How much road tax will I pay for an electric car?
Wed, 09 Jul 2025
Motoring Research
We explain the road tax (VED) rates for electric cars in the UK, including the major changes introduced from April 2025.
Let’s start with the bad news: electric cars are no longer exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED – better known as road tax). From April 2025, the UK Government decided to, in its words: ‘equalise the Vehicle Excise Duty treatment of all zero emission and internal combustion engine vehicles’.
Crucially, this change in the road tax structure applies to both new and existing alternatively fuelled vehicles, including...
Can I charge an electric car using a three-pin plug?
Thu, 03 Jul 2025
Motoring Research
You can charge an electric car using a domestic three-pin plug socket, but a wallbox charger is far better for home use. We explain why.
Every new electric car is supplied with a cable – sometimes referred to as a ‘granny cable‘ – that is designed for a domestic plug socket. So the short answer to this question is yes – you can charge your EV using a three-pin plug.
However, this method of charging should be reserved for occasional or emergency use only. It’s fine if you’re staying overnight with friends who don’t have a dedicated EV charger, but you don’t want to rely on it.
Can you jump-start an electric car?
Tue, 17 Jun 2025
Motoring Research
As well as a lithium-ion battery for driving the wheels, electric cars also use a traditional 12-volt battery. Can this be jump-started?
The short answer to our title question is ‘yes’ – you can jump-start an electric car. However, the chances of you ever needing to do so are slim.
Many people don’t realise that the vast majority of electric cars have two batteries: a large lithium-ion battery for powering the electric motor (or motors), plus a traditional 12-volt battery that is used for sending power to...
Can I charge an electric car using solar panels?
Tue, 10 Jun 2025
Motoring Research
Harvesting solar energy is a cost-effective and green way to recharge your electric car. We explain how it works.
You’ve sung along to of Walking On Sunshine, but did you know that it’s possible to drive on sunshine? OK, not literally – that would be a little hot and dangerous – but sunshine, or more specifically solar energy, can be used to charge an electric car.
If you’ve got a set of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on your house roof, you’ll know that it’s possible to harvest the sun’s rays to power your appliances. It’s cheaper and greener than having to rely solely on the domestic electricity supply. And...
What is Plug & Charge for electric cars?
Thu, 22 May 2025
Motoring Research
Using Plug & Charge makes the process of charging an electric car, easier, and the service is free. We explain how it works.
Plug & Charge simplifies the process of charging an electric car by removing the need to use a smartphone app, an RFID card or contactless payment. The name couldn’t be more appropriate: you simply plug in and charge.
You need to set up the service in the first place, however. So what do you need to know about this next-generation method of charging an EV? Read on to discover more about Plug & Charge and why it could represent the future for electric car owners.
What to buy: plug-in hybrid or an electric car?
Tue, 20 May 2025
Motoring Research
The choice between a plug-in hybrid or an EV isn't clear-cut. Much depends on how you will use the car. We look at the pros and cons of each.
These are confusing times in the new car market. Some manufacturers have been delaying the introduction of electric cars, shifting their focus to plug-in hybrids instead. The UK Government has also clarified that plug-in hybrids may continue to be sold until 2035. So it’s a least a decade before you can no longer buy a new car with a petrol engine.
If you’re trying to decide between a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric...
How likely are electric cars to suffer a flat battery?
Wed, 30 Apr 2025
Motoring Research
Do you have EV range anxiety? A survey shows that electric cars are far less likely to run out of battery charge than most people think.
When questioned, nearly all British drivers overestimated the number of breakdowns caused by electric vehicles running out of battery charge.
In fact, a staggering 99 percent of the drivers surveyed by the AA incorrectly guessed how often EVs suffer from a flat battery.
Such misconceptions undoubtedly contribute to ‘range anxiety’: the fear of being stranded due to running out of charge. However, the reality of owning an electric car – certainly if you have off-street...
Can an EV be your everyday car?
Mon, 28 Apr 2025
Motoring Research
With off-street parking and a typical daily commute, there's no reason why an EV couldn't be your daily-driver. Here is what to consider.
Twenty years ago, it would have been difficult to consider an EV as your everyday car. They were expensive to buy, offered a limited driving range and the charging network was too small to make them a realistic prospect.
Things began to improve when the Nissan Leaf arrived in 2010, followed by the Tesla Model S in 2012 – and EV uptake has only accelerated since. In March 2025, 19.4 percent of all new cars sold in the UK were fully electric. EVs such as the MG ZS and Tesla Model Y...
Do you need a three-phase electricity supply to charge an EV at home?
Wed, 23 Apr 2025
Motoring Research
We explain the difference between a single-phase and three-phase electricity supply. And what this means for charging an EV at home.
Most houses in the UK use a single-phase electricity supply. This means a maximum charging rate for electric cars of 7kW.
Apart from private homes, however, much of this country is served by a three-phase electricity network. As their names suggest, a single-phase supply uses one live wire (plus one neutral wire) while a three-phase connection has three wires (again, with an additional neutral wire).
Three-phase supplies thus have more capacity for charging. You tend to find them in commercial properties, where...
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars explained. Which one is best?
Mon, 14 Apr 2025
Motoring Research
Plug-in hybrid cars are usually more expensive to buy than their 'regular' hybrid counterparts. Are they worth the extra cost?
As part of changes to its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, the UK Government has announced that hybrid cars can continue to be sold brand new until 2035. Although the statement lacked some clarity, this seems to apply to both plug-in hybrid and ‘regular’ hybrid cars. After 2035, only fully electric cars will meet the ZEV mandate criteria.
So what is the difference between the two? Well, part of the clue is in the name: plug-in hybrids can be plugged in to ...
