With over 4% of the cars on UK roads now fully electric, and this number steadily increasing as the capabilities of electric vehicles improve, it's clear that a significant shift is underway. If you're considering upgrading or investing in a new electric car, you're part of this exciting trend towards electric mobility. While the decision to switch to a fully electric car can be a game-changer for several reasons, it's important to understand that it's not always a straightforward transition.  However, the benefits of owning an electric car, from reduced emissions to lower running costs, can make the journey well worth it. Let's explore some key considerations to help you make an informed decision.

One major consideration is the charging functionality of your car and the local area. Whether you can have a dedicated charging point installed at home or rely on local charging points, there are plenty of options available. Your local council might even have charging points spread out in the area. It's important to understand how you will charge your vehicle, especially if you park on the street or away from home, which isn’t reliant on running an extension cable across the street (which isn't practical or advised).

It's not just about the upfront cost of buying an electric car; it's how much it's going to cost you moving forward. They still need an annual MOT and servicing, although servicing can be cheaper as there aren't the same type of parts as diesel or petrol vehicles. For instance, electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, which means there are fewer components that can wear out, reducing the overall servicing costs compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. While buying a brand new electric vehicle such as the byd dolphin can get you a great deal on the finance options, even if you opt for a new car, there are still other factors to consider, such as road tax, which is due to change for electric vehicles in April 2025. The changes in road tax could potentially make electric vehicles more expensive in terms of regular costs than their petrol or diesel counterparts. However, there might be other costs to consider, such as potentially higher insurance costs, battery replacement, and charging costs, which typically are cheaper than both petrol and diesel, if not slightly more complex to do.

Newer electric vehicles will typically have more extensive ranges than older counterparts, which is something to consider if you are buying a used car, not a brand-new one. While newer models tend to have ranges of 150 to 300 miles, older ones might be closer to the 100-mile mark, meaning they might not be suitable for long-distance driving and will need more frequent charging than newer versions. So, if you need your car to drive long distances regularly rather than for quick, short commutes, it's worthwhile looking at the different ranges and talking to existing owners to ascertain if this is a suitable choice for you.