Electric cars once seemed like a thing from a science fiction movie, but they’re more popular than ever before, and are incredibly beneficial in comparison to conventional petrol or diesel cars. However, because of their new status, they are also the cars with the most myths surrounding them, which may seem a little off-putting when considering a new car.

How do they work?
Battery electric cars use electricity stored in a battery to power them throughout journeys. These can then be easily charged when depleted, using just a regular mains power socket, or a dedicated power point at a service station or shopping centre car park. These cars mostly run from between 100-130 miles on a full charge, which is well within the requirement for day to day use, but there are also those which can go to around 250 miles if more is necessary.

However, there are also hybrid cars, which work a little differently: the electric motor is used solely at low speeds (under 15mph), with the petrol engine working while cruising to both power the car and recharge the battery. Both systems work together when accelerating, and the spinning of the wheels during braking is also used to recharge the battery. These cars can go much further than fully electric ones, as the electric motor is consistently being recharged.

Are they eco-friendly
Both petrol and electric cars rely on resources being taken out of the ground and made into fuel. However, while it takes more energy to generate electricity than to refine petrol, an electric car uses far less energy in its actual processes than a petrol one. This means that emissions which could be damaging to us are decreased, as the majority of them are created at power plants, out of town.

Electricity is also not just generated by fossil fuels in the UK, but also by a variety of sustainable sources such as wind and solar power, whereas petrol cars must be entirely dependent upon one kind of fuel. This means that as we move closer to using all sustainable sources of energy, the electricity the car uses will be cleaner, and have less environmental impact.

Are they expensive to run?
When it comes to charging, costs are measured in kilowatts (kW), in the same way as petrol cars are measured in litres. If your car has a 40 litre tank, at £1.15 per litre, this would cost £46 to fill. If the capacity for your electric car has a capacity of 30kW, and the price is around 12p per kWh, this would cost you £3.60. Electric cars are much more cost effective to charge, with the most expensive convenience charge being around £6.50 for a 30 minute turbo charge at a service station.