Thinking of switching to electric?

Electric technology has made huge progress in recent years, and continues to push forward. The team at Blackdown Motor Company will be happy to help you find an electric vehicle that suits your needs.

What are the benefits? Fully-electric vehicles are carbon-neutral, and plug-in hybrid vehicles have significantly fewer emissions than their petrol or diesel counterparts. Enjoy additional benefits including lower maintenance costs, lower fuel costs, £0 road tax and no ULEZ/congestion charges.
Where to Charge Did you know, there are more electric charging points than fuel stations in the UK? Over 95% of motorway service stations have 100kW chargers - capable of charging most electric cars from 0%-80% in around 30 minutes. Charging can be made more affordable through subscription services like BP Pulse.

   ​

How much does it cost? Electric vehicles often have a larger upfront cost - although there is a government grant of up to £5,000 to assist with the intial payment. Electricity is much cheaper than petrol or diesel: taking advantage of the cheapest electric car tariff on the market, a 50kW battery would cost just £2.50 to charge overnight. Additionally, most manufactuers offer a warranty on both the electric vehicle and its battery. Plus, maintenance costs are around 30% lower with an electric car, thanks to their lower number of moving parts.

Electric driving FAQs

How far can electric cars travel on one charge?

It depends on your model, and where you're driving it. All electric vehicles will use up their battery faster on the motorway than on urban roads. Most electric vehicles have a range of around 150-250 miles.

Why are maintenance costs lower with an electric vehicle?

An electric car engine typically has around 20 moving parts. An ICE engine usually has just under 2,000.

Will I own the battery?

Yes. In all of our new cars, the battery is included in the purchase price.

Are they better for the environment?

Yes. Fully-electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions, and the benefits are greater if you charge your car using green energy. Some cars - such as the Citroën Ami - can even be fully recycled at the end of their lifespan.

Do electric cars have gears?

No - they're fully automatic. But they do normally have a selection of driving modes which use power at different rates: for instance, Vauxhall's electric models feature Eco, Normal and Sport modes.

Do they retain their value?

Yes - and at a much better rate than their petrol or diesel counterparts.

What if I don't have a driveway where I can charge my vehicle?

There are many options to explore. You could ask your local council to take part in the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, charge your car at work using one of the many workplace charging schemes, or take advantage of the extensive public charging network using a subscription service like BP Pulse.

I've heard that some electric cars can charge themselves?

That's called regenerative braking, which uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle whilst putting some electricity back into the battery. But you'll still need to charge your car conventionally as well.

I've heard they're much quieter than petrol and diesel cars - can't that be dangerous for other road users?

Electric vehicles are much quieter, but not totally silent. They're legally required to emit a sound when reversing, or travelling under 12mph - most electric models are fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS).