge my car overnight?

There’s no reason why not. Actually, you could find it to be very convenient.

How much will it cost to install an EV home charger?

To buy and install an EV home charger can cost anywhere between £800 and £1,200.

How much will it cost me to charge my car at home?

It depends on the car. The Volvo EC40 Recharge, for example, costs approximately £23 to charge at home (3 kW or 7 kW charging; zero to 100%).

Do I need a particular charger for my car?

Most chargers are universal.

What happens if my car runs out of charge?

Unless you drive a PHEV that still has fuel in the tank, your car will no longer have any power. However, this situation need never occur if you fully charge your vehicle ahead of your journey and factor in any necessary electric vehicle charging stops....

Other Electric Services. Got a question or need help with an electric vehicle?

Book a Service

Offer Search

Find your nearest dealership

Simply enter your postcode below to find your nearest dealership:

Finance Support

Finance

Join our journey

Immerse yourself even deeper. Visit our social channels.

Company Info

Info

Reg Office: 100 Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood WD6 3SA.

Reg. Company Number: 08048653

VAT Reg. No. 135279015

Legal

Financial Disclosure

Endeavour Automotive Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for consumer credit activity (Limited Permissions) (Firm Reference Number 841360) and is an Appointed Representative of South Quays Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for insurance distribution activity (Firm Reference Number 528881)