Should you convert your classic car to electric power?
Tue, 28 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
Replacing a classic car's engine with batteries and an electric motor is controversial. We look at the pros and cons of restomod EVs.
Cards on the table: there is no right or wrong 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 few electric restomods for our sister site, Motoring Research: everything from a David Brown Mini eMastered to a ...
Will servicing and maintenance be cheaper on an electric car?
Tue, 21 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
It might cost more to buy, but an electric car should be cheaper to run – and that includes the cost of servicing.
In the vast majority of cases, an electric vehicle will be cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel car. Even before servicing and maintenance is taken into account, new data from Compare The Market shows the average annual cost of owning an EV – including insurance, tax and charging primarily at home – is around £350 less than for an equivalent petrol car.
A separate study by The Car Expert suggests that servicing an electric car is cheaper, too. Analysis of hundreds of different cars showed drivers pay 29 percent less for servicing over five years: a total of...
How long before an electric car’s batteries need replacing?
Mon, 20 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
We examine the factors that affect battery life in an electric car – and explain how long these crucial components will typically last.
At some point, the batteries that power an electric car may need to be replaced. However, if you’ve just bought a new EV, this really isn’t something to worry about.
All batteries lose capacity over time, including those in EVs. It could be as little as two percent per year, but the rate of decline depends partly on how you drive and charge the car.
In this article, we look at some of the points to consider when it comes...
How will owning an EV affect my electricity bills?
Wed, 15 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
There no escaping the fact that charging an EV at home will increase your energy bills. But going electric could still save you money overall.
The cost of energy is never far from the headlines. In Britain and across Europe, electricity prices spiked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ‘energy crisis’ has subsided since, although the cost per kWh is still higher than in 2021.
According to the UK Government, the average annual bill for electricity and gas combined is £1,720 (correct in September 2025).
For those who ...
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Mon, 13 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
How long an electric car takes to charge depends upon a number of factors. We do the maths, helping you to save time.
Along with monthly cost and driving range, charging time is a key issue for anyone considering the switch to an electric car. And there is no way to sugar the pill here: the process does take time.
Even with rapid improvements in battery technology, it will be many years before electric cars can match the few minutes it takes to fill up with petrol or diesel. Nonetheless, there are several ways to make living with an EV easier.
Are all electric cars automatic – or can EVs have a manual gearbox?
Thu, 09 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
Does an electric car have a gearbox? And is every EV automatic? Motoring Electric's quick guide will answer your questions.
Most electric cars are essentially automatic, meaning there is no need for the driver to change gear. You simply engage D (for Drive), press the accelerator pedal and let the battery and motors do the work. Alternatively, you can select R (for Reverse) if needed.
There’s much more to it than that, though, not least because a traditional automatic transmission in a petrol or diesel car has several gears, whereas the vast majority of electric cars use a single gear.
Why do electric...
Does an electric car have to pass the same MOT test?
Mon, 06 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
An EV doesn't have to pass an emissions test, but still requires an annual MOT after it reaches three years old. Here's how the process works.
Like any car registered in the United Kingdom, an EV must pass an MOT once it reaches three years old. From then on, it will be subject to the same annual test as a petrol or diesel vehicle.
The same? OK, not exactly. For starters, an electric car doesn’t need to pass an exhaust emissions test, because it produces no localised carbon dioxide (CO2). An EV won’t trouble the noise test’s decibel meter...
From AC current to the ZEV mandate: electric car jargon explained
Fri, 03 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
Don’t know your rapid charging from your range anxiety? Our simple guide to electric car jargon should help you to understand the EV world.
Are you baffled by batteries, confused by charging speed, perplexed by preconditioning and muddled by miles per kWh? If so, you are not alone. But Motoring Electric is here to help.
The rapid adoption of electric cars has introduced us to a whole new range of acronyms, abbreviations and terms that weren’t previously part of the motoring vernacular. It’s almost like learning a new language.
Here are some of the most common words and expressions you might come across when researching or purchasing your...
How does regenerative braking boost your electric car’s range?
Thu, 02 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
Regenerative braking recovers the energy lost when you slow down, using it to recharge your electric car's batteries. We explain how it works.
A regenerative braking system recovers kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost when you brake. In an electric car, some of this energy can be harnessed by the motor – and that effectively 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 ...
Buying an electric car: Which type of EV is right for you?
Thu, 02 Oct 2025
Motoring Research
We look at the factors to consider when buying an electric car. These include vehicle size, electric range and whether to buy new or used.
Rarely a week goes by without a new electric car being revealed. The choice of vehicles is expanding all the time, with most manufacturers now selling at least one EV. Some, such as Tesla and Polestar, are already fully electric, while others, including Jaguar and Lotus, are heading that way soon.
Prices for relatively basic new EVs such as the Dacia Spring start from around £15,000. Alternatively, buy used and you can begin ...
