How to decide on the right electric vehicle for you

Choosing an electric vehicle (EV) is becoming the mainstream. Here are some ways to help you decide whether driving one is right for you.

Would an EV suit my lifestyle?

One of the first considerations when it comes to getting behind the wheel of an EV is thinking about your daily driving habits. Do you want a car for long commutes or something handy for quick journeys in to town? You’ll find there’s a range of EV options available to suit different budgets, driving styles and tastes so you can find an EV that will work for you.

Go far or go home?

The majority of popular EV’s now have battery ranges of 300+ miles, with many others having 200+ miles of range. This means most journeys can be comfortably carried out on one charge. So, whether it’s the school run, shopping, business travel or the commute to work, recharging can easily be done at home overnight. And if you’re looking to travel longer distances, you’ll have the benefit of tens of thousands of charging points throughout the UK.

What journeys do you make?

The length and frequency of your journeys will help you determine which type of car is right for you. If most of your daily journeys are 200 miles or less, then fully electric is the way to go. However, if you are travelling vast distances each week, you might consider a hybrid. Or make sure to opt for an electric vehicle with a higher range like a Tesla Model 3 or Nissan Ariya (both of which have ranges over 300 miles).

Vehicle choice and availability

There’s never been a more exciting time when it comes to electric vehicles, with a huge range available on the market today to suit all driving and lifestyle needs. Chinese EV manufacturers started gaining ground by early 2024, bringing a variety of electric cars to choose from in the UK market like the Dolphin and the Seal from BYD. Plus, many other manufacturers are introducing new models on a regular basis, so the EV choice/variety is expected to continue growing making it easier for you to find the right EV for you.

Cost

If you’re looking to bring the costs down and a drive a more economic car, keep in mind that EV running costs are significantly lower than a petrol or diesel car. In fact, out of 2,800 Zenith electric car customers in 2024, a third thought they saved between £1,001 and £5,000 per year by having an EV – check our our EVXperience 2024 report. 

The cost to charge an EV depends on the size of the battery and where you’re charging it – drivers that are able to charge at their workplace usually also receive free charging.

EV servicing and repair costs are also a lot cheaper compared to ICE cars as they don’t have all the parts that internal combustion engines require: gear box, clutch, exhaust, catalytic converter or starter motor. So, there’s less to break and replace.

Plus, being zero emissions vehicles, EVs are exempt from road tax and sit in the lowest band of company car tax.

Performance

If having plenty of acceleration and torque is important to you, an EV will deliver powerful performance. EVs don’t require manual transmission so the power is transferred straight to the wheels and with fewer moving parts, the power is transferred more efficiently within the car.

Also, since EVs lack combustion engines, they provide quiet rides without any engine noise.