According to figures from the BBC, more electric cars were sold than new diesel vehicles in July 2021, for the second month in a row.
Given that the government intend to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and hybrids by 2035, in the quest for cleaner air and a greener environment, it’s no wonder that more people are switching to electric.
Whilst the price of electric cars appears to be falling, making them more affordable to everyman as time passes, the practicalities of the UK population all driving electric cars isn’t as positive.
The main reason being, the infrastructure isn’t quite there yet. Visit any recently-built shopping centre or new supermarket and you may find a couple of electric charging points; this is fine now, but these won’t be much use to the masses when we’re all driving electric cars. Most people will prefer to charge their batteries at home rather than at the shopping centre, but this also requires some forward-planning.
New laws expected to be introduced later this year will require all new builds to have an electric car charger—of the fast-charge variety—installed on the exterior of the property. For people in high rise flats who won’t be able to enjoy this luxury, alternatives are being bandied about, such as charging ports in street lampposts situated outside their block of flats. However, nothing has been decided yet on this front.
Electricals Online sells the Enel X ‘Juice Box’ domestic electric car charger. These units mirror the fast-charging output that service stations and supermarkets offer, though they can also charge your car battery at a slower, more economical speed. The unit is secure and weather-proof, and the connector can be locked away, so that no one but you can have access to your electricity. The long lead is suitable for most properties and driveway/parking scenarios, and the associated app allows you to schedule/action charging wherever you are, as well as give you accurate data relating to your charging sessions. This smart technology means that you can take advantage of times when energy costs are at their lowest.
These specialised units are much more economical than simply plugging your car into a domestic plug; however, they must be fitted by a certified EV charger installer.
There are plenty of benefits associated with electric cars, so there’s no surprise that the government is pushing them so heavily. With electric cars on the road, the environment doesn’t have to deal with the emissions that petrol and diesel cars pump out. As a result, drivers of electric cars are often exempt from congestion charges in cities. The running costs of an electric vehicle, when compared with the costs of using a petrol or diesel car, is much cheaper overall; in some places, you can even charge your car for free. Given that an electric car has no engine to speak of, as opposed to what’s under the bonnet of any other car, the maintenance costs and replacement parts are much cheaper, too.
Many electric car manufacturers wax lyrical about the instant acceleration their cars provide, and how much power is underfoot for drivers. The futuristic braking systems of most electric models add charge back into the battery, so that it doesn’t drain power as quickly, in much the same way an alternator works on petrol and diesel cars.
It’s therefore good news for house buyers if builders and developers are required to install units like the Enel X ‘Juice Box’, given how many people are likely to be switching to electric vehicles over the next few years.