An electric car, or electric vehicle (EV) is powered by an electric motor, rather than a conventional petrol or diesel engine.
An electric vehicle uses energy stored in its rechargeable batteries, which can be charged via a household electric supply.
An electric vehicle will emit zero emissions from its tailpipe, making them cleaner to run than their combustion engine counterparts, although you still need to factor in the power provided by the utility company.
In the UK, electric vehicles such as the BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe and Tesla Model S are all eligible for the government’s Plug-in Car Grant, which takes £5,000 off the list price of a new car.
However, you may need to factor in the cost of leasing the batteries from the manufacturer, although in the case of the Nissan Leaf, you have the option to lease or purchase the batteries outright.
A full charge will typically provide up to 100 miles of range, depending on driving style and accessories used in the car.
An overnight charge will provide maximum juice for an electric vehicle, although up to 80% charge can be achieved within 30 minutes using a fast charge.