Buying an EV  electric vehicle, can be a mine field. Of course once you committed and made a purchase, you can be stuck with the wrong one.

Here are a few pointers to help with your decision.

Understand the range you are more likely to do

Probably one of the most useful things you can do is to know your driving pattern. What distances do you typically cover? How long is your daily commute and your other usual journeys? Once you know your normal range and miles covered, you can start to put together a shortlist of EV’s with a range that comfortably covers your needs.

Find out your charging options

Look into what’s available for you, charging-wise. Whether you’re able to charge at home – the EV manufacturer or vendor may be able to advise you on this – or at public charging sites, or a mixture of both, it could be wise to know your options. Check your regular driving routes to see where you’ll be able to top up your EV on the charging infrastructure (the network of public chargers across the UK, where you pay to top up your electric vehicle.) There are public EV chargers in a range of locations across the UK – including ours.

SOME COMPANIES WHO PROVIDE ELECTRIC CAR CHARGE POINTS

Source London

BP Pulse

Shell Recharging

InstaVolt

Pod Point

Learn more about EV batteries

If you’re thinking of buying a new electric car, it’s a good idea to learn more about its battery. As the vehicle’s source of power, the EV battery is a crucial part. Checking with each manufacturer on their battery life expectancy, capacity and range, as well as warranty could be really helpful for cluing you up on things like possible maintenance, journey planning, and charging expectations, too. You’ll also know what support you’ll get from the manufacturer if there are any teething problems with the car while it’s in the warranty period.

Most EV batteries today have a life expectancy of 15-20 years, although this can vary according to a few things, such as the make of the vehicle and model. It could be wise to research the battery in any electric vehicle you’re thinking of buying – chat to the manufacturer or seller if you want any clarification.

Try before you buy

Just as you’d walk around a house before buying it, it’s really good practice (and quite exciting, too) to test drive a few different electric car models to get a feel for how they accelerate, respond, and perform on the road. And enjoy that instant torque effect, which may feel different if you’re used to petrol cars. This is the faster acceleration that EV’s offer thanks to how quickly an electric motor can speed up.

Ask about payment options

You’re probably already aware of the varying price points for electric cars, but it’s worth pointing out that some employers offer salary sacrifice schemes for EV’s, or company car options, and if you’re self-employed, you might want to talk to an accountant about the tax options of buying an electric vehicle.

Consider possible maintenance needs

Because electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, it’s usually accepted they require less maintenance and are cheaper to run compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. Recently published research suggests an average of £700 savings a year.

Having said that, whenever you purchase a new vehicle, it can be advisable to consider what maintenance you might need to carry out. This will help you to know when to schedule any vehicle checks and give you an opportunity to research any associated costs, if applicable.