Central London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone launches – how it affects EVs
From 8 April vehicles driven in central London need to meet Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) standards or their drivers face a daily charge of £12.50. This replaces the current T-Charge zone.
Designed to help reduce pollution by deterring drivers of vehicles that don’t meet ULEZ standards, the charge is in operation 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and covers most of Greater London. This is in addition to the standard £11.50 charge for driving within the congestion charging zone.
We were delighted to see that on their website Travel for London promotes electric vehicles as a green alternative for drivers wishing to travel within the ULEZ, as they are exempt from both the ULEZ and congestion zone charges. With more than 150 rapid charge points available across London, it’s becoming a very EV friendly destination.
In addition to London’s ULEZ and congestion charge exemptions, there are many other advantages that come with driving electric vehicles, and for the benefit of drivers considering EVs for the first time, some of our favourites are below.
EVs are cheaper to run and maintain than petrol or diesel vehicles
We love a bargain and EV drivers can save approximately 6p a mile on an average diesel car, making it feasible to travel 100 miles for as little as £3. The cost of traveling by electric vehicle is determined by model, driving style, electricity tariff, time of charging and the type of charger used.
EVs have about 50% less moving parts than traditional vehicles, which makes them cheaper to service, maintain and repair. Also, because of EU Block Exemption legislation, drivers don’t even need to have their car serviced by the main dealership that provided the vehicle in order to maintain a new car warranty. So long as the work is carried out by a licenced garage, drivers can shop around for the best deal and use an independent garage like us.
EVs are better for the environment and the health of our families
Poor air quality contributes to an estimated 40,000 UK deaths each year, and emissions from vehicles are a leading contributor. Because electric vehicles don’t emit carbon dioxide, driving them can improve air quality, and help reduce global warming, especially if they are charged using electricity from renewable sources. It makes us feel good to know that through encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, we are helping look after the health of current and future generations.
Driving an EV can be very convenient and suit most lifestyles
Already electric vehicles can meet the travel needs of most families, and if you are able to have a home charge point installed, it’s even easier. Many of our customers charge overnight when their electricity tariff is generally lower and their vehicle isn’t in use, and because most car journeys in the UK are less than 15 miles, the range (which is the distance the vehicle can travel on a single charge) is rarely an issue for most EV drivers.
We are in exciting times for electric vehicles. Almost every manufacturer now offers a low or ultra-low emission electric vehicle, and many new models are due to be released in 2019 and 2020. The EV resale market is also growing so the upfront costs of EV driving are coming down, making it even easier to find an EV available to suit most driver’s needs and budget.
