Category: Advice

Spring is here and so is the start of the caravan season. If you are looking at making the switch to a ‘green’ vehicle but are worried how it could affect your staycation holidays, don’t worry – we have listed the top 5 electric vehicles for towing your caravan. 

Polestar 2   

The Swedish brand Polestar turned on the style when it launched its first electric car last year, but beneath those bang-on trendsetter lines is a seriously capable tow vehicle. Regardless of whether you opt for an entry level single motor model or 402bhp four-wheel drive flagship variant, this lightweight compact vehicle can haul up to 1500kgs – which makes it perfect if you are towing hefty loads like six people traveling with all their belongings in tow! 

At under 8 tonnes Gramm/per litre dry weight, it goes well, too. The performance is not shabby, its interior is classy and superbly finished. In Long Range guise, it will travel an amazing 335 miles between charges (according to the official WLTP test). 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 

The Ioniq 5 is more than just a pretty face – it has some real muscle under its angular exterior. Both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drives models can haul 1600kg with the larger 73KWh battery pack, which may be similar in weight to many ICE (Internal Combustion Engines) rivals, but IONIQ still beats them all when you need your load capacities increased quickly. It also comes standard equipped by factory fitted tow ball weights of 100 kg – perfect for carrying up 4 bicycles at once. The Ioniqs are prewired to take this addition (even the entry-level 58kWh car, which has only a 750kg tow limit). Our early impressions of it suggest that while they should be capable at pulling power–there is more going on here than just lugging weight! Crisp handling makes for an enjoyable driving experience with premium appeal and character throughout, setting new standards in terms ‘affordable’ electric vehicles. 

Kia EV6 

The new Kia EV6 is more expensive and has a lower maximum towing weight than its closely related Hyundai Ioniq 5. However, all versions of this sleek coupé-inspired vehicle will be able make use thanks in part by its large 77 kWh battery – powering them through different terrains with ease while giving you plenty miles out if one’s energy consumption needs some help too! Just remember that these cars were made for adventure not only on land but also at sea, so do not forget about checking where there are nearby anchorages before setting off. 

BMW i4 

The iX3 might be a rugged SUV, but the sleek and powerful BMW i4 can pull weight that is twice as heavy. The least powerful version of these two vehicles delivers 317lb of torque from zero revs, which means you will never need to worry about your car’s engine being too weak for what it’s designed to do! With an EPA range estimate at 365 miles with full decadence on tow capacity (usually reducing distance by 50%) this vehicle has enough power not just for driving around town or commuting; if used correctly then there should still plenty left over. 

There is also a usefully large 470-litre boot with a practical hatchback opening for easy storage of all your camping and caravanning bits and bobs. And when you are not lugging a large load, the BMW benefits from powerful performance, excellent refinement, and typically crisp and engaging handling. 

Mercedes-Benz EQA 

The Mercedes EQA is a compact SUV that offers an impressive towing capacity. The entry-level single motor vehicle can tow 750 pounds, but if you want more power there are two optional motors available for your choice – either the four-wheel drive 250 HP version or 350 hp dual wheels managed by both axles, which gives this car maximum capabilities up until 1800kgs. The EQA is easily capable of handling a large caravan or even car-and trailer combination. With the factory fitted powered tow bar, you can haul track cars on your travels without worrying about getting stuck behind an18 wheeler while driving at high speeds over 40mph! And if that’s not enough protection for yourself and those around you – standard equipment includes Trailer Assist function which applies individual brakes when needed, to reduce swaying from side effects like wind gusts; plus, it will strengthen motor torque reduction (which means less strain) as well increase stopping power during emergency situations. 

If you have recently purchased or leased an electric vehicle and are looking at having a home charging station installed, please visit our shop or contact us for more information. 

To help tackle greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the UK, the government has banned the sale of all new diesel and petrol cars from 2030, and hybrids up to 2035. The ban is not only going to support our country’s ambition to reach net zero by 2050, but it will also help increase the transition to electric vehicles. 

Over the next few years, cities across the UK are going to be introducing clean air zones in a bid to reduce pollution in densely populated areas. By removing the more polluting vehicles that use Petrol and Diesel from our city and town centres, this will greatly improve the health of residents, visitors, and the overall environment. 

What are clean air zones? 

Clean Air Zones are areas that will charge or penalise high polluting vehicles based on their Euro emission standard. Vehicles with higher emissions either cannot enter the designated area or must pay an additional fee to do so – these zones will be implemented in areas with dangerous air pollution levels and are designed to help improve local air quality, making it safer and healthier for residents and visitors by limiting their exposure to harmful vehicle emissions. 

The benefit of owning an electric vehicle is that you will be exempt from these charges as they emit zero exhaust emissions. For example, in London the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) costs £12.50 a day. In just a year that could save you as much as £2,875 on top of any fuel savings as well. 

Why do we clean air zones? 

These zones are the best way for towns and cities to tackle local air pollution, and research has shown that they help to reduce pollutants including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter.[1] Implementing Clean Air Zones across the country is the key for us to improve air quality, protect public health, and support the transition to a much lower carbon future. 

The World Health Organisation estimates that over 4 million premature deaths every year are led to by poor air quality – The main source of air pollution in the UK, is transport.[2] 

Benefits of clean air zones 

Having cleaner air will benefit everyone, but it is especially important for the elderly, young children, and those of us with existing health conditions. By removing or limiting the number of polluting vehicles that can enter cities and town centres, it will improve air quality and have a positive impact on the health of those living and working there. 

Other benefits of clean air zones include: 

• The accelerated uptake of low and/or zero emissions vehicles, such as EV’s. 
• Encourages residents to use public transport or active travel methods (i.e., Cycling and Walking) 

• Reduces traffic congestion in the town and city centres.

Are you eligible? 

To check whether you will be charged for entering a Clean Air Zone just enter your REG number and away you go – https://www.gov.uk/check-clean-air-zone-charge 

Support is also available to help you reduce your emissions and switch to a lower or zero emission vehicle. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles offers grants to offset the purchase price and charger installation of an electric vehicle/charger. What are waiting for? Make the switch now and book in your charger install – https://ecolectrix.co.uk/contact-us/ 

As many of you will be aware, the Government has implemented a new scheme that will ban all petrol and diesel cars from being produced by 2030.

Whilst you will still be able to buy second-hand petrol and diesel cars, there’s expected to be an unprecedented increase in electric vehicles on the road according to the electric car charging point mapping site, ‘Zap-map’, and predictions from the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon budget, with a predicted increase from 210,000 at the start of 2021, to 12 million by 2030.

However, there are still countless people who don’t know the benefits of switching to electric, both for the environment and for the economy.

What are the environmental benefits of an electric car?

In a nutshell, electric vehicles drastically improve the air quality of towns and cities. As EVs (Electric Vehicles) have no exhaust, this means they produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driven. To put this into perspective, just one EV on the road can save an average of 1.5 million grams of CO2. This is the equivalent of four return flights from London to Barcelona.

How does electric car production affect the environment?

Whilst EVs themselves are environmentally friendly, the production of the cars can have a negative impact on the environment.

Electric cars use lithium batteries as a power source and these batteries can emit toxic fumes. However, most electric car manufactures use recycled materials to make their car’s interior parts, and when a battery does run out, it can also be recycled elsewhere as it will still have approximately 70-80% of its original energy capacity.

On top of these environmental considerations, some companies also use non-renewable energy sources to charge the batteries. Taking this into account, research undertaken by the European Energy Agency found that, even with electricity generation, the carbon emissions of an electric car are still around 17 – 30% lower than driving a petrol or diesel car.

What is the battery life of an electric car?

One of the biggest concerns surrounding electric vehicles are their battery lives, as replacing a battery can be very expensive.

The average battery life for an electric vehicle is around 8 to 10 years (100,000 to 150,000 miles) and while the prospect of a battery degrading sooner than this could be off-putting, electric cars come with long battery warranties, guaranteeing an acceptable battery up to seven or eight years of use. As well as this, most manufacturers guarantee that a battery will retain at least 70% of its original capacity for up to 10 years.

Once the batteries have lost their life, they are still able to benefit the environment as depleted batteries are recycled and can be used as storage for renewable energy.

What is the charging time for an Electric Car?

The graph above gives you an idea of how long charging will take using a range of power options.

How much will charging cost?

Most EV drivers have home charging points which can vary in price, starting from around £350 for a low voltage charging point, to upwards of £1000 for high voltage charging points.
Whilst this may sound like a large upfront cost, you can also get a Zero Emission Vehicle grant (OZEV) that could save you up to £350 on installation.

As a general guide, here’s how much you’re likely to pay in charging costs to cover 9,000 miles, if you charge at home:

⦁ £450 to £550 a year to run a small city car, such as the Peugeot e-208 or a small hatchback like the Renault Zoe.

⦁ £500 to £650 for medium and large cars, such as the Tesla Model 3.

⦁ £610 to £750 for large SUVs like the Audi E-tron.

[Source: Which?]

If that still doesn’t sound appealing, there are charging points that let you charge your car for free.

Various businesses and attractions offer free charging, as well as retail parks and car parks. The catch is that it is usually for paying customers of that business. One of the biggest companies that does this is Tesco, who partnered with Volkswagen and Pod Point to provide free charging points for customers.

Is it worth switching to electric?

If the benefits that electric cars have in reducing our emissions and saving the planet aren’t winning you over, these facts might just be enough to convince you to make the switch:

⦁ EDF energy found that EV owners could save up to £51,000 on fuel in their lifetime, compared with the cost of filling up a tank with petrol or diesel.

⦁ Living in the Capital? Electric vehicles are exempt from London’s congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), meaning you can save up to £12.50 per day if you make the switch.

⦁ If your EV is worth under £40,000, you are also exempt from road tax – a saving of up to £2,245 for new cars in their first year on the road, and £490 per year after that.

[Source: Uswitch]

If you are considering ditching the petrol and joining the electric revolution, contact our friendly team today for a no obligation discussion on how we can help.