Which electric car charging networks operate in the UK?
Mon, 01 Sep 2025
Motoring Research
We look at 10 of the major electric car charging networks in the UK, including BP Pulse, Shell Recharge, Osprey, Instavolt, Tesla and Ionity.
At the time of writing, there are nearly 120,000 public EV charge connectors across the UK. The majority of these are fast chargers, but there has also been a notable rise in the number of rapid chargers.
If you own an electric car, the chances are you will mainly recharge at home, either using a domestic plug socket or – preferably – via a dedicated wallbox. On longer...
Are electric cars really zero emissions vehicles?
Fri, 29 Aug 2025
Motoring Research
An electric car produces zero emissions while driving. Or does it? You must consider the source of electricity and other forms of pollution.
Can an electric car really deliver zero emissions? Many will point out that EVs can only offer zero tailpipe emissions. Although technically an electric car doesn’t have a tailpipe…
In reality, it’s rather more complicated than that. For starters, there is the source of the electricity driving the car to consider. There is also increasing evidence to show emissions from brake pads and...
What is Plug & Charge for electric cars?
Thu, 21 Aug 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 does the miles per kWh figure mean for electric cars?
Thu, 14 Aug 2025
Motoring Research
A miles per kWh figure is used to calculate electric car efficiency. Understanding and comparing these numbers could save you money.
Miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the electric vehicle equivalent of miles per gallon (mpg) in petrol or diesel cars.
In other words, it tells you the distance you can expect your electric car to travel for every kilowatt-hour of energy it consumes.
Glossing over the fact that we still use miles per gallon as a measurement for fuel economy, even though we pay per litre of fuel, we know that a higher number is better for your wallet. So a 50mpg ...
Electric cars: Is it worth paying extra for a heat pump?
Thu, 14 Aug 2025
Motoring Research
A heat pump can make your electric car more efficient and increase its range, but it may cost extra. We explain how the technology works.
Browse the online configurators for new electric cars and you might notice the availability of a heat pump, either as an option or a standard feature. But what is a heat pump and, if it costs extra, should you buy one?
Heat pumps in electric cars are nothing new. In 2013, the Nissan Leaf became the first mass-produced EV to use a heat pump to warm its cabin. The Kia Soul EV then followed suit in 2014. The technology has been developed over...
Can I use a Tesla Supercharger to charge my non-Tesla electric car?
Tue, 05 Aug 2025
Motoring Research
Tesla has opened up some of its Supercharger network to drivers of other electric cars. We explain how to use it for charging your EV.
For years, drivers of non-Tesla electric cars could only stare at Tesla Superchargers with envious eyes. The American brand’s first dedicated charging site opened back in 2012 and its network has since grown to more than 70,000 Superchargers worldwide. Unquestionably, the Supercharger network is one of the reasons for Tesla’s incredible success.
Things changed in November 2021, when Tesla launched a pilot scheme for non-Tesla electric vehicles to use its previously private network. The programme was limited to 10...
How to get the longest possible range from your electric car
Wed, 30 Jul 2025
Motoring Research
These straightforward tips will help your electric car travel further between battery charges. And they will save you money, too.
The range might have been the first thing you checked before deciding which electric car to buy. After all, choosing an EV capable of plenty of miles between charging stops could save you vast amounts of time and money.
That said, with an increasing number of electric cars able to travel 300+ miles on a single charge, so-called ‘range anxiety’ is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Yet it makes sense to preserve – or even extend – the distance your car can travel before its battery runs flat. It helps both the...
Better than diesel? Would an electric van work for your business?
Wed, 16 Jul 2025
Motoring Research
Thinking about buying or leasing an electric van? Our advice guide details the pros and cons for your business and budget.
For decades, diesel engines have dominated the world of vans. In the UK Government’s most recent van usage survey, published in 2021, a massive 97 percent of all vans were powered by diesel. Only 2.7 percent had a petrol engine and a tiny fraction were electric.
Things are changing, however, as sales of new electric vans hit record volumes. Figures from the...
Can I own an EV if I don’t have a driveway or parking space?
Fri, 11 Jul 2025
Motoring Research
Should you buy an electric car if you don’t have a driveway or parking space outside your home to charge it? We examine your options.
The advertisements typically show an electric car parked outside a glassy, futuristic eco house, plugged into its dedicated charging point on a covered driveway. That’s the dream. But what if it isn’t your reality?
Well, it almost can be. Even your home is more ‘semi in the suburbs’ than ‘movie star mansion’, if you have a personal parking space and wall box charger, you can simply arrive back and plug in. By the following morning your EV will...
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...
