Tell me about Electric Vehicles

To the non-mechanically-minded, electric vehicles are a remarkable piece of technology. They require little more attention than a mobile phone. To charge an EV, you simply insert a lead in the socket where the petrol cap should be, and for some batteries, you water them every two or three weeks, simpler then topping up a steam iron. You don't even have to open the bonnet. You stick a small pipe into a hole by the plug, hold it in the air and pour in distilled water. You need never touch an oil can again.

What are the environmental benefits?

Your choice of car has a greater effect on the environment than any other consumer goods purchase that you make.

Electric vehicles provide no emission and if they are charged using a totally green tariff, are zero emissions.

There are 700 million cars in the world today, a figure which is environmentally unsustainable. This is because transport is the biggest and the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and the number of cars in the world is forecast to nearly double to 1.2 billion within the next 15 years.

What are the financial benefits?

Electric vehicles can save a fortune every year. Road Tax is free, insurance is group 1, and electric vehicles in London are exempt from the £8 per day Congestion Charge. You can save on fuel too, saving £500 - £1000 on fuel for 4,000 miles a year. This would cost just £40-£50. There are more benefits for businesses too, including 100% year one tax write down for business and Lowest rate company car tax at just 9%.

What about the infrastructure for electric vehicles? Where can I enjoy park or charge my vehicle?

Parking and charging is fast evolving as many towns and cities around the UK install dedicated parking bays and charging points and a much wider network is in place to support electric vehicles. The government have invested millions of pounds in schemes and the future will so many more in place.

For the most comprehensive information visit the EV Network website.

In Central London, where the largest numbers of parking and charging points are currently installed, the G-Wiz can be parked for FREE on meters and pay and display bays in the Borough of Westminster. Other Boroughs such as Camden, Lambeth and Ealing are in various stages of planning or installing on-street charging posts. Contact your local Borough council for up-to-date information.