Is running an electric car really cheaper?

Electric cars have fewer moving parts compared to petrol or diesel cars, which means you can save money on servicing and maintenance costs as there is less to go wrong. It is important to keep your electric car regularly serviced and in good condition. The Volkswagen ID range have a fixed service schedule (like a petrol or diesel car) with the first inspection due after 2 years. Find out more about servicing and maintenance for an EV.

If you already have an electric car, you might be interested in our electric car service plans.

Road tax is calculated based on the CO2 tailpipe emissions of your vehicle, its list price and its year of registration. While fully electric cars emit no CO2, they are no longer exempt from Vehicle Exercise Duty (VED). Since April 25, EVs pay a reduced rate of VED.

This can result in significant savings compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. To learn more, visit: Vehicle tax for electric, zero or low emission vehicles - GOV.UK.

There are a number of pollution reducing schemes and initatives in the UK. A couple of well known ones are the Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and Clean Air Zones (CAZ). These zones are usually near the centre of larger cities, and vehicles entering these zones are reviewed based on their polluting factors, and charged accordingly.

To find out more about where there are clean air zones and what charges may apply (depending on your vehicle) click here.

Electric cars much cheaper to run based on fuel costs alone especially when charging your vehicle at home, with an EV focused tariff. We have developed a tool which allows you to compare the cost of electricity vs fuel so you can take a look at what this may mean for you.

Electric cars have quickly become an appealing alternative vehicle to petrol or diesel, however there are often concerns about how much it will cost to charge in reality.