Member Article

Busting the myths around electric vehicles

It’s environment focus week on Bdaily, and we are looking at what the low-carbon economy really means for UK SMEs, as well as picking apart the nuts and bolts of adapting business to “go-green.“ Here Josey Wardle, project manager at Charge your Car debunks some of the myths around electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly seen as a viable, everyday mode of transport, offering many benefits to businesses and individuals alike, and not just the realm of the tech savvy and environmentally aware.

However, despite the clear benefits, there are a number of myths associated with EVs that act as a barrier to their wider take up.

Here, Josey Wardle from Charge your Car, the North East’s Plugged in Places scheme and one of the organisation’s that is driving the North East’s EV agenda, breaks down some of the barriers associated with EV use.

It’s hard to find a charging station

Since the North East was chosen as one of three pilot areas to trial the creation of comprehensive charging network, Charge your Car has been responsible for installing nearly 500 charging points at business premises, public places and homes throughout the region.

From rural Northumberland to Teesside, and everywhere in between, charging points can now be easily accessed by EV drivers travelling the length and breadth of the region. In fact, for over 90 per cent of the time driving in the North East, an EV is within 5km of a charging point.

EVs are not for heavy road use

Range anxiety has been one of the main drawbacks in the take up of EVs, however for many people these concerns are unfounded. EVs can travel for around 90 miles on a full charge, which equates to over 30,000 miles per year, therefore meeting the needs of many road users.

EVs are too expensive to buy

Electric cars aren’t gadgets, they’re everyday affordable vehicles. Leading manufacturers such as Nissan, Peugeot, Toyota, Vauxhall and Renault having introduced EVs in recent years, and many more models are due to be launched next year. The growing market means that the cost of EVs is being driven down - making purchasing or leasing a vehicle a more attractive proposition than ever before and comparable to equivalent petrol and diesel engine cars. Models such as the Peugeot iOn is currently available from £13,000 and the Renault Zoe, launched next year, will be around £13,650.

Are electric vehicles really green?

Pure electric vehicles are zero emission and hybrids are low emission. The problem doesn’t lie in the vehicle, but has more to do with the generation of the electricity that is used to fuel the vehicle. If low emissions is the key objective to purchasing an EV, there are steps that can be taken to reduce environmental impact, including switching your electricity supplier to one which generates energy from renewable sources. Some of the North East charge points have also been installed alongside photovoltaic panels to support this.

More frequently asked questions can be found on the new website: www.whynotelectric.com where you can also request the opportunity to experience the benefits of EVs for themselves by booking a test drive. By booking through the site, members of the public will have the chance to win a state-of-the-art Renault Zoe for a year.

Here are some other environment focus articles that may be of interest to you: carbon reporting in logistics firms; what are the benefits of electric vehicles?; we talk to a print business about why SMEs need to go green; and find out how one innovative business is using ozone as a cleaning tool.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Josey Wardle .